Protesters storm U.S. Embassy in Cairo

[Clarke]

Angry protesters climbed the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Tuesday and hauled down the American flag, replacing it with a black standard with Islamic emblems, apparently in protest of the production of a film thought to insult the Prophet Mohammed. The incident prompted a volley of warning shots to be fired as a large crowd gathered outside, said CNN producer Mohammed Fahmy, who was on the scene. The replacement flag read, "There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger." Others expressed more general grievances about U.S. policy, chanting anti-American slogans and holding up bits of a shredded American flag to television camera crews in front of the embassy. An embassy operator told CNN that the facility had been cleared of diplomatic personnel earlier Tuesday, ahead of the apparent threat, while Egyptian riot police were called to help secure the area. The U.S. Embassy said in a statement Tuesday that it "condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions." "Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy," the statement said. "We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others." The incident occurred on the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, as crowds gathered in somber remembrance of the nearly 3,000 people killed that day. It is not clear which film upset the protesters in Cairo. In 2008, an anti-Muslim and anti-immigration parliamentarian from The Netherlands sparked international outcry when he produced a film that portrayed Islam as a violent religion. Geert Wilders' film "Fitna," which he released online, featured images of terrorist acts superimposed over verses from the Quran.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/11/world/meast/egpyt-us-embassy-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 A billion dollars of annual dole/aid/assistance buys you this much love :antijinx:

[seedhi]

The US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya has also been attacked and according to Reuters the US Ambassador to Libya has been killed in the attack.

US Ambassador to Libya killed in attack CAIRO/WASHINGTON, Sept 12 – The US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other embassy staff were killed in Tuesday’s rocket attack in Benghazi, according to a Libyan official. "The Libyan ambassador and three staff members were killed when gunmen fired rockets at them," the official in Benghazi told Reuters. The news on Wednesday follows confirmation by Secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Tuesday that a US state department officer was killed in an attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya and she condemned the violence. Gunmen attacked US offices in the eastern Libyan city and fought security forces in protest over what they said was a film being produced in the US that insulted the Prophet Mohammed. “Some have sought to justify this vicious behaviour as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others,” Mrs Clinton said in a statement. “But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.” Earlier on Tuesday, Egyptian protesters scaled the walls of the US embassy in Cairo, tore down the American flag and burnt it during a protest against the film. In place of the US flag, the protesters tried to raise a black flag with the words “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his messenger”, a witness said. Once the US flag was hauled down, some protesters tore it up and showed off pieces to television cameras. Others burnt the remains outside the fortress-like embassy building in central Cairo. But some protesters objected to the flag burning. Many Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet to be offensive. In Cairo, about 20 people stood on top of the embassy wall, while about 2,000 protesters gathered outside. The demonstrators were mainly supporters of Islamist groups or young ultras. “This movie must be banned immediately and an apology should be made,” said Ismail Mahmoud, 19, a member of the “ultras” football supporters who played a big role in the uprising that brought down Hosni Mubarak last year. He called on Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first civilian president and an Islamist, to take action, without giving details of the film that angered him or other protesters. Rafik Farouk, 38, a Christian, also took part. “I am here because I am Egyptian and reject anything that insults Islam or anything that sparks division in Egypt,” he said. Washington has a big mission in Egypt, partly because of a huge aid programme that followed Egypt’s signing of a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. The US gives $1.3bn to Egypt’s military each year and offers the nation other aid. The US state department said the wall was breached and the flag removed. “We are obviously working with Egyptian security to try to restore order at the embassy and to work with them to try to get the situation under control.” Following the protest, Egypt’s foreign ministry said it was committed to giving all embassies the necessary protection. The US embassy had put out a statement earlier on Tuesday condemning “misguided individuals” who hurt the religious feelings of Muslims or followers of other religions. Although it was not clear which film prompted the protests, Egypt’s al-Azhar mosque, a seat of Sunni learning, condemned on Tuesday a symbolic “trial” of the Prophet organised by a US group including Terry Jones, a Christian pastor who triggered riots in Afghanistan in 2010 by threatening to burn the Koran. According to the Standupamericanow website, Mr Jones and others were due to take part in an event on Tuesday called “International Judge Mohammed Day” in Florida. It was to be carried live on the internet. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox church also condemned in a statement some Copts living abroad who it said financed “the production of a film insulting Prophet Mohammed”, a state website reported. About a 10th of Egypt’s 83m people are Christians. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e8d91afe-fc53-11e1-aef9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz26FMu7RP7

[Brainfade]

The US Consulate in Benghazi' date=' Libya has also been attacked and according to Reuters the US Ambassador to Libya has been killed in the attack.[/quote'] God bless the Arab Spring and the current US Government's support of it. Just get the heck out of the ME and North Africa and let them self-destruct. But, nossir, we love being the world's police force.

[ravishingravi]

God bless the Arab Spring and the current US Government's support of it. Just get the heck out of the ME and North Africa and let them self-destruct. But, nossir, we love being the world's police force.

Wonderful. So, you wanted the dictators to be in place instead.

[Brainfade]

Wonderful. So' date=' you wanted the dictators to be in place instead.[/quote'] You're in a bad mood, aren't ya? All I said was the US govt has to be careful to see whom they are supporting. Replacing one barbarian with another set of possibly worse barbarians is hardly the way forward.

[coffee_rules]

1979 all over again.

[Crookbond]

:facepalm:

[cowboysfan]

1979 all over again.

who didnt see this coming? Is their any other fate for these Arab spring countries?

[Clarke]

1979 all over again.

Its actually another one of those where the jahils gather to kill & destroy because - An 'offensive' cartoon is published. - A short movie (fitna or something) is released. - Some pastor decided to burn a holy book.

[Desi Cartman]

I think they should just leave MI, they have wasted enough resources and lives. Its all about Israel and no one knows how many people will die to save it

[Clarke]

God bless the Arab Spring and the current US Government's support of it.

You're in a bad mood' date=' aren't ya? All I said was the US govt has to be careful to see whom they are supporting. Replacing one barbarian with another set of possibly worse barbarians is hardly the way forward.[/quote'] Your right winger friend who grew up on tuna & pasta also had some comforting words

[ravishingravi]

You're in a bad mood' date=' aren't ya? All I said was the US govt has to be careful to see whom they are supporting. Replacing one barbarian with another set of possibly worse barbarians is hardly the way forward.[/quote'] No but some matter are not partisan. Ofcourse but you can still look through that lens. It is not US prerogative what people of other countries choose for themselves. They have no business in it. It is easy to react to one incident and link it to one event. This hatred against the imperialist regime has been building up for some years.

[jairamesh]

Reports now that US Warships, Drones, and Marines have being deployed not just to hunt the killers but find and destroy "jihadist" camps in Libya. Who would have thought :hmmm: when the conservatives came into power in Libya.

[ravishingravi]

Reports now that US Warships, Drones, and Marines have being deployed not just to hunt the killers but find and destroy "jihadist" camps in Libya. Who would have thought :hmmm: when the conservatives came into power in Libya.

America f&*k yeah

[Brainfade]

No but some matter are not partisan. Ofcourse but you can still look through that lens. It is not US prerogative what people of other countries choose for themselves. They have no business in it. It is easy to react to one incident and link it to one event. This hatred against the imperialist regime has been building up for some years.

The problem is that the current US administration covertly supported the Libyan rebels. Now, we are reaping the "rewards." The solution is to stop poking our noses in other nations' business and not jump on every rebellion as a human rights cause and support it.

[Lurker]

The problem is that the current US administration covertly supported the Libyan rebels. Now' date= we are reaping the "rewards." The solution is to stop poking our noses in other nations' business and not jump on every rebellion as a human rights cause and support it.

Frankly there was little covert support for Libyan rebels. It was very direct. It was well known on how the rebels were being Armed and supplied, and who was doing it. Of course it was all done in the garb of spreading democracy and defending people from the oppressive regime but the basic premise - meddling in a sovereign nation's internal policy - remained true.

[ravishingravi]

The problem is that the current US administration covertly supported the Libyan rebels. Now' date=' we are reaping the "rewards." The solution is to stop poking our noses in other nations' business and not jump on every rebellion as a human rights cause and support it.[/quote'] So the current govt. has basically stayed true to its predecessors. From world war II US has been meddling in international affairs covertly or other wise.

[superstar]

Covert?? NATO were bombing Gadaffi With UN backup.

[Brainfade]

So the current govt. has basically stayed true to its predecessors. From world war II US has been meddling in international affairs covertly or other wise.

And I have always criticized them for it - esp. the Iraq invasion. At least, I am consistent. You seem to be OK with it only when it is the decision of your man. And after all, wasn't this administration supposed to be different?

[Clarke]

So the current govt. has basically stayed true to its predecessors. From world war II US has been meddling in international affairs covertly or other wise.

And I have always criticized them for it - esp. the Iraq invasion. At least' date=' I am consistent. You seem to be OK with it only when it is the decision of your man. And after all, wasn't this administration supposed to be different?[/quote'] False equivalence of the highest order. One govt invaded with its entire might and held ground until it was in power, spending around a trillion dollars, maybe more and 4-5 thousand precious lives of its soldiers. The other provided support to rebels, spending around a billion which was promised back. Chalk & cheese, however badly you may try to portray this administration. Besides, the attack with anti-tank weaponry was orchestrated by AQ. Such attacks can occur in any ME/African country, its about the embassy security to prevent them from claiming lives and not supporting the Libyan resistance. Your only valid argument would be closing the embassy & non-intervention etc. That's simpler said than done after six decades of policing the world. The Obama administration took some steps in the right direction and it is extremely hypocritical to compare it to the Bush era.