From the website of the US Embassy in Cairo:

September 11, 2012

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

What a shameful, pathetic response. In case you missed the news, today in Cairo, a mob of Muslim fanatics invaded the US Embassy to protest an anti-Muslim film made by a hotheaded American Copt (who is doing his Coptic Christian brethren in Egypt no favors with this video). More:

The protesters on the wall then raised on the flagpole a black flag with a Muslim declaration of faith, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet.” The flag, similar to the banner used by al-Qaida, is commonly used by ultraconservatives around the region.

The crowd grew throughout the evening with thousands standing outside the embassy. Dozens of riot police lined up along the embassy walls but did not stop protesters as they continued to climb and stand on the wall — though it appeared no more went into the compound.

The crowd chanted, “Islamic, Islamic. The right of our prophet will not die.” Some shouted, “We are all Osama,” referring to al-Qaida leader bin Laden. Young men, some in masks, sprayed graffiti on the walls. Some grumbled that Islamist President Mohammed Morsi had not spoken out about the movie.

So, on the anniversary of the day when disciples of Osama bin Laden — himself a disciple of the executed ideologist of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Sayyid Qutb — murdered thousands of Americans in the name of Islam, Islamic fanatics attack the US Embassy, and the Egyptian police — who work for a government now run by that same Muslim Brotherhood — stand by letting it happen. And this is the official US response?

Sick-making. Shameful. And what will the US do when the mob comes back tomorrow and takes over the embassy?

If Hitchens wasn’t already dead, this would have put him in his grave.

UPDATE: On its Twitter feed, the US Embassy condemns the breach of the Embassy and says it’s for free speech:

2) Of course we condemn breaches of our compound, we’re the ones actually living through this.

— US Embassy Cairo (@USEmbassyCairo) September 11, 2012

3) Sorry, but neither breaches of our compound or angry messages will dissuade us from defending freedom of speech AND criticizing bigotry

— US Embassy Cairo (@USEmbassyCairo) September 11, 2012