BY: Kari Travis, World Editor
Published: 9.21.12
The demonstrations were initially labeled as a reaction to an offensive, poorly produced YouTube video that mocked the Prophet Muhammed by portraying him as a murderer and sex-offender.
But as Muslim demonstrators continue to flood the streets of Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq, experts begin to argue the possibility that the event which sparked the spread of these demonstrations is more sinister than spontaneous.
The deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, appears to have an element of terrorist organization behind it, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
But the Obama administration cautioned that this might not be the case.
"We were not aware of any actionable intelligence indicating that an attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi was planned or imminent," presidential spokesman Jay Carney told CNN.
Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, reinforced White House statements, saying it was not likely the incident of Stevens' death was maliciously planned.
"What sparked the violence was a very hateful video on the Internet," Rice said on Fox News Sept. 16. "It was a reaction to a video that had nothing to do with the United States."
In the meantime, Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif contradicted the Obama administration's stance, saying he believes the attack was planned, and that the strike was intended to cause maximum damage, according to an exclusive report from NPR.
"The idea that this criminal and cowardly act was a spontaneous protest that just spun out of control is completely unfounded and preposterous," Megarif said.
Arguments surrounding the original causes of the roiling protests are also accompanied by intense scrutiny of the Obama administration's foreign policy strategies. Several Republicans have labeled the president's approach to Middle Eastern conflict as a method of "disengagement."
"Today, the Obama administration found itself facing serious questions about its record of leadership in the world, America's waning influence abroad, and the failure of its outreach efforts in the Middle East and North Africa," said Mitt Romney's campaign spokesman Ryan Williams in a Sept. 16 statement.
Records show Obama made efforts early in his presidency to build peaceful relationships with Middle Eastern countries, according to Reuters.
Steps taken include an attempt to work with multiple parties in the Palestinian/Israeli peace process, aid sent to al-Assad's opposition in Syria and economic sanctions on Iran to prevent the continuation of a nuclear program, according to CNN.
But rising chaos in Syria, nuclear threat from Iran and recent Muslim protests have given the Republican party room to challenge the Obama administration's capabilities.
At a Sept. 13 campaign event, Romney said "the world needs American leadership, the Middle East needs American leadership, and I intend to be a president that provides the leadership that America respects and will keep us admired throughout the world."
Romney's response is met by criticism from both political camps, and onlookers question the campaign's method of turning a world fiasco into a political statement.
"I understand the Romney campaign is under pressure from some Republicans to toughen its attacks on the president," wrote Mark Salter, former campaign adviser to Republican John McCain, in his online column featured by Real Clear Politics. "But this is hardly the issue or the moment to demonstrate a greater resolve to take the fight to the president."
