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editorial

Great speech, but no meetings, for Obama at the UN

President Obama gave a fine speech extolling free expression and democratic values at the United Nations on Tuesday, but he ought to have taken the time to meet one-on-one with a few heads of state. Although the annual opening of the UN General Assembly is more like speed dating than diplomacy, it is customary for the president to make face time for our allies there.

The White House has yet to give a good explanation for why Obama hosted a reception for world leaders but opted not to arrange a single bilateral meeting during his stay in New York. His decision was made all the more conspicuous by the fact that he took the time to appear on the daytime TV show “The View.”

Comments

Obama preferred "face-time" with David Letterman & the ladies of THE VIEW!!!!

Pres. Obama is too busy going on the View, Pimp the Limp, David Lettermen and a Las Vegas fund raiser the day our ambassador and others are murdered and consulates are burning.  First things first....Pres. Obama's campaign and not meeting world leaders over the Iran crisis that will effect every nation especially Israel.

There is an old saying in diplomatic circles if nothing is to come from a meeting there is no purpose to the meeting.  If Obama had met with the heads of state these same folks commenting would have said, "he's playing politics, photo op", which of course would have been true.   So for those who say the Globe is never negative I point out this useless editorial piece.

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that is his job to meet with heads of state especially when the middle-east is burning our embassies and killing our staff. His visits on the View & fund raisers can wait a few days....he loss imagine to these heads of states and in his own country.

To bad he didn't address the real issues about why the Libya and Egyptian Embassies were attacked. Obama, Rice, and Clinton lied and lied repeatedly while the media focused on ill-timed statement by Romney. A failed foreign policy, An American Ambassador assassinated, three others murdered and an administration that stands up and lies to the American people about the reasons, fails to explain security failures, and why on the anniversary on 9/11 no extra precautions were taken . 

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remember when immediately Pres. Obama could not wait to give the details of Osama bin Laden's death(glad he is dead) let movie producers in on classified information almost immediately and cause thr doctor who tried to help because of these leaks ended up in jail for 33 yrs. But they knew the day after it was a terrorist attack and went to the public & lied...scene left a mess where a CNN reporter found the diary...what did the terrorist find? Worse the ambassador & others knew before hand they were in trouble and what did the state dept. do....nothing. These are bumps in the road according to Pres. Obama...no they aren't they are the bodies of the dead ambassador & others.

I suppose it is fun for some to make a big deal out of what is occuring in the Middle East.  "Our embassies are burning and our staff are being killed."  Really.  What really happened?  A splinter group in Librya planned and carried out a vicous attack on American territory and people.  The people of Libya rose up in anger and demolished the splinter groups home base.  Thousands went into the street to express their sorrow and anger at the milita's actions.  But our political "commentators" like "beantown" ignore that part of the story.

In Egypt whether over the film or as an anniversary response to 9/11 protesters outside the embassy burn American flags and threaten to overrun the Embassy.  The Presdient of Egypt does nothing, the President of the US calls the President of Egypt and the American Embassy is secured.  Again, "beantown" skips that.  Why do these things get skipped because they work against the political narrative. 

Should better security been in place for the Ambassador, certainly.  And a commentator could rightly raise the issue, could state the President failed to make appropriate security arrangements, and I would agree.  The rest is nothing more than political talking points at the expense of reality.

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I take offense over an administration that doesn't listen to warnings of its own ambassador who fears for his safety. I take offense that a supposed ally Egypt allows it police and securtity forces to slip away while a mob assaults our embassy. I take offense that top officials then lie about these coordinated attacke, refuses to call them what they are, terrorist attacks by Islamist extremists. This administration is morally responsible fot 4 deaths. These aren't talking points these are facts and to stand up and blame  a stupid video insults one's intelligence.

Well you can take offense.  However, what you have listed are political talking points and if you wish to be offended by political talking points that's your choice.  I prefer the facts in the case.  As I said the President can be criticized for lax security regarding the Ambassador, whether warnings were given or not, regardless of who's responsibility it was, it occurs on the President's watch.  So he can be criticized but the balance of your comment is merely political yacking.  No one lied about the attacks intellgence data supports a couple of positions.  Unlike Mr. Romney and his political supporters I don't know all the facts therefore I don't make assumptions regarding how or why the attacks beyone LIbya took place.  Even if Islamists merely used the film as a front, so what? 

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Wow! Imagine politics playing a part of a President's decision making process. Wow! Imagine politics playing a part of a Presidential contender 's process. They both do it. It all depends on whose ox is being gored. It's to President Obama's political advantage trot to meet with the leaders. I notice Governor Romney isn't rushing to meet with them either. Don't tell me it's a matter of courtesy on his part after how he was received and perceived in Europe and his rash statements when the attack and murder of our Libyan Ambassador occurred. They'll both get a political advantages from their individual responses. It's a wash in my opinion.

Wow! Imagine politics playing a part of a President's decision making process. Wow! Imagine politics playing a part of a Presidential contender 's process. They both do it. It all depends on whose ox is being gored. It's to President Obama's political advantage trot to meet with the leaders. I notice Governor Romney isn't rushing to meet with them either. Don't tell me it's a matter of courtesy on his part after how he was received and perceived in Europe and his rash statements when the attack and murder of our Libyan Ambassador occurred. They'll both get a political advantages from their individual responses. It's a wash in my opinion.

The United States is withdrawing more staff from its embassy in Tripoli, some two weeks after cutting personnel to emergency levels following an attack on its consulate, officials said Thursday.  looks like all those rebel militia haven't been driven out yet.

More political talkibg points:

The letter to the President demanding answers to questions about the attacks marks the first time congressional Democrats have so directly expressed their dissatisfaction with the administration's response to inquiries about the attacks,  which resulted in the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others and raised questions about U.S. security throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. A Kerry aide confirmed that the committee intended to enlist the support of Republicans and Democrats and said the letter would likely be sent Friday. Another aide told The Examiner that the panel's 10 Democrats and nine Republicans plan to sign it.

 

 I repeat The behavior of Obama, and Secretary of State Clinton, U.N. Ambassador Rice over the past 14 days is a scandal of the highest order. Lies, cover ups, and neglect for security of American intelligence and personnel that borders on criminal. these are just talking points for some.