How tragic it took his death to learn about someone who seemed to represent the best of our nation’s intentions abroad. In this video, broadcast in Libya when he became our ambassador there, you get a sense of the commitment Secretary Clinton describes below.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (9/12): “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the death of four American personnel in Benghazi, Libya yesterday. Among them were United States Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens…. A 21 year veteran of the Foreign Service, Ambassador Stevens died last night from injuries he sustained in the attack on our office in Benghazi.
I had the privilege of swearing in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. He spoke eloquently about his passion for service, for diplomacy and for the Libyan people. This assignment was only the latest in his more than two decades of dedication to advancing closer ties with the people of the Middle East and North Africa which began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. As the conflict in Libya unfolded, Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he started. Chris was committed to advancing America’s values and interests, even when that meant putting himself in danger.
All the Americans we lost in yesterday’s attacks made the ultimate sacrifice. We condemn this vicious and violent attack that took their lives, which they had committed to helping the Libyan people reach for a better future.
America’s diplomats and development experts stand on the front lines every day for our country. We are honored by the service of each and every one of them.”
Wall Street Journal: The killing of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans, in one of the most brazen attacks on a U.S. diplomatic compound in a generation, sparked a security crisis in the North African country, elevated tensions across the Middle East and raised concerns about how well the U.S. can protect its diplomats abroad. The U.S. responded to the assault by dispatching two Navy destroyers, dozens of Marines, federal investigators and intelligence assets to Libya to protect Americans and help hunt the suspected religious extremists who carried out the attack late Tuesday. U.S. officials described the attack that killed Christopher Stevens, the first ambassador killed by hostile forces since 1979, as complex and possibly premeditated.
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74 Responses to Chris Stevens: Public Servant
Now on The Trail
Visualize Mitt Romney’s as Commander-in-Chief: Ready, Fire, Aim.
Former Bush administration DHS Secretary Tom Ridge Tom Ridge and Conservative commentator Peggy Noonan critical of Romney’s attack on Obama about Libya. Support for Romney from the far right DeMint (R-SC), Inhofe (R-OK), and Kyl (R-AZ).
A sad situation… my condolences to the families of those lost.
I was happy to see Libyans rallying against extremism and in support of the victims in the wake of the tragedy, and hope that sentiment continues, and that cooler heads prevail with the response.
“Giving power to just one, or just a few, is fraught with danger.”
Bethy, that is such a wonderful, thoughtful (and maybe even scary) post you made on the previous thread.
Craig, Thanks for such an appropriate post this morning.
My condolences to everyone involved and touched by this tragedy also.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/12/us-usa-libya-stevens-idUSBRE88B13B20120912
Amb. Stevens was made of strong stuff. He wanted to be sent to Iran if we ever re-established ties with them. A wonderful product of the Peace Corps program.
Are ships & personnel headed to Libya not enough for the GOoPers? Nope, because this is just something shiny they can use to distract from the real stakes of this election: money.
Willard just seems more inept by the day. Who is advising him? Is he coming up with these bone-headed plays on his own?
Someone posted something about the way Mittens walked the other day, that it had changed. I thought so too, but that his steps seem short and unsure. Read about gait as it relates to early signs of mental decline. I’m not being snide here, I really wonder if there is something biological going here? (Snide remark: biological would mean he must be human, after all.)
He speaks like a draft-dodger, like a bully who picks on the weak, like someone who picks fights but lets others actually fight the battles.
Anyone observing my barrage of FB postings on your news feeds re: R/R from time-to-time, please know that it is in response to what I am seeing from a couple of former neighbors on my news feed. They are posting pro-Ryan stuff. Not pro-Romney, pro-Ryan.
They aren’t wild about Romney’s Mormonism, Ryan’s Catholosism or my Methodism (Ryan and I are the “wrong kind” of Christians, and Romney isn’t a “real” one); they are anti-choice Republicans and that is why they will vote for Ryan & whomever. They don’t care about foreign or domestic policy, just the unborn.
Romney’s ineptitude concerns me even more when I know there are people out there who want to let him lead…us off the face of this flat Earth.
Embassies in 7 countries warn of possible attacks
“WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. embassies in at least seven countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Caucasus are warning of possible anti-American protests following the attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.”
Egypt May Be Bigger Concern Than Libya for White House
“WASHINGTON — For all the harrowing images of the deadly attack on the American mission in Benghazi, the Obama administration is grappling with the possibility that its far bigger long-term problem lies in Egypt, not Libya.”
When John McCain and Hillary Clinton are singing his praises, there really isn’t much more that needs to be said.
I’m sure every embassy is on high-alert, even in soft-target states. And, I would expect any embassy to put out a statement to try to quell unrest and keep our people safe…no matter what Faux News says.
Yesterday’s thread was about a Kennedy initiative, and so is today’s thread: the Peace Corps.
Oh, pogo, if only we could come together in good times, as well.
This timeline of the events this week makes clear the utter bullshit of Romney’s asinine statement Tuesday and his completely wrongheaded double down yesterday. The ass conflates the statement condemning the message of the FILM with a statement in response to the violence that was issued 11 hours later. No one -- let me repeat that -- NO ONE apologized for “our values”. Wait, apparently the “our values” Romeny is referring to are “abuse [of] the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.” That is the only “apology” that was issued (it was NOT an apology). Considering the fringiness of his own religion and the fact that his grandfather fled to Mexico to avoid law outlawing polygamy, then fled back to the oppressive US when things got too hot in Mexico, you would think he would WELCOME that sentiment. Guess not. And he looked like a friggin’ idiot when he stood before the camera and made his idiotic statement trying to criticize the Obama admin yesterday.
Not ready for prime time? He’s only ready for public access cable.
Blue, that would be a rare, welcome, change.
Looking at the Gallup daily tracking poll (the 5 month timeline is on the right) Romney has managed after a summer of campaigning, adding his VP pick and going through two conventions, to bring the race back to where it was on April 26, which was the largest margin Obama had over him in the period since April 17, when Romney had a 5 point edge over Obama. If my arithmetic is right, that says Obama saw a 12 point swing from April 17 to April 26, which is where the race stands (in that poll) today. Now I gotta go see what the hell Obama and Romney did in April to cause that turnaround -- and send the Obama campaign a memo telling them to do that again.
And to address the “are you better off today…” question…well, there are indicators that answer that question “yes”.
Gail Collins aims THEN shoots. Absolutely one of my all time favorite opinion writers.
I am reminded of the Yankee GO HOME sentiment of Latin America during the 1960s. Kennedy gave a speech in Tampa regarding the Americas and the way republicans squandered our good will in Latin America. It seems like similar times to me and if we let the republicans run the show like they have earlier this century in the middle east, it will be a huge disaster.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=74097
And this change has come about in the past 8 years.
In 1953 the Republicans inherited an inter-American system in good working order. They inherited a good neighbor policy which was more than an empty slogan. They inherited a Latin America composed of nations friendly to the United States.
But in 8 short years that bright heritage, the heritage of 20 Democratic years, has been largely dissipated and destroyed, and much of the good will, which it took two decades to build, has been lost.
Kennedy wasn’t afraid of calling-out the republicans and placing the blame and shame on one party. Of course, no Faux News at that time.
remember the adelson (newt and mitt’s sugar daddy) film
The Third Jihad, and its shadowy sponsor, The Clarion Fund
wonder if there’s a similar connection to the current cinema causing all this rage and riot?
this could be the gopers’ october surprise play a month early
North Africa, and the Mid East -
Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, Current price for wheat is $8.72 a bushel . And Syria :
http://www.countercurrents.org/mohtadi170812.htm
One more line from the Kennedy speech --
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/383949/20120913/cindy-lee-garcia-yemen-actress-anti-islam.htm
today’s toles toon in wapo very fitting http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/toles?hpid=z3
In this case, it is arguable that the O admin tried not to repeat in the ME the failures of the Repugns in Latin America that Kennedy called them out on, but the forces involved now may be more fundamental and complex as a result of the injection of religion into the mix. After all, back in the 60s, it was just the tension between the “rise of freedom” versus the rise of Communism in the region. As my paralegal would say the ME is a hot mess. Kennedy was more right than wrong, but he had the benefit of hindsight. Compared to the inaction in Latin America Obama has been on the cutting edge supporting the Arab Spring movements, which in hindsight may prove to be picking the wrong horse. But the alternatives -- backing the dictators, engaging in war with one side or the other (OK, we did in Libya last year) or standing by watching and hoping the good guys win -- don’t strike me as good alternatives. What would I do if I were Pres? Damned if I know.
Drought dries up 200 miles of Arkansas River
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7421528n
#2 in a 3 part series
Good post, pogo. The catholic church played a huge role in colonial Latin america by preserving the plantation society…enslaving the aboriginal populations to work as a conquered people.. (Yes, the cynic is talking) The church gave the locals some hope. Very different from Islam? I don’t know. Religion stills rules heavily in the background of everything we do.
c-bob I saw the piece on CBS evening news…the former river now looks like a wash or an arroyo.
The same question was raised on Democracy Now this morning --who paid for the movie --Karl Rove perhaps?
Thank you Craig for posting about Ambassador Stevens.
Since he was from Northern California we have been getting a lot of personal stories about him.
This is a day of great loss for United States.
We obviously need more public servants such as Ambassador Stevens.
--who paid for the movie--Karl Rove perhaps?
KGC… if the intention of this movie was to stir up trouble in the Middle East in order to give Romney a chance to look presidential… it’s backfired.
When Peggy Noonan says “he looks like Richard Nixon” while criticizing Mitt’s recent comments… you know he’s in deep doo doo.
Yemen has jumped into the mix. ~Yaay~
crackers -- Your point seems plausible; RoveCO -- Cheyney/Halliburton/Blackwater
Folks will do almost as much for the industrial military complex/oil/power/money as they will for religious beliefs.
Ultimately, I think that it’s about money, but maybe it’s someone with money trying to incite the second coming. Who knows what people believe?
Someone wants to keep stirring the pot & lives have been lost.
RR
It backfired because Mittens is so unpresidential
I certainly agree and I think we can mark yesterday and the final blow to a campaign staggering because their candidate is such an ass
Friend or foe? Yank all foreign aid & they won’t act friendly at all.
Must be my day for conspiracy theories that are sounding more plausible everyday.
Greg Palast is making the point that global warming is good for people who want to extract oil from the arctic
circle….
renee, blue’s on the right track that it’s more about money and military than it’s about mitty.
Watching Sen. Rob Portman today with Norah O’Donnel was very disturbing. Portman appeared to be dishonest as he plowed ahead defending Romney for his deplorable comments this week.
Norah O’Donnel was very good as she would not let him off the hook…
I don’t know if it will come out given the severity of the escalating situation but I’m seriuosly doubting the security posture of our embassies in the region durin this 9/11 period.
Ambassadors have a significant role in determining the security posture of their individual posts. I suspect, sadly that Ambassador Stevens felt safe going to Benghazi with a minimal security staff. Hind sight being 20/20 it appears that was a mistake.
Some reports are indicating that the Ambassador in Egypt has been limiting her security details abilities as well. This may or may not be true but I suspect that going forward the ambassadors input on this may be overseen by someone outside of the State Dept.
Watched Run with the Money on the stump in Va. today , with a wallpaper behind him of all female faces.
It was a lidless blender of whirling right wing sound bites.
The man is scared , he knows he’s screwing the pooch in front of 310 million Americans.
I’ve not traveled in the region, so I can’t speak from experience, but nothing I’ve seen gives me the impression that any Americans are safe in the countries near the Gulf. I know that my impression is based solely upon news media accounts from there, and I also know that bad news gets reported, good news gets ignored, and the worse the news is the better it is for ad sales. All that said, I’d be really hesitant to put my butt on the street over there.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-09/today-mars-curiosity-all-set-sift-sand-and-bake-rocks
The career foreign service and the related elements of the career military are replete with individuals sharing the dedication and love of country that took Amb Stevens to his death. They serve day-in and day-out without fanfare, but with calm professionalism.
One especially interesting part of our trip up north last week was the number of official signs dedicating well-traveled roads to low-ranking soldiers who, I assume, lost their lives during the spate of wars in the ME. There’s no doubt in my mind that some of those soldiers died while trying to save their battlefield buddies.
But, in one way or another, they were heroes one and all and that they all deserve their stretch of road complete with sign.
If someone is willing to administer a sign fund for small towns that can’t afford signs, I’m willing to provide $500.00 of seed money.
Then again, it may be a dumb idea.
Jax, how recent is your travel experience in the region and in proximate areas of Africa?
Oh, and was it as a mariner?
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2012/09/12/13831520-facebook-friends-get-out-the-vote-in-large-numbers
Flatus
that’s a good idea — certainly California should be willing to name something after Stevens. After all they named the freeways out of Oakland for the state senator who enabled white flight from the Oakland…
Here’s the process in California
CBob
… that’s what made the last election so different from all the others in the past. And some mastered it so well.
No way to stop progress.
“…. I’d be really hesitant to put my butt on the street over there.”
Pogo, agree.
The same could be said about Mexico right now too. Maybe we hear more about them down here, because we’re so close to the border. Things are bad everywhere.
Nemo -
One factor there for sure . However, the owners of great wealth saw their ass on the line. They broke out a thousand sets of keys to rattle and try to over turn the 08′ election. 1/3 of America has always had the brain power of a gerbil. Rattling keys works every time.
Here’s a video of Warming sign in the Arctic: Starving female polar bear challenges male for food:
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/13/13830880-warming-sign-in-the-arctic-starving-female-polar-bear-challenges-male-for-food?threadId=3565028&commentId=69969979#c69969979
Notice the skin and bones of the male bear, you can see his spine, as he defends his kill.
Another place in the Arctic this season -
Doug Allan, who helped make the BBC’s stunning Frozen Planet,
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/science-technology/arctic-veterans-disaster-fear-1314126
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/
Ha, Patd, great minds and all … you posted the same video I posted for the thread
craig, that video amb stevens published in may introducing himself to the libyan people speaks louder and better about us than any pronouncements out of d.c.
There’s a similarity between 1980 & 2012,only this time, the teflon President is already seated.
weird willard is trying to make himself look like an unpleasant version of the Jimmy Carter of puguglican propaganda
My last trip was 2010. Egypt, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. All biz…no fun.
Doubtful that I’ll be making a trip like that anytime soon. Simply isn’t worth the risk.
Having said that, Used to travel to Monterrey, Mexico for biz every quarter. Now its so dangerous all of my accounts there have moved their families to Brownsville, Laredo etc.
xr, one thing they forgot to mention in that similarity of ’80 is the possible dirty tricks played to embarrass carter re the middle east and the possible ones now…. by the same crew no doubt
btw, xr, taegan postulates the possible loss of your favorite crazycritter. how nice for you and mn.
Flatus,
It wasn’t as a mariner. Those days are done for me.
It was transport/cargo related though.
rgds…Rick
Cbob
The Palast story says they are tagging the bears to move them to a better location — the by product is a protected area which was covered by an ice sheet is now open for drilling…a
the good news is they are trying to help the polar bears the bad news is — moving them isn’t the best solution although for now probably the only one
Wow! Matthews and guests just hit the nail on the head: What does Mitt Romney want to do other than just “be” President? We don’t have a clue.
Yes Jamie..they hit the nail on the head…
Katherine Graham Cracker -
I can’t see that video. Just a stilll of the fight. When a female bear gets that close, with her cub , to a male ……… She has run out of options.
Looking at the back of the male, he died just a few days after the mother and her cub.
All 3 of them were near the edge. It’s just a tiny snapshot of the crash of nature.
“Let’s not kid ourselves.”
—Bob Woodward
Ah, c’mon….let’s.
The oil companies are literally dancing on the graves of the polar bears
Check the NBC poll tonight in Va., Oh., and Fla.
Obama opens up a serious lead .
Eat shit Mitt.
On CNN they are still pretending he has a chance ..well some them…
Wolfe Blitzer…”Romney has given up on Michigan but he hasn’t given up on Ohio…”
John King.”…well he can’t give up on Ohio he can’t win without it.”
The only thing they did not address was how Romney is doing in Ohio…Obamarama is 4.2 points ahead of Romney and the trend is in Obamarama’s favor…of course that would make the obvious point and then no one would care what any of them have to say. Romney is a loser and they are all irrelevant.
Someone brought upthe notion that Obamarama has no or very short coat tails — I think the goopers are going to be so dispirited by election day that they will have very low turn-out-- they will be suppressing their own vote
And none of this means anything unless all the people who care about putting the branches of gov’t in Democratic hands actually get out there and vote. If we are seriously wrong, we can change our minds in 2016 or just double down and go for Hillary.
Or Chelsea if the baton passes
TOP STORY: THE REPUBLICAN SWARM TO SAVE MITT
by Taylor Marshhttp://www.taylormarsh.com/blog/2012/09/the-republican-swarm-to-save-mitt/
Times like this I hear an old Country Gentlemen lyric from the sixties on the soundtrack in my head:
Each newborn baby’s cry is the hope of men grown old
For to change this world and light a brighter way
But alas, they hope in vain for it all remains unchanged
This world’s no place to live in, but it’s home. . .
There’s bound to be a solution to stop all this violence, but damned if I know where--
My whole adulthood, it feels like, the ME has been a pressure cooker. And then I think--it’s ALWAYS been that way--a crossroads for violence, military adventuring, and the worst and best of religious impulses--fanaticism rampant--
Somebody please tell me to hush--
Fisheries disaster on four coasts
Mitt’s comments regarding the events leading up to the death of Ambassador Stevens, tell me that not only has he failed a fundamental test of a commander in chief, but a fundamental test of an American Citizen and a human being.
NEW THREAD
“My whole adulthood, it feels like, the ME has been a pressure cooker. And then I think--it’s ALWAYS been that way--a crossroads for violence, military adventuring, and the worst and best of religious impulses--fanaticism rampant--”
Faire,
That is the most beautiful post I’ve ever read here at TM. Thank you so much. You’ve given me strength, by letting me know there’s someone else out there that feels like I do.