Please join me in calling on the Obama Administration to STOP backing Hosni Mubarak

[Ken Burch]

The Mubarak regime has always been illegitimate. There's never been any excuse for Egypt to ban all secular opposition parties, repress freedom of speech and assembly, and rule through fear.

Egypt is ready for democracy and the Egyptian people want it.

It's time for THIS country to stop putting anything in front of the right of all people on the Earth to liberate themselves from tyranny.

That is all that matters.

Please post in this thread to support the Egyptian Revolution and all genuine movements for democracy and social change in the Arab/Islamic world.

[somone]

1. Recommended

[Catherina]

2. Reporting for duty! Rec'd n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

3. "Render neither assistance nor interference"

is probably the best policy for the Obama Administration for this situation.

Let the chips fall where they may.

[EFerrari]

5. It's too late. We already armed the dictator. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

8. Exactly. "Laissez faire" is the key phrase here

In times of extreme political upheavals, it best not to APPEAR as sympathetic to one side or another.

[Catherina]

9. It's too late for that. Comments about the US are scathing right now

Were you aware of this statement? I must be so naive because it shocks me. I just found out about it thanks to Orion007

Some Friends
Hillary Rodham Clinton undercuts the State Department's own human rights reporting.


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

SECRETARY OF STATE Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to devalue and undermine the U.S. diplomatic tradition of human rights advocacy. On her first foreign trip, to Asia, she was dismissive about raising human rights concerns with China's communist government, saying "those issues can't interfere" with economic, security or environmental matters. In last week's visit to the Middle East and Europe, she undercut the State Department's own reporting regarding two problematic American allies: Egypt and Turkey.

According to State's latest report on Egypt, issued Feb. 25, "the government's respect for human rights remained poor" during 2008 "and serious abuses continued in many areas." It cited torture by security forces and a decline in freedom of the press, association and religion. Ms. Clinton was asked about those conclusions during an interview she gave to the al-Arabiya satellite network in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Her reply contained no expression of concern about the deteriorating situation. "We issue these reports on every country," she said. "We hope that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is offered, that we all have room for improvement."

Ms. Clinton was then asked whether there would be any connection between the report and a prospective invitation to President Hosni Mubarak to visit Washington. "It is not in any way connected," she replied, adding: "I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States." Ms. Clinton's words will be treasured by al-Qaeda recruiters and anti-American propagandists throughout the Middle East. She appears oblivious to how offensive such statements are to the millions of Egyptians who loathe Mr. Mubarak's oppressive government and blame the United States for propping it up.

...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030902478.html

[Canuckistanian]

16. Well, to be fair, that was almost two years ago

What I was concerned about is the State Department's reactions NOW. For them to express an opinion today EITHER WAY would be very consequential.

I see that Hlllary made a statement protesting the Mubarak government cutting off social networks and other means of communication. And that's fine.

But to make a statement of EITHER support or condemnation TODAY would make the situation worse.

Wait for the victor and judge accordingly. There are too many variables right now.

[Catherina]

18. You're 100% right. n/t

[EFerrari]

4. Yes.

[Ken Burch]

6. Thanks for the support.

BTW, perhaps others could start threads like this, since I've been told I'm on "ignore" for a lot of people.

[Catherina]

10. Anyone ignoring you wouldn't be calling the Administration to withdraw support.

I can work it into a future thread for you but I think the ignore problem would be the same.

[Ken Burch]

11. I guess I was just thinking you might not have as many "ignored's" as I seem to.

Do what you think is best.

[Catherina]

12. Is there a petition somewhere we can link too?

Do you have the White House numbers? And Congress too?

I read on twitter that there are going to be protests in San Francisco and a few other cities tomorrow but I can't remember where or when.

[Ken Burch]

13. I'll check.

If anyone else finds links to the above, please post.

For a start, here's an email form to contact the White House with:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

[Canuckistanian]

7. This is a delicate time

What if Mubarak gains back control? Then the State Department (not to mention the Embassies) could have egg on their faces and even MORE tension would result.

This is the time to be quiet, VERY quiet.

[Agony]

14. I'll make the call but it is unlikely to have any real effect given Pres. Obama's unconditional

support (aid).

from http://www.fpif.org/articles/fraudulent_egyptian_election

"Although the State Department acknowledges that the regime suppresses freedom of the press, association, and religion, the U.S. government – under both Republican and Democratic administrations –annually rewards Mubarak with billions of dollars worth of military and economic assistance. Early into his presidency, Obama dispatched Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to Cairo to affirm continued unconditional aid. Similarly, Secretary of State Clinton declared that there would be no human rights “conditionality” in the close relationship between the United States and Egypt, regarding foreign aid or anything else."

Occasionally we will put our foot down so I suppose there is a glimmer of hope.

"The only time the United States put conditions on aid to Egypt was in 2008, but not over human rights or democracy. Democratic Representatives Nita Lowey (NY), David Obey (WI), and the late Tom Lantos (CA) successfully threatened to withhold $100 million of the $1.7 billion package unless Mubarak more strictly enforced the siege on the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian regime complied, even to the point of beating and detaining international human rights activists, including Americans, who attempted to bring food and medicine to Palestinian civilians in the besieged territory in January 2010."

Oh and we will cut funding for civil society assistance programs because we don't want to piss off Mubarak... Even tho USAID concluded that economic assistance to these independent civil society organizations was far more effective than aid to government-controlled aid recipients.

"On coming to office, however, Obama slashed such funding by 75 percent while maintaining the $1.3 billion in military assistance. Michele Dunne, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, observed that, “Members of the administration have made it clear that they did not want economic assistance to irritate the Egyptian government.” Funding now goes into an endowment, which can only allocate to groups approved by the Mubarak regime. According to Safwat Girgis, leader of the Egyptian Centre for Human Rights, Obama’s decision “is in the best interest of the Egyptian government, not the people nor civil society organizations.”"



What the hell I'll call anyway?

Cheers,
Agony

[Catherina]

15. Me too. We need to do something. Those are our brothers and sisters

Have you seen this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x547780

[mix]

17. And the Algerian generals and Mohammed VI in Maroc nt