The link below takes you to the excellent analysis of current Middle Eastern violence by 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Jose Ramos Horta, the former president of East Timor.
"It has been more than 200 years since America won its independence -- long enough to forget that fragile countries coming out from under decades of oppression have a long walk to real democracy. Incidents and explosions happen along the way."
Benghazi Was Not the Beginning of the End
"I echo the words of others that there is simply no justification. The Libyans would be still fighting a vicious civil war, slaughtering each other as the Syrians are today, if it weren't for the strong support from the US and others in the West that helped to bring about a speedy end of the Gaddafi regime.
But the tragedy of Benghazi and riots in Yemen do not signal the end of the Arab Spring. Nor is it an indication of any "failed policies," any more than it is justification for the shameful practice of political candidates in the US attempting to make points from a US Ambassador's death."
The point here is that Obama has been kicking Al-Qaeda's ass, but this hateful, stupid video from a right-wing con man gave a bunch of these monsters a chance to try and reassert their power. It won't work, but it is a terrible thing for the Middle East, and for the US Consulates in these areas, and it emphasizes how much we must prevent these forces from fighting their way back into control. Most importantly, Horta confirms how essential it is to continue Obama's policies to help these young democracies take the first hesitant steps toward creating democratic institutions that have the education, care and elevation of their people as their underlying principle--so their upcoming generations may evolve into the active, educated, healthy participants necessary to create fully functioning Middle Eastern democracies.
7:19 AM PT: And now, of course, in his Saturday morning address Obama has rightly saluted the four Americans who fell at Benghazi as ones "who represented the very best of our country."
"I know the images on our televisions are disturbing. But let us never forget that for every angry mob, there are millions who yearn for the freedom, and dignity, and hope that our flag represents."
http://www.dailykos.com/...