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Historically--and you can go back even to the Old Testament on this--the point of diplomats is that they are not protected by their home nations, but must depend on the host nations for protection. A consulate is never supposed to be an armed garrison. If the internal conditions make an armed garrison necessary, then full diplomatic status should not be afforded to that nation: "They ain't ready."
Where it gets dicey is when full diplomatic status is afforded to nations that can't control their own internal affairs sufficiently to provide that protection. The wrong decision is not failing to provide protection, the wrong decision is in putting (or leaving) an ambassador there.
I'd point out the that the situation of the Marine barracks in Lebanon under Reagan's watch--the reason the gate guards were required to keep their weapons unloaded--was an extension of this policy.
In this case, the political choice was to show the fullest possible support to the new Libyan government to help it become "too legit to quit." That's the choice that deserves debate.
Last edited by Ralph_Kirk; 10-19-2015 at 12:54 PM..
Ambassador Stevens was gay. Hillary must be a homophobe.
no he wasnt.
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