LIBYA II

The deaths of four Americans in Libya constitute just the type of tragedy that Mr. Mitt's New York campaign office−Fox Noise−and the partisan Republicans in Congress thrive upon. Many of the facts of the tragedy are murky. Multiple layers and agencies of the nation's national security establishment are involved, meaning that sorting out the details and timelines of the events and the Government's responses takes time. The public responses from the White House and various parts of the security establishment have thus far been couched in cautionary language and uncertainty.

Not so the analyses of many of the President's critics. In an unclear situation such as Libya, innuendoes and outright fabrications are tempting for opponents of the President to make, and they have succumbed to the temptation with alacrity. Fox Noise has no problem finding its version of certainty regarding the events. For example, Fox commentator Charles Krauthammer in yesterday's Washington Post emphatically stated: "But there was no gathering. There were no people. There was no fray. It was totally quiet outside the facility until terrorists stormed the compound and killed our ambassador and three others."

Hey Charles, those assertions have not been definitely established as facts, at least according to other reports that are surfacing. So how do you know? Incidentally Charles, whatever happened to that moderate, reasonable columnist that you were twenty or so years ago? You have become quite grouchy and extremely partisan in your advancing years.

Anyway, the President will undoubtedly hear more about this on Monday night. His explanations over the last week have not been the best. It has become an anthem of American politics that an office holder or seeker should avoid admitting uncertainty or error. But when uncertainty is obvious, refusing to acknowledge it can make the politician look unconnected.

Last Thursday on Jon Stewart's Daily Show, Mr. Stewart threw the President a softball on the Libyan tragedy that could have been answered in part by acknowledging the uncertainty still surrounding the incident. Instead, the President brushed aside the obvious and emphatically stated a list of things he will be doing in the future, including bringing the killers to justice. A more nuanced discussion Monday night might be the better approach.