Obama Administration Aligns with Egyptian Protesters

Walking the diplomatic tightrope

WorldJanuary 2011 • Views: 27,786

The Obama administration is delicately trying to support the Egyptian protest movement, but it’s a balancing act — because other US allies in the region are watching Egypt with alarm.

The Obama administration firmly aligned itself on Sunday with the protest movement that has overtaken Egypt, calling for an “orderly transition” to a more representative government amid rising U.S. concern that the demonstrations are turning violent and that unrest could spread across the Arab world.

In telephone calls to Egyptian and regional leaders, President Obama and his top national security advisers tried to reassure them that their countries remain vital U.S. strategic partners, while warning that the political status quo is not sustainable.

Senior administration officials said that the “transition” wording, used by both the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was carefully chosen to indicate a desire for a representative, interim government to run Egypt until scheduled presidential elections are held in September.

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33 comments

reine.de.tout Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:46:00am

No kidding it's a balancing act.
Administration has to be very very careful with how it says things, what words they use.

I'm very glad it's someone other than ME having to figure out just what sort of tone will strike the right notes. I'd screw it up, first thing (think: conservative female southern Biden).

Kragar Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:50:32am

Rush was screaming that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the protests and that Obama's Cairo speach was the match to the tinder. I'm sure he'll love this.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:51:29am

we shall see . . . .

mr.fusion Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:52:03am

It's such an interesting situation from the US side.....sure we want democracy, but are we going to be happy with the Muslim Brotherhood in charge? Egypt has been a non-enemy of Israel for the last 30 years.....does a regime change alter that peace agreement? And where does the region go from here?

I don't mean to sound cold or callous....there are people giving their lives for freedom over there......but from a news junkies perspective, this has been absolutely fascinating to watch unfold and will be probably for years to come.

elBarto Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:53:32am

Hmmm prop up tyrants or put religious fanatics in power...
I am glad I am not faced with that decision.

S'latch Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:53:37am

re: #2 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I heard this, too. Rush is implying that Obama wants the Muslim Brotherhood to overthrow Mubarak.

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:53:58am

re: #2 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Rush was screaming that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the protests and that Obama's Cairo speach was the match to the tinder. I'm sure he'll love this.

what a dumbass

jaunte Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:55:35am

re: #6 Lawrence Schmerel

He makes a lot of money from extremists.

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:55:38am

As an update, talked to my boss and he finally talked to his family. They are ok, just staying in their homes.

Jack Burton Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:55:51am

Wingnuts come out in full support of Mubarak in 5, 4, 3, 2...

Kragar Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:57:34am

re: #10 ArchangelMichael

Wingnuts come out in full support of Mubarak in 5, 4, 3, 2...

They've supported war criminals, so Mubarak isn't too much of a stretch, except he's a Muslim, so its a quandry for them.

Feline Fearless Leader Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:57:42am

Hmm. Just thought of something. Given the concentration of Egyptian population along the Nile and the fact that they're essentially surrounded by desert --- if there was a disaster of some sort (political/environmental/whatever) where does the refugee swarm go, and how do they get there?

(My presumption is that it would be by boat out into the Med. I suspect a slog up the Nile into the Sudan would be a logistical nightmare without a lot of preparation.)

recusancy Mon, Jan 31, 2011 10:59:27am

re: #5 elBarto

Hmmm prop up tyrants or put religious fanatics in power...
I am glad I am not faced with that decision.

It's not a guarantee that religious fanatics will take power.

Jack Burton Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:00:08am

re: #11 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

They've supported war criminals, so Mubarak isn't too much of a stretch, except he's a Muslim, so its a quandry for them.

It's the opposite of what that 'KenyanMuslimHitlerZOMG' Obama is doing so it shouldn't be to hard to reconcile in the wingnut mind.

goddamnedfrank Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:01:02am

The MB got caught as flatfooted as Mubarak by this whole thing, it isn't their movement by any stretch of the imagination. They're just going along to get along at this point, all the old timer factions are completely bewildered and are too busy trying to tread water and stay afloat on the tide to be directing its movement.

Four More Tears Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:01:08am

re: #13 recusancy

It's not a guarantee that religious fanatics will take power.

But they could! They could!!! Best to keep a "President" in power for 30 years than risk that....

Winny Spencer Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:02:41am

re: #13 recusancy

It's not a guarantee that religious fanatics will take power.

If it was, Mubarak would be the preferable alternative.

Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:03:36am

re: #13 recusancy

It's not a guarantee that religious fanatics will take power.

I second this. My boss is Egyptian and one thing I've learned in talking to him is that while, yes, Egyptians are muslims for the most part they see themselves as Egyptians and are not nearly as fanatical as the MB or the arabs for that matter. To hear the protesters you aren't hearing them ask for a somewhat secular government to be replaced by a religious one, they are asking for the current gov't to be replaced by a fair one.

albusteve Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:04:40am

if BO gets through this thing without egg all over his face, my attitude toward him will certainly improve...it's more what not to say at this point...no grandstanding or fucking around with flowery rhetoric...so far, so good

Feline Fearless Leader Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:06:15am

re: #19 albusteve

if BO gets through this thing without egg all over his face, my attitude toward him will certainly improve...it's more what not to say at this point...no grandstanding or fucking around with flowery rhetoric...so far, so good

You mean acting like a statesman rather than a politician?

Four More Tears Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:06:32am

re: #19 albusteve

if BO gets through this thing without egg all over his face, my attitude toward him will certainly improve...it's more what not to say at this point...no grandstanding or fucking around with flowery rhetoric...so far, so good

I think the best thing he can do right now is just keep pressure on Mubarak to not kill his own people. At least until this escalates.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:07:48am

re: #2 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Rush was screaming that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the protests and that Obama's Cairo speach was the match to the tinder. I'm sure he'll love this.

I just wish the wingnuts would come out and explain if they're FOR or AGAINST Mubarak, because that would make this much easier.

The crazy left is being very clear. They are AGAINST Mubarak. They're still crazy, but they have an angle to be crazy from that I comprehend.

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:08:09am

re: #5 elBarto

Hmmm prop up tyrants or put religious fanatics in power...
I am glad I am not faced with that decision.

Amen, brother.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:09:45am

re: #22 SanFranciscoZionist

I just wish the wingnuts would come out and explain if they're FOR or AGAINST Mubarak, because that would make this much easier.

The crazy left is being very clear. They are AGAINST Mubarak. They're still crazy, but they have an angle to be crazy from that I comprehend.

I think they are for whatever will NOT be a security risk for the USA, regardless of future consequences.

albusteve Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:10:21am

re: #20 oaktree

You mean acting like a statesman rather than a politician?

yes, 'acting'....I'm sure he's getting a lot of direction in this thing, since he mishandled the Iran deal so badly...he just loves to talk, but he needs to shut up and not pretend he's capable of leading the unwashed out of the wilderness...it's a steep learning curve, but he can do it

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:10:50am

re: #18 Dreggas

I second this. My boss is Egyptian and one thing I've learned in talking to him is that while, yes, Egyptians are muslims for the most part they see themselves as Egyptians and are not nearly as fanatical as the MB or the arabs for that matter. To hear the protesters you aren't hearing them ask for a somewhat secular government to be replaced by a religious one, they are asking for the current gov't to be replaced by a fair one.

The problem is that the fundamentalist agenda has piggybacked itself neatly on the desire for less corrupt government before. Hamas is a great example of this. Fifteen years ago, most Palestinian women didn't cover their hair. Now you see girls walking around Gaza in chadors.

Lidane Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:11:00am

re: #9 Dreggas

As an update, talked to my boss and he finally talked to his family. They are ok, just staying in their homes.

I spent all my lunch talking to my classmate. Her family is in Cairo and they're fine. She's been talking to them several times a day lately.

It's interesting. The stuff she was telling me gives a whole different perspective on the demonstrations there. A lot of people are instituting their own neighborhood watch and keeping an eye on each others' homes. They're also sharing food with each other and with the military and police. It's almost like a family coming together to support each other in a crisis. She's talked about Egyptian culture being very close knit, and the way she describes life on the ground over there bears that out.

Someone brought up the MB to her, and from the way my friend tells it, because there's a large Christian population in Egypt, and because the younger generations -- even other Muslims-- are generally wary of religious fundamentalists and extremists, she didn't think that the MB would be a major player. As it is, they're rallying behind someone that most Egyptians see as an outsider, and the MB aren't trusted. She admits they're a threat, and that they're extremist nutjobs, but she's optimistic that the MB will be marginal at best. I hope she's right.

albusteve Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:11:23am

re: #22 SanFranciscoZionist

I just wish the wingnuts would come out and explain if they're FOR or AGAINST Mubarak, because that would make this much easier.
The crazy left is being very clear. They are AGAINST Mubarak. They're still crazy, but they have an angle to be crazy from that I comprehend.

the whole thing is probably over their heads

Winny Spencer Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:12:40am

re: #22 SanFranciscoZionist

I just wish the wingnuts would come out and explain if they're FOR or AGAINST Mubarak, because that would make this much easier.

They aren't sure whose side Obama is on yet. Hence, they cannot yet choose to support the opposite side.

Four More Tears Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:13:02am

re: #29 Winny Spencer

They aren't sure whose side Obama is on yet. Hence, they cannot yet choose to support the opposite side.

Bingo.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:14:23am

re: #29 Winny Spencer

They aren't sure whose side Obama is on yet. Hence, they cannot yet choose to support the opposite side.

ARe there clear-cut sides yet?

Other than Mubarek and NotMubarek?

albusteve Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:15:07am

re: #29 Winny Spencer

They aren't sure whose side Obama is on yet. Hence, they cannot yet choose to support the opposite side.

darn good observation

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 31, 2011 11:15:32am

re: #28 albusteve

the whole thing is probably over their heads

It's over the crazy left's heads too, but they've figured out which side to back with bad information and a dumb agenda.

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