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