A) This is a tragedy B) Let's be serious - this could send the election off the rails [View all]

[jsmirman]

First off, I am deeply saddened to wake up to the news of American civil servants losing their lives in the line of duty.

That hits very hard.

Secondly, I don't know that we can be blind to where this could go. This was an attack on American sovereignty.

Unless something has changed, my feel for the American populace is that we turn inward and favor insularity when we feel our sovereignty is threatened.

The Romney campaign is just the kind of irresponsible campaign to play this situation to the hilt - to light the powder keg with no thought for the consequences - they were already desperate, and they have also already shown that responsibility is of no concern to them.

I don't know that there is any getting around the idea that America's sovereign representatives could not be properly defended in the execution of their duties - that is not going to be good for any sitting President.

Among the worst elements of this - the most dangerous - is that were this to help lead to a Romney victory, a more bellicose and thoughtless foreign "policy" (we have already seen how dangerously thoughtless his approach to foreign policy is), we risk a return to the deadly, crippling mess of the Bush years, with damage to our ability to marshal our resources at home and deadly consequences for all Americans abroad.

That's scary.

There has to be some kind of tightrope-walking, perfectly nailed response by the Obama administration here - as I said, American sovereignty has been violated, and the people will want both reassurance and, I'm afraid, blood.

I don't think we can bury our heads on this - I would be surprised if this does not open a new volatile chapter in the public discussion of who should be the President in January of 2013.