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Monday, October 08, 2012

 

Politics


Published October 8, 2012


“Congressman Peter King wants Ambassador Susan Rice to resign”

by Nathan’ette Burdine-Follow on Twitter@nbnylemagazine

            The Obama administration’s recent statement that the terrorists attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, is not sitting too well with Congressman Peter King (chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee).  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledge a possible Al Qaeda connection.  As evidence, she pointed to the rise in terrorist organizations in countries, like Mali and Libya, where the governments are weak.  In light of the new developments, Congressman Peter King has set his sights on the messenger, Susan Rice (the United States Ambassador to the United Nations), and is calling for her resignation.

On August 28, 2012, King phoned in to CNN to voice his frustration about the administration’s changing position.  King spoke to Wolf Blitzer.  King told Blitzer that he did not agree with the administration allowing Ambassador Rice to go on talk shows and say that the attacks were the result of an anti-Islam film.  Two weeks ago, Ambassador Rice appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Candy Crowley, MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” with David Gregory, and CBS’ “Face the Nation” with Bob Schieffer.  During her rounds, Ambassador Rice stated that the intelligence the administration received was pointing to a protest, which resulted from the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims.”  The film depicted the Prophet Mohammed as an immoral, whore mongering hypocrite.  Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a Coptic Christian, made the film.  According to Al Jazeera’s article, “Who is Nakoula Basseley Nakoula,” Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was on probation during the making of the film. He was convicted of financial fraud.  Al Jazeera stated that the court ordered Nakoula Basseley Nakoula not to use the computer or the internet for a period of five years. The film was posted on YouTube.  The Obama administration initially stated that the film led to the protest in Cairo, Egypt, which then carried over to Benghazi, Libya.  But a couple of days after the Egyptian and Libyan attacks occurred, new developments begin to point to other sources that aren’t connected to the “Innocence of Muslims” film.

On Fox News’ “Fox Report” with Shepard Smith, it was reported that the attacks in Egypt most likely had to do with “The Blind Sheik,” Omar Abdel-Rahman.  Abdel-Rahman is an Egyptian who is imprisoned in the federal prison in North Carolina because of his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.  Congressman Peter King sent out a press release on September 19, 2012.  The press release is titled “Chairman King and other Key Republican Chairmen Demand that Obama Administration Reject Egypt’s Request for Release of Blind Sheikh.”  In the press release, Rep. King stated that he was concerned the Obama administration had agreed to Egypt’s request to free Abdel-Rahman and send him back to Egypt.  King and seven other congressional GOP chairmen wrote, “…The release of Abdel-Rahman or any terrorist who plots to kill innocent Americans would be seen for what it is-a sign of weakness and a lack of resolve by the United States and its President.”  The administration denied the allegation that they are freeing Abdel-Rahman.

King stated that the recent developments are evidence that the administration was not being truthful about its knowledge concerning the attacks in Libya or Egypt.  So from King’s perspective, Ambassador Rice should be fired because she “knowingly” gave “bad” information to the country while expressing the administration’s view about why the attacks in Egypt and Libya occurred.  King stated that it was obvious from the beginning that there was a clear terrorist connection.  The fact that the attacks in Libya and Egypt occurred on September 11, 2012, was enough for Senator John McCain and Representative Peter King to question if the administration was lackadaisical in its approach to securing Ambassador Stevens compound in Benghazi and the U.S. consulate in Egypt.  On CNN’s “Starting Point” with Soledad O’Brien, a video clip of McCain was played and he said, “Most people don’t bring rocket propelled grenades and heavy weapons to a demonstration.  That was an act of terror.  And for anyone to disagree with that fundamental fact, I think, isn’t really knowing the facts.”  Further, CNN’s revelation that it had obtained the late Ambassador Stevens’ journal, which revealed he had concerns about his safety and being on a terrorist’s hit least, added to the belief that the administration was forewarned.  However, members from both the Democratic and Republican parties are not as willing, as Rep. Peter King, to pass judgment on Ambassador Rice.

According to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl’s article, “Democrats Defend Susan Rice Amid Call for Her Resignation,” Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that he was “troubled by calls for Ambassador Rice’s resignation.”  Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second highest-ranking Democrat in the House, also came to Rice’s defense.  Karl quoted Hoyer as saying, “Susan Rice is an exemplary public servant who has worked effectively on behalf of the U.S and allies like Israel at the U.N.  The loss of five Americans in Libya, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, is a horrible tragedy and we should be focused on bringing the perpetrators to justice, not playing politics.  My understanding is that the information Ambassador Rice expressed reflected the intelligence community’s most current assessment at the time.”

Ari Fleischer, former President Bush’s White House press secretary, told CNN he didn’t agree “much” with King’s statement about Ambassador Rice.  Fleischer stated that he was “uncomfortable” with asking Ambassador Rice to resign after a terrorist attack.  Wolf Blitzer asked if his comments were a result of being in the Bush administration when 9/11 occurred.  Fleischer said no and he believed the administration should be allowed to apprehend the terrorist and people should just wait until that time to pass judgment.  Mitt Romney, who initially criticized President Obama and his administration for what Romney believes is the administration’s soft stance on terrorism, also came out and stated that it’s best to step back and wait for the investigation to be completed.  According to the Los Angeles Times’ Maeve Reston’s article, “Romney back tracks after criticizing Obama over Libya attack,” Romney had a change of heart from his earlier stance.  Reston quoted Romney as saying, “I think with the investigation ongoing it would be premature to describe precisely what the administration did correctly or incorrectly.  There are a wide array of reports about warnings, and whether they were heeded-we’ll find out whether that was the case or that was not the case.”


Email-nathanette.burdine@thenylemagazine.com

 



 

 

 

 
 

 

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