# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/161 "2013-08-06T18:44:33Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You’re saying that sending soldiers into 19 countries seems simpler than briefly closing some embassies? The embassies are already guarded. closing them for a couple of days does nothing to enhance security. So yes, additional staffing would be warranted. In the case of Benghazi it warranted assets that were readily available but not used. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/162 "2013-08-06T18:46:13Z")
> [@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. You do realize that we can’t just send a battalion of troops into the center of the capital city of a sovereign nation, don’t you? If the Chinese feel a little nervous in the U.S., do you think we’re going to let them send in a thousand troops to patrol Dupont Circle? The Marine security detail stationed at embassies are not sitting on the roof in machine gun nests, their primary role is to secure classified information inside the embassy. They are trained to protect within the walls of the embassy, not to stand a post looking for outside threats. Your ideas about what can be done are bordering on delusional, and you really don’t have a good handle on how an embassy operates. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/163 "2013-08-06T18:57:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The embassies are already guarded. This was already discussed upthread. > [@](#): > > closing them for a couple of days does nothing to enhance security. Also discussed upthread: it would get people away from danger and buy time to disrupt a potential plot, and it sounds like that’s how this time is being used. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/164 "2013-08-06T19:02:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Or they knew they would elevate the probability of a threat by bombing terrorists in Yemen. I wonder if they issued the bulletins to get someone’s phone to ring. Achmed calls up Ali to say, “Hey. Guess what those dumb asses have done now.” And Ali asks, “Do you hear a whistling noise?” ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/165 "2013-08-06T19:03:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Also discussed upthread: it would get people away from danger and buy time to disrupt a potential plot, and it sounds like that’s how this time is being used. seriously? You think we bought time against an attack? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/166 "2013-08-06T19:07:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > However the endless crusade to turn Benghazi into a crippling scandal is useful context here. There is no excuse for the lack of support at Benghazi. None. Not only that but there was willful attempts to portray it as a demonstration that got out of control. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/167 "2013-08-06T19:11:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > seriously? You think we bought time against an attack? What is the question here? > [@Magiver](#): > > There is no excuse for the lack of support at Benghazi. None. Not only that but there was willful attempts to portray it as a demonstration that got out of control. None of that is true, but it does seem like you’ve got every outcome covered pretty thoroughly: whatever they do, it’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/168 "2013-08-06T19:43:12Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > There is no excuse for the lack of support at Benghazi. None. Not only that but there was willful attempts to portray it as a demonstration that got out of control. Regardless, the GOPs reaction was completely disingenuous and contrived. Now, thanks to the GOP, we’re Al Qaeda’s bitch and the GOP is thrilled. Because Obama “learned his lesson in Benghazi?” Of course not. They’re thrilled because we are once again in a “state of high level alert” which is exactly where conservatives want people: scared, stressed, tired and compliant. How many Americans have died from terrorism vs. how many Americans have died from guns right here in the US? Pick any year or range of years you want. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/169 "2013-08-06T20:04:40Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > How many Americans have died from terrorism vs. how many Americans have died from guns right here in the US? Pick any year or range of years you want. That’d hijack the thread. Let’s stick to the subject of the embassy closings and related stuff. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/170 "2013-08-06T20:10:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That’d hijack the thread. Let’s stick to the subject of the embassy closings and related stuff. How many have died in car crashes? From air pollution? What can I compare death tolls to that you won’t disallow as a highjack? Terrorism fear mongering is a for-profit industry these days, and disingenuous as hell. There are far bigger threats to the daily lives of Americans than terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/171 "2013-08-06T20:17:14Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > How many have died in car crashes? From air pollution? What can I compare death tolls to that you won’t disallow as a highjack? None of them, but at least you explained what the general point is. Now let it go. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/172 "2013-08-06T20:18:26Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Terrorism fear mongering is a for-profit industry these days, and disingenuous as hell. I’d like to see a thread on that subject, but I don’t know enough to start one. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/173 "2013-08-06T21:09:29Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > A “credible threat” issued by NSA is a contrivance designed to distract attention away from the NSA. Follow along with my easy step-by-step guide, and you too can be a conspiracy theorist! Step 1: Find a news headline, preferably involving national security. Step 2: Recall whatever the issue is that the President/Cabinet is currently being beaten up for. Step 3: Insist without evidence that Step 1 is a distraction from Step 2! You’re done! Instant conspiracy! Now you try… Petraus sex scandal? Distraction from Benghazi! Clinton fainting? Distraction from Benghazi! Drone strikes? Distraction from GTMO! Immigration bill? Distraction from IRS! The best part is…you don’t have to know anything about anything to say it! Just blurt out a connection between obviously disparate topics, and all your friends and family will marvel at your sagacity! > [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Your ideas about what can be done are bordering on delusional, and you really don’t have a good handle on how an embassy operates. No kidding. Really, **Magiver** , you oughta hang this one up and admit you’re not really all that familiar with the subject matter. > [@levdrakon](#): > > Regardless, the GOPs reaction was completely disingenuous and contrived. Now, thanks to the GOP, we’re Al Qaeda’s bitch and the GOP is thrilled. You’ve got to be shitting me. Closing embassies is now the GOP’s fault? They agree with the President, and you blame them. They disagree and you still blame them. Tell me, is there anything that’s _not_ the GOP’s fault? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/174 "2013-08-06T21:40:10Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > You’ve got to be shitting me. Closing embassies is now the GOP’s fault? They agree with the President, and you blame them. They disagree and you still blame them. Tell me, is there anything that’s _not_ the GOP’s fault? Of course. How could Obama _not_ react with an overabundance of caution after the GOP’s shenanigans over it? They’ve still got their followers saying things like, “no excuse. None.” lol. ---
**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, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/175 "2013-08-07T02:35:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > What is the question here? the question was in plain English. > [@Marley23](#): > > None of that is true, but it does seem like you’ve got every outcome covered pretty thoroughly: whatever they do, it’s wrong. All if it was true. The embassy was hung out to try and the weeks that followed were nothing but deliberate lies pushed on the media. It was never a protest and the WH new it from day one yet they sent Susan Rice out in front of the cameras. 8 hrs of attacks and we did nothing to support them. ---
**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, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/176 "2013-08-07T02:37:05Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Of course. How could Obama _not_ react with an overabundance of caution after the GOP’s shenanigans over it? They’ve still got their followers saying things like, “no excuse. None.” lol. you think it’s funny that Obama did nothing? Nice. ---
**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, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/177 "2013-08-07T02:42:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > the question was in plain English. This was plain English, too, was it not? > [@Marley23](#): > > Also discussed upthread: it would get people away from danger and buy time to disrupt a potential plot, and it sounds like that’s how this time is being used. So what’s your question? “Do you believe the thing you said?” I think it’s possible, yes. At least it makes sense as an explanation, which is more than I can say for a lot of the stuff I’ve read over the last three and a half pages. ---
**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, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/178 "2013-08-07T03:10:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This was plain English, too, was it not? > > So what’s your question? “Do you believe the thing you said?” I think it’s possible, yes. At least it makes sense as an explanation, which is more than I can say for a lot of the stuff I’ve read over the last three and a half pages. I don’t think it’s realistic to believe that we closed 22 embassies with the intent to remove the threat. It’s more likely that we were in the process of whacking a hornets nest and needed to look like we were doing something to protect the embassies. ---
**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, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/179 "2013-08-07T03:25:11Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > AQ usually go for the low-hanging fruit. :eek: Watch out, Mango! ---
**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, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354/180 "2013-08-07T03:26:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I don’t think it’s realistic to believe that we closed 22 embassies with the intent to remove the threat. It’s more likely that we were in the process of whacking a hornets nest and needed to look like we were doing something to protect the embassies. 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embassy-closings/665354.md?page=10)