The protesters and pro-Mubarak people have had a test of strength, but it has not thrown up a clear victor. Both sides are now obliged to see that to continue down that path is too costly and destructive, almost an embryo civil war. So there is nothing for it except for the small number of contenders for powers to start bartering in private about who is going to get what. This process is too personal and intimate for the outside world to be informed about it. It is a safe guess, though, that while the media are in Tahrir Square boosting “revolution,” and commenting that nothing will ever be the same again, the future is being settled over their heads by the half dozen power brokers who count. The media always manage to select protesters who say in good English that they are staying in the square until they are victorious and Mubarak has gone. These interviews are really promotions of the reporter’s own political prejudices. Remember the book by Ed Behr making a mockery of slanting the news in this sort of crisis with the title Anyone Here Been Raped and Speaks English?
Outsiders are in no position to judge the significance of the resignation of the executive committee of Mubarak’s single party, the National Democratic Party. It may be a sign that he is weakening, or on the contrary that he can do without them, or maybe it is some sort of sop to the power brokers he’s in touch with. Ambassador Frank Wisner has seen Mubarak, who refused to give him a second meeting. Again, the reason for this is unknown: Either he did not like what he was being told or he wanted to hide up that the two of them shared the same view of what to do and he now wanted to conceal that fact by appearing to defy the United States. Wisner has put on record his opinion that it is “crucial” that Mubarak stay in power until the September elections, in order to supervise the change of regime. A man combining intelligence and experience, he speaks Egyptian Arabic and knows the country inside out. It is reasonable to conclude at least for the time being that Mubarak will indeed survive until September as the central figure on the stage, whereupon the curtains behind him will part and someone pretty much like him will emerge to take a bow.
Good advice.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWould be hilarious, if not so tragic, watching the Obama Administration separate themselves from their own Ambassador's comments.
Having lost the ability to take credit and avoid blame, they are now forced to act like adults, unlike the Pulitzer-chasing media elite, who descended like Vultures on cue into the crises, only to come away punched in the head.
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US Media talking to US State Department.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe role of CNN and Al Jazeera in the street demonstrations in Cairo is hardly that of disinterested journalists. With all due respect to Anderson Cooper of CNN who predicatbly said today that "no reporter wants to become part of the story." Is that true or a clever obfuscation?. Any revolution in the streets helps to draw a larger audience if cameras are on the spot. No one wants to see a reporter attacked or roughed up but they know they are going in harm's way to get a story and should not be surprised when they find harm in the civil disorder of the streets. Then the game is who is to blame? Hillary Clinton implies with her statement that the US condemns violence against reporters that she knows who is repsonsible for the violent acts but she does not say who exactly she is condemining so readers are left to infer it is he government of Mubarak and not The Muslim Brotherhood. The media imply all will be well when Mubarak leaves and the sooner the better. But where are the good guys in this drama? There are none. I see no one asking for a new constitution that will respect human rights or calling for free elections with legal parties. This is a revolution for nihilism carefully camouflaging the end-game takeover of the Muslim Brotherhood and CNN will never report that truth.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnyone who remembers the canard played by Hamas and Hezzbolah should not be surprised by the pliable and feckless media.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDuring the first Gulf War, Ken Burns' excellent Civil War documentary was on PBS, and it was widely watched. I remember hearing about a GHWB staff meeting at which some bloviator compared Schwarzkopf to McClellan because the air war was taking so long. So, I guess that shallow, pip-squeak analysts will always be with us, and it is bracing to be reminded of that fact by Pryce-Jones.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe administration should be straightforward on our position.
1.) Mubarek, imperfect, gets credit for keeping the peace in the region. While as a nation we always favor governments that are free, in the Arab world it is clear that most governments are not free and are hostile, in Mubarek we saw a glass half full
2.) The United States will not tolerate another Radical Islamic Regime. Simply put, radical Islamic regimes have zero tolerance for those of other faiths, our allies in the region, and free elections.
3.) While the United states position has been to support democracy. Democracy which is not held in check by an adherence to basic human rights, is useless. Obama could even Dig Bush here. Any regime which does not protect the basic rights of its citizen, albeit through a democratic or non-democractic process will not gain any favor with the United states.
4.) If President Mubarek is true to his word that he will step down in September 2011, we are in full support of any replacement be delayed till September. Simply stated, there is no opposition body currently capable of taking over, at least not by consent of those who such political party/individual seek to govern. It is the position of the United States that at this juncture those who are vying for power should be allowed to campaign over the next several months with an election set to choose a leader. Having said that, if Mr. Mubarek goes back on his word, the United States would consider this an insult, and would not recognize him as a legitimate leader.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen I first saw this coming full force. Reporters were in Cairo 3 weeks before it started?? Many many statements by the Goverment controlled media, made me look up and pay attention. And as I listened, it became clear, and Back door, under the door, dropped through a chimney let me make this perfectly clear, Egypt uprising was financed by USA tax dollars,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThen I went and read every story about Tunisia, Union takeover? I will take the ball and run with it. Tunisia was also financed with USA tax dollars.
I will keep all informed,
'The United States will not tolerate another Radical Islamic Regime'
Whatcha gonna do? Send a strongly worded letter? The United States is in no position to object to anything. That's why you kick your allies and suck up to enemies.
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