Protesters attack US diplomatic compounds in Egypt, Libya

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U.S. Embassy Condemns Religious Incitement

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I really fail to see what is objectionable about this original tweet, even if it had not been authorized, and I don't see how it constitutes an "apology."  The embassy in Cairo was attacked for something that it neither did nor represented.  And they were probably pretty freaked out by the attack in the initial aftermath, and they are housed in a country with a big Muslim population.  What were they supposed to say: "Dear citizens of Cairo, we happen to think that this online film was really cool, and we honor freedom of speech, and if you don't like it, go f yourselves"?  What, furthermore, is apologetic about the sentence: "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"?  Trying to make political hay out of that is just dipsh**ttery, especially from someone who wants to be president and who will have a diplomatic core to protect.    

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The Pentagon is concerned about the safety of the people on the ground carrying out American diplomatic missions.  It's not like the Pentagon can stop people from talking, but I think it's perfectly ok for them to ask, since, as the last few days have made clear, this stuff can cause uproars against American government workers in other countries that turn deadly.

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I don't believe it can be done remotely...at all.  Having people on site, who can establish personal relationships with both a country's leadership and the local population, as well as maintain close connections to the things that are happening daily in a country, really can't be done across an ocean through cyberspace.  I mean, that Atlas forum, for instance, is a very cool place to come and talk with people and all, but I don't think it could do anything like carry out a genuinely diplomatic mission.  Having people on site always involves real risks, which is precisely why caution in what is said and what is done is always advisable.