General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHere’s a timeline:
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July 2
An anti-Muslim filmmaker using the name Sam Bacile posts a 14-minute English-language trailer for the film Innocence of Muslims, which depicts the prophet Muhammed in an insulting manner. A similar video appeared on YouTube on July 1, but received less attention.
Sept. 5
Per the New York Times, an anti-Muslim Egyptian American Coptic Christian draws attention to the trailer in an Arabic-language blog post and English-language e-mail newsletter, which also publicizes the latest stunt by Terry Jones the Florida pastor who was chastised worldwide in 2011 for burning a Koran, inciting a deadly altercation at a United Nations compound in Afghanistan.
Sept. 9
Egyptian television airs an Arabic-language scene from the Bacile film.
Sept. 11
In anticipation of the ensuing uproar, the U.S. embassy in Cairo issues a statement at 6:17 a.m. ET, according to State Department officials, condemning all attempts to abuse free speech rights to offend people of any religion.
Unarmed protestors gather outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo throughout the day. By nightfall in Cairo, which was around noon ET, some protestors scale the walls around the compound and destroy a flag inside. The incursion is contained and protests continue outside the compound into the night.
Via Twitter, around 4:30 p.m. ET, the U.S. embassy in Cairo condemns the breach, but stands by its initial condemnation of religiously inflammatory speech, which, it noted, was issued before the attacks.
5:37 p.m. ET: Terry Jones issues a press release: Tonight after International Judge Mohammad Day we will be showing the Mohammad Movie Trailer, a video promoting the movie, Innocence of Muslims. It is an American production, not designed to attack Muslims but to show the destructive ideology of Islam. The movie further reveals in a satirical fashion the life of Muhammad.
5:41 p.m. ET: Reporters in Libya hear shooting and see smoke rising near the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
7:35 p.m. ET: Reuters confirms that an American consulate staffer has been killed in Benghazi. This staffer is later identified as Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith.
10:09 p.m. ET: The Romney campaign issue a statement from Mitt Romney himself condemning the Obama administration for the Cairo embassys repudiation of religiously insensitive speech. It falsely suggests that the Cairo embassys condemnation came in response to the attacks in both Egypt and Lybia.
The statement is embargoed meaning the press cannot report on it until midnight, Sept. 12 the moment the Obama and Romney campaigns Sept. 11 truce is scheduled to end.
10:10 p.m. ET: An Obama administration source disavows the U.S. embassy in Cairos statement of condemnation to Politico.
10:25 p.m. ET: Without explanation, the Romney campaign lifts its embargo on Romneys statement and it becomes public.
10:44 p.m. ET: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemns the attack in Benghazi.
This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his governments full cooperation.
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
In light of the events of today, the United States government is working with partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.
Just before midnight ET, the U.S. embassy in Cairo removes some its tweets, from both before and during the protests, condemning religiously offensive speech. It does not remove one posted at 4:29 p.m. ET: 3) Sorry, but neither breaches of our compound or angry messages will dissuade us from defending freedom of speech AND criticizing bigotry.
Sept. 12
12:01 a.m. ET: Just as the campaigns Sept. 11 detente ends, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus tweets, Obama sympathizes with attackers in Egypt. Sad and pathetic. Unlike Romneys statement, Priebus tweet is silent on Libya.
12:09 a.m. ET: The Obama campaign fires back. We are shocked that, at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Governor Romney would choose to launch a political attack, spokesman Ben LaBolt said, in an emailed statement.
5:41 a.m. ET: Reuters reports that U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other embassy staffers were killed in a rocket attack.
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More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/a-timeline-of-the-attacks-in-libya-and-egypt----and-the-responses.php
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)-snip-
In a run-down theater on a seedy stretch of Hollywood Boulevard this summer, an independent movie made its debut. The acting was amateurish, the dialogue clunky and the costumes no better than those sold for Halloween. Even with a pretty young woman beckoning pedestrians inside, fewer than 10 people attended.
But three months later, the movie "Innocence of Muslims" would be blamed the world over for inciting mobs in Egypt and Libya. The movie was filmed and first released in Southern California, but much else about its origins remains a mystery.
-snip-
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-filmmaker-20120913,0,3754075.story
WillyT
(72,631 posts)rocktivity
(44,573 posts)because it happened to me again.
The last time I was so busy with a Web project I barely had time to visit DU, Bin Laden got killed -- I literally missed it. And the same thing happened to me yesterday!
Romney's reaction (and logic) was hardly surprising, and I did have time to find the movie in question on YouTube. It's still there -- I won't say any more about it other than the fact that no one seems to have posted it here speaks for itself.
rocktivity