It's 11 Years After 9/11

To put that in perspective:

1952 was 11 years after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
1974 was 11 years after the assassination of President Kennedy.
1979 was 11 years after the Tet Offensive.
1985 was 11 years after the resignation of President Nixon.
2000 was 11 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

I am working at home today. And eleven years ago I was working at home when my boss called to tell me that the World Trade Center had been hit by an airplane.

Today CNN reports that protesters in Egypt stormed the grounds of the U.S. Embassy, tore down and ripped to shreds the U.S. flag, and ran up an Islamic black flag in its place.



The provocation is said to be a new film that portrays Islam negatively:

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement 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."

It would be easier to have sympathy for Muslin "hurt feelings" if these protesters hadn't picked this particular day or the particular symbol of a U.S. flag to express their rage. There's a true abuse of the universal right of free speech.

A U.S. Consulate in Libya has also been attacked, with one American official reported dead. The violent protests in Egypt and Libya are said in some reports to be in response to a YouTube video produced by Coptic Christian refugees from Egypt.

Here is the full statement that was released by the U.S. embassy in Egypt:

U.S. Embassy Condemns Religious Incitement
September 11, 2012

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

Coptic Christians have been targeted in Egypt, both during and after the Arab Spring, with scores reported killed. Misguided?

Update: There is some confusion whether the objectionable YouTube movie may be one by the Florida pastor involved in the Koran-burning controversy, by Coptic Christians from Egypt, by Israeli citizens, or by some American. But all that is just the question of pretext, the real reason for these attacks on U.S. diplomats was the 9/11 anniversary. The death toll in Libya is now at 4 Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador. President Obama says "Justice will be done." Good.