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The Boston Globe

Opinion

nicholas burns

Murders in Libya point to need for wise leaders in US

YESTERDAY’S TRAGIC murder of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other American diplomats in Libya illustrates the ever-present dangers for Americans in the volatile Middle East. Thousands of US diplomats like Stevens are on point for us all over the world, and they make an enormous contribution to our national security. But this tragedy also points to the need for capable, experienced, and wise people at the top of our government when crises test the mettle of our leaders. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both made strong and determined statements in response to the attack on our diplomats, focusing on our unequivocal opposition to terrorism and fanatacism in the Middle East.

In contrast, GOP candidate Mitt Romney accused the administration of showing sympathy to terrorists and apologizing for their actions. By making these completely inaccurate charges, Romney injected the politics of the presidential race into a complex drama half a world away on a day when all Americans should have been rallying around our government and its diplomats in the Middle East.

Comments

I hope your kidding Nicholas with this article, 4 americans are dead and you bloviate about romney. whos' the leader in this country?

 

Whos' suppose to being paying attention here?

It is amazing that the big story is about Romney, with all the Obama apologists condemning him for his strong words. Dear Lord. Our president's show of weakness led to this outcome, and Romney's strong words showed the strength that is missing from our president. I am truly amazed that the Globe committed so much space to attacking Romney.

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There are many stories, and this is one of them. Important one too. Also, the "strong words" by Mr. Romney also happened to be inaccurate as well -- in the sense of how they described the response of the Obama administration, which was not the Obama administration's response at all. In any case, it's simply clear that Mr. Romney has injected pure politics into this and does not have real policy in mind.

On Saturday Obama said "our country is stronger, safer and more respected in the world.". And Burns has the audacity to claim Obama is a "wise" person on foreign policy! Obama dithered in Libya, recently gave the now Islamic "Brotherhood" controlled Egypt another billion dollars (by executive action), has done nothing regarding the ongoing slaughter in Syria and is just as feckless concerning the Iran threat. The US is not "respected" by Islamists who insist on murdering innocents at any perceived "slight" around the world. Islamists see the Obama administration's weakness and appeasement as an opening to continue their jihad against any non-Muslims. The first response by the embassy in Cairo was to appease the Islamists contradicting American freedom of speech doctrine. This is Neville Chamberlain "diplomacy" at its worst. Burns assertions are as phony as Obama's "more respected" baloney.

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Son, you have no idea what you're talking about. Let the adults do the talking. You may just learn something.

In the midst of a crisis when attacks by pockets of extremists took the lives of four American diplomats the Republican nominee for President chooses a dissembled interpretation of the Egyptian embassy’s statement to score political points.   Romney’s charge that the embassy “apologized” for American values said, in effect, that he valued protecting the right to free speech for religious bigots to create videos and events meant solely insult Muslims and enflame radicals while, in the same breath, impugned the free speech of the embassy to respond with a statement meant to save lives and throw water on the fire the bigots intended to start.   

On the most solemn calendar day of our recent history, and on a day when America again needed a sober response based on accurate analysis of events, Mitt Romney revealed his true core; that he is merely a tone deaf opportunist who will focus only on achieving his next acquisition.  This type of quick-footed opportunism may have worked well for him in the financial world. It also reveals he lacks the instincts to evaluate and respond to information that can’t be found on a spreadsheet. 

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Well said.

Spot on, Mr. Burns. Our boys over there deserve better.

Romney has suddenly become a very scary person in my mind. If he becomes President, God help us.

 

THESYSTEMWORKED: "Too funny." WRONG: There's not a single funny thing about this tragedy or the ignorance, intolerance, and hatreds that caused it.

Burns, you utter loser!  Obama apologized to Islamic murderers for American free speech!  He should be IMPEACHED and you certainly shouldn't be working in our government or writing these outrageous articles!  

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A candy-colored clown they call the sandman/
Tiptoes to my room every night/
Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper/
"Go to sleep, everything is alright"/
I close my eyes/
Then I drift away/
Into the magic night/
I softly sway/
Oh smile and pray/
Like dreamers do/
Then I fall asleep/
To dream my dreams of you

user4408549 --- you obviously do not know the sequence of the facts in this situation. Go look it up but to summarize: the US Embassy in Cairo issued a statement condemning the hateful content of the video FOUR PLUS HOURS BEFORE anone breached the embassy walls and BEFORE anything happened at the consulate in Libya. Romney's campaign drafted that press release without regard for what was happening - in other words they, apparently for their political gain, seized on an opportunity without knowing what was happening. You Mr/Ms User, like Mr. Romney, are jumping to conclusions without knowing the facts. Mr. Romney is qualified to be president.

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Capable,wise, experienced leadership at the top of or governmnet? I guess that leaves Mitt Romney out...

According to the "conservative" talking heads Mitt messes up.  According to some it's the Globe's fault for reporting it.  No, it's Obama's fault for putting Mitt in a position that would cause Mitt to mess up.  So indeed for some in their own little minds it is a "conspiracy' each time a newspaper reports what Mitt did.  It is a conspiracy when Peggy Noonan says, whoa not so fast, it's a conspiracy when George Will says are you kidding?  Yup, that's the system at work for Obama "liberals" hiding out as "conservative" talking heads all so they can get Obama elected.  It is indeed the Manchurian system an entire network devised for only one reason, defeat the "liberal-conservative" standard bearer of the Republican Party.  Sometimes the stretch to make the argument doesn't cause me to burst but it sure does make me smile. 

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So, let me get this straight.  You're implying that Peggy Noonan and George Will are NOT conservatives after all, but are somehow secretly "Manchurian liberals"?  Boy, you need to lay down for a while and sleep it off.

Red, you should follow more of attaturk's posts. You would then recognize the sarcasm. He's saying the only way the anti-Obama partisans posting here can conceivably stick to their extreme perspectives is if they also delude themselves into thinking such conservatives as Peggy Noonan and George Will are also part of the 'conspiracy.' I don't have time to list legitimate examples of extremism by anti-Romney types but I expect it isn't hard to find, either.

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Bottom line is that Romney has stopped repeating his original statement.  This is because he ( and or his advisors ) realizes now that it was not only wrong but revealing his lack of knowledge about conducting foreign affairs.  For all those who insist he was correct ask yourself why he isn't continuing his original aggressive statement.  I repeat, because he knows he messed up...not the media.  

For the Tea Party and Know Nothing crowd, when facts and logical argument exposes the distortion and alternative universe that they live in, the frenzy and hysteria of their outrage is pathetic, but typical. Reality check.....Romney is not winning this debate. Way too much shoot first, then aim later. Diplomat Burns has it 100% right.