re: #149 Varek Raith

I was just pointing out that the situations of ‘78 Iran and Egypt now are a bit different.

Obviously. But in either case, if you aren’t going to send a shitload of troops in, it doesn’t make sense to pick a side and start vocally advocating. It’s as likely to blow up in your face as it is to help the situation.

The BEST thing Obama can do right now is be vague and noncommittal. We are out an ally if we back the protesters and Mubarak prevails, and we are out a potential ally if we back Mubarak and the revolution succeeds. In either case, it’s not just Egypt watching us closely. The rest of our allies are wondering what will make us throw them under the bus.

This is an extremely delicate situation, and it is developing very fast. Obama would be a moron if he came out and started calling for Mubarak’s ouster.