Hillary Clinton Says America Must Ignore Violence And Islamic Extremism Sweeping Middle East And Continue To Back Arab Spring…

(Reuters) – The United States must look past the violence and extremism that has erupted after the “Arab Spring” revolutions and boost support for the region’s young democracies to forge long-term security, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday. 

Clinton, seeking to reinforce the Obama administration’s Middle East policy following a wave of anti-American violence and last month’s deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, said Washington cannot be deterred by “the violent acts of a small number of extremists.” 

“We recognize that these transitions are not America’s to manage, and certainly not ours to win or lose,” Clinton said in a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. 

“But we have to stand with those who are working every day to strengthen democratic institutions, defend universal rights, and drive inclusive economic growth. That will produce more capable partners and more durable security over the long term.” 

Middle East unrest has become fodder for the U.S. presidential campaign, where Republican candidate Mitt Romney has sought to portray President Barack Obama as an ineffectual leader who has left the United States vulnerable at a time of international crisis.

Right-e-o!

And, in other news:

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE:

Mali’s Islamist Overlords Gathering Names Of Unwed Mothers And Pregnant Women, Face Possible Stoning

KHQ.COM: Imagine a world where public stonings, amputations, floggings and other inhumane acts serve as punishment for not following religious laws.
This is the terrifying reality that people in Northern Mali are facing right now. The threat is growing every day and women and children are highest at risk.
CNN.com broke the story first and reports that radical Islamists are gathering the names of unmarried mothers and pregnant women who are not married, raising fear in their community that these women will be the next victims to cruel punishment such as public stonings, amputations and executions.
A Senior U.N. official said that two groups with ties to al Queda have taken control of Northern Mali and are vowing to impose strict Islamic law, or sharia.
In July, a man and woman caught in the act of adultery were forced into two holes and stoned to death publicly to set an example to terrified residents watching in silence and fear.
While it comes as no surprise, basic human rights are continually being stripped away from most of the residents in the area and women and children endure the worst of it. In an area where more than half of the population lives off of $1.25 a day, many will do anything for extra cash. Women are often forced into marriages and in an area where wives can be bought for $1,000, their husbands will often resell them. Militants are also buying children for as much as $600 and then enlisting them as child soldiers.