Talking Points Memo: Should President Obama Have Done More Following the US Embassy Attacks?

Following the attack on the United States Consulate in Libya that resulted in the killing of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, there is apparently information leading to officials to believe that the killings were planned. In Egypt, hundreds mobbed the US embassy in what was said to have been a response to an anti-Muslim video created in America.

The US Embassy in Cairo issued a statement condemning “the efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims, as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.”

That statement was issued before the attacks in Libya and retracted later. Bill O’Reilly said in his Talking Points Memo that Islamic extremists will use any excuse to not only attack Americans, but anyone they consider an infidel.

Related Links:

• President Obama Remarks on Libya Attacks: ‘Killers Will be Brought to Justice’
• Update: No Known Record of Maker of Anti-Islam Film Blamed for Inciting Embassy Attacks
• Sen. McCain Remembers Amb. Chris Stevens, Says the US Must Continue to Support Libya, Egypt
• Charles Krauthammer: US Embassy Should Have Told Protesters in Egypt to ‘Go to Hell’

O’Reilly holds the Egyptian government accountable for failing to protect the American Embassy. In the US, the issue is being used in the presidential campaign. Mitt Romney said to the press that, “They clearly sent mixed messages to the world. And the statement that came from the administration, and the embassy is the administration, the statement that came from the administration was a statement which was akin to apology. And I think was a severe miscalculation.”

The Factor host disagreed with Romney, saying that the US Embassy was likely trying to head off violence with its statement. After the attack, however, he believes that the Obama administration should have responded much stronger than what the president said today from the White House.

President Obama stated, “Today we mourn for more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done.”

What kind of justice? On February 6, 2011, O’Reilly discussed the Muslim Brotherhood with President Obama. The president referred to them as one faction in Egypt that does not have majority support. Fast forward over a year later, and the Muslim Brotherhood is now in charge of Egypt’s government.

O’Reilly laid out what needs to happen, “America should now suspend its aid to Egypt, deduct the cost of the damage to the American Embassy, secure an apology from Cairo and let them know that attacks on Americans inside Egypt simply will not be tolerated.”