Poll Position: How should Obama respond to embassy attacks?
The big story this week was the series of attacks on U.S. embassies across the Middle East and North Africa: from Libya, where our ambassador was killed, to Egypt, Yemen and, today, Tunisia and Sudan. In Libya, the government is cooperating with the investigation into the murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The responses from the other countries have been mixed, but they have been rather tepid on the whole.
How should Obama respond to the attacks on our embassies?
- Cut foreign aid (255 Votes)
- Pursue the killers in Libya; otherwise, lie low (173 Votes)
- Stop issuing travel visas for people from those countries (130 Votes)
- Bomb 'em (108 Votes)
- Economic sanctions (106 Votes)
- Too soon to say (102 Votes)
- Cut diplomatic ties (91 Votes)
- Increase foreign aid (5 Votes)
Total Voters: 517
Loading ...President Obama made a mistake Wednesday evening when he said of the Egyptian government, which has been in place less than three months, “I don’t think that we would consider them an ally, but we don’t consider them an enemy.” It was a mistake because the White House on Thursday had to walk back the statement; later Thursday, the State Department had to walk back the walk back, clarifying that Egypt retains the official designation of Major Non-NATO Ally it has held since 1989.
But this post isn’t about criticizing Obama for shooting first and aiming later. (OK, maybe it’s a little bit about that.) It’s really about the question most of us have been pondering since the attacks in Libya and Egypt on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of 9/11: What is the proper response?
Some of you took my first post on the subject to imply a military action is needed. As I tried to make clear in the comments, that’s not the case. Things would have to spiral much further out of control before we were talking about military action.
Unless, of course, you include drone flights and a possible targeted strike on the terrorists responsible for the ambassador’s death, which the Obama administration appears to be considering at the very least.
Otherwise, there are a range of options here. We could pull our diplomats from their capitals. We could expel their diplomats from Washington. We cut cut or eliminate foreign aid to these countries. We could, I suppose, increase our foreign aid to them and use it to promote and educate them about our laws and values (such as freedom of expression). We could officially remove them from our list of allies. We could stop issuing travel visas from their country to ours. We could impose some form of economic sanctions. Or we could essentially do nothing more than pursue the people who killed Stevens and the other Americans.
What should Obama’s response entail? That’s this week’s Poll Position question. Answer in the nearby poll — NOTE: unlike most of my polls, you can select more than one answer in this one — and the comments thread below.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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949 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly D
September 14th, 2012
9:28 pm
I think if they did have nukes, the warmongering would stop and gas prices would drop.
I think it would have the opposite effect. Iran, obviously, wants to dominate the region and having nukes would make that easier for them. And they’d control the Persian Gulf and they could set oil prices pretty much wherever they wanted. They have a long history of empire building. They’ve been down for a while, from an empire standpoint, but I think they still see themselves that way.
Del
September 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
getalife,
I just hope and pray things chill. This is a very dangerous world situation right now.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
I heard mitt say he could dictate events in the ME. That is a dangerous statement. The only way to dictate events in the ME are occupations and we know how those turn out.
ATLien
September 14th, 2012
9:36 pm
Del,
But you blamed this on Obama’s appeasement, which is patently hypocritical and false because Bush, Cheney and the NeoCons were extremely hawkish towards the region and YET embassies in the region were STILL attacked. Thank you for proving how much of a hypocrite you are on this issue and any other that concerns the President
Del
September 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
I remember in 65 and being in Marines seeing the transition into war. You get kind of a sixth sense after awhile. I feel it now… 9-11 was very abrupt and obvious to even the civilian population who knew we had to respond. This reminds me more like 65 but the consequence now is far greater. Hope that I’m wrong.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
9:41 pm
Del,
Very dangerous indeed. I think your nominee needs to think hard on the words he uses and not fan the flames. I think this situation will calm down in a few days and they are learning about freedom on the Internet (they think our President could stop the video and he did request Youtube to look at it but they did not take it down) and tolerance of other opinions. They consider insulting Islam as a capital offense.They have a long way to go and we need patience but will not tolerate harming Americans. Our President made that clear and they will be brought to justice.
Del
September 14th, 2012
9:43 pm
ATLien, go hypocrite yourself. Family time now…I’m out.
cc
September 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
Hillbilly D @ 9:28 pm:
Fortunately, we won’t have to be concerned about the price of Middle Eastern oil much longer, will we? With the Canadian Pipeline and all the oil exploration and drilling approved by Hussein on federal land, we will soon be energy independent!
getalife
September 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hillbilly D,
I think they have too much on their plate and can’t deal with all their problems. Empire building has slowed down because people are unhappy with their government and expanding would make it worse.
Funny that the Iranian people actually love Americans and people that have been there say most of our news about Iran is bs.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
cc,
We could be now but future generations would have none. Are you in the me generation and never think long term?
Hillbilly D
September 14th, 2012
9:51 pm
Fortunately, we won’t have to be concerned about the price of Middle Eastern oil much longer, will we?
I know you didn’t mean that literally but I think the price of Middle Eastern oil will matter after most of us are food for the worms.
Linda
September 14th, 2012
9:53 pm
Just@9:15, We’re both lucky. We help each other in the kitchen & he better not ever think he’s helping me. I’m helping him. He loves to eat more than he loves to cook. I love to cook more than I love to eat. He’s the master of the grill & smoker. I’m in charge of recipe planning & the mess. Works for us. 36 1/2 yrs.
Hillbilly D
September 14th, 2012
9:53 pm
Empire building has slowed down because people are unhappy with their government and expanding would make it worse.
But nothing takes the masses attention off being unhappy with their government like a threat from without, real or imagined. That’s true in any country in the world and Iran is no different.
David R. Boag, DDS
September 14th, 2012
9:58 pm
ATLien @ 9:36
With very few differences, foreign policy hadn’t really changed much as far as the ME goes since the Carter administration, which I think we can ALL agree was a disaster. But toward the end of GWB’s years, and especially during Obama’s presidential campaign, it was stated SO strongly in the MSM how Obama’s more-diplomatic approach would result in so much of a different response from other nations. It was stated mercilessly that the reason that all these countries hated us was because of the policies of GWB and his ilk. The creme de la creme was when Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize…for having done…well…nothing…other than making speeches about how much more everyone should get along. The HOPE and CHANGE that were supposedly the inevitable result of his change in our stance regarding these nations drove the liberal media pundits to have thrills up their legs, etc.
And now, as the more conseravtive pundits predicted, the actions and hatred against the United States have NOT stopped. It HASN’T changed, at least not for the better. And in the meantime, these groups have continued to stake a larger claim of other European nations such as GB and France, who are struggling as well. The promise of HOPE and CHANGE–for the better–has NOT been realized. His power and ability to manipulate these other nations to hate us less is as empty as his qualifications for the Nobel Prize. Bare. Ass. Empty.
Even if these killings are not directly Mr. Obama’s fault–and for the purposes of avoiding useless argument, let’s say he is not–what they show is that his strategy hasn’t changed anything for the better. He’s been ineffective in bringing the change about. And so one of the major justifications for his rise to power turns out to be empty promise with unfulfilled result.
That is what we are saying.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
“But nothing takes the masses attention off being unhappy with their government like a threat from without, real or imagined. That’s true in any country in the world and Iran is no different.”
True, we are sanctioning their central bank and the last time it started a revolution. They had the green revolution that failed so I don’t think the next one will fail.
cc
September 14th, 2012
10:04 pm
Hillbilly D @ 9:51 pm:
No, I didn’t mean it literally. I was only pointing out how very stupid I thought it not to utilize the Canadian Pipeline and to refuse the exploration/drilling of oil resources on federally owned land. Solar and battery powered vehicles may someday be feasible, but in the short term ‘here and now’ reality, we should be utilizing our resources.
Hillbilly D
September 14th, 2012
10:09 pm
They had the green revolution that failed so I don’t think the next one will fail.
And we stood by and watched it fail but that’s water under the bridge. Even if the next one succeeds, the government the people choose may be no more to our liking than this one. You just never know.
cc
September 14th, 2012
10:19 pm
David R. Boag, DDS @ 9:58 pm:
Somewhere in the discussion of lives lost, Brian Terry’s name should be remembered . . .
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:23 pm
cc,
We are drilling more than ever.
You think drilling will solve our jobs problem?
Linda
September 14th, 2012
10:26 pm
Dr. Boag@9:58, Welcome, again, to this blog & thank you for your contributions, astute as they are.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:29 pm
Hillbilly D,
True, it could be a more radical government .
Hillbilly D
September 14th, 2012
10:29 pm
“As the armed group passed through the wash below, the agents announced their presence; several of the armed individuals turned with weapons raised,” she said. The agents fired nonlethal bean-bag rounds at the subjects, who responded with gunfire, she said. A single bullet struck Terry, who died at the scene.
To send people into that kind of environment with non-lethal ammo is lunacy, at best, in my opinion.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/09/us/border-patrol-terry-indictments/index.html
td
September 14th, 2012
10:35 pm
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:23 pm
cc,
We are drilling more than ever.
You think drilling will solve our jobs problem?
Absolutely it can take the unemployment rate down at least 2%. Check out the people in SD begging for skilled workers to come up and make $20 to $25 per hour.
Just Saying..
September 14th, 2012
10:40 pm
Linda: I’m not certain 10 other women in Georgia would know how to grind their own flour.
36 1/2 yrs. Congratulations.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:42 pm
td,
I know and they are having problems filling those jobs because there is nothing to do out there and it is hard work.
I know you see those energy commercials they spent millions showing you that drilling is the answer but is is not. gob obstruction cost us 2 million jobs but you don’t care about that.
I think our President will approve the pipeline and any infrastructure projects.
Moon Mullins
September 14th, 2012
10:45 pm
How should Obama respond to embassy attacks? If he were a Republican, attack Guatamala. As a Democrat, move cautiously, get all the facts and act prudently.
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:49 pm
Bean bags. That sounds like bs. They are armed.
Just Saying..
September 14th, 2012
10:51 pm
“I know you see those energy commercials they spent millions showing you that drilling is the answer…”
Now I’m really bummed. I thought those ads were a bootstrap effort of THE PEOPLE of America’s energy companies. You know, in the break room one day, guy had a great idea, others joined in, they passed the hat, somebody’s brother-in-law did video on the side…
David R. Boag, DDS
September 14th, 2012
10:52 pm
Linda @ 9:53
“Works for us. 36 1/2 yrs.”
A good start!
We just celebrated our 20th last month.
Reminds me of a speech one of my parents friends gave at their 40th anniversary party. He stood up and said:
“As we’ve been together longer, more and more people have asked us what the secret to staying together is. It is really quite simple, actually. The trick is that you have to take turns with who makes the decisions. My turn starts in 7 years, 3 months, and 5 days!”
getalife
September 14th, 2012
10:58 pm
President Obama has taken away mitt’s advantage on the economy.
Guess mitt will pivot back to the economy now.
He is a poll watcher and I ain’t talking about strip clubs.
Just Proud To Be Here
September 14th, 2012
11:04 pm
Obama in 2007: The Day I’m Inaugurated the Muslim World Will Look at America Differently. How’s that working for ya Barry? This guy is the REAL AMATEUR in the room and the American people will realize it soon enough. Polls are irrelevant at this point and even though the majority fell for his Hope and Change schtick in 2008, I still believe in America. VOTE AMERICAN!!!!!!
ragnar danneskjold
September 14th, 2012
11:06 pm
The president should declare that his effort to engage the jihadists was a strategic error, and that as of today the policy of the United States will be to confront the jihadists wherever and whenever they are found. The United States will make every effort to depose jihadists whenever and wherever they come to power.
Not going to happen, but that would be a decent first step.
Linda
September 14th, 2012
11:11 pm
Just@10:40, Sure they do!
Did you know that bleached flour is banned in Canada & in most European countries?
I showed my husband these websites. He knows more about chemistry than I do. He told me to never buy bleached flour again.
We don’t buy any bleached white grains, which I guess the race baiters & racists will find offensive.
The longer it takes to cook, the better it is for you. Steer away from instant & quick anything, which I guess is political.
Obama’s policies are instant & quick, bandaid economics, no long-term jobs, just low-paying, short-term govt. jobs.
Just Proud To Be Here
September 14th, 2012
11:17 pm
Our country is not well. The Census Department says median income continued to fall in 2011. A separate analysis found that incomes are down almost 5 percent since the Obama “recovery” began—illustrating that, despite what Bill Clinton might say, the Obama recovery is not a recovery at all. The drop in the unemployment rate from the recession high of 10 percent to the current 8.1 percent can be ascribed entirely to the decline in labor participation. Studies find that a majority of the jobs the economy has created are low paying. Economic growth is lagging. It’s likely to be below 2 percent for the second year in a row. Current and projected federal spending is unsustainable. Americans continue to think we are headed in the wrong direction.
Obama met with bipartisan congressional leadership early in 2009. Bob Woodward reports in The Price of Politics that Eric Cantor (R., Va.) handed him a list of Republican economic proposals. Not one of those proposals was included in the stimulus bill. At the health care summit in 2010, congressional Republicans suggested a variety of ways to improve the American health care system: for example competition through a national insurance marketplace, malpractice reform, and ending the tax penalty against individuals who buy insurance. Not one of those ideas was included in the health care bill.
For two years, the House Republicans have passed a budget that at the very least is an opening bid in a good-faith negotiation over spending and taxes. For two years, that budget has died in the Senate. The president says the House proposal is “antithetical to our entire history.” Then he castigates the Republicans for their “tendency to shoot first and aim later” and calls for civil debate.
This is the broken and anxiety-ridden world Barack Obama has made. Our adversaries are stronger. America and her allies are weaker. And yet, after spending practically a decade blaming every last thing, including the bad weather, on President Bush, the media seem determinedly uninterested in ascribing even the slightest amount of responsibility to President Obama.
Who’s ready for four more years?
Get Real
September 14th, 2012
11:28 pm
get-a-nap….time for your oatmeal, pill and off to bed for you….just think, you will meet many new people in the morning, the same ones you knew today…
Linda
September 14th, 2012
11:35 pm
David@10:52, May I call you David? In our household, we take turns. My husband is the boss 3 days a week & I’m the boss 3 days a week, & we argue who is the boss the 7th day. Actually, we take daily & hourly turns. A smart woman knows when to argue passionately, when to give in to an issue she appears to be compassionate about but not really compassionate about & to wait to argue & stand firm on an issue she knows she is really compassionate about & then knows she’s “entitled” to win because she gave in to an issue she was not compassionate about.
Ever been there?
My husband reads all my posts & thinks I’m goofy & smart at the same time.
I love him & he loves me in spite of my womanly ways.
yuzeyurbrane
September 14th, 2012
11:53 pm
War with Iran is not inevitable; it simply takes hard work to maintain the lid on in that part of the world. Always has been, Republican or Democrat, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, or US. Netanyahu was a bud of Romney at Bain before either went into politics. He is trying to help his friend win an election. That is called interfering in American politics and if it were any other country than Israel all Americans would be up in arms about that. Slights and insults are in the eye of the beholder and Netanyahu is guilty of his provocations and arrogance, too. Frankly, I am astounded how Netanyahu continues to act towards his most important ally and isolate Israel rather than Iran. It is just plain stupid. I can’t imagine the US subjected to such behavior by any other ally nor I can I imagine it being tolerated by the US. Even many Israeli’s feel Netanyahu’s word is not golden and strongly oppose an attack on Iran because it is unlikely to accomplish its goal and because there would be severe damage in Israel and heightened dangers in the region. So Netanyahu wants the US to do the job for him because only it can. But every American should ask how many American lives it is worth and is it worth a quadrupling of the price of oil and severe economic consequences both here and around the world? Remember the law of unexpected consequences—remember the Iraq war was supposed to cost about $4 billion and we would be greeted as liberators. And you would not march off to war; it would be your children and grandchildren. Or do we wait a little longer and see if we can topple the regime with more sanctions and other actions short of traditional war? I am pro-Israel but disagree with it on some issues. I also understand that others have sincere but different views on this issue. I just say everyone should give it a serious, long think.
@@
September 14th, 2012
11:56 pm
Buy and distribute Afghanistan’s poppy (heroine)….turn ‘em all into junkies?
Oops! That one wasn’t on the list.
Okay, pursue the killers, temporarily withhold aid, and apply economic sanctions.
AmVet:
Wake up, cons. Your guy is going to lose this election.
Your Rocky won’t even make it out of the locker room, much less into the ring.
schnirt
TruthBe
September 15th, 2012
12:02 am
Obama and Hillary knew this because they are part of the evil. Both Obama and Hillary are traitors. They both support Muslim Terrorist groups like the PLO, Hamas, Hezbullah, and the Muslim Brotherhood. In FACT under this disgraceful corrupt President and Secretary of State and his administration they have given away almost 4 Billion taxpayers dollars to these groups. Not counting our money in the IMF or UN. Liberal idiots like AmVet and others are too stupid and blinded by the obama kool-aid to understand this. Remember Obama’s state of the union speech when he promised another 920 million dollars to these groups. When we freed Libya, Egypt, Yemen the Obama administration gave them more money to rebuild their economies and cities.When will you jack a$$es get mad about this. This is real money that could have been used to help our own Nation instead of the enemy’s. Obama is a MUSLIM TERRORIST (my opinion). Both Hillary and Barry are Communist.
TruthBe
September 15th, 2012
12:07 am
Joke: What do call a ” Moderate Muslim” one that is out of ammo.
bluecoat
September 15th, 2012
12:13 am
Just remember-China just waiting to step in where we falter.
getalife
September 15th, 2012
12:15 am
How will mitt help the middle class when his party always vote against the middle class.
Is he lying?
You betcha.
TruthBe
September 15th, 2012
12:21 am
No getalife you are lying. How’s your boy Obama helping the middle class by putting them on the unemployed list. Obama is so stupid he doesn’t even know how to read a P & L statement. If Obama was White or claimed his Whiteness would you still vote for him and blogg for him?????????? Or you just like most of the Blacks out there voting and running cover for Obama because of your corrupt Black Pride.
TruthBe
September 15th, 2012
12:30 am
America has been destroyed by you corrupt political correctness idiot Communist Liberals. With the help of all the left wing liberal mainstreet media, hollywood, and the music and print business.Including this corrupt DNC run rag of a newspaper. People wake up and smell the roses. America as we knew it is done stick an fork in it.
TruthBe
September 15th, 2012
12:35 am
By the way your little boy Jay Bookman is just another paid so-called journalist for the Obama campaign by the DNC and George Soros. Remember Cynthia Tucker being paid by George Soros and the Democrats as well when she worked (joke) for the corrupt ajc also.
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
12:41 am
bluecoat
September 15th, 2012
12:13 am
Just remember-China just waiting to step in where we falter.
++++++++++++++++++
Yep and Romney and his big money buddies are helping finance them by sending all our jobs over there to be done by slave labor and forced child labor.
Why do Americans hate America so much?
Fred ™
September 15th, 2012
12:47 am
David R. Boag, DDS
September 14th, 2012
9:58 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Concerning your post, let me use an analogy. If you put braces on my crooked ass teeth for 2 weeks will they then be straight and stay straight for the rest of my life?
“That is what WE are saying……….”
getalife
September 15th, 2012
12:57 am
Truthbe,
I am brown but check the gop’s voting record and show me one vote yes for the middle class. I watch them on C Span vote so I know what I am talking about.Do you?
Michael H. Smith
September 15th, 2012
5:46 am
Why do Americans hate America so much?
You should ask Bill Clinton why he signed NAFTA Fred before you make such inane claims about Romney shipping jobs offshore. Then again, go ahead and ignore the FACT, yeah FACT Fred… that your buddy “obumer” has pursued Free Trade Agreements no differently than his predecessors.
Michael H. Smith
September 15th, 2012
6:04 am
Uh “Mr. I watch C-span so I know”… do tell us how many “NET jobs created” has your PrezDent to his credit? And where does unemployment among young blacks stand as opposed to young whites in this country?