Obama is doing what all canny politicians do...isn't he
Playing to his base, he could hardly say anything else without committing political suicide.

I wonder what his secretary of State's real views are on the matter!

Personally I think it is the supreme act of insensitivity on the part of the leaders of Islam in America.

It's either insensitivity or a wind-up.
In either case permission should have been refused, the authorities are meant to represent the wishes of the people who pay their wages.