Republican presidential candidate, Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama (Democrat), right

Mitt Romney On 'Innocence Of Muslims' Video
The Huffington Post | By Luke Johnson Posted: 09/14/2012 9:25 am Updated: 09/14/2012 1:11 pm

Romney said he had no plans to see the video, "Innocence of Muslims." "I think it’s dispiriting sometimes to see some of the awful things people say. And the idea of using something that some people consider sacred and then parading that out a negative way is simply inappropriate and wrong. And I wish people wouldn’t do it," he said. "Of course, we have a First Amendment. And under the First Amendment, people are allowed to do what they feel they want to do."

Romney went on, "They have the right to do that, but it’s not right to do things that are of the nature of what was done by, apparently this film." He was asked whether he approved of Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, calling Florida pastor Terry Jones to ask him to stop promoting the film. He didn't answer directly, but continued to condemn the film. "I think the whole film is a terrible idea. I think him making it, promoting it showing it is disrespectful to people of other faiths. I don’t think that should happen. I think people should have the common courtesy and judgment -- the good judgment -- not to be -- not to offend other peoples’ faiths. It’s a very bad thing, I think, this guy’s doing."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1883523.html

The New York Times:
The 'Innocence of Muslims' Riots (Nakoula Basseley Nakoula)

Challenge in Turbulent Region
The widening unrest has challenged the Obama administration’s policy in the tinderbox region where the revolts of the so-called Arab Spring have removed many of the pro-American strongmen who once kept public displays of Islamic passion in check.

In Egypt, in particular, leaders scrambled to repair deep strains with Washington provoked by their initial response to attacks on the American Embassy on Tuesday, tacitly acknowledging that they erred in their response by focusing far more on anti-American domestic opinion than on condemning the violence.

The attacks squeezed President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood between conflicting pressures from Washington and their Islamic constituency at home, a senior Brotherhood official acknowledged. During a 20-minute phone call Wednesday night, Mr. Obama warned Mr. Morsi that relations would be jeopardized if the authorities in Cairo failed to protect American diplomats and stand more firmly against anti-American attacks.

Clash of Campaigns
The attacks on Sept. 11 also propelled foreign policy to the forefront of an otherwise inward-looking presidential campaign and presented an unexpected test not only to Mr. Obama, but also to Mr. Romney, whose response quickly came under fire.

While President Obama dealt with the killings of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans and deflected questions about his handling of the Arab world, Mr. Romney wasted little time going on the attack, accusing the president of apologizing for American values and appeasing Islamic extremists.

Mr. Romney came under withering criticism for distorting the chain of events overseas and appearing to seek political advantage from an attack that claimed American lives. But after an initial hesitation, he was backed by a number of conservative voices, and his campaign sought to use the episode to open a broader debate on foreign policy.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...ots/index.html

Obama Campaign Condemns Romney Campaign's Remarks

The Obama campaign has condemned such remarks, with campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt saying that it is "astonishing that the Romney campaign continues to shamelessly politicize a sensitive international situation." But a number of Republican officials have backed Romney, faulting Obama in particular for a conciliatory statement that the U.S. embassy in Cairo issued shortly before protests escalated. Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan is expected to pile-on in a speech to religious conservatives, where the Wisconsin Republican is set to accuse the Obama administration of treating Israel with "indifference bordering on contempt."

Romney has regularly accused the Obama administration of apologizing for its actions abroad, and Carney threaded a rhetorical needle in saying the administration has condemned the Muhammad film but will not apologize for it. "We have made clear that we find it offensive and reprehensible and disgusting," Carney said. "But we cannot and will not squelch freedom of expression in this country, it is a foundational freedom in this country."

President Obama has also faced criticism for saying the United States no longer considers Egypt an ally, saying in an interview with Telemundo that Egypt has "a new government that is trying to find its way." For decades, Egypt's peace treaty with Israel -- cemented by billions of dollars in American military aid, has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern stability. Williamson called Obama's remarks "amateur hour."

But Egypt's handling of popular protests has been a flash-point, prompting Obama to call newly elected president Mohamed Morsi with a stern warning on Thursday night. Carney said that Morsi "emphasized that Egypt would honor its obligation to ensure the safety of American personnel."

Carney dismissed the idea that Obama was questioning Egypt's relationship with the United States, carefully avoiding the word "ally" in saying that "Egypt is a critical strategic partner of the United States". "We have had a longstanding partnership with Egypt and support their transition to democracy," Carney said.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/3845...e-muhammed.htm