# Embassy Closings **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 4, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354 "2013-08-04T21:33:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/181 "2013-08-07T03:36:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > If we’re in the process of whacking a hornet’s nest, closing the embassies **is** doing something to protect them. It’s like putting on beekeeper-gear before you whack the hornet’s nest. Maybe from a handful of sporadic protestors but I really don’t see how it protects an embassy from a planned attack. A few days poses no obstacle toward that goal. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/182 "2013-08-07T04:18:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Maybe from a handful of sporadic protestors but I really don’t see how it protects an embassy from a planned attack. A few days poses no obstacle toward that goal. Of course it does – it gives the attackers a few days to cool off, and the defenders a few days to get readier. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/183 "2013-08-07T05:51:15Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Watch out, Mango! Mango only pawn in game of life. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/184 "2013-08-07T06:29:17Z")
Of course! Candygrams! Those Godless fiends! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/185 "2013-08-07T06:30:47Z")
And its “Mongo”. A “mango” is a fruit. Mongo straight. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/186 "2013-08-07T07:43:06Z")
Mongo doth protest too much. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/187 "2013-08-07T09:29:35Z")
In relation to Israel and aQ, you’re not doing a bad job yourself! ---
**Author:** ![esmeralda2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/188 "2013-08-07T11:01:40Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’m actually ashamed of my government today. [We are closing nearly two dozen embassies](http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/04/politics/us-embassies-close/index.html?hpt=hp_t1) because of threats from terrorists. Horrible call by all involved. Closing the embassies sends the wrong message. It empowers terrorists by showing them that we can be intimidated, and they have the power to make the most powerful nation on Earth hide under the bed whenever the scarey man says “booga-booga”. > > What’s next? Are we going to cancel the Super Bowl because some asshat makes a threat? Because if terrorists see that they can disrupt the way we do business without actually having to do anything, they’ll be issuing threats all the damn time. > > I say beef up security where possible, have air support on standby where possible, pass out extra ammo and tell the boys to lock and load, but otherwise run up the flag high and proud, and get on with business as usual. > > We are the United States of America. We don’t fucking hide from terrorists. We stand and fight, and we track down those who attack us to bring them to justice. > > Guaran-damn-tee we would not be closing embassies and hiding under the bed if Reagan was in the White House. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If Obama didn’t close the embassies and there was a terrorist attack, he’d be blamed for not taking precautions. Now he is accused for wrong doing because he is taking precautions. Stupid Americans. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/189 "2013-08-07T11:29:09Z")
> [@esmeralda2](#): > > Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Spot the industrial-scale mischaracterisation. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/190 "2013-08-07T12:20:29Z")
No, AQ hasn’t launched many attacks on Israel. But then, it hasn’t launched many attacks on U.S. soil over the past 12 years, either. Al-Qaeda prefers to operate in areas where it has some base of power (such as Muslim countries), or places with reduced security. The U.S. and Israel are just too much of a challenge for it. That said, according to its own stated goals, the organization is just as hostile toward Israel as it is toward the U.S. If it had a strike force in Tel Aviv, and the embassy was closed, chances are that the force with choose to attack some high-value Israeli target instead. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/191 "2013-08-07T14:13:29Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > No, AQ hasn’t launched many attacks on Israel. But then, it hasn’t launched many attacks on U.S. soil over the past 12 years, either. Al-Qaeda prefers to operate in areas where it has some base of power (such as Muslim countries), or places with reduced security. The U.S. and Israel are just too much of a challenge for it. See, others might think AQ is actually focused on countries where western influence is of most concern - like Yemen. But I understand you have your own narrative to protect and propagate. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/192 "2013-08-07T14:16:19Z")
And I suppose you have yours. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/193 "2013-08-07T14:21:20Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > See, others might think AQ is actually focused on countries where western influence is of most concern - like Yemen. It’s true- the West has a lot of influence on New York, and Washington and London and Madrid. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/194 "2013-08-07T14:39:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And its “Mongo”. A “mango” is a fruit. Mongo straight. But why does everyone think [Mango](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mango_(Saturday_Night_Live)) is the homo-gay?! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/195 "2013-08-07T14:43:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course it does – it gives the attackers a few days to cool off, and the defenders a few days to get readier. Protesters might cool off but an organization like Al Qaeda would not. As far as ramping up security that would certainly make sense except for one detail. This is not a new event or close to a new event. The countries listed should be as hardened as practicable. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/196 "2013-08-07T14:43:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’d let slip the dogs of war to guard them knowing the weasels will be back the following day and I have no chance of hunting them all down to eliminate the threat. But you can’t keep that up for very long, or you’ll find yourself spending more on dog food than on chicken feed, to belabor the metaphor. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/197 "2013-08-07T14:48:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s true- the West has a lot of influence on New York, and Washington and London and Madrid. You’re really very good at shooting yourself in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/198 "2013-08-07T15:09:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But you can’t keep that up for very long, or you’ll find yourself spending more on dog food than on chicken feed, to belabor the metaphor. The list of closures represents a broad brush application of nations that have groups violently opposed to the United States. It’s nothing new. The security issues at these embassies should have been addressed years ago. A couple of days would not begin to address any faults that exist. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/199 "2013-08-07T15:24:17Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > You’re really very good at shooting yourself in the foot. Maybe you’d like to explain what “focused” means to you. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/200 "2013-08-07T15:30:41Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The list of closures represents a broad brush application of nations that have groups violently opposed to the United States. It’s nothing new. The security issues at these embassies should have been addressed years ago. A couple of days would not begin to address any faults that exist. You’ve obviously already made up your mind that this is an Evil Plot By Obama, but I’ll play nonetheless. What can be done to protect an embassy from a truck bomb, other than closing it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354.md?page=11)