And Then It Simply Went Away

The event took place on September 11, not a hard date to remember in America. Much of the Middle East was aflame on that date with major protests against a puerile anti-Mohammed video on YouTube. In Libya, however, there wasn't a real demonstration. What was occurring was a gathering of dedicated terrorists armed with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. Their intent was not to express political displeasure, their intent was to kill the ambassador and destroy the consulate.

When the evening was through the ambassador was dead, and three other Americans had been murdered. Once again an American diplomatic post had been destroyed and America was proving powerless.

One could make a reasonable case that there was insufficient data at that point to clearly state what had occurred. Within three days, however, the intelligence assets of the United States should have been able to paint a clear picture. On that Sunday morning ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice did a marathon tour of the five major network news presentations. Repeatedly and without equivocation she asserted that it was not a terrorist act and it was an outgrowth of a popular uprising in protest against the YouTube video.

Amb. Rice appeared in lieu of the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. It was clearly stated that as soon as she would be available, Secretary Clinton would appear before the committees of the House and the Senate in Congress to report. Certainly the Secretary of State has a busy schedule and can't drop everything to report to the Congress despite what the Constitution of the United States might indicate.

Now it is more than three full months later. As the impending appearance has neared we encounter this strange confluence of events:

Stomach Virus, Dizzy Episode, Fainting, Concussion, Cancellation

The average stomach virus passes in about 72 hours. Dizziness and fainting were then, this is now. Concussion is serious business but to get such a diagnosis one would expect that even an NFL player would get a hospital evaluation. Within a matter of three or four days an appearance before the Congress particularly after more than three months of preparation would seem possible.

If Sec. Clinton's health is so frail that she cannot appear before the Congress with regard to this critical issue and her unequivocal testimony, might we not conclude that her health does not permit her to carry out the duties of her position?