Bill Richardson throws his support to El Baradei

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Richardson backs an Obama critic
By MATT NEGRIN | 01/31/11 11:40 AM Updated: 01/31/11 12:02 PM


Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson threw his support behind Mohamed ElBaradei in Egypt on Monday, even as the Nobel laureate criticizes the Obama administration for its approach in the region.

Richardson, who recently flew to North Korea on what the White House said was an unofficial trip, said on MSNBC that ElBaradei is the United States’ “best hope” to replace Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who he said he hopes “goes soon.” He acknowledged that ElBaradei, whom protesters have embraced, has been “taking shots at the United States.”

ElBaradei told CNN on Sunday from his home that President Obama’s approach to Egypt has amounted to a “failed policy” and that it is “lagging behind.”

Still, Richardson said the Obama administration has handled the crisis in Egypt “very well,” and he suggested that the White House is seeking an end to Mubarak’s rule but can’t “outwardly say that he has to go.”

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0111/tough_call_in_egypt_cb77a2b5-27d4-4071-b084-4fd476eb6d36.html