U.S. Is Preparing for a Long Siege of Arab Unrest

The New York Times ^ | September 15, 2012 | PETER BAKER and MARK LANDLER

[mdittmar]

WASHINGTON — After days of anti-American violence across the Muslim world, the White House is girding itself for an extended period of turmoil that will test the security of American diplomatic missions and President Obama’s ability to shape the forces of change in the Arab world.

Although the tumult subsided Saturday, senior administration officials said they had concluded that the sometimes violent protests in Muslim countries may presage a sustained crisis with unpredictable diplomatic and political consequences. While pressing Arab leaders to tamp down the unrest, Mr. Obama and his advisers are left to consider whether to scale back diplomatic activities in the region.

The unrest has suddenly become Mr. Obama’s most serious foreign policy crisis of the election season, and analysts say it is calling into question central tenets of his Middle East policy. Did he do enough throughout the Arab Spring to help the transition to democracy from autocracy? Has he drawn a hard enough line against Islamic extremists? Did his administration fail to address security concerns? Has his outreach to the Muslim world yielded any lasting benefits?

These questions come at an inopportune time domestically as Mr. Obama enters the last stages of a campaign season with a measurable lead in polls.

[circlecity]

If this is true, why now? Islam knows the response this will provoke. It’s clear a coordinated, calculated decision has been made by the muzzies. Why now three months before an election on whether to reelect a President widely seen as “sympathetic” to their interests. The muzzies usually play a long game. What’s the real angle here?

[Henry Hnyellar]

“These questions come at an inopportune time domestically as Mr. Obama enters the last stages of a campaign season with a measurable lead in polls.”

And this has the NYT VERY concerned.

[mdittmar]

“What’s the real angle here?”
Don’t know,can’t think like a terrorist,guess it’s that Freedom thing.

[1010RD]

This is Obama’s scorched earth policy. No matter who wins this fall there will be a horrible mess left to America for generations.

Carter took it easy on us with Iran. Obama’s outdone Carter a hundred-fold.

[the anti-liberal]

I really wish there could at least be some negative consequences for these so-called journalists' and reporters' 'dereliction' of duty.

As long as there are none (and they don't appear to care about loss of revenue) this will likely continue. Makes me wonder what'll happen when 0 loses the election (will they even report it? /s).

[CitizenM]

Makes me wonder what'll happen when 0 loses the election (will they even report it? /s)

LOL - I am sure it will be very difficult for them, at the least, to do so.

[SoFloFreeper]

Translation: Obamugabe has no idea what to do, as Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod have yet to tell him. Plus, he is busy campaigning and golfing, hoping like HELL the media continue to prop him up and his cult continues to believe his bilk.

He'll vote "present" for the rest of the year.

[doug from upland]

Great ideas, but we unfortunately need their oil. We have been prevented from enjoying the benefits of our own energy resources. Thanks to the left and the greenie weenies.

[the anti-liberal]

I’m envisioning a video montage of reporters from all the major networks hemming and squirming as they report election day results. Should be good for entertainment.

[what's up]

In recent days, critics have accused Mr. Obama of not paying enough attention to intelligence briefings. Mr. Obama receives the presidential daily briefing in writing every day but does not always sit down with intelligence briefers for an oral presentation as President George W. Bush did. Critics like former Vice President Dick Cheney said it indicated an inattention to a dangerous world.

“The hubris of a president who believes he does not need to meet regularly with them is astounding,” Marc Thiessen, a former speechwriter for Mr. Bush, wrote in The Washington Post.

No excuse for this. Obama is LAZY and figures to leave the detail of the Islamic revolutions and the machinations of moves in Afganistan to everyone else.

I hope this inattention to intelligence comes back to bite him in a BIIIIG way in coming days.

[Lera]

The unrest has suddenly become Mr. Obama’s most serious foreign policy crisis of the election season, and analysts say it is calling into question central tenets of his Middle East policy. Did he do enough throughout the Arab Spring to help the transition to democracy from autocracy? Has he drawn a hard enough line against Islamic extremists? Did his administration fail to address security concerns? Has his outreach to the Muslim world yielded any lasting benefits?

Everything working according to plan .
They have infiltrators in the top levels of our government letting them know exactly what will be done to them (nothing). We however have some really stupid ones like John McCain who went after Michelle Bachmann when she wanted Congress to investigate certain people in the "State Department" with ties to the muslim brotherhood.

We have lots of stupid people who think muslim brotherhood is a kinder and gentler form of islam .

They need to look at what they have done in Egypt with their kinder and gentler islam .

Islam is not a religion it is a form of government not compatible with our constitution posing as a religion.
NO what we have is a bunch of spiritual drunkards running the country in love with the kickbacks they get from the Saudis .

These people think that they can feed Israel to the muzzies and it will all be over nice and quick... that's NOT going to happen either ... keep your eyes on Israel , she is not going anywhere because the Bible says they will NOT be uprooted again .

The US however has no such promises from God .

America is about to humbled . The question is ....
Is she going to repent?

[Drill Thrawl]

The TV show Nightline was a direct result of the Hostage crisis.

[Road Glide]

“He’ll vote “present” for the rest of the year.”

Ya has to be a-sittin’ in the chair, a-fore’s ya can vote “present”!

[sunny48]

[jakerobins]

An intelligence breakdown....

[GeronL]

“Bin Laden is dead, GM is alive”

The leader of the great Satan boasted over and over again, shown on TV around the world.

....

but lets blame an obscure video instead

[popdonnelly]

Well, now the “news media” knows how to spin Obama’s woes. They all read the NYT.

[Caipirabob]

Iran looking at the current US leadership...