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Krauthammer: 'The tide of American power is receding'

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    Syndicated columnist on U.S. foreign policy in Middle East

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And this is -- Fox News alert it is day four of deadly protests outside the US embassy in Cairo where radical islamists continue to -- And screamed death to America -- today on the traditional Friday day of prayer in the Muslim world.

The protests have spread to nearly twenty countries all throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Now the heaviest violence came in Sudan where Islamist converged on the American Embassy once again.

They tried to storm the mission.

Clashing with Sudanese police who opened fire on those trying to scale the compounds walls and breaking moments ago US officials announced.

That a marine rapid response team is in fact now headed to the Sudan.

In Tunisia several thousand battle with security forces outside the US embassy.

In the capital of tunis has some protesters scaled the embassy -- and planted the Islamist flag.

And a nearby school was all but destroyed by a fire that was set and then Lebanon today rioters set fire to a KFC and -- -- restaurant.

In the northeastern city of Tripoli at least 25 people were wounded in this melee including eighteen police.

And then finally an attack that is yet to be connected to these protests.

We -- learning of a deadly strike on a marine base that is shared with British troops in Afghanistan.

It's called camp leather neck camp Bastia on.

And as of this hour we can report that all US personnel in Tunisia in Yemen and the Sudan have been accounted for.

Now we begin tonight in Cairo where we are learning a protestor was killed just a few hours ago in a clash with police.

Joining me tonight as -- increase in violence continues to go on all throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Is -- only -- better Leland.

Right now hearing Cairo 3 AM we are still seeing it smelling.

And -- he -- barrages of tear gas canisters that are going off here and also that distinctive cracked a rubber bullet as of now though.

The large concrete barriers the egyptians have put out on the streets leading to the US embassy.

Are holding -- day Friday prayers let out.

Around 1245.

And then there were thousands of protesters.

In the streets many carrying huge posters of Osama bin Laden 345 feet tall and they were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.

At security forces the president the Muslim Brotherhood member here.

In Egypt who controls the country that asked that his people not attack foreign embassies.

They didn't really listen to that however president -- she has ordered his police and military.

To dig in and they have done that so far to protect the American Embassy here of course that embassy was breached.

Back on Tuesday when they took down -- the American flag here one of the demands of the protesters is the US ambassador to leave.

That is not happen according to local reports she is in -- country although there -- a lot of graffiti outside the United States and as he sprayed hated.

By a number of these protesters including one.

It says.

Quote take care America we have one point five.

Billion.

Bin Laden -- as they are throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.

They are chanting our soul our blood for the Prophet Mohammed the big difference here Sean between what we -- eighteen months ago during the revolution.

Was that back then we're talking about freedom and democracy how much they loved America.

Now they are talking about how angry they -- America and chanting.

To America -- back yet.

All right -- thanks and if that report and as anti American protests spread.

This administration is trying to deflect the blame for its failed policies and trying to -- all of this violence on -- YouTube video.

I know believe it or not watch this.

This is a fairly volatile situation and it is in response not to United States policy.

Not to.

Obviously the administration not to the American people it is in response to.

A video.

A film.

-- -- we have judged to be reprehensible and disgusting.

That in no way justifies any violent reaction to it.

But this is not a case.

Protests directed at the United States.

Writ large or at US policy this is in response to a video that is offensive.

And to Muslims.

And -- -- is just pathetic and a pretty much says all we are dealing with the administration.

That does not have the courage to stand up for this country we have a president who -- operating from a position of weakness.

A president who -- refuses to call.

People what they are in this case radical extremists islamists and speaking of that video the president's indifference to a little something that we call free speech.

Now Fox News has confirmed that the White House has asked YouTube to quote.

Review the trailer.

And that sounds an awful like a lot like an administration strong arming a private company why to censor its contents.

But tonight we have learned that Google who owns YouTube will not remove this clip.

So how -- we get to this frightening point now I believe it all began with this president constantly apologizing for in America.

His efforts to appease the mob his willingness to reason with malevolent forces that are in fact committed to killing us.

Now let's take a look back to 2009 when he -- in Cairo in the very same city that you're seeing right here tonight where islamists are chanting death to America.

Watch this.

I'm grateful for your hospitality.

And the hospitality of the people -- -- I'm also proud to carry with me the -- -- of the American people.

And a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country.

-- -- -- 9/11 was an enormous trauma.

To our country.

The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable.

But in some cases it let us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals.

We are taking concrete actions to change course.

I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States and I've ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay close by early next year -- President EIT enhanced interrogation is not torture without EIT without gitmo you don't get the call to go after bin Laden.

And this was a dangerous display of weakness and we are now seeing the fruits of this reckless rhetoric now.

This disaster the Obama administration can't even get on the same page about whether or not we view Egypt at this moment as an ally watch this.

-- I don't think.

That we would consider them an -- but we don't consider them an enemy that there are new government that is trying to find its way.

You're saying that the administration is that it -- still regard -- -- a major non NATO allies it's still.

-- recipient of all approval of the privileges that that entails.

Yes maybe one day they'll make up their mind so what is it does the administration now think Egypt as an ally or not.

Now instead of answering the question the White House just -- itself in circles when asked about the contradiction a White House spokesman actually said this.

I think folks are reading way too much into this how why it is a legal term of art.

And it all depends what is this.

And we weren't actually having sex either but does anyone understand what that means -- with reaction to the latest developments syndicated columnist Fox News contributor our friend Charles Krauthammer Charles welcome back.

Happy to be here I loved your line we should have as the United States told on the go straight to hell we didn't.

Where does that stand now.

Well I think what you're seeing some of those things you -- from.

Carney any minute administration and this has nothing to do it guys who are policies.

It's about a video is either.

Willfully obtuse or simply clueless.

What's happened is as you pointed out beginning with the Cairo speech.

Obama changed American policy.

On the theory that the reason that people hated us was because we were tough.

They hated us because of Iraq they hated us because of Guantanamo.

They hated us because of the torture he used to -- he accuses his own country.

Abroad of first -- and he was now apologizing.

And promising to change course.

We would no longer be tough we would be loved.

We would show compassion.

And we would get out of Iraq he sets a deadline for Afghanistan.

He doesn't support the green revolution in Iran he shows the Ayatollah was tremendous respect.

He essentially protects them when they're under attack he gets nowhere.

On the Iran nuclear issue he's equivocal on -- jury in the Arab Spring.

He leads from behind in Libya the theory was if we -- -- for very nice.

If we see if we say Solomon like him enough times everything will be all right and what he decide it is.

The way to do that that theory and therefore the practice is going to be.

Retreat and withdrawal remember the -- and he uses the tide of war is receding.

Not that I mean is that -- -- American power is receding.

And that's the reason that American interest and to -- schools businesses.

-- of flames throughout the Middle East from -- to tunis all the way to South Asia.

He's because things don't happen in a vacuum.

And when you withdraw the power.

And the influence of the strongest country on earth from a region.

The vacuum will be fail right -- we're seeing now is this allow fists.

The islamists.

Understanding.

This is there opening America is in retreat.

The -- does America is retreating in the region and they are now going to fill the gap.

-- let me -- -- -- all of this is happening Charles.

Is superb analysis but but here's what's happened.

And you see the world is burning and they're against America.

And our ambassador killed two US Navy SEALs killed I'll get to this later what -- we gonna do about it but.

They apologize.

They say that that Egypt is still our ally.

Run by the Muslim Brotherhood the Muslim Brotherhood gets two million of our taxpayer dollars.

This is the motto of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Charles.

-- what is our objective the profit our -- the Colorado law he hot our way dying in the way of all law.

Our highest hope.

Why would we give them two billion dollars why.

When -- look.

I don't think the issue right now is foreign -- If Morrissey the president of Egypt.

Doesn't cooperate -- doesn't support our our -- protect -- deceased.

And doesn't honor that peace treaty with Israel majority trouble in the -- Then I think you you you withdraw the eight you've got to -- very careful now.

The vacuum has already been created.

The trouble is already at hand American enemies are right there on the move everywhere as we can see.

Right now our hand is very much weakened because of the three years of Obama policy.

At this point you don't want to make it worse by.

You know a move that is reactive and too fast and withdraw all our -- today.

And we have no leverage what you do is you push that out our Detroit on how good -- act but the problem is that it's.

Pro American elements in the region look around there's no America anymore and give you one example.

Does anybody care about what we think about Syria.

The major country in Mesopotamia.

Does anybody ask what's Obama his -- -- They want to know what with the Russians are doing the Iranians and Hezbollah.

These are the active players -- that's what happens.

When America who who would draws its power and its influence we've become irrelevant.

-- -- -- -- Dead on analysis thank you so much for being with us we need this kind of perspective.

During this what is -- a worldwide crisis now thank -- for being with us.

And measure coming up.

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