The Problem With Our Embassy in Cairo Isn’t What They Tweet

I’m sure we’re all aware of the happenings at our embassies in both Egypt, where an American flag was desecrated, and in Libya, where one American was killed and another injured. And I know most of you are aware of the absolute disaster that is the official twitter account of our embassy in Cairo. But the complete ineptitude they’re displaying on the social media front isn’t the problem. The real problem is the statement they released in response to an angry mob storming the embassy and destroying an American Flag over a movie which they found offensive. Here it is:

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

What that statement does is immediately offer justification everyone attacking U.S. Embassies everywhere. It may not be worded as an apology, but that’s exactly how it comes across. What we’ve done here is offer a ready-made excuse for those who decided that it was entirely appropriate to attack one U.S. Embassy and destroy our flag and attack another U.S. Embassy and kill one American and wound another because they found a video to be offensive.

We simply cannot be in the business of providing terrorists with excuses for their violent and murderous behavior.