On Wednesday, in an interview with the Spanish-language network Telemundo, the president was asked about the attacks on two U.S. embassies in North Africa, specifically a breach of America's embassy in Cairo by crowds of protesters. The Telemundo reporter asked if Obama considered Egypt an ally. Obama replied that the United States did not consider Egypt an ally, 'but we don't consider them an enemy.'
This remark displays a flippant nonchalance about American security policy and a downright antipathy for history and the work of generations of Obama's predecessors.
The United States, in concert with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, wrestled the key Arab state away from the Soviet sphere of influence during the tenure of President Jimmy Carter. This effort culminated in the 1979 Camp David Accords, which are better known for cementing a lasting peace between Egypt and Israel. The agreement also served as a basis for a lasting partnership between Cairo and Washington ' this relationship has safeguarded peace in the region for more than a generation.
By cavalierly saying Egypt is not an ally of the United States, the president has bucked more than 30 years of American foreign policy in a critical region. This casual display of disregard for precedent and a pillar of diplomatic policy should inspire a measure of outrage. On that front, there is a glimmer of hope. On Thursday, NBC News' chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel delivered a rebuke of Obama's dismissal of America's relationship with the Egyptian government.
But the tepid outrage of one reporter does not a trend make. This episode merits wider reporting and at least some debate over how appropriate it is for the president to single-handedly usher in a major shift in American global security policy vis-a-vis our relationship with Egypt.
Following what can only be correctly described as a gaffe regarding Egypt, the president made what can only be correctly described as a gaffe on the campaign trail.
While attending a campaign rally on Wednesday in Las Vegas ' yes, a campaign rally, on a day marked by such solemnity that the press viewed it necessary to harangue Romney for even broaching the subject of politics ' President Obama drew a comparison between the sacrifices of his campaign volunteers and those of the American service personnel who lost their lives in Libya just hours prior.
'And obviously [our] hearts are broken for the families but I wanted to encourage those folks at the State Department that they were making a difference,' he said.
'The sacrifices that our troops and our diplomats make are obviously very different from the challenges that we face here domestically but like them, you guys are Americans who sense that we can do better than we're doing'.I'm just really proud of you,' he added
Had this statement not occurred in an environment marked by the most farcical displays of outrage over Romney's supposed breach of conduct, it could go ignored. However, in light of how the press jumped down Romney's throat over the process and tone of his criticisms of Obama (watch the press conference here if you missed it), the media will be correctly accused of putting its thumb on the scales if they do not treat this statement with a similar measure of distress.
This summer, during a much-panned visit abroad after having offended the British people by questioning London's preparedness for the Summer Olympics, Mitt Romney was asked by a perturbed member of the political press, 'What about your gaffes?' I eagerly await the press directing this loaded question towards the president. At this point, the credibility of the political media just about depends on it.
> >Follow Noah Rothman (@Noah_C_Rothman) on Twitter
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Noah cheerleading again.
Micheal Scherer:
'Mitt Romney began the 2012 anniversary of Sept. 11 by calling for a
suspension of politics. 'There is a time and a place for that, but this
day is not it,' he said at a morning National Guard gathering in Reno,
Nev. Just hours later, Romney could no longer resist' He saw an
opportunity to tie his claim that Barack Obama apologizes for American
greatness to the news cycle'''In the final weeks of a campaign
of this scale, there are very few moments that really count. But when
they matter, they can reshape the race. A day that began with Romney
calling for national unity before politics in the face of terrorism
ended with just the opposite. Voters will now get to decide if the shift
revealed Romney as a statesman displaying the courage of his
convictions or a politician seeking advantage in a time of turmoil.' -
And it seems that Mittens is awfully quite today. Did his handlers put a muzzle on him?
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You figure if you stutter and repeat yourself it will turn your posts to gold?
It's still b.s. ' post it a few more times for effect.
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Unreported?
NOPE!!
Most people are now very comfortable ignoring the phony outrage from the right wingnut corporate media'''.most people meaning non-bagger morons. -
'Unreported'?
I have been watching CNN and MSNBC all morning and they have repeatedly analyzed Obama's Egypt remarks, so as usual you don't know what you are talking about.
Just because they are not bleating like stuck pigs as on FOX doesn't mean they are not reporting on it.
Lie much?
As for the other 'gaffe''
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!WHY ISN'T THE MEDIA REPORTING BAGGER CRAZINESS!?!?!?!?!
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That is rich Noah! Imagine if Obama had called Egypt an ally'gaffe my ass!
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No doubt.
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Perhaps you missed that America was attacked again on this 9/11.
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It's not being reported with the same vigor or outrageous outrage that the Romney pile-on is.
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Didn't stop him yesterday, did it? Today is 9/13 just in case you needed an update.
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They already keep Ryan off the air because he comes off as such a liar, they can't afford to lose Romney.
Then Ann would have to campaign by herself.
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The current Egyptian government is in power directly because of an Obama policy. It's his government, he can't wash his hands of it when it (predictably) goes bad.
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You have to be the biggest moron on this site. There are others that are close, don't get me wrong. But you are definitely number one.
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This last week is the exact reason the DrudgeReport gets so many hits. The mainstream media has lost all credibility.
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It's all so black and white for you baggers, isn't it.
Must be nice to live in that bubble.
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He's got some stiff competition.
Gloves
RaceDopey
Baggerfrom Savannah
BirtherChuckseek is definitely in the top 5.
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Interesting read. I don't think that journalists agree with Noah:
Mitt Romney Media Criticism Continues: 'He Looks Like Richard Nixon,' 'The Character And The Policy Were Both Revealed'
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'But the focus of most of the press has, to their disgrace, been on the appropriateness of the timing of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's attacks on the president over this incident.'
If only Romney's own message, to his disgrace, had not been about Obama's apparent apologia for terrorism, we might have had some serious discussions about security, threat assessment and the fraught nature of the Arab Spring.
Too bad Romney choose the cheap political angle and lost. Too bad you can't man up and admit it.
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ok couple things
1. I watched that interview, his statement, in its full context, is regarding the current government in Egypt, which has not been around for 40 years. If the president is going to be condemned lets make sure its in its entirety, not nit picking
2. In reading that quote the president stated, i thought pretty plainly, that there was a major difference in the risk and sacrifice in compared to people at home and abroad. He seemed to be stating, at least to me, that the common thread between all of Americans citizens is that each continually strives to improve the circumstances of the country and themselves in some way shape or form. That doesn't mean all forms are equal, which, again, I thought was stated pretty plainly from reading the quotes from his speech
The first one you might have an argument for, albeit not a great one, the second, ehh not so much
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Actually the current Egyptian government is in power because the the Egyptian people had enough of the puppet we supported for decades.
Stupid baggers!
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Today isn't Noah's day to be non partisan.
That was Monday.
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You know that the President receives intelligence briefings in writing each and every day, don't you?
Did you know that the President is having a fundraiser with Beyonce and Jay-Z? If not, I'm sure that you will be complaining about that before the day is out.
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A much better approach would have been to STFU.
But it is valid to be critical of Obama to have predicted trouble on 911 especially in places like Libya. But Romney has no class and no decency and went on the attack with lies and innuendo. Shameless and unfit to lead this nation, Romney is nothing but a scumbag. -
drudge gets more hits so we can marvel at right wing nuts rationale
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I can't wait to hear Obama explain his silence the day America was attacked, on multiple fronts, on September 11th, when he goes on David Letterman next week. Maybe they can do a Top Ten Reasons why Obama Was Nowhere To Be Seen or Heard Yet His Administration Condemned Free Speech and Apologized for America to Islamist Murderers on 9/11. Reason One: Mitt Romney made the strong, accurate, truthful statement America needed.
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I haven't seen it reported, did he at least remember to order flags to be raised half-staff?
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I have to respectfully disagree with Noah on this one.
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This article is laughable and sad at the same time. I am sure it has only been written because this piece called 'A terrible week for Mitt Romney' got alot of attention.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/morning-joe/49015492/#49015492 -
Yeah, that Obama policy of installing a grassroots political movement. Classic Obama.
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It's pretty disingenuous to cite our past alliance with Egypt as justification for why we should still count them as an ally. Yes, we were allied with Egypt when Anwar Sadat was in power. We were also allied with Iran what the Shah was in power. The world of the 1970s is not the world of now; Egypt has undergone a complete change in not only leadership but political structure. It's a different country now, and it's ludicrous to say, 'Well, they used to be our ally forty years ago, so they must still be our ally now.'
For the record, Obama said the right thing. The new Egypt is not our ally and it's not our enemy. We don't know what it is yet, and Obama reflected that in his statement.
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This is the stupidest article I've read in a while. And I seek out stupid articles for entertainment purposes. Unfollowing Mediaite.
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What if it went unreported because neither of his comments were gaffes? O_o
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Beyonce and Jay-Z? Wow, I didn't know that'have been busy listening to the insightful interview Barry had with the 'Pimp with a Limp' that was broadcasted on 9/11.
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'You're big time. You've got Pitbull and Flo Rida and all these guys just beating a path to your door,' Obama said, buttering up Laz. 'And so I'm hoping that I can get a little of that magic from you in this interview.' http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/obama-chats-with-pimp-the-limp-dj-laz-on-911-morn/ AWESOME STUFF! -
'I really don't see how those are gaffes. Maybe the Egypt thing, though Republicans would have said he supported the violence if he called Egypt an ally and they aren't an enemy, so' The second one isn't a gaffe, though. And two gaffes doesn't seem to be gaffe-laden, either.
Also, isn't this a new government for Egypt? Not just a new leader, but an entirely new government, a big shift? Just because it's the same country doesn't mean they're still an ally when they have a big shift like that.
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Move along, there is nothing to see here. Yes, Egypt is now neutral because we don't know this new government. The author says that President Obama's statement shows a 'downright antipathy for history and the work of generations of Obama's predecessors.' This isn't the Egypt that history knew or the his predecessors knew. To assume that this new Egypt is an ally would be foolish and shows a downright antipathy for the present.
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I sure hope Barry had a nice time in Vegas. http://www.examiner.com/article/lebanese-report-us-ambassador-raped-before-murdered
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Where is the original text of this apparent speech (with noted ellipses)?
Is it this speech:
http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-las-vegas-nv
if so, it would appear that Noah was taken in by a quote fabricator at the Examiner.
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