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The Nyle Magazine
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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