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Title: Obama's handling Egypt pretty well
Source:
Foreign Policy
URL Source: http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/post ... mas_handling_egypt_pretty_well
Published: Feb 1, 2011
Author: Marc Lynch
Post Date: 2011-02-01 15:07:12 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 1699
Comments: 6
After President Obama spoke last night about the situation in Egypt, my Twitter feed and inbox filled up with angry denunciations, with lots of people complaining bitterly that he had endorsed Mubarak's grim struggle to hold on to power, missed an historic opportunity, and risked sparking a wave of anti-Americanism. Once I actually read the transcript of his remarks, though, I felt much better. I think the instant analysis badly misread his comments and the thrust of the administration's policy. His speech was actually pretty good, as is the rapidly evolving American policy. The administration, it seems to me, is trying hard to protect the protestors from an escalation of violent repression, giving Mubarak just enough rope to hang himself, while carefully preparing to ensure that a transition will go in the direction of a more democratic successor. It's crucial to understand that the United States is not the key driver of the Egyptian protest movement. They do not need or want American leadership -- and they most certainly are not interested in "vindicating" Bush's freedom agenda or the Iraq war, an idea which almost all would find somewhere between laughable, bewildering, and deeply offensive. Suspicion of American intentions runs deep, as does folk wisdom about decades of U.S. collaboration with Mubarak. They are not really parsing Hilary Clinton's adjectives. Their protest has a dynamic and energy of its own, and while they certainly want Obama to take their side forcefully and unequivocally they don't need it. What they do need, if they think about it, is for Obama to help broker an endgame from the top down --- to impose restraints on the Egyptian military's use of violence to repress protests, to force it to get the internet and mobile phones back online, to convince the military and others within the regime's inner circle to ease Mubarak out of power, and to try to ensure that whatever replaces Mubarak commits to a rapid and smooth transition to civilian, democratic rule. And that's what the administration is doing. The administration's public statements and private actions have to be understood as not only offering moral and rhetorical support to the protestors, or as throwing bones to the Washington echo chamber, but as working pragmatically to deliver a positive ending to a still extremely tense and fluid situation. I completely understand why activists and those who desperately want the protestors to succeed would be frustrated --- anything short of Obama gripping the podium and shouting "Down With Mubarak!" probably would have disappointed them. But that wasn't going to happen, and shouldn't have. If Obama had abandoned a major ally of the United States such as Hosni Mubarak without even making a phone call, it would have been irresponsible and would have sent a very dangerous message to every other U.S. ally. That doesn't mean, as some would have it, that Obama has to stick with Mubarak over the long term -- or even the weekend -- but he simply had to make a show of trying to give a long-term ally one last chance to change. The key to the administration's emerging strategy is the public and private signal that this is Mubarak's last chance, that the administration does not expect him to seize it, and that the U.S. has clear expectations of those who might succeed him. The key line in his remarks here is this: This is not the language of capitulation to Mubarak's empty promises of reform. It's a pretty sharp challenge to him to demonstrate serious change immediately, which in no way commits to backing Mubarak if he fails to do so. And comments made by various administration officials suggest that they don't really expect him to be able to deliver. This blunt conditionality has to be understood in tandem with White House Spokseman Robert Gibbs' carefully chosen words that U.S. economic and military aid to Egypt would now be reviewed -- a direct, almost unprecedented form of pressure on Egypt for which many democracy activists have clamored for years to no avail. It's also crucial that the U.S. is signaling directly and clearly to the Egyptian military that the administration will not accept a massive, bloody escalation in repressive force. Secretary of State Clinton's statement well-crafted message yesterday morning, reinforced by Gibbs and then Obama, was important: not just wringing their hands over the violence, as many seem to think, but sending a pretty clear and strong signal to the Egyptian army about American red lines. That might not be as morally satisfying as the more "full blooded" language which many would like to hear, but in the end it is likely to be crucial to brokering a decent endgame. "When President Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people tonight, he pledged a better democracy and greater economic opportunity. I just spoke to him after his speech and I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words, to take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise."
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#1. To: go65 (#0)
The USSA has censored Egypt better than the USSR. So according to what the USMSM has allowed on the screen: Obama's handling Egypt pretty well UPDATE 2 (8:35PM Pacific time): Issander El Amrani believes that power has already passed from Mubarak to Suleiman, and that the hard core of the regime is trying to preserve itself. People are being killed in egypt as we type.
Zionists are freaking out and dictating our policy: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 Another Zionist is freaking out "For Israel, the popular uprising against the Mubarak regime raises the specter of its worst strategic nightmare: collapse of the peace treaty with Egypt, the cornerstone of its regional policy for the past three decades." (thanks David) Posted by As'ad at 2:23 PM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz Israeli terrorist army I bet that Israeli terrorist leaders are fantasizing about dispatching their terrorists to Egypt to massacre all the protesters. They probably fantasize about bombing them from the air. Posted by As'ad at 2:22 PM
Mossad puppet ElBaradei is waiting in the wings after the "peaceful muzslimes" crush any remaining shreds of liberty. Hillary and hObama will ensure a peaceful transition, make it so #1. Four more years!
A political tourist backed by Israel. The man is going to leave but with Egypt in flames behind them. The situation only got more tense and more potentially explosive. But I will say this: this defiance does not come out of nowhere. I can't believe that this is the same leader who is rejected by his own people before TV cameras. He even reminded us of his military role: yes brag of the defeats of 1967 and 1973. But I speculate this: Israel so freaked out, and it was so clear and blatant. They realized that peace with Egypt won't survive. So the US scrambled: sent an envoy to Cairo: realized that there is no US puppet to lead the country so the scenario of defiance was adopted.
Mossad puppet ElBaradei is waiting in the wings after the "peaceful muzslimes" crush any remaining shreds of liberty. Hillary and hObama will ensure a peaceful transition, make it so #1. Four more years! Non of that is mine. This is mine: Al-Arabiyya TV's version of events The counter-revolutionary plan--as usual--was made in the USA/Israel and funded and supported by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi propaganda machine is now justifying the criminal acts in Tahrir Square. It is saying that "Mubarak supporters advance toward Tahrir Square to take control." I kid you not. But then again: what do you expect from the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law and run by Prince `Azzuz? Posted by As'ad at 5:21 AM Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz Where is the Military? The people have to realize that they are on their own. The Bottom Line: The PTB want Chaos before they give way to the Slaves. We stare into the Abyss.
Watch as the slaves take control and the USSA TV will shut off. Israel controls your media. Happy? LMFAO 8D
#2. To: All (#1)
#3. To: mcgowanjm (#1)
(Edited)
Obama's handling Egypt pretty well
#4. To: hondo68 (#3)
Mossad puppet ElBaradei is waiting
#5. To: hondo68 (#3)
Obama's handling Egypt pretty well
#6. To: All (#5)
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