This column is similar to Romney's reaction, and maybe a little reminiscent of Jeanne Dixon. I think Ms. Kayyem is much too quick to draw conclusions that aren't supported by any facts at this point. Does she consult a crystal ball, or tea leaves, or what?

". The Libyan government has made all the right overtures in response to violence that was instigated by a shallow YouTube video by a self-described American-Israeli who calls Islam a “cancer" --A FILM caused this violence, Juliette? Why don't you have somebody translate the ARABIC tweets to you!. The film had NOTHING to do with it. It was planned weeks before to occur on 9/11. This is a REVENGE ATTACK by al Queda who is ENRAGED at the obama Administration's and the ENTIRE Democratic party convertion's SPILKIN THE BALL. BRAGGING and BRAGGING about the killing of osama bin laden. As Reverand Wright would say "The chickens have come home to roost"--Juliette and the Globe are DESPERATELY trying to blame the events on a film. SORRY Juliette. This was a well-planned attack, carried out with help from the Libyan government.--And the Egyptian government knew it was coming a week ago. --No the film had NOTHING to do with this attack. It was caused by a GROSSLY INCOMPETENT Barack Obama and and equally INCOMPETENT Hillary clinton (who gave a PATHETIC speech yesterday morning, claiming that a "small group" carriewd out the attack who did not represent the Libyan people".

HH wrote, "The Western World CANNOT be held hostage to Islamist murderers. So, every time a cartoonist, filmmaker or Op-Ed hack offends some Muslim fanatics then somehow the Islamists are justified in murdering Ambassadors? This Islamist crime was "instigated" by political totalitarians not some non-entity filmmaker. Ms Kayyem has plenty of bile for the non-entity filmmaker but none left for the Islamist enemies of the US."

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Good point. And here's something else to think about: What if the perps are SMART and guided by logic and tactics, and not DUMB, and purely guided by emotion. Remember, al Queda member are officially thought to be SMART -- highly educated, motivated, and logical.

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I agree with the other comments that Ms. Kayyem posted this piece awfully quickly, and some of it is probably knee jerk reaction.

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But it I were a SMART terrorist and wanted to greatly reduce the likelihood that the West would intervene in Syria this is probably exactly what I might do. You couldn't do it in Syria. Libya is perfect because we helped so much and had so much support of the people. For Stevens was often vulnerable, traveling about, if I remember reports correctly. He was much less secure, probably, in Benghazi than in Tripoli. It's easy to move into and out of the country, or move around within it, probably, because security institutions (eg, police) were always weak -- the military having had most of the power in the Gaddafi era.  In addition to impacting Westerner emotions the event gives the press and authorities something else to focus on. Something that costs far fewer lives, but hits emotions harder.

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So, I'd say yes, Ms. Kayyem, your reaction (and probable similar reactions throughout the West) are JUST what was intended. The West needs to understand that terrorists may be operating on several mental levels at once, the emotion, yes, as either authentic or put on, but the cold, hard, logic in either case.

Oh, one more point, if you're a SMART terrorist you decide your overall plan, your possible targets, personnel, and equipment needs, and make incremental preparation in all these areas, as well as ongoing assessments as to the plusses and minuses of hitting each target as (fluid) situations and events ebb and flow. You wait for something to happen (or talk up something that already happened) to deflect attention from the real perpetrators and reasons for the strike to confuse the enemy an get the support of the sheep (yes, there are sheep in every country). (This is actually similar to what the SEALS do in a "situation"; They "overtrain" to make doing the right thing reflex, and then, when in the actual situation, they improvise.

ACTUALLY, Juliette, Batack Obama is the one who should PAY for the murders in Libya.-- Middle east in FLAMES, Barack Obama parties and CAMPAIGNS. Why don't you tell us how Mr. Obama is going to make good on his VOW to bring those responsible to justice?