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Administration Sending Mixed Messages on Libya, Egypt?

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    American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Rubin and Washington Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York and Rep. Buck McKeon, (R-Calif.), on ...

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I want to turn to you for -- second.

To talk about some of the political implications especially when it comes to Mitt Romney he -- -- to a comment from the embassy which was this.

The embassy the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt.

The religious feelings of Muslims respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy.

We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the -- -- right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs.

Bothers here's what Romney said.

Following that.

They clearly sent mixed messages to the world.

And and the statement that came from the administration and the embassy is the administration the statement that came from him and administration.

Was was that a statement which is akin to apology and I think -- -- -- -- I think severe miscalculation.

Siren if you wanna cut a cry for media saying that dad -- had no business -- responding with your check.

Well this is really just taken over the presidential race today it's been it's been huge ever since Romney.

Released a statement about 1030 last night condemning this the statement that originally came.

From the embassy in -- that that statement came out when they were expecting trouble but being -- the militants -- not actually increase the wall yet but then they truly did -- re affirmation of that statement.

After the whole thing had happened in in Cairo.

We just found president Obama this afternoon said that the shows that Mitt Romney has a tendency to shoot first and came later.

Romney is on the defensive he has some Republicans coming to his.

Communist defenseman right now he's kind of out out there on Islam on his -- some.

Trying to say that that the administration has a tendency to apologize.

For United States' actions.

Well -- -- to mention that that quote that you were talking about.

Was a sixty minutes quote from CBS.

-- -- circulating it hasn't even aired yet.

But we expected to.

Congressman I wanna turn -- you for a second were about to approved twenty million dollars for Libya should wait.

Weather's talk on the floor among other members that that we we probably shouldn't we ought to be cutting it off for these countries.

You don't we just seem to have a tendency.

Under this administration.

To first thing we do is apologize.

And and we send the money.

And and that seems to you know when you apologize you -- to open up and and things -- get worse.

And I think we have to be very careful in sort of sucked up about this we just can't keep trying to buy friends.

They they respect strength they respect.

The ability to.

To stand behind what you say you're gonna do.

And you know the president is in the middle of cutting trillion dollars out of our defense and then sending more troops around the world on other missions we just can't keep doing this.

Congressman how do you show that strength -- a situation like this if you're not getting out your checkbook what do you do.

Well I think governor Romney took the right -- I think we don't apologize.

Every time something goes wrong and and show weakness.

When initial weakness then it opens up.

The opportunity for somebody to come after us that.

You don't general Eisenhower president Eisenhower said we need to be -- strong.

That nobody bears take us on well we see around the world.

They're not afraid of us they don't respect us all -- wanna do is beat up on us and then take our money.

My -- I'd like to know what do you agree with that -- but also be.

How does stabilizes this region I mean who do you talked to who's in charge I I know that Libya I think just elected a prime minister this afternoon but.

At the end of the day to really factions that are Waring and and how do we make sense of this.

I.

Absolutely agree with the sentiment.

And in fact I would say that if the Egyptian government and the Libyan government are deserving of usaid -- want to prove that.

Then they need to make sure that everyone who breached the embassy walls and who attacked American diplomats.

Pays the consequences.

And if they're not willing to do that then they at those people should become predator potter now much.

When it when it comes more importantly.

Certainly.

We can pressure the Egyptian and Libyan government talk with regard to Libya.

They're fighting for us they actually -- fought and died to protect the American ambassador against this to -- -- faction.

Egypt is a much more problematic case and certainly we shouldn't ball into the trap we so long did.

With Islamic Republic of Iran where we give implausible the liability the fact of the matter is Mohamed -- became president.

And he needs to ultimately be response pray for everything that happens in the Egypt.

Well you bring up Orion and -- this made me think of the Iranian hostage crisis.

And Byron TU before the hostage crisis at that time way back then.

President Jimmy Carter was leading Ronald Reagan in the polls by thirty points.

That's shrink and it went away and largely because Reagan took advantage of it with ads that said is this the man who should be running our foreign about policy.

Could this have a similar effect on our president today.

Well certainly the hostage crisis let Jimmy Carter looking like ten and -- -- powerless.

President.

And clearly Mitt Romney wants to portray.

Barack Obama as as a president who who doesn't pursue.

American interest aggressively who thinks more in terms of the world image instead of on a specifically American image course Democrats.

Had a big national security.

Shovel with their convention.

I I guess the name Osama bin Laden was heard about every other word.

Anthony.

Democratic Convention so they're fighting back pretty hard on that I don't think.

Just given given the bin Laden kill.

Dad.

Mitt Romney will be able to portray President Obama as a week and that Carter esque figure.

Alright Michael Byron in congressman Mickey and thanks so much for coming on tonight really appreciate your time it was great conversation.

Thank you thank they.