Below is a list of embassy/consulate attacks that occurred during the Bush/Cheney White House days.
June 14, 2002, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide bomber kills 12 and injures 51.
February 20, 2003, international diplomatic compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Truck bomb kills 17.
February 28, 2003, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Gunmen on motorcycles killed two consulate guards.
July 30, 2004, U.S. embassy in Taskkent, Uzbekistan
Suicide bomber kills two.
December 6, 2004, U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Militants stormed and occupied perimeter wall. Five killed, 10 wounded.
March 2, 2006, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide car bomber killed four, including a U.S. diplomate directly targeted by the assailants.
September 12, 2006, U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria
Gunmen attacked embassy with grenades, automatic weapons, and a car bomb (though second truck bomb failed to detonate). One killed and 13 wounded.
January 12, 2007, U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the embassy building. No one was injured.
July 9, 2008, U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Armed men attacked consulate with pistols and shotguns. Three policemen killed.
March 18, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Mortar attack misses embassy, hits nearby girls' school instead.
September 17, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Militants dressed as policemen attacked the embassy with RPGs, rifles, grenades and car bombs. Six Yemeni soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Sixteen more were injured.
Many people like to argue that most of the attacks occurred in a place and time where war was active – however, that is not the case.
The extreme Right likes to use Benghazi in attempt to discredit Hillary Clinton – I would imagine because they know it’s going to be tough for anyone to beat her in a presidential run. Do I think she was wrong – Yes! But if we’re going to crucify her for an embassy attack, let’s line up everyone who neglected to protect our embassies from attack. The thing is, Bush/Cheney lied several times. They were called on the carpet to testify – but refused to do so under oath. Bush/Cheney ignored congressional subpoena's and the list goes on and on, of that administration and their wrong-doings.
The only thing we can establish here is all politicians LIE. All politicians cover their own asses and they all do what is most beneficial to them. It is OUR place, as voters, to hold them accountable by offering or withholding our votes.
I agree – the Republican party has a tough job ahead – finding the right candidate to take on Clinton – but it can be done. IF an only IF they break free from the common “evangelical” beliefs – IF they stop looking to politicians for their position on topics like abortion and gay marriage and look at them for their qualifications when it comes to running a country – upholding the laws and standing up for the people who put them in office.
The hardnosed positions of abortion and gay marriage are what got them into the position they are in. If there is any hope of ever seeing another Republican in office, the party needs to focus on what’s best for the country as a whole, not meddling into individuals sexual preferences or whether they choose to give birth or not. Leave those fights to the people and communities – the government has much bigger fish to fry.
