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The Current Crisis
Close Down Those Embassies
In so doing we’ll be killing two birds with one stone.
WASHINGTON — Allow me to offer a suggestion as to how our government might avoid the slaughter of our personnel in diplomatic installations around the Islamic world by mobs.
It seems to me most probable that insults to the Prophet Muhammad appear regularly in the modern world. After all, insults against revered figures in the world’s other major religions pop up all the time. As for Islam, a book such as Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses can be published anywhere. A thirteen-minute anti-Islamic video can arrive on YouTube, and my guess is there are others that have and will appear there. In some obscure land, far from the major media, a cartoon is published perhaps with the Prophet in an absurd pose. Why not a simple slur on Facebook? Who can control Facebook? Will a slur found there set off the mobs next time? And what constitutes a slur? These Islamic mobs keep changing their standards. What was a minor lapse of taste yesterday becomes a cause for terrible indignation today.
The metamorphosing angers of Islam have been a feature of the modern world for decades. Possibly the first show of anger was in Tehran with the takeover of the American embassy. But I trace Islamic anger back further, at least to Sirhan B. Sirhan, who assassinated the 1968 presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, for some fancied transgression. From all I can tell, the angers of Islam are getting worse. Even with the presidency of Barack Obama, the Nobel Laureate, the angers of Islam have worsened. He began his presidency tendering the olive branch of peace to Islam. Now the Islamic world is afire. Mobs are burning our diplomatic installations in places where moderate Islam reigns, for instance, Tunisia. In Libya unspeakable desecrations take place against us. Egypt seems to be out of control, and Egypt is supposedly an ally and recipient of foreign aide.
The rest of world seems to be going forward toward prosperity. Even countries like China, India, and Russia are proceeding into the future. Islam, at least in Arab lands, is going backwards. It is doing something I would have thought preposterous in decades past. It is heading back toward the Middle Ages and embracing that time and earlier times with open arms. I think some day we will recognize it as the season following the vaunted Arab Spring.
Yet back here in America the news is not all that bad. For one thing, we are approaching energy independence. Thanks to an abundance of recently discovered natural gas, we may in the years ahead be shipping it abroad. Also, thanks to “fracking” we can extract oil from long dead oil wells and from newer ones. If President Obama will just get out of the way, we are going to be energy independent and our independence will last for years. The angers of Araby will be inherited by the Chinese and the Indians. I, for one, will enjoy seeing how China handles the murder of Chinese diplomats and the torching of Chinese embassies.
For with energy independence we can close our embassies in lands where they are endangered or perhaps stand as a provocation to the passing mobs. In the modern world, diplomatic business can be carried on in civilized countries rather than in dangerous backwaters. We can treat a Libyan or Tunisian envoy in Geneva, Switzerland or possibly in New York at the United Nations complex. Diplomats from those countries would still be free to visit New York City. It would be a shame, if civilized citizens of Islam could no longer line up at our embassies or consulates for visas to the United States, but such is life. If there was business to be transacted, the businessmen could always transact it on the telephone or, for the advanced, the Internet.
Probably there would not be much business transacted once we are energy independent. The world would be a more peaceful place. The forward-marching nations would be happy and contented in the 21st century. The Islamic nations would be happy or angry or whatever in the 10th century, possibly earlier. They could reside in any century the chose. If an Arab potentate wanted heart surgery, he could fly off to foreign parts for the procedure. And if an indigenous mob wanted to go wild, its members could burn down the local Chinese embassy. Again, it will be interesting to see how the Chinese respond to such madness.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (55) | Leave a comment
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Aristocat| 9.20.12 @ 6:24AM
Great article...humorous and true and made me feel good...Avoid insane people and you can prevent them from dragging you into their insane world.
Jack in Wi| 9.20.12 @ 6:55AM
It is nice to see the esteemed Mr. Tyrrell come over to Ron Paul's position. Now lets get our troops out of harms way and close down all these wars. Every person we kill or maim over there makes more enemies for the USA, We don't need them for energy. The people who do China, India, Japan, Europe and Korea don't seem to think they need large forces over in the Middle East. I read last night that the old warmonger McCain said it is time to bring home now from Afganistan all the troops and close down our operations once and for all. Even he sees this as a total failure. Could this be a hint of a change on Romney's part to a saner foreign policy? We can only hope so.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 9.20.12 @ 8:08PM
Agreed, bring the boys home: we tried, but we lost. It was an honest mistake, there was no WTC controlled demolition, no complicity ( as you've pointed out in so many words, our enemies hate us to the point no controlled demolition was necessary-- 'just' thousands of gallons of jet fuel).
'Nuff said, bury the dead.
Jacobite| 9.20.12 @ 1:43PM
From memory: wasn't Sirhan an Arab Christian? Yes, Mohammedans are pre-civilized, but why is Mohammedanism uniquely barbaric, cruel, and stupid? Because an Arab thought the whole thing up, and it reflected Arab 'culture'. The problems we face would only be slightly reduced if Mohammedanism were to disappear from the face of the earth (although we ought to be working towards this every day). The Saudis would just be some other kind of cruel, stupid, viscious, berserk, ignorant clods.
doramin| 9.20.12 @ 5:01PM
Yes, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was a Palestinian Christian immigrant but that did not stop him from killing Robert Kennedy because he thought him too pro-Israel. It's amazing how old I was before I learned this. Official histories never go into any detail about him. As a youngster I was left to assume that Sirhan Sirhan was a native of planet Zorgon VI and that our culture of violence and intolerance was what really killed RFK.
btims86| 9.20.12 @ 6:33AM
Embassies in manyu Moooolsim countries should close and with it, the passing out of immigrant visas. If Mooooslims can not behave like civilized people, then they forfeit their opportunity to leave their crap-hole countries and come to the USA.
Stop Islamic immigration for ten years, then re-start it slowly. That will get their attention.
All we have to say is we are in a bad economy, high unemployment, we are cutting back on people coming here. And Mexico should also be on that list of stopped sources of immigants. India, China too. Do you see a pattern here?
We're not gonna get out of this economic whole for quite some time. There is no need to import so many people other than the liberal desire to grow government and that liberal desire is in both Beltway parties.
Af the very least, deport illegal immigrants and reduce legal immigration in half. All immigration does is grow government with it's social programs.
TLP| 9.20.12 @ 9:35AM
I agree. Shut'em all down.
I'm thinking one DAISY CUTTER per Embassy oughta do it.
And, if it takes Two?
Even Better.
Bob From District 9| 9.20.12 @ 3:37PM
"We're not gonna get out of this economic whole for quite some time. There is no need to import so many people other than the liberal desire to grow government and that liberal desire is in both Beltway parties."
The desire to import workers comes from the right, not the left. It is derived from the desire to avoid building schools and spending money to educate workers, from the skilled factory workers to the professionals.
Every time someone says we need to import educated professionals, remember, every one of them we import is one more American child they don't have to contribute to educating.
Illegal immigration is a right wing principle, as illegal immigrants hold down the wages for Americans. I would bet almost every factory owner or small business owner who hires illegal aliens is a republican. Probably with Tea Party inclinations.
TLP| 9.20.12 @ 4:30PM
Contest, Tomorrow.
Look for it.
btims86| 9.20.12 @ 9:24PM
Bobby baby, are you in Barry Choom Gang?
Importing voters is a liberal Democrat strategy and has been for many years. Poor, lowly educated foriegners are the perfect material to shape and create new Democrats. Government dependents.
Gary B| 9.20.12 @ 6:55AM
The military/industrial complex would have to find a new reason for living. If all those bullet purchases are any indication, maybe they already have. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pentagon absorbed by DHS and have all that military technology turned against the 330 million terrorists here at home. All that hate speech simply has to stop.
chuck| 9.20.12 @ 7:36AM
You forget that we have an all-volunteer military, and most of the young men and women entering love their country, love their freedom, and tend to be conservative. Good luck trying to get these young people to fire on their own countrymen.
Gary B| 9.20.12 @ 1:22PM
chuck: I suspect you are correct. Cops, however, are another matter. Some of those guys just love to open fire. They're favorite venue is your living room at 3am. I've told my daughter... never, never trust a cop. Too bad it's come to this, eh?
Bob From District 9| 9.20.12 @ 3:39PM
The military enlisted tend to be conservative, and vote democratic. That is why the republican administrations of Florida and other states try to block military voting.
chuck| 9.20.12 @ 5:37PM
BULL F#CKING SH!T!!!!
DEMOCRATS TRY TO BLOCK THE MILITARY BALLOTS! ASK PRESIDENT ALBERT GORE ABOUT THAT!
Alej| 9.20.12 @ 6:07PM
"The military enlisted tend to be conservative, and vote democratic."
Intelligent statement.
Pecos Pete| 9.20.12 @ 7:43AM
There is no end to the idiocy of federal gubmint policies under Obama. Soon foreign aid will be increased to all middle eastern and African countries while aid to allies will be reduced. We have to be nice to these "folks" don't ya know? We have to understand them, don't ya know? We traded our dollars for their natural resources and that just ain't fair, don't ya know?
Where is Congress? How much longer will Congress accept the ruination of the USA?
What happened to the checks and balances provided by the Constitution?
Mr. Tyrrell is correct in that once we have real fossil fuel energy independence our dollars will not fuel the economies of the middle east. However, the Muslim countries will then riot because we ain't there anymore. Don't ya know?
Dodd2| 9.20.12 @ 8:16AM
The answer to Muslim anger & violence.
How about a B-52 or drone strike at the their next hatefest.
Okay, okay. If that's too harsh, cut off all foreign aid instead, and let them focus their energy on feeding themselves for once instead of causing trouble for others.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.20.12 @ 8:21AM
Obama CAN'T pul our embassies now. it will translqte to muslims as defeat and reteat...right here in election time?
Who Knows?| 9.20.12 @ 9:31AM
Not only is it true that modern day Islam is dying and killing to return to the 10th century, but it’s also as if the class trouble maker in the 2nd grade had taken over.
There used to be a ruler across the knuckles, some pain to get their attention. That’s long gone.
Nowadays, the humane treatment of disorderly, uncivilized, nay, barbaric, behavior, is the time out! Isolate the poor bugger!
Why, we don’t even put them in a corner on a stool in a dunce cap.
Any human relationship requires BOTH sides to be winners, when engaged in mutual activity. Since, by and large, the give AND take—of American life---salient in an Egypt-USA dance is now the norm, stop the music.
Go with the flow. Muslims are led by people who want to convert or kill non-Muslims.
If THIS animating belief tells you anything, it tells you that they surely want to be left ALONE!
Give them what they want.
The “Get Out of the UN!” jail card can at least be played, one bad country at a time, by removing the embassy “hostages”. Do we even have one in Iran?
Hell no.
Let’s go!
Gary B| 9.20.12 @ 3:01PM
Yes, and no more US visas. No more immigration. The Great Satan is gone...
Bob From District 9| 9.20.12 @ 3:43PM
"Go with the flow. Muslims are led by people who want to convert or kill non-Muslims."
Your ignorance is impressive.
When you picture a Muslim you picture an Arab, don't you? Dumb. 85% of Muslims are not Arabs.
Didn't you read the reports? Saudi originated Al Qaeda used the protests as cover for their attack. Locals rallied to try to save the Ambassador.
When you speak of Islamic extremism you are lying unless you name Saudi Arabia, and Wahhabi as the culprits. Our oil buddies are killing our people.
Who Knows?| 9.20.12 @ 5:19PM
You might read what Robert Spencer has dug up about Islam.
It seems to me your education on this form of totalitarianism is skin deep, like most people.
While the average Moslem may be as benign as the average Christian, the leaders of this death cult would cut your head off, in a New York minute, if you fail to yield.
Yes, the Wahhabi’s in Saudi Arabia are part of the problem—major---but last time I checked, Iranians are NOT Arab.
Also, go to Michael Ledeen, at his blog.
If the Ayatollah of Iran was ousted, and that country entered the civilized world, most of the worst problems would be ameliorated.
Yes, read Michael Ledeen and Robert Spencer, and see what you think.
Who Knows?| 9.20.12 @ 5:25PM
I forgot---the current go to guy is Andrew McCarthy, at nationalreview.com
He's the guy who prosecuted the blind sheik, who led the attack on the Twin Towers the first time.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 10:34AM
After we do this, of course, to say, Libya, all we need do is threaten to "stop talking."
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:04PM
What I wrote here before was to Nuke Bengazi, THEN close our Consulate and claim that we are finished talking. After we do that, simply inform any Islamic government that we are HAPPY to "finish talking" and close our embassies at any time. We should do this next to the Kuwaitis, whose worthless rear ends we saved.
By the way to see the correct way to treat Islamic protesters, go over to Weasel Zippers and see "Taliban Leader on Motorcycle meets Maverick Missile."
Thursday's War Porn. Oderint Dum Metuant.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:05PM
Forgot the comma after "By the way,"
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 10:39AM
Visas from Islamic countries need to stop, NOW.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.20.12 @ 11:05AM
“I, for one, will enjoy seeing how China handles the murder of Chinese diplomats and the torching of Chinese embassies.”
“And if an indigenous mob wanted to go wild, its members could burn down the local Chinese embassy. Again, it will be interesting to see how the Chinese respond to such madness. “
Actually, on May 7, 1999, the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was attacked and bombed, killing three Chinese citizens (identified then as reporters). On that occasion, it was us who did it with our stealth bombers, in support of us efforts with NATO against Serbia. Chinese mobs protested and threatened outside our embassy in China for a while, but then the Chinese government shut it down and accepted Clinton’s apology (and the cash payments for the survivors). This appears to have been in large part because rather than an accident we claimed it was in our official apology, the Chinese were reported to have been using their embassy compound as a Serbian military intelligence communications facility to spy on NATO, which could more or less make it a legitimate target.
Houdini| 9.20.12 @ 12:24PM
Grant all the muslims "peace", the kind you have with eternal rest.
Woodrow| 9.20.12 @ 12:35PM
I'm tempted to agree with R.E.T. and others, but for the fact that our embassies are our entry points for "intelligence-gathering professionals". Once we shake the dust from our sandals and say so-long, we cede that much more, strategically, to Russia, China, and others...
Woodrow| 9.20.12 @ 1:03PM
Occam's Tool @ 10:33 - "An excellent solution..." maybe, but "Let them hate so long as they fear." is a famous quote/motto of Caligula. (oderint dum metuant.) It actually originated with a then famous Roman writer, Lucius Accius.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:06PM
Absolutely. I believe I said that should be our motto.
stmichrick| 9.20.12 @ 1:17PM
While 'energy independence' will bring down the cost of energy, we will still deal in a world market that seeks the least expensive alternatives. Middle Eastern options will still be in play. They just won't be gouging us anymore. Closing the embassies is the only way to distance ourselves from these savages.
doramin| 9.20.12 @ 5:05PM
Other than oil, it is truly amazing how little a role the Middle East countries play in the global economy. No matter who is in charge there, they will always need to sell their oil more than we need to buy it.
TSIndiana| 9.21.12 @ 3:58AM
So that's why the price is so low...large supplies and little demand.
Mistral| 9.20.12 @ 1:23PM
Indeed, RET Jr and I would suggest USA quit the uselessly expensive and inefficient UN which is a tool for masonic NWO alongside the dechristianised EU full of hateful liberals and resentful socialists who dislike individual success and who propagate and glorify little these days but immoral conduct and persecution of the wealthy middle classes.
Mistral| 9.20.12 @ 1:28PM
I have also stated this too before - get out of Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and similar backward states with whom we have nothing in common except oil. save money, lives and energy wastefully expended on a culture that will never mature and has not since it was fabricated. the security of USA has never been properly guaranteed this way.
Mistral| 9.20.12 @ 1:30PM
Fially, vote out the imposter in the White House who has redueced USA to a laughing stock internationally and who has continued at an accelerated pace to lay waste the Ameriacn economy with his bitterly twisted ill-informed redistribution socialism
Bob From District 9| 9.20.12 @ 3:45PM
Dollars to doughnuts you are one of the 47%.
Rivenburg| 9.20.12 @ 1:43PM
Getting out of the Middles east means were disenfranchising oil billionairs who have hundreds of millions invested in the status quo. This aint gonna happen, they dont care that the people of the USA have to pick up their security tab with treasure and blood, Just like the millionair bastards who run many US companies dont care that the US public has to pick up the tab for their healthcare, encarcertion and general pathologies the illegals bring. Im a dyed in the wool small L libertaian Consevitive, dont like Cloonies politics BUT his movie "Syriana" was right on concerning who runs our foriegn policy and why. Between oil billionairs and SAudi infiltration of our State dept,we are STUCK holding htebag in the ME until we get an honest Ron paul type in the oval office. R & D 's wont do it to save YOUR life.
Bob From District 9| 9.20.12 @ 3:47PM
You are very likely someone I would have little in common with, BUT, you got that one right.
Public Citizzen| 9.20.12 @ 1:53PM
With the well documented inflammability of the Muslim Mental Processes how long will it be before individuals with an agenda [or organizations] will start to use the internet as a means of agitating these easily manipulated populations?
Given the current state of US/Islam relations the need for US energy independence is one of our most important national security issues.
The observable fact that the current administration is doing nearly everything possible to prevent that independence from happening should be sufficient reason for a change. The additional fact that they are attempting to blame an assault on an American Embassy and the murder of American Citizens on an obscure You Tube Video clip when the event occurred on the 11th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks is tantamount to culpable negligence.
Undershaft | 9.20.12 @ 1:54PM
Bought a copy of the holy Koran for experimental purpose which led to an interesting discovery.
If one saturates it in pigs' blood, neighborhood dogs will eagerly devour the well-soaked pages, thus consuming and putting to good use the words of the prophet.
Will get another copy as soon as I have time to do so. Then, I will try video the whole process, and post the video on my blog at: http://mudgeonsmusings.blogspot.com
Dean V| 9.20.12 @ 1:55PM
In the Roman era North Africa was a rich agricultural area, producing over 1 million tons of grain a year. Today it is nothing but dust and dirt and misery. It seems that Islam ruins everything it touches.
Bill8472| 9.20.12 @ 3:38PM
Egypt was the primary grain supplier for the Byzantine Empire for centuries until the Muslims conquered it.
TSIndiana| 9.21.12 @ 3:53AM
Kinda like the white man coming to the USA and stripping most of the hardwood trees. (Indiana went from 95% hardwood forest to 15% and is now 19%) Or the "dust bowl" from denuding the land. Of course that was just natural and doesn't count because we are not muslim. Get a grip on reality.
aware| 9.20.12 @ 4:44PM
"The rest of world seems to be going forward toward prosperity."
You sure you're looking at the same world the rest of us live in?
Gary B| 9.20.12 @ 9:12PM
Right. Obama's got us in reverse with his foot to the firewall.
Marvin E. Fox | 9.20.12 @ 10:10PM
Close Down Those Embassies, might have included closing the embassies of the nations who are now trying to insult our intelligence by pretending the assaults on our embassies were spontaneous and caused by a U Tube movie instead of war plot by Jihadists. It seems our President, Secretary of State, and UN Ambassador are trying the same trick on us. I understand why the Jihadist want us disarmed if they can manage to disarm us. I do not understand why our own Executive Branch has been siding with the Jihadists. That is astounding considering the embassy in Libya was notified three days in advance of the attack that it would be attacked. It is even more astounding that the mentioned 3 are apologizing to the plotters for the bogus movie the Jihadist plotters used to trick the American people into thinking America is responsible for the Jihadist attacks on our embassies and the murder of our people.
I am not wondering who I am voting for in November.
It will not be Obama's, 'Have Apology,Will Travel' crew.
Marvin Fox
Abu Nudnik| 9.20.12 @ 10:38PM
For God's sake please stop referring to Mohamed as a prophet unless you really believe he was one! Everyone keeps saying "Prophet Mohamed." News readers I expect but not from you, Quinn. Don't you realize that, to Muslims, that's at least half way to conversion to Islam?
TSIndiana| 9.21.12 @ 3:47AM
God had nothing to do with making this film. It was made by man to encite violence in other men.
TSIndiana| 9.21.12 @ 3:45AM
Funny how the author portrays a hate film that has the purpose of enciting this type of violence as "a minor lapse of taste". The film did exactly what it was designed to do.
Alex Feltham | 9.21.12 @ 8:27AM
It's easy to despair over the Middle East but it's not all doom and gloom.
This story "My Kinda Girl" from Iran At:
http://john-moloney.blogspot.com/
shows another more hopeful side.
IronmanAtl| 9.21.12 @ 3:26PM
This seems amazinggly simple, which is probably why no politician has never put this idea in action. If I understand it,
1. Implement a crash course to become completely energy independant, and stop all imports of overseas fossil fuels. If cars and trucks run on natural gas, that's fine. Develop nuclear power plants as quickly as possible, and what the heck, solar and wind is ok, too.
2. Eliminate any and all foreign aid to any Middle eastern country, and close all the embassies. cancel all visas, and make a one time offer of citizenship to those here on visas. Either become a citizen or leave.
3. Stop all trade with countries that tolerate or embrace radical Islamic extremism.
4. Stop the sales of any arms or weapons to any country that tolerates or embraces Islamic extremism.
US energy indepenence would be a great thing, raise our GDP, and lower unemployment. Closing our embassies and bringing all the troops home would lower government costs, and eliminate headaches and the endless cycle of trying to achieve mideast peace that has been elusive since Abraham's day. We may not see peace in the middle east, but there's never been peace in the middle east, and we've done more that our part to try and bring it about. It's time to let them take care of themselves, and decide their own fate.