I’ve been watching with growing incredulity in the last 24 hours how people are blaming this Libya attack on some cheap movie made by someone unknown. Do people really believe that that this was all a coincidence on the anniversary of 9/11?
Come on…
This wasn’t the fault of some nutcase making a home movie. This was a coordinated attack on the anniversary of 9/11 by our enemy.
Plain and simple.
Although initial reports described the events as a demonstration that had spiraled out of control, there are indications that the attack may have been planned, most likely by Islamic radicals who have been gaining ground in Libya.
Stevens had gone to the consulate in still-restive Benghazi to oversee its evacuation after the demonstration had started. The building was then stormed by gunmen, who succeeded in setting it on fire.
The ambassador was well-liked by many Libyans, particularly the pro-democracy rebels on whose behalf he passionately argued during the conflict last year that brought down dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
An almost-simultaneous demonstration was held outside the US Embassy in Cairo, though events did not turn violent there. Both protests were sparked by a 14-minute trailer of the hour-long movie Innocence of Muslims, which was posted on YouTube and openly ridicules the prophet Muhammad – whom religious Muslims believe should not be portrayed at all.
The shortened version of the video is being promoted and circulated by Morris Sadek, an Egyptian-born Coptic Christian in the Washington area who has expressed extreme anti- Islamist views.
There are several indications, however, that there was a concerted effort to rile up emotions based on the crude video in the days before the attack, and that the demonstration may have been a pretext for a more serious assault.
The fact that it happened on September 11, coinciding with the 11th anniversary of al-Qaida’s attacks on the US, fueled speculation that it was a planned attack, rather than spontaneous violence.
If this had happened any other day I could entertain the explanation that these Muslim idiots got their widdle feelings hurt over a video but for this to happen on 9/11 over any other day explains everything to me.
And they know the weakest United States President in our history will do nothing. Maybe he will shoot a few drone missiles but no one, least of all members of al-Qaeda, are afraid of that. Hell, they have taken over Libya and Egypt while this President was shooting his missiles. What are they supposed to fear?
A man who explains away the fact that these Muslim animals paraded around our dead Ambassador as good samaritans dragging a dead body to the hospital?
Wow….just wow.
The action and inaction of this President over the last four years have made me so ashamed…I don’t think I have never been so ashamed of a President in my lifetime. (I was too young to comprehend the cowardice of Jimmy Carter so you have to give me a pass on that one).
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@Greg:
Maybe not so stupid as you think Greg. It seems the State Department didn’t sign off on the release and were pretty pissed when the embassy sent it anyway.
Greg says:
Really? Did you feel the same way in 2004 when Kerry was running around slamming Bush and the Bush administration with 10 times the vitriol? No? Didn’t think so.
@Greg:
I could go along with this. I don’t think you should say anything about someone behind their back that you wouldn’t say to their face.
@Greg: What your Idol/King fails to understand, apologies to the Moslems is a sign of weakness. Obama set himself and the US up for this incident by his world apology tour and his continuous behavior. When there is a real issue, Obama and his fish wife SOS Hill condem the action in ” the harshest terms”. What do you expect “harshest” terms mean?
@drjohn: Perhaps you should compare the chronology of events with Romney’s statements. There are reasons why so many Republicans have disavowed Romney’s comments.
@Skookum: Skook, these lefties like Greg have no idea how important the killing of an ambassador from the president of the united states is to recruiting for AQ and other terrorists. All of the UAV killings and the Killing of OBL now mean nothing. The terrorist believe they now are winning! Nothing that Obama has done to date has any meaning any more.
After the horse has gone from the stable, our leading from behind the horses tail president sends a marine detail to protect the embassy. I wonder what their rules of engagement are? To top all of this off, Obama is doing nothing to avoid the deep cuts to the military to stop or slow down these terrorists. It will not be long before individual terrorist will be machine gunning down unsuspecting families in their local shopping mall. When that happens, it will be “shocking” and “unexpected” and the president will feel sorry as he tees off on the 2nd hole. “We condemn this action with the strongest words” likely will be uttered as he lines up a putt.
It looks like I should plan on keeping my flag at half mast as long as we tolerate this president!
@Disenchanted: Just what would you have Obama do? Go to war? Some people like to just sit around a talk, not knowing what may really be going on.
@Common Sense: Even a goodly number of Republicans are questioning Romney’s leadership. The only reason that they continue to support him is because he supports tax cuts for them.
@drjohn: This was an effort to diffuse violence—no kowtowing. But, you and the rest of these ultra-right-wingers would know little about diplomacy.
@Randy: #55
The lefties are just playing with you to see how long they can keep you commenting. I am guessing they keep track.
I think it was Fox News who said Obama pulled the Marine detail away before the attack that killed the four. Does my belief that Obama wants to turn the USA into a socialist or Muslim country sound so far fetched now? He didn’t meet with his security council for a week before the attacks. This way he can honestly say he wasn’t informed of the WARNINGS THAT WERE ISSUED a few days before the attacks.
Did anybody else notice that Hillary and Obama had no emotions at all during the speeches they gave about the attacks. I’m used to Obama’s computer voice, but now Hillary is a computer programmed voice too.
As I have mentioned before, if the shooting starts, Idaho will be one of the last states to fall, if it does. We have plenty of weapons and ammo. We don’t have very many restrictions on types guns we can have, and no restrictions on the amount and type of ammo. If the worst comes, try to get to Idaho and we will protect you. Liberals need not apply. You don’t want to be around people with guns.
If the republicans don’t go after Obama on this issue after they find out about the warnings that were issued that Obama wasn’t there to receive, we know the two parties are working together.
There’s nothing that can make the actions of a bunch of religious radicals worse that to defile their religion. Imagine the effect on a bunch of Christians with a 15th Century mind-set hearing about a movie saying derogatory things about Christ, while engaging in the work of God during an anti-abortion protest.
What a farce. Islam was created as an act of war, war and conquest it’s only purpose. And now, over two hundred years after the US first returned fire there are those on the right who think COIN will someday work, though it never has, and those on the left who think the violence that is islam can be “defused”.
It’s really pretty simple folks, if you back down today because they find a movie offensive they will expect you to back down next time because walking your dog is offensive (opps, I guess that’s already happened in the UK), or because letting your wife show her face is offensive.
Sooner or later the rest of the world needs to realize what the muslims have always known, it will come down to them or us. Instead of making them stronger by strangling our energy production, we need to become a net exporter of oil, flood the market and drive down their income. We need to withdraw our embassies from all of the countries they control, and get out of the UN that is already infested with their rot. But these measures will only postpone the inevitable war of extermination that will someday happen.
Diplomacy never prevented a war, it’s only delayed a few. If the war is to be delayed we need to use that time getting prepared rather than feeding and comforting the enemy.
@liberal1(objectivity):
Please remind us of the last time an “artist” had a showing with a disgusting and blasphemous piece of work depicting Jesus, that led to violent protests and murder, Lib1. We seem to have forgotten.
@liberal1(objectivity): #60
Can you show us even ONE instance where Christians killed anybody because someone said something bad about them, or made a movie that said their religion was bad, or showed a picture with an image they didn’t like. How many people were killed after the Mohammad bomb picture was shown? I read where the countries where the people were killed didn’t show the image. They were shown in other countries.
Even now, some of the rioters are saying that if anybody says anything bad about their prophet, they will be killed. If Muslim is supposed to be such a peaceful religion, why are there so many people being killed by it? In one sense I guess it is. Look how many people are RESTING IN PEACE because of it.
@liberal1(objectivity):
Your hypocracy seems to be exceeded by the hypocracy of the Administration (Obama) that you support.
Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., said:
“While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of three public servants.
Really, Mr. President? You “reject efforts to denigrate the religious belief of others?” Really?
Now, I find that kind of odd since Obama did not utter ONE word about the movie, Religulous whose title was taken from a combination of “religion” and “ridiculous.” Where was Obama’s disgust for a movie, made by a devout athiest, that made fun of Christianity? Like so many times, Obama seemed AWOL on the insult that movie thrust at Christians.
But wait, it gets even better. The movie that ridiculed Christianity, that Obama seemed totally unconcerned about, was made by Bill Maher. Perhaps someone can show me where Obama’s super PAC, PriorityUSA Action, refused the $1 million donation from Bill Maher? Maybe someone can link me to an article where Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. advised the super PAC that he was not comfortable with it receiving $1 million from a man who insulted the religion of Christians? It is simple; Obama is profiting from the denigration of religion and his super PAC has no intention of returning that money and telling Maher that the denigration of any religion will not be tolerated by this administration.
So what is the message that the Obama administration is sending out? Is he telling Christians that in order to be respected and not have their religion disrespected we must riot and kill people?
Obviously, in Obama’s mind, one religion is more equal than another and he will keep his word to support Islam should the political winds change.
Well, unless you’re Catholic and refuse to pay for birth control or morning after pills or abortions for your employees or students.
http://freebeacon.com/reports-marines-not-permitted-live-ammo/
@retire05:
I think this would thrill him, give him a chance to use some of those executive orders he’s been putting into position and an excuse to avoid that unpleasantness called “the election”.
@johngalt:
To liberal1:
How about we deal in the really real world of moral non-equivalence, where we don’t have to hypothesize about “what would 15th century Christians do?” and simply address what we should do about 21st century Islamists?
@liberal1(objectivity):
Maybe if he took time out of his busy schedule of golfing, hanging with Jay-Z, and Pimp with the Limp, he could attend his daily briefings.
I certainly cannot be accused… tho you all try from time to time… of defending Obama’s foreign policy leadership. He’s done more damage than good. I’m on the record for his meddling in Honduras, Egypt, and Libya… just to name a few.
That said, he is still the POTUS and CiC. Mittens is still just a wannabe POTUS. When we have national events which are tantamount to an act of war, any wannabe candidate should be first waiting for the official US response as they are the one’s elected and appointed to speak for the nation… whether we like them or not. After the official State response, it is quite appropriate for him to weigh in. Not before.
Mittens, IMHO, demonstrated very bad judgment and became too eager to make this a campaign election point.
Exactly, Ditto. It’s nice to know that someone else can detect the stench that is the so called official story of this so called filmmaker. Something is not right… from the lies to the actors and deliberate changing of the storyline in post production, the timing for Arabic translation, the attempt to link this to Israel and the Jews, and the choice of the distribution network.
@Wordsmith… yup. On the other thread, I likened it to a poor South Park attempt… LOL. It’s not even an education on radical Islamists’ Muslim on Muslim violence, of their violence on Zionists. It’s nothing more than a farce and mockery of Muhammed… and a really cheesy one at that. $5 mil? Probably more like a couple hundred thousand, and I’d be curious as to where the rest of the funds went, and who they were supporting.
Mata, you don’t cite your reference that the film maker added the Arabic dubbing. I have seen comments somewhere that the Arabic version was dubbed by some Egyptian Clerics but I can’t seem to find that citation. I still think we have to keep open the possibility that this is some kind of false flag event although I hate to even think in conspiratorial terms.
Also, before you jump on Romney too many times, it was not unreasonable to think that the tweet from the Consulate was official and Romney was responding to that tweet.
I will, however, join in your call to wait until all the facts are out there before we come to final conclusions. The good thing is that this interjects foreign affairs into the race and that is quite important from my standpoint. Obama has no defense on the economy and aside from the OBL killing and some drone strikes, little to say about success in foreign affairs.
Disturber
It is obvious that some folks don’t understand the importance of world peace and world calm. We no longer function as a domestic economy but a global one. And if you are stupid enough to think that going to war instead of trying to come to some solution, is the best economical and physically right thing to do for your country, you are my friend living in a fairy tail! We must fight for calm waters, in order to get the country back at the top of its game. Selling our products to these people you believe we should go to war with are important don’t you get that? We can still be a super power and flex our muscles, all the while taking their money, so why bother when they can already see the silhouette of our mighty frame!
@brian winkler, #43:
Romney has a right to speak his mind, same as the idiots who made a video calculated to offend and set off Islamic extremists. One would expect a mainstream presidential candidate to demonstrate a much greater degree of responsibility than to attack a current president on his response to an international crisis while that crisis is still unfolding, however. It just isn’t done. During moments of international crisis, America presents a united front.
On top of that, Romney didn’t have his facts straight. His presentation of the chronology of events is flat out wrong. He was publicly countering the Cairo embassy’s conciliatory statements ahead of the violence that later resulted in 4 deaths. Maybe you need to think about that for a while.
@MataHarley:
And this is where I think conservatives run the risk of alienating moderate center-right/center-left voters in the mainstream; and non-committed independents. Not respecting the office of the presidency but having an attitude of “he’s not my president!”
And regardless of whether or not Romney had a reason for piping in and quibbling over who said what first, I think his criticism also alienates a number of undecided voters because it appears (and he probably is) he is making partisan political swipes when mainstream Americans think the political jabs should stop “at the water’s edge”. A U.S. ambassador and 3 Americans were just killed. Can you imagine Democrats right after 9/11 blaming President Bush the day after?
And with a mainstream media that is more likely to cheerlead Obama than to cover for Romney, the narrative (like Paul Ryan “you lied!” factcheckers) will be written as Romney acting non-presidential but as a political opportunist who would criticize the president no matter what he says or does.
When I first saw the snippet of his statements on the mainstream news channel (I think NBC), it looked and sounded politically in bad taste. And I guarantee that’s the way it comes across to many Americans who only get their news in mainstream snippets.
Disturber, it is in my comment #66 to drj, who thought Arabic speaking Islamists have seen this as early as June. The Arabic version was posted to YouTube by “Sam Bacile” on Sept 4th.
INRE this observation:
After an assault on two embassies in 48 hours, I wouldn’t expect a twitter announcement from the Consulate to be the “official” State response. Don’t think we’re so far in the social media tank that POTUS and SOS statements are happening via Twitter, and thru Consulate mouthpieces, Disturber. This can be construed as an act of war. It’s hardly a “twitter” type moment, wouldn’t you say?
@MataHarley:
You know, if I were advising Romney, I think I would have made a much different suggestion than what took place. But to have Greg and Lib1 spout off utter hypocrisy just cannot be tolerated. The crap Kerry threw at Bush in 2004 and the same thing Obama did in 2008.
Of course back then the democrats said it was the height of patriotism to criticize the president. Guess not so much anymore.
@Aqua:
Your comment brought to mind something written by Wil Inboden:
@Wordsmith:
Especially when that is how the news is presented within the MSM.
The Obama administration does have a problem, though. That “tweet” from the embassy in Cairo, namely.
Our Ambassadors, and embassies, around the world are there to speak for the nation, and, by extension, the President. Meaning, that the statement released is an official statement, by the embassy, on behalf of the president, and further, on behalf of the nation itself.
So, Obama has a problem. Either he, or his admin, approved the message initially, and is now backtracking on it. Or, he has little to no control over what official messaging is being sent out by the embassy. Or, he has little interest in what messaging is sent out, unless, and until, it starts reflecting negatively upon him. Not sure which one, though.
Romney, though, should have kept it short and ambiguous, at first. It seems as if the Romney/Ryan campaign is attempting to “jump out in front” of whatever they can, much as Ryan did on the CTU strike, leaving Obama and his campaign to play catch-up. This one, however, is the wrong issue to do that with, for many reasons, not the least of which is what you stated about politics stopping at the water’s edge.
@Aqua, #77:
This isn’t about criticizing a current president. Critical comments regarding Obama’s handling of a crisis situation would have been entirely acceptable–provided they had come after the crisis had passed.
Romney didn’t just criticize, either. The situation was extremely volatile. The form his criticism took could actually have influenced events.
@Aqua, this isn’t about general dissenting opinions of which is rightfully in the realm of statements by opposing Party officials. This is about something that can be considered an act of war, and who should be speaking first to the global media as a State response.
You might say it’s about as wise as having the counter to the SOTU speech air before the SOTU speech. Romney should have first let the current leadership… deplorable as they are… respond before putting in his own statement. He’s just a guy, auditioning for a job at this point.
@liberal1(objectivity): Yes there is! The Russians and Israel would systematically kill the leaders until they cried Unkle! They are mostly cowards who talk ignorant people into becoming suicide bombers. When it comes to sacrificing themselves, they think twice. Since all Obama has done is to appoligize to the world, they see that as a major weakness. Since Obama has broadcast all of our intel to include when we will move troops, they see that as weakness. I our president had a pair, this could have been prevented.
@Randy, #82:
I imagine there’s some glimmer of understanding that Obama is the guy who has methodically had most of al Qaeda’s leadership blown off the map.
In 1983, when terrorists assaulted the US Embassy in Beirut, it was POTUS Reagan who made the statement in the hours following. In the wake of acts of war, the Ambassadors or Embassies are not the proper mouthpieces to speak.
There’s no argument that the botched tweet/embassy statement is yet another sign of the inefficiency of the Obama WH. However it remains inappropriate for Romney to attempt to seize the ball for political purposes in light of the seriousness of the situation on the global stage. He should have waited. It’s a no brainer.
Mata, I agree that an act of war is not a tweetable moment, but unfortunately, tweets and facebook posts seem to come from official and unofficial sources all the time. It seems clear, however, that SOS Clinton reaffirmed the substance of the tweet in question in her statement and that that might well have been the last word until Romney spoke up. It also appears that the White House was caught flat footed and was in disarray over how to respond. See my comment No. 29 above.
The mishandling of the Arab Spring is paying awful dividends.
Disturber
@Disturber, I was watching the news that morning. Romney had called a presser on Libya, but then had to empty the room because it was at the same time that Hillary was having her statement in the Rose Garden. Simultaneously, CNN was advertising that after Hillary’s individual statement, she and Obama would be making a joint statement later. So all that was planned.
In between Hillary and the joint Hillary/Obama statement, Romney trotted the press he had prematurely assembled back into the room and had his own. He also had made statements the even before, if I’m not mistaken.
Personally, I think he should have waited until after both the official SOS, and then the joint WH/SOS statement before calling a presser to weigh in.
@MataHarley:
I agree, which is why I stated “short and ambiguous“.
The “tweet”, though, happened as a precursor to the rioting, both in Egypt and Libya. Not during “an act of war”. And tweet or not, the statement becomes an official statement by our president, government, and nation, as the embassies around the world are there to represent our interests abroad.
So, as I said, Obama has a problem.
This would be the place Romney should be hammering on, at this time. And not before, like he did.
johngalt, it seems we’re discussing apples and oranges. My specific references are to Romney’s presser on the subject of Libya, as he advertised it as such, that was scheduled at the same time as Hillary’s SOS official statement, and her later joint statement with Obama.
@Greg:
I’m no fan of Romney, Greg, but I think that is going too far. Yesterday you wanted to place “blood on the hands” of the film-maker, and today you suggest, possibly, that Romney is partially to blame as well?
Possible evidence on the attack being imminent, regardless of film, “tweet”, or whatever, disputes your statement.
@Disturber, I forgot to address this observation.
Just because one owns the copyrights to their film doesn’t mean they are the ones providing the subtitles and translations for foreign productions. However it would be a copyright infringement for anyone to post the version to YouTube without Bacile’s expressed and written permissions. Thus, following the translation – who ever he had do it – he posted it himself… just in time to ramp up the Sept 11th fury.
Every bit of the timing suggests this was his intent.
@johngalt, #88:
I’m suggesting that the form his criticism took could have influenced events. The embassy’s public statement was conciliatory–presumably for a reason. Romney’s public comment was exactly the opposite. That was a lapse of judgement, in my opinion. Romney wasn’t there, to size up the immediate danger of the situation or the motive behind the statement. Words can have consequences.
@MataHarley:
“I certainly cannot be accused..tho you all try from time to time.of defending Obama’s foreign policy”
Well, considering that I have never accused you of that, and the fact that you felt the need to lump me in with “you all” which means more than one, you are being blatantly dishonest about my trying to accuse you of defending Obama’s foreign policy. Never mind that you accused me of supporting Terry Jones, which I have NEVER done. Why the need to spin?
“When we have national events which are tantamount to an act of war, any wannabe candidate should be first waiting for the official US response as they are the one’s elected and appointed to speak for the nation.”
Well, not-with-standing that the term “wannabe” is a bit insulting toward a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, Mitt Romney has just as much right to voice his opinion and any talking head from the New York Times or FA. It goes back to that whole First Amendment thingie that you seem to think the government has the right to suppress if that speech is politically incorrect. No, Romney is NOT required to wait on a lax Administration to make a statement, on any issue, before he does.
Now, while I have admitted that Mitt Romney was not my choice in the primaries, and that I think he is simply a northeaster liberal squish, your anomosity toward Romney seems to be growing by the day. Since I think you are too smart to waste your vote on a write-in or Gary Johnson, and are conscientious enough to vote, I have to wonder if you are leaning toward voting for Obama.
More on the guy behind the movie from, of all places, the UK’s Daily Mail.
Apparently Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, aka the alleged Sam Bacile, served 21 months in prison, and had to pay $794,700 for bank fraud in 2010. No stranger to hiding his identity, he has used aliases including Mark Basseley, Yousseff M. Basseley, Nicola Bacily and Erwin Salameh prior.
Lies about Israel and Jews. Sketchy costs/accounting for a low budget movie costing $5 mil. And now convicted of bank fraud the years before he began production. Maybe he’s just a con artist for the cash donations, along with wanting to implicate Israel for his production in the name of “Christianity”…. uh huh. What a great way to not only fill his pockets, but to implicate Jews and Israel, plus portray Christians in a bad light. Ya can’t make this stuff up.
Oh my… more on “Bacile’s” criminal records and stolen SSNs from The DangerRoom blog at Wired dot com.
Seems that he was indicted June, 2009. Serving 21 months puts him out approx Mar 2011… three months before casting and shooting his “epic”. Appears to be little this man says about himself that resembles fact.
@MataHarley:
“After the assault on two embassies in 48 hours, I wouldn’t expect a twitter announcement from the Consulate to be the “official” State response.”
Well, considering that Obama is viewed as someone who is a technocrat (although he has trouble with an I-phone) and he relies heavily on social networking for communication purposes, it would not surprise me in the least if others under him are not following his lead.
Remember, Obama used Twitter, Facebook and an email blast to announce his reelection campaign.
@Greg:
Wow! Romney can’t win with some of you. First, the lamestream media was complaining that Romney did not address foreign issues enough, and was placing too much importance on the economy. But when Romney does comment on foreign issues, once again, he is wrong.
And if you think he should have waited until the crisis in the Middle East is over, he would never be allowed to speak on the Middle East since not only has the fat lady not sang, she ain’t even in the wings.
@MataHarley:
No. Maybe. I think you are addressing Romney’s specific action(statements), while I am addressing the general idea of him speaking out to get ahead of Obama on it.
I’d say that I am in agreement with you, on Romney, and when and how he made his initial statement.
If Romney insisted on making that initial statement, it should have been a short and ambiguous showing of support for the embassy people and consulate people.
It seems like the Romney/Ryan plan of getting “out front” on issues backfired this time, as it wasn’t the right time or place in which to do so.
At last… clarity in our agreement, johngalt. Certainly a “our hearts are with the families for their losses” type statement would have been appropriate. Didn’t happen tho.
However now you too can be accused of wanting to vote for Obama. LOL
@Greg:
Again, the evidence that the attacks and murders in Libya would have happened, regardless of film, statement, etc., disputes your assertion. Which, when boiled down to it’s essence, isn’t calling Romney stupid for making his initial statement, which I agree with, but that Romney is responsible, at least partially, for the deaths and violence.
@Colorado Girl:
So, what products, exactly do you propose selling to these raving savages? Before you get too excited about the prospect of economic cooperation leading to world piece you should read, “The Guns of August”. How do you propose to “come to a solution,” with those who will only accept total rejection of our Constitution and way of life in favor of their mythology. . . convert and put on a burka?
I do agree though that somebody here is living a fairey tale.
@MataHarley:
I’d like to see a timeline put together on this issue containing the elements of the embassy “tweet”, the start of the protests, Romney’s initial statement, Obama/Clinton’s official statement, the killing of the consular people in Libya. That might provide even further clarification on where Romney failed, what he might have gotten right, Obama’s failure or success.
Hindsight being 20/20, and as good of “monday morning quarterbacks” as we all are here at FA, clarity for everyone might ensue. Or not.
@Greg:
I said earlier that I would have offered Romney different advice. Personally, I would have had him just sit it out and see what Obama did.
But, even the State Department said the embassy statement was not cleared and they asked them to revise it.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/12/inside_the_public_relations_disaster_at_the_cairo_embassy
@Greg:
Prove to us once and for all that it was our military that did not do this but Obama. Prove to us once and for all that the AQ leadership was never touched prior to Obama becoming President. Prove to us that the attrition of AQ in the years prior to Obama becoming POTUS had zero impact. Prove to us that no other person, i.e Bush, McCain, Hillary Clinton, Romney, or anyone else, save for Ron Paul or Kucinich, would not have gone after AQ the same way. Keep in mind a lot of those AQ leaders were killed by drone strikes. Drones that were being built on Bush’s watch but didn’t become operational until Obama became President giving him assets that Bush didn’t have. Your insinuations are kind of like claiming Truman did something FDR didn’t do when he dropped the bombs on Japan.
@another vet, #103:
The Commander in Chief actually commands the military forces of the United States of America. Commander in Chief is not an honorific title. Obama is not an exception to the rule.