[Updated at 5:38 p.m. ET]Â Angry protesters climbed the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Tuesday and tore down the American flag, apparently in protest of a film thought to insult the Prophet Mohammed.
A volley of warning shots were fired as a large crowd gathered around the compound, said CNN producer Mohammed Fahmy, who was on the scene, though it is not clear who fired the shots.
Egyptian police and army personnel have since formed defensive lines around the facility in an effort to prevent the demonstrators from advancing farther, but not before the protesters affixed their standard atop the embassy.
The black flag, which hangs atop a ladder inside the compound, is adorned with white characters that read, "There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger," an emblem often used in al Qaeda propaganda.
It was unclear which film upset the protesters.
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Carter lost Iran as an ally and Obama has lost Egypt as an ally. Carter left Reagan an economic mess that was bigger in real economic terms than what Obama had to deal with (don't forget Carter managed to create "stagflation"). Lets hope Romney/Ryan (the adults in the room) can turn things around. Another trillion in debt and that empty suit Obama has got Moody's threatening the U.S. with another downgrade (Obama got us the first downgrade in history). Obama simply has no business or executive experience, is lazy and just has his left-wing ideology. The press never properly vetted this empty-suit and they are backing him again – especially NBC & AP (Associated Progressives). Time to fire Obama as Clint recommends and give a business man a try.
I see that Arab Spring went about as well as Hope and Change.
Stop jumping to conclusions. Too many people here act like they want to fight over the smallest things. Chill out.
Democrats and Obama should be proud. The terrorists took over the middle east, Iran was allowed by Obama to put 30k troops in south America ready to attack the USA. It's a great day for the Enemy In Chief.
Yep.
The flower of Democracy in the mideast... the Neocon dream in action.
Can't wait until President Obama or his paleface doppelganger Romney "liberate" Iran.
Go, USA.
Go back to 'Nam, you old coot.
Old timers talking about their glory days. It's gone. New day arising. Obama showed exemplary restraint againt jingoistic warmongering and now we are one world, not nationalistic us versus them. Peace and understanding. I feel bad for the family of that American killed in Libya, but he is a small sacrifice for a new level of understanding, and Islam isn't going away just because you believe in Jesus.
How dare the US government try to tell us that we must silence ourselves to not offend the fanatical muslims! We must be quiet while they try to stone a 11 year old girl to death in Pakistan! Don't mess with us because we will kick your butt all the way back to the stone age.
Jon, they already live in the stone age.
Isn't this the same Egypt that President Obama just gave another $1 billion, just last week? The Egypt that Obama said would be a democracy? We have another Iran in the making, with help of the current administration.
Obama, you flipping quisling. I was undecided about my vote in November until today. I would never be able to hold my head up and look my own eyes in the mirror if I voted for a coward like you.
That's fine; Mitt Romney isn't winning this November anyways.
That's good. I would have hated myself and couldn't look myself in the mirror if I voted for the same person as you.
RINO ROMNEY ARE YOU THERE? CALL EARTH IMMEDIATELY! REPEAT! CALL EARTH IMMEDIATELY!
That's not a very scary looking mob. I saw a much scarier one two weeks ago – it was called the RNC
Is that the Egyptian Ambassador, their Prime Minister, and every other dignitary climbing the wall there? It amazes me that people think those people speak for the nation of Egypt and people are ready to go to war over this petty act of a few unruly teenagers.
How would you right-wingers like it if you were equated to the Occupy protestors by everyone outside of the US? I'm sure you would love that you narrow-minded clowns.
The US has done much worse things that were forgiven by other countries. Accidental bombing of a Chinese embassy anyone?
Finally someone with a brain!
This is american soil? Ok so they are guilty of what, trespassing? There are plenty of people on american soil right now who aren't here legally. Have we declared war on Mexico?
I bet the dog tasted better than my but hole. Maybe you should eat some dog too and find out
The DNC mob sure didn't look much better. Narrow-minded people use names and disparaging terms to try and discount other groups with whom they disagree. The accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy...do your homework and find out who was actually responsible for that. Educate and enlighten yourself before you leave such boring remarks.
Does your limited view and poor argumentation skills get you results Jonathan?
Not a scary looking mob? All mobs are by their nature "scary looking'. An accidental bombing is the same as an intentional trespass on US soil and the flag? What? This is not a "few unruly teenagers", it's a group of hard core believers in Islam, stating quite honestly what they believe and what their goal is. Convert, serve or die. Those are the choices when they have the power to enforce it. Educate yourself on this belief system. Ignorance is no excuse for stupidity. Typical liberal Nevil Chamberlain group think. How'd that work out for him and Europe?
jonathan
Most of the DNC were Occupy Members or supporters
@Jeff, they both looked about the same, all things being equal.
This isn't happening in China, and we just gave them $1.5B, as well as supported their revolution. Talk about ungrateful.
@ Maddy Gascar
Exactly my point. Scary is scary...and fundamentalist extremists, no matter what side they are on, are scary.
Please explain to me who you think was reponsible for the bombing of the Chinese embassy. Did the bombs not come from a US plane? Is the US absolved of all responsibility because the map was wrong?
When MUSLIMS in AMERICA get a Strong Foothold...then you'll see that
Muslims will demand that 'There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger'...in the good-o-U.S. of America...and including England, Australia...etc...
So, what you're saying is we should...um...eliminate all Muslims....uh in the name of God because he's the only God and Jesus is our savior.
Sounds a bit hypocritical if you ask me :p
lol big boy finally managed to work a keyboard! good boy!
also I really like how you think there's gonna be some mad revolution when (not if) Obama gets re-elected this year. Nothing's gonna happen. Americans aren't that active.
God and Jesus have nothing to do with it, they should be eliminated as a threat to all intelligent life on this planet. The only thing their good for is producing hate and more of them to hate the rest of us.
For this act of desecration against our flag we should close our mission and go home. Break diplomatic relations and send no more aid.
great point....but never happens with this lap dog of a president we have....he also declined to meet with Israel's PM....
Mind explaining to me why Obama meeting with Israel's PM is a good thing? I mean I have my own reasons but I'm curious to find out why you're so hot over it.
This is the same crowd that Obummer wants to forgive a billion dollar debt.
Nah, he doesn't sympathize with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Bubba, because they our allie. That is enough of a reason. Denying him show we don't support him. What we don't need is the whole region over there blowing up. You think inflation is bad now. If that happens it will be much worse due to the oil prices. But, the President doesn't really care about us common folk. Look at unemployment and the new debt.
That's exactly what these protestors were asking for!
just last week obama forgave a billion dollar debt of egypt. they produce 600,000 barrels of oil every day!, and cant pay a small debt?
yes, cause for 30 years, all the money was shared between US companies and a dictator supported and backed by US.
Thats why millions of people went to the street till we got rid of him.
It will take ages to be able to recover a single billion from what was sucked .
On a normal day, it is impossible to approach the US embassy in Cairo. There is a roadblock at each end of the street where people enter. Security must have given in. One report says 2000 people and they must have stormed intot the courtyard to put up the salafis flag (Nuland should know what that means). Reuters doesn't know what the movie is but rushes to report. Is there a movie? Or just a rumor?
Such a peaceful, tolerant religion
Just like Christianity!
@Bubba the Hate Sponge –
Mr. Hate Sponge, there's no truth to that accusation.
Bubba, I don't hear very much about Christians stoning woman to death or converts to another religion or killing gays. What century of country for that matter do you think we live in?