Obama's call for the resignation of the Egyptian President is unfounded. The long time US ally has been a stabilizing force in the region for three decades. There is no animosity between the US and Egypt (until yesterday). We supply their munitions which provides for their defense, jobs, and the protection of trade routes in the region. A stable Egypt is very important for world commerce and regional security. One has to question the motives of Obama; one has to, just 24 hours after Obama denounced the Egyptian ally, smack their forehead in disbelief at the foreign policy blunder on order of Jimmy Carter.
Obama couldn't resist the opportunity to appear as a mouthpiece for a populist movement, doing so on behalf of 'democracy'. He made a poorly calculated move to appear as the bringer of peace and stability, the voice of reason. His voice emboldened the anti-protesters (the pro-government civilians) who had, until then, been silent. Obama sent scores of people into the streets to send the message that the protests to overthrow the government, and the opinion of the US Embarrassment in Chief, are not conducive to stability or continued secularity. Pro-government civilians have already eluded to the speech of Obama as the tipping point in taking to the streets in violent clashes against the protesters.
The abandonment of the Egyptian government by the US has put the region at risk of a major conflict, threatens shipping, and places a potential for a theocratic regime to sweep into power on an Iranian style anti-US message. Obama has placed millions of lives at risk, has endangered US interests and forces in the region, and has lost credibility with other allies who are facing similar populist criticism. His risk seems to have suffered an immediate backlash, and could prove to be the 1979 of the Obama administration.
The best approach Obama could have taken is to remain neutral in what was a non-violent situation. The country has a constitution. The country has defenses. The country has a population empowered and free enough to petition the government for redress of grievances. If Obama believes that a country's laws, her constitution, are so unimportant so as to completely dismiss them, then why not acknowledge the same of ours...
oh wait... nevermind.
I really enjoy your blog and your thoughts, but my reading of the situation is you missed this one. The reason for the rioting is that the people do not have a way of petitioning the government with any results. When the government rigs an election the people have lost power and the constitution is worthless.
ReplyDeleteThe original protests were justified, I agree. It is Obama's misstep and inclusion into the process that caused the violence. It is the rapid collapse of the government in the name of democracy that is going to empower the opposition who is only aimed at attacking Israel... and then what does Obama do when Israel falls under attack by Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, and Syria?
ReplyDeleteThis protest is not about democracy... it is a ploy for theocracy... mark my words... that is why they want it fast and dirty...
Telling the Egyptian Government and people what they(the U.S. Government wants)--and them saying to mind their(our) own business in reply--says it all.
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