Obama and Hillary Clinton Embarrass U.S. by Backing Mubarak

[Better Believe It]

Obama and Hillary Clinton Embarrass U.S. by Backing Mubarak
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
January 28, 2011

The U.S. response to the revolution under way in Egypt has been downright embarrassing.

The best that Secretary of State Clinton could say was that the Egyptian security forces should show “restraint.”

What kind of a response is that?

Obama talks the talk of freedom and democracy.

But he’s not walking the walk.

Read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx012811b.html

[thewiseguy]

1. This administration is an embarrassment to the Democratic party

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Better Believe It]

10. Do you mean the administration response to the events or the article critical of that response?

Your comment wasn't clear to me.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[Pisces]

20. Who the fuck is the blind loyalist?? Maybe the blind oppositions needs to look in the mirror.

[Pirate Smile]

70. Blind opposition is a great name for them.

[Vickers]

77. Your name is "funny." n/t

[chimpymustgo]

K&R.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Insert gratuitous pic of Rummy and Saddam:

[Imagevision]

3. Hillary, Obama and Mubarak are in the same club, especially Hillary!

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[William769]

50. Just in case you forgot and want to place your anger where it does belong

Hillary works for President Obama. if you can't understand that...

[Rockholm]

55. I love Hillary.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

68. .....

:eyes:


edit to add:

I think Hillary made Barack be the way he is! She controls him.


:crazy: x 1,000,000

[dipsydoodle]

4. That's only because as usual

the US needs to pursue its own selfish interests.

Probably just a bi-product of "her" attending The Kissenger School of Charm amd Diplomacy. :sarcasm:

[Poll_Blind]

5. Oh they're all for Democracy- as long as it's for Iran! Friendly dictators, not so much. n/t

PB

[Hydra]

29. No, they're all for democracy

As long as the rabid dictator they put in place is "elected."

Idle thought...was the Shah ever "elected"?

[barbtries]

7. i'm on the last pages of A People's History of the US

it has always been thus. don't see it changing in my lifetime. this administration is still much better than the alternative we were given in 2008.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Subversive Anti American Book....

Good for you.

Actually Howard loved this country
and only wanted that they tell the truth.

[barbiegeek]

8. We need to get US Tourist OUT first

Can we work on Evacuating our People out of Fucking Egypt first before we pick a side.

We don't know who will be in power & jumping the gun when we have 10's of thousand of tourists, workers, students, there is Pissing me off.

[DURHAM D]

15. Plus 90,000 U.S. citizens living/working in Egypt might need/want to leave.

How we going to manage their evacuation?

some people just aren't thinking. Thank god they are not decision makers.

[former9thward]

19. No one is attempting to get anyone out.

The U.S. has asked Americans not to travel there for nonessential travel but they are not banned from going. The Cairo airport is open and functioning. There have been some flight cancellations but major European airlines such as British Air and KLM are operating normally. Americans can come and go as they please. Easy on the drama.

[DURHAM D]

22. You may want to turn on your tv.

Just listened to a stranded U.S. citizen about difficulties in leaving.

[former9thward]

48. Oh a poor tourist can't travel at a moment's notice.

How un-American! There are always travel difficulties in that part of the world. I have been there many times. Nothing on my TV about the Cairo airport being closed. Oh, that's right, because it isn't. Nothing on my TV about the major airlines that serve Egypt such as British Air and KLM stopping flights. Oh, that's right because they haven't. As I said ease up on the drama. Travel difficulties will sort themselves out. Everything will be cool. Relax.

[barbiegeek]

23. Flights ARE cancelled, Ports are closed. Can't drive all of N. Africa is in revolution

Nato has been called in & our Marines are on the way.

[former9thward]

46. Interesting links you posted about Marines on the way

and NATO has been called in. Oh, that's right, you didn't.

[barbiegeek]

63. They are stationed in the Suez Canal-Always has been

[barbiegeek]

65. Time Magazine- USA marines ready to deploy to Egypt link

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/01/28/marines-ready-for-egypt-rescue-mission/

Israel has already evacuated by helicopter:

http://inthesenewtimes.com/2011/01/29/israeli-embassy-staff-evacuate-egypt/

And you did NOT have to be a smart alec about it.

[former9thward]

71. As you admitted the Marines are always in the area.

But they are not being sent into Cairo or anyplace else to "rescue" Americans. Americans are in no danger except missing their afternoon coffee in Paris that they were planning on after touring Cairo. Israel is keeping their diplomats in Egypt saying there is no danger to them. Tourists are leaving not because there is any danger but because most of the main tourist sites have been closed such as the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids.

[barbiegeek]

67. Evacuation links you requested:

Israel:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/01/29/idINIndia-54506120110129

Philippines:

http://balita.ph/2011/01/30/phl-ready-to-evacuate-ofws-in-egypt-if-riots-escalate-palace-says/

Malaysia:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/29/nation/7898177&sec=nation

[tabatha]

11. UNREC

Obama cannot take sides. Remember what happened in Iran.

He has unequivocally told Mubarak that the citizens' concerns must be addressed.

How is that supporting Mubarak ?

As another poster said, this is an embarrassment for DU.

[Better Believe It]

13. Is that so. Well, can President Obama take sides at home, either with our side or Wall Street?

[tabatha]

14. That was not the topic.

[Better Believe It]

17. So why can't President Obama support human rights and democractic rights in the world?

But, he can support dictatorships.

[barbiegeek]

27. Boo!!!! Want a list of all he's done. And this is about Egypt & US Citizens there

[SidDithers]

24. +1...

well said.

Sid

[EFerrari]

30. The Obama administration has already taken a billion dollar side.

To suggest our government is neutral is ridiculous on its face.

[barbiegeek]

31. Unrec. Let's get our people out before taking sides

[girl gone mad]

42. Not taking sides is taking a side.

It's siding with the unpopular status quo.

[tabatha]

49. Did you hear the U.S. State Department statement today?

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's sacking of his government's ministers is not enough to advance reforms in the country, the U.S. State Department said Saturday.

State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said Mubarak must follow through on his pledge to introduce real political, economic and social reforms. "The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat," Crowley said on his Twitter account. "President Mubarak's words pledging reform must be followed by action."

How the f****, in any logic, is that supporting the status quo. Is this Alice in Wonderland or making shit up like the RWers do?


http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/sacking-egyptian-ministers-not-enough-u-s-state-department-says-1.340042

[girl gone mad]

76. Mubarak is the status quo.

We didn't leave Hussein in charge of Iraq, even when he promised to make all of the changes we had demanded.

The State Dept. should explain the double standard.

[provis99]

56. that's about the dumbest post on DU I've read this year.

I wish I could unrecommend your post.

[tabatha]

64. I can guarantee that Israel is extremely

concerned. This admin is walking a tight-rope between various factions.

Democracy is the goal.

I don't think you consider things much deeper than the superficial.

[paulk]

16. I think it's a little too early to make such a blanket condemnation

of US policy

as with all social upheavals/civil wars

be careful what you wish for

-----------

[DURHAM D]

26. Anyone who was around and paying attention in 1979 (Iran) -

learned not to make assumptions that a revolution always created change for the better.

[BlueDemKev]

32. My thoughts exactly!

Iran (Khomeini) AND Afghanistan (the Taliban). Sheeesh!

The aftermath of any revolution is messy (to put it mildly), and power vacuums inevitably are created. These vacuums are often filled by small fringe groups which can be even more oppressive than the regime which was overthrown (anybody remember George Orwell's "Animal Farm"?).

We know that Egypt is not going to set up a western-style democratic form of gov't. The principles of Islam and those of democracies just don't go together. The question is, would Egypt's new gov't be one of level-headed Muslims or Islamic fundamentalists?

[Danger Mouse]

34. but the revolution was against the us-backed shah...

who was bad for the iranian people.

[DURHAM D]

38. Did you forget the sarcasm button? nt

[Danger Mouse]

40. part of the reason for the hostage crisis in the first place...

was that the u.s. gave safe haven to the shah after he fled Iran, and had been propping him up, giving more credence to the radicals. i didn't say the ayatollah coming to power was a GOOD thing, just that our sins in meddling with middle eastern affairs were coming to bite us in the rear.

[DURHAM D]

44. Yep - we need to blame the Iran meddling on the right President -

that would be Eisenhower.

[Danger Mouse]

45. True, but Carter ended up having to deal with the consequences...

just as Obama now has to deal with the fact that Mubarak is a U.S.-backed dictator. If Mubarak falls and extremists take over, you can be things won't be very rosy towards the U.S. in Egypt.

[paulk]

36. I remember back in 1975 feeling a sense of elation when the

Khmer Rouge drove into Phnom Penh...

How wrong I was

It's a lesson I've always try to keep in mind since

[EFerrari]

37. After thirty years of Mubarak, it doesn't seem too early to Egyptians, apparently. n/t

[pinto]

18. US Admin has made further comments on the situation (1/29) -

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama issued a plea for restraint in Egypt after meeting with national security aides Saturday (1/29) to assess the Cairo government's response to widespread protests threatening the stability of the country.

A White House statement said Obama "reiterated our focus on opposing violence and calling for restraint, supporting universal rights, and supporting concrete steps that advance political reform within Egypt."

"The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat," Crowley (State Department) said on his Twitter account. "President Mubarak's words pledging reform must be followed by action."

Crowley said Egyptians "no longer accept the status quo. They are looking to their government for a meaningful process to foster real reform."

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/nation-world-news/obama-calls-for-restraint-reform-in-egypt-1067430.html

******

While this will not satisfy immediate calls for more aggressive support of the protests and the path to greater democratization in Egypt, or other Middle East nations, it's a clearer heads up to Mubarak. In a fluid and developing situation - an understandable approach, imho. That said, I think Mubarak ought to go - in a process that works best for Egypt.

Rothschild's brief, drive-by slam in the Progressive seems shallow and short sited. ~ pinto

[Mojorabbit]

28. +10000 nt

[EFerrari]

35. Asking a torture regime to "reform" itself is an empty request, shallow and short siighted.

A regime that has drawn the police off the street and has sent them back out to loot and shoot at citizens.

[pinto]

62. Yeah, I recognize there's a realistic limit to how much we can do. And,

feel there's always two or more scenarios on-going. Some public (diplomacy) some not (government to government contact). I see the UK, France and Germany have jointly weighed in publicly along the same lines, with the added note of "free and fair elections" in their statement.

As far as the police-as-looters possibility goes, I can't presume to know. May well be true, may be well be popular buzz. Or both.

:hi:

[SidDithers]

25. Unrec...

SSDD.

Sid

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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[Whisp]

41. a fucking nauseous unrec

[girl gone mad]

43. A calm, collected, rational rec. n/t

[ProSense]

47. The U.S. should overthrow the Egyptian government. Right. Effing. Now.

Not really.

Here's President Obama's statement.

[tabatha]

51. And here is the statement from the State Department TODAY

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's sacking of his government's ministers is not enough to advance reforms in the country, the U.S. State Department said Saturday.

State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said Mubarak must follow through on his pledge to introduce real political, economic and social reforms. "The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat," Crowley said on his Twitter account. "President Mubarak's words pledging reform must be followed by action."

Facing mass protests over the last five days calling for him to step down, Mubarak announced he was sacking the government's ministers and would form a new government. On Saturday he appointed a deputy for the first time in his nearly 30-year rule and named a new prime minister. But he refused to resign.

President Barack Obama said in Washington Friday night following Mubarak's speech that the Egyptian leader must act on his promise of reforms. "He has a responsibility to give meaning to those words," Obama said of Mubarak, a close U.S. ally in the region.

Before Obama spoke, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced the administration might cut the $1.5 billion in annual foreign aid sent to Egypt, depending on Mubarak's response to the demonstrations.

Obama also repeated demands by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for Egypt's government to restore access to the internet and social media sites, cut by the authorities in an apparent attempt to limit the flow of information about the protests demanding an end to Mubarak's rule.

But he said, "We've also been clear that there must be reform, political, social and economic reforms that meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people." He added that the demonstrators had a responsibility to express themselves peacefully. He continued, "Violence and destruction will not lead to the reforms they seek."

[wisteria]

52. I disagree. Murbarak has been someone we can work with -an ali,

if he goes we could end up not being able to dealing with the new leader and he could be a lot worse than Mubarak. Revolutions don't usually bring that much positive change to those protesting-America being the exception. And, if they end up with someone like the President of Iran, it could really destablize the Middle East even further.
Some people should be careful what they wish for.
I agree with our President and Secretary of State.

[Danger Mouse]

54. so fuck the egyptian people, let the dictator stay?

[provis99]

57. America doesn't give a shit about democracy.

Can you name one instance, throughout all of American history, when America called for democracy to replace a right-wing dictatorship?

[tabatha]

61. South Africa

Namibia

[Danger Mouse]

72. South Africa...yes, we supported an end to apartheid...eventually.

[tabatha]

74. What had to happen was that the South Africans do the work.

The US helped with years of sanctions, but they could not do anything more (invade). Although, the right-wing elements in the US supported the Apartheid govt. for as long as it was in power.

[Danger Mouse]

73. America will work with the devil if it suits their interests abroad.

[Better Believe It]

59. "Murbarak has been someone we can work with" We? I've never worked with him. Have you?

I've never supported the prick!

[seabeyond]

53. i didnt not see anywhere where either two BACKED mubarak. bogus headline...nt

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

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[seabeyond]

66. OP was talking backing in this crisis. and there is no backing in this crisis that i have seen

so if you are going to lecture me on ignorance, in a false argument, then be the jerk. but that really is not my problem is it.

NOW

show me the backing in this crisis.

[quaker bill]

60. Who is the other side?

It is a real question. It is pretty clear that the crowds in the street don't take over if Mubarak leaves.

So who does? The Army? the Muslim Brotherhood? Just who do you back? What are the consequences if as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, you pick a party to back, and it loses? It is one thing for you and I to have a favorite, it is an entirely different thing for the SOS or POTUS, to pick a favorite and make it known.

This is not something they can do as easliy as choosing between the Packers and the Steelers, a choice they would probably also avoid.

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

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[gulliver]

75. Yeah, it would be great for them to back the protesters.

Then Mubarak and every other dictator in the region facing protesters would say the protesters were U.S. and Israeli pawns. I can't think of anything more likely to save Mubarak than that.

I'm sure glad we have the idiots confined to writing fringe blog entries and the non-idiots running things.