Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Romney Unfit To Serve

The office of President of the United States requires a uniquely talented individual.  It requires a person with the intellect and the capacity to effectively respond to unforeseen events, the disposition of which may have worldwide implications.  It requires a composed, thoughtful individual with the spine to make the tough choices and the light touch of a seasoned diplomat. 
Over the past twenty four hours Mitt Romney has proven that he is not that individual.
As you probably know the US Ambassador to Libya and three of his security personnel were killed yesterday when armed protestors stormed the US compound in Benghazi. 
The protest was in response to an amateur video released in the US which depicts the prophet Mohammed in a series of disgusting circumstances. No one knew anything about the video until Terry Jones, the radical Gainesville, Florida pastor whose threats to burn the Koran set off widespread violence in Afghanistan, started to promote its content. The subject matter of the video was picked up by hard-line radicals throughout the Middle East.  Apparently those wishing to discredit the US spread the false rumor that this was some sort of blockbuster movie scheduled to be premiered on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The lie spread like wildfire, infuriating Muslims throughout the Arab world.  Protests ensued in both Cairo and Benghazi.  The protestors attacking the Benghazi mission were armed with machine guns and RPGs.  They ransacked the building and set the place on fire.  Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three of his staff died in the confrontation.
The Obama administration understood the potentially explosive nature of the situation.  The Cairo embassy tried to diffuse the brewing  tension by issuing a statement condemning the video and supporting the peaceful practice of all religions.  It is important to note that this statement was issued PRIOR to the violent attacks on the American embassies. 
AFTER the attacks occurred and the world learned of the deaths of the US citizens, Mitt Romney issued the following statement: 
“I am outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Cairo and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi.  It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administrations first response was not to condemn the attacks on our diplomatic missions but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
So eager was Governor Romney to score political points over the deaths of innocent Americans that he either failed to notice that the Cairo embassy's statement in support of law abiding Muslims was made BEFORE the attacks occurred…or he was intentionally twisting the facts for political gain.  

Once all of the details were confirmed, President Obama condemned the attacks saying in part: “We will not waiver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act…and make no mistake justice will be done.”
The Middle East is a tinder box.  Think Iran 1979.  American military personnel and diplomatic envoys live in a constant state of heightened alert.  Any miss step could have far reaching consequences not favorable to the United States.  Yet here is the man who could be our next president shooting off his mouth for political gain. 
Romney’s callus and craven attempt to politicize the deaths of American citizens is unconscionable.  And it is yet another example of why he is unfit to serve as President of the United States.      
          

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