What Obama needs to say in his statement on the Attack in Libya:

[reformist2]

A clear, concise condemnation of the animals who killed the ambassador, and a statement of resolve that the perpetrators of such violence will be caught and punished swiftly and severely.

NO mention of the propaganda film that may have led to the attack. Doing so at this time really is besides the point, and only gives ammunition to Obama's political enemies.

[Firebrand Gary]

1. He did even better.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/

[reformist2]

5. Good start, but Obama needs to hold a brief press conference & public statement.

This morning, if possible.

[jsmirman]

6. I would say the odds of there not being a PC and a public statement

within the next few hours are pretty much next to ZERO.

Do you really think there is any chance this is not happening within the next hours? Really?

Come on.

[still_one]

2. and saying that the perpetrators will be punished has no basis in fact, since it is not in our

control, and Libya is not a stable country at the very least

The only thing Obama will do is condemn the attack, and that is all he can do at this time, except may remove Americans out of those areas who want to leave

As far as romney making a political issue of this, if Obama is asked about that, the answer is quite simple. romney does not care about Americans still in those countries, and saying such reckless statements, may put those Americans still their in danger. It is outrageous, and only demonstrates his ignorance

[Blue Meany]

3. I think there will be retaliation of some kind, because the govt. wants to make it

costly, at the least, to kill an American

[still_one]

7. and what retaliation would that be? Who would we bomb? We don't even know who the perpetrators are

[Blue Meany]

15. I don't know the what form it will take, but I am confident that

something will be done. I am not advocating this. But it is part of the colonial and neocolonial tradition that when an official of a dominant power is harmed in a third world country, someone is made to "pay," usually in a disproportionate manner. Usually this is achieved by pressuring the government to carry out the retaliation itself.

[Democat]

8. Americans are going to want to see someone punished

A president saying that it's "not in his control" to punish those who killed an American ambassador is not acceptable to most voters, Republican or Democrat.

[still_one]

10. ok, lets go bomb the shit out of Lybia, and kill some civilians who had nothing to do with it

[Barack_America]

4. I disagree. I think he needs to explain to Americans the reported motive of the attacks.

He needs to explain that a group of Israeli-Americans released a film insulting of both Islam and Muslims themselves. He needs to clarify that this is religious extremism, and extremism in any form is wrong.

Not describing the background of the attacks only perpetuates the notion that all Muslims are dangerous, which is exactly what the right, Netanyahu, etc. want so they can get their war with Iran.

[reformist2]

11. Maybe on November 7... that is, AFTER the election.

Sadly, Americans - not even moderate voters - aren't big fans of subtely.

[Barack_America]

13. Nope. I think it's important for a leader to tell those he leads the facts...

...as he knows them at the moment.

[still_one]

12. The only thing he needs to do is evacuate any American who want to leave. That is the only reason

we should utilize the troops, and only to get those Americans out that want out

[6000eliot]

14. The president is good at this. I trust him.

The Romney people are morons.