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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Terror Attack on U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens in Libya


Ambassador Chris Stevens choosing to stroll the streets of Libya, unprotected but for the company of an Islamic friend.


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Obama's team handled the Libyan situation poorly.

Some underlings may even have lied. 

However, in this age of transparency, when it is common knowledge that "the truth will out," it is hard to imagine Obama's people seeing advantage in temporary concealment.

Be that as it may, the Libyan terror attack -- deadly, tragic and ineptly managed -- was relatively "trivial" in comparison with the 1983 slaughter of 241 (two hundred and forty one) GI's at the Marine barracks in Lebanon. 

For perspective, I will mention that 1983 was Ronald Reagan's second year in office.

1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing

Excerpt: "The organization Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing. Suicide bombers detonated each of the truck bombs. In the attack on the American Marines barracks, the death toll was 241 American servicemen: 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers, along with sixty Americans injured, representing the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima of World War II, the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States military since the first day of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War, and the deadliest single attack on Americans overseas since World War II. In addition, the elderly Lebanese custodian of the building was killed in the first blast. The explosives used were equivalent to 5,400 kg (12,000 pounds) of TNT." (After two and half months of Reagan administration bluster,) "The U.S. Marines were moved offshore where they could not be targeted. On February 7, 1984, President Reagan ordered the marines to begin withdrawing from Lebanon. Their withdrawal was completed on February 26, four months after the barracks bombing; the rest of the multinational force was withdrawn by April 1984."

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It is incontrovertible fact that Ronald Reagan's response to the 1983 terror attack which left 241 Americans dead was to turn tail and flee.

He cut. 

He ran. 

He abandoned the scene of the crime.

Nor did Mr. Reagan bring anyone to justice.

Indeed, he did not even state his intention to bring anyone to justice.

Given the "political correctness" that enthralls Democrats and Republicans alike, the comparison between Reagan's abject "fright and flight" -- and the recent tragedy in Libya -- cannot even be mentioned "in public."

Nevertheless, an honest comparison between Reagan's behavior in 1983-84 and Obama's in 2012 is fair-and-accurate, a comparison that reveals the brazen determination of The Republican Party -- flailing and failing -- to keep Libya "alive" as a "focal point" for the third and final debate (which will be dedicated, solely, to foreign affairs). 

Since Obama killed bin Laden -- and the GOP has no other cards up its sleeve -- it is "Libya or bust."

In comparison with Ronald Reagan's world-class cowardice, President Obama's determination to hunt down the Libyan terrorists responsible for killing his friend Chris Stevens (and three other exemplary members of the foreign service) is a shining example of Obama's commitment to justice, a fit parallel to his determination to "get bin Laden." 

After three years in office, Obama accomplished his mission to eliminate Osama, whereas blustery Bush - after 8 years of impotence (in which he foolishly started The Iraq War and then lost it to Iran) had the brass balls to mouthe the following opinion: "We haven't heard much from him... Again, I don't know where he is... I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." http://articles.latimes.com/2004/oct/14/nation/na-osama14

When exploring recent Republican history, "you can't make this stuff up."

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"The Republican philosophy might be summarized thus: To hell with principle; what matters is power, and that we have it, and that they do not.” Pat Buchanan is the living American who has served longest as a counselor within the Oval Office. "Where the Right Went Wrong" - http://www.amazon.com/Where-Right-Went-Wrong-Neoconservatives/dp/0312341156 

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Ambassador Chris Stevens' Wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Christopher_Stevens  

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(I am particularly interested in replies from Republicans who fault this analysis. In the meantime, if you are a Romney supporter and do not relay this factual account to any of your conservative friends, please ask yourself why...)

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