Arab spring: US ambassador to Libya and three others murdered [updated]

The Americans who were killed yesterday in Libya were Ambassador Christopher Stevens, age 52, Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith, and two other men, as yet unnamed. 

President Obama has made a statement. Does use of the words "I strongly condemn" automatically make a statement into a strong condemnation? You decide:

I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.

I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.

On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi. As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya's transition to democracy. His legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened by this loss.

The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.

Note the qualifying remark in the second paragraph. Think of it as a verbal bow.  

But those are just words. Will there be any actions in response to this attack on America? Because an attack on American embassies (yes, plural) is an attack on America.

Now might be a good time for Mitt Romney to convey strength, not weakness.

While we wait to hear from Mark Steyn, read his latest Happy Warrior column, The Abhorrent Vacuum.

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Steyn: The Tweeting Giant

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It was September 11th; where was the security at the Libyan embassy?

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Terrible: Ambassador Stevens' body dragged through the streets

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Wow: CBS: Libyan security team fingered US ambassador to be killed

He said Stevens, 52, and other officials were moved to a second building, deemed safer, after the initial wave of protests at the consulate. According to al-Sharef, members of the Libyan security team seem to have indicated to the protesters the building to which the American officials had been relocated, and that building then came under attack.

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No, of course Obama didn't take questions following his bloodless remarks on the murders of Amb. Stevens and three others. Not his kind of venue, apparently. Jim Geraghty: Obama Takes Questions, But Only From the Right Questioners:

President Obama took no questions after today’s statement on the deadly attacks on our embassy and consulate.

However, he took six questions from a radio talk show host known as “The Pimp With the Limp” in an interview that aired yesterday, beginning with the hard-hitting topics such as the status of the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears.

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