How Do We Respond?

I don't often deviate from the style of this blog but I am making an exception. What is really amazing about the events of this past week is that there does not seem to be a form of response from our leaders in Washington that is appropriate and befitting  a powerful and once respected country.

The words are not powerful.  The actions are not powerful. 

When an unchecked, fanatic mob attacks a United States embassy in Libya (a sovereign territory of this nation) and kills the Ambassador (Stevens) and three other American staffers and also destroys the embassy in doing so then the U.S. should and must consider at least the following actions. 

Shut down the embassy, remove all embassy staffers and their families back to the United States.  Include local residents who work in the embassy who fear retaliation if they remain.

Terminate the issuance of ALL visas from the host country including tourist, business and student visas.

Notify all Americans traveling or  working in that country  to leave the country immediately and unless they do, they may not be protected after a certain date (30 days perhaps)

Suspend all foreign aid to that country until they (Libya for example) can prove and guaranty the safety of diplomatic personnel and will, at their expense, rebuild the damaged embassy.

If the situation persists or gets worse then additional steps may be necessary.

There are several other countries where similar situations are taking place and the aforementioned actions would be appropriate anywhere.  Being cut off from the United States diplomatically and being removed from generous funding is not a small thing and makes a strong and powerful point.