Nile-ism
February 10, 2011
After a tremendous build up of expectation and excitement, H. Mubarak dug his own grave deeper tonight with his speech to the nation. He acted as a patriarchal father and pretended that he was in the process of helping the nation transition through constitutional changes before the September elections. Thoroughly out of touch with the millions of young Egyptians who are well educated and who want change, this man is still in denial. He is worried about the economy but he's hindering the nation from moving on to its next
stage of development.
Congressman Ron Paul had a sharp rebuke to our administration and to previous ones that supported this dictator. He points out that we wasted our millions/billions of dollars because it didn't buy us "security" in the final analysis. He repeated his call to bring the troops home from Afghanistan. For Paul, the founding fathers did not want us involved in these entangling alliances and we need to stop our interventionism.
An Egyptian interviewed on CNN remarked that President Mubarak is not using his brain. He proceeds as if he didn't have huge crowds screaming for him to leave.
Why did Leon Panetta release a statement earlier today that Mubarak was going to step down tonight? What is wrong with American intelligence? This continues the murky and muddled understanding that our government has of the inner dynamics of the Egyptian government.
(Apologies for the layout/format problems of the post. Will try to correct asap)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Superbowl Sunday 2011
Our "informal" ambassador whom the President sent to Cairo, Frank Wisner, is home now and causing some major problems. He is defending Murabak's decision to stay in office during the transition up until September. I saw a clip of him this morning, and he was channeling Mubarak. Very strange.
For a smart and nuanced look at the region, I recommend that you follow Peter Bergen.
Peter Bergen is a print and television journalist, and the author of Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden ( 2001), which has been translated into 18 languages and The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of Al Qaeda's Leader (2006). Both books were named among the best non-fiction books of the year by The Washington Post, and documentaries based on the books were nominated for Emmys in 2002 and 2007. His most recent book is The Longest War: The Enduring Conflict between America and Al-Qaeda (2011). New York Times book reviewer Michiko Kakutani writes, "For readers interested in a highly informed, wide-angled, single-volume briefing on the war on terror so far, “The Longest War” is clearly that essential book." Tom Ricks, also writing in the Times, described the book as "stunning."
Charlie Rose pulled Henry Kissinger out of moth balls and did an interview with him. I saw it repeated late last night. He supports the Obama administration which he noted is under "extreme pressure" in this Egyptian crisis. But he warned that we can't show Mubarak the exit because other allies in the region and around the world will question our fidelity to them. I remember Dean Rusk said exactly this same thing in the PBS American Experience Series on
the Presidents. He appears in part II when LBJ's Vietnam Strategy is highlighted.
It is really bone chilling to see this outlook repeated without reexamination.
Thoughts?
Pat
Our "informal" ambassador whom the President sent to Cairo, Frank Wisner, is home now and causing some major problems. He is defending Murabak's decision to stay in office during the transition up until September. I saw a clip of him this morning, and he was channeling Mubarak. Very strange.
For a smart and nuanced look at the region, I recommend that you follow Peter Bergen.
Peter Bergen is a print and television journalist, and the author of Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden ( 2001), which has been translated into 18 languages and The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of Al Qaeda's Leader (2006). Both books were named among the best non-fiction books of the year by The Washington Post, and documentaries based on the books were nominated for Emmys in 2002 and 2007. His most recent book is The Longest War: The Enduring Conflict between America and Al-Qaeda (2011). New York Times book reviewer Michiko Kakutani writes, "For readers interested in a highly informed, wide-angled, single-volume briefing on the war on terror so far, “The Longest War” is clearly that essential book." Tom Ricks, also writing in the Times, described the book as "stunning."
Charlie Rose pulled Henry Kissinger out of moth balls and did an interview with him. I saw it repeated late last night. He supports the Obama administration which he noted is under "extreme pressure" in this Egyptian crisis. But he warned that we can't show Mubarak the exit because other allies in the region and around the world will question our fidelity to them. I remember Dean Rusk said exactly this same thing in the PBS American Experience Series on
the Presidents. He appears in part II when LBJ's Vietnam Strategy is highlighted.
It is really bone chilling to see this outlook repeated without reexamination.
Thoughts?
Pat
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Feb. 5th, 2011
The U.S. used to impose and depose dictators. I believe the last one we knocked off was Diem
in S. Vietnam. Then we passed legislation outlawing taking dictators out. Be careful what you wish for.
President Obama has used psychology, sociology and perhaps economics to nudge Mubarak.
They haven't worked thus far. The five stages of facing death are ongoing. Mubarak is caught
in "bargaining" and can't move on to acceptance. He may need a private therapy session with
our President.
Today a very savy Middle East analyst stated that Pres. Mubarak has never taken a vacation outside of Egypt. The only foreign place he has gone is Germany for medical treatments. He's unlikely to wind up in Berlin, Paris or London. Today I ruminated on whether he could go to Israel!! They like him there and it is the same part of the world! I know--gallows humor.
Again my mind turns to H. Karzai. Another corrupt devil with whom we have fashioned a unique tie. Illegal elections, corruption, stamping out opposition? President Karzai can deliver all of this and more. It doesn't augur well for our future or for the future of the Middle East that we
have forged such dark alliances. In political science jargon we are caught between being realists
or idealists. So many of these relationships haven't turned out well. Is there another path?
The U.S. used to impose and depose dictators. I believe the last one we knocked off was Diem
in S. Vietnam. Then we passed legislation outlawing taking dictators out. Be careful what you wish for.
President Obama has used psychology, sociology and perhaps economics to nudge Mubarak.
They haven't worked thus far. The five stages of facing death are ongoing. Mubarak is caught
in "bargaining" and can't move on to acceptance. He may need a private therapy session with
our President.
Today a very savy Middle East analyst stated that Pres. Mubarak has never taken a vacation outside of Egypt. The only foreign place he has gone is Germany for medical treatments. He's unlikely to wind up in Berlin, Paris or London. Today I ruminated on whether he could go to Israel!! They like him there and it is the same part of the world! I know--gallows humor.
Again my mind turns to H. Karzai. Another corrupt devil with whom we have fashioned a unique tie. Illegal elections, corruption, stamping out opposition? President Karzai can deliver all of this and more. It doesn't augur well for our future or for the future of the Middle East that we
have forged such dark alliances. In political science jargon we are caught between being realists
or idealists. So many of these relationships haven't turned out well. Is there another path?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cairo at Crossroads
The United States is once more caught at the crossroads. Loyalty to an ally in the Middle East
who is a dictator (e.g. Mubarak) is dicey. We've seen this situation before. But not with the
texting, tweeting, and cell phone cameras out in full force.
Israel fears that if Mubarak exits immediately, the political vacuum will be filled with anti Israeli forces. So do we.
But peaceful transition may no longer be an option.
What is the lesson? Be careful whom you support and pick as an ally. Does Hamid Karzai
not remind us of Mubarak? These murky men are thorns in the side of the U.S. We need to stop
supporting corrupt politicians in the Middle East.
Peacepat
who is a dictator (e.g. Mubarak) is dicey. We've seen this situation before. But not with the
texting, tweeting, and cell phone cameras out in full force.
Israel fears that if Mubarak exits immediately, the political vacuum will be filled with anti Israeli forces. So do we.
But peaceful transition may no longer be an option.
What is the lesson? Be careful whom you support and pick as an ally. Does Hamid Karzai
not remind us of Mubarak? These murky men are thorns in the side of the U.S. We need to stop
supporting corrupt politicians in the Middle East.
Peacepat
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