Flames: The White House has admitted they knew the deadly assault, pictured, was an act of terrorism within 24 hours. Daily Mail
The Libya Debacle -- Wall Street Journal editorial
The more we learn, the more Benghazi looks like a gross security failure.
In his United Nations speech on Tuesday, President Obama talked about the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and declared that "there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice." What he didn't say is how relentless he'll be in tracking down the security lapses and intelligence failures that contributed to the murders. Let's say there's some doubt about that.
None of the initial explanations offered by the White House and State Department since the assault on the Benghazi consulate has held up. First the Administration blamed protests provoked by an amateurish anti-Islam clip posted on YouTube. Cue Susan Rice, the U.N. Ambassador and leading candidate for Secretary of State in a second Obama term: "What happened initially was that it was a spontaneous reaction . . . as a consequence of the video, that people gathered outside the embassy and then it grew very violent."
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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
With double bombing in Damascus, is Syria's frontline moving to the capital? -- Arthur Bright, Christian Science Monitor
5 Reasons to Intervene in Syria Now -- Michael Doran and Max Boot, New York Times
Destroying Syria -- Daily Star
Arab military intervention in Syria unrealistic: Analysts -- Ahram Online/AFP
After Obama's UN speech, stakes higher for Netanyahu -- Anne Bayefsky, FOX News
A flimsy U.S. sanctions policy toward Iran -- Andrew K. Davenport and Ilan Berman, Washington Post
Eight Ways to Deal With Iran -- Stephen J. Hadley, Foreign Policy
I am protesting against Iran's Ahmadinejad, will the world join me? -- Homeira Hesami, FOX News
Exit Ahmadinejad: Iranian President Leaves World Stage with a Whimper -- Ishaan Tharoor, Time
Let the Palestinian Authority collapse -- Michael Freund, Jerusalem Post
The Palestinians’ latest ploy -- Michael Schmidt, New York Daily News
What the Salafis Want: An Interview with the Blind Sheik’s Son -- Ashraf Khalil, Time
Turkey’s Leader May Face Ally as Presidential Contender -- Emre Peker, Wall Street Journal
U.S. And Pakistan: A most dysfunctional alliance -- Michael Weiss, NOW Lebanon
What an Iran Attack Means for AfPak -- Marvin G. Weinbaum, National Interest
Putin's Pivot on Asia -- The Nation
Russia Is Turning Into Iran -- Michael Bohm, The Moscow Times
Silvio Berlusconi is foolish to bash Germany for 'dictating' to Europe -- Alan Posener, The Guardian
The shape of modern Spain is being questioned -- Giles Tremlett, The Guardian