Things aren’t going all that well with Egypt. President Obama had to get President Morsi on the phone for some serious dressing down. It seems that the good Egyptian president equivocated quite a bit rather than renouncing the violence against America.
Egypt is strategic for the United States because of their treaty with Israel. Meanwhile, Mosri is stranded between having the USA pissed off at him and a while country of irate Muslims who don’t seem to understand that we don’t go pull “offenders” out of their beds in the middle of the night and execute them for being crass pigs.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy is mocking the Muslim Brotherhood because they have 2 twitter accounts. They send out one message in English and the exact opposite in arabic: According to the New York Times:
The United States Embassy publicly mocked the Brotherhood for sending out conflicting messages in its English and Arabic Twitter accounts. “Egyptians rise up to support Muhammad in front of the American Embassy. Sept. 11,” read an Arabic language post the Brotherhood sent out on the day of the attacks — one of several over the last few days emphasizing outrage at the video or calls for its censorship.
So on Thursday, when the group sent out a message of sympathy and support from its top strategist, Khairat el-Shater, from its English-language Twitter account, the Embassy responded tartly via Twitter. “Thanks,” its message read, “By the way, have you checked out your own Arabic feeds? I hope you know we read those too.”
It sounds to me like the white gloves are off and our embassy is calling it as they see them.
At any rate, the crisis is far from over and Egypt is expected to fall in line. Libya is not seen as a strategic country to the United States. Embassies will be on heightened alert today because of expected protests.
Just out of curiosity, to some…how does it feel to be treated like some of you all have been treating me? Doesn’t feel so good does it?
I have mocked your candidates as you have mocked my president. I have challenged your rhetoric. Give a little, get a little.
What pushed me over the edge…probably Mitt Romney calling the President of the United States “disgraceful.”
The other thing that pushed me other the edge was cowboy diplomacy. It is totally unacceptable.
See the link below for a disturbing assessment by Barry Rubin. Once you get past the anti-Obama rhetoric, his assessment seems to be correct in that it explains some inconsistencies that have been bothering me. Namely, if the Egyptians knew about planned attacks in advance, why didn’t THEY take steps to defend our embassy? It is the host country’s responsibility to provide security for foreign missions. His answer is that it had to be a deliberate decision made by the Egyptian government at the highest levels.
http://pjmedia.com/barryrubin/2012/09/12/egypt-kicks-sand-in-obama’s-face-obama-gives-money-arms-and-apologies/?singlepage=true
Who is Barry Rubin? I need a refresher course. I dont discount anything at the moment. Before I go off in a blaze of glory however, I want facts that I think we are several days from having.
Democracy isn’t always who WE would chose. I guess this is the ultimate in “be careful what you wish for.” We are rather well-known for propping up benevolent (well sorta) dictatorships who surfacely do our bidding.
@Moon-howler
I feel fine.
But, then, I don’t take this personally. Sorry if you think that we are treating you badly. That’s not what I’m doing. I’m replying to statements and questions that challenge my beliefs and principles. But, if you feel offended, I apologize.
As for this embassy communication….the real revelation is that the Muslim Bros DON’T have our best interests at heart…so perhaps Obama was right when he said, and I paraphrase, “Egypt? Ally? Meh…kinda sorta.” I happened to agree with him.
Actually, Romney was the one criticizing Obama, saying Egypt is, in fact, an ally. Most of us, after this week, would disagree. Obama’s words were spot on.
“frenemy” might be the appro term.
I like that. “frenemy.” Good one, Starry.
Yes, he was spot on and he was also sending a strong message to the Egyptian govt. Not really subtle but not in their face either.
@Moon-howler
I am not sure “spot-on” would be the right term. The initial response was not handled all that well and the overall U.S. policy is in tatters. During the Arab spring, the U.S. had a clear choice between Mubarak and the rebels. The administration chose to go with the rebels and their promise of democracy even though there were clear indications that the Muslim Brotherhood would be in charge.
To be fair, the siren call of democracy is hard to resist. But what we have learned in the Palestinian territory, Iraq, and again in Egypt is that a revolution does not automatically lead to liberal democracy. These outcomes make previous U.S. policy to prop up friendly dictators in the area look far more prudent in retrospect.
The one thing I will never understand is why the administration did not support the demonstrators in Iran when it had the chance. The people of Iran appear far more ready for liberal democracy than do those in Libya, Egypt, and Iraq. It presented an opportunity to overthrow a hostile regime that presented a clear threat in its pursuit of nukes. Instead, the administration chose to overthrow an old U.S. friend in Mubarak with adverse strategic results that we are now witnessing.
Kelly, in commoner terms we call that a FUMBLE!
@Cargosquid
I suppose you havent noticed that some of you all come on here guns ablazing offending beliefs and value system?
I have decided to no longer attempt to be polite. Glad no one is taking it personally on your side.
No one here claimed the Muslim Brotherhood was good for America. I am not sure that matters in the long run. The question should be, are they good for Egypt.
Are they going to be good allies? Sure doesn’t look like it. Changes in attitude Changes in Lattitude.
Is what’s good for us necessarily what’s good for Egypt? I doubt it.
Was Mubarak good for Egypt? Depends on who you ask. My only Egyptian friend came from the upper ranks of Egyptian social class. I expect that makes a great deal of difference.
In a previous post I said our I.Q (Ignorance Quotient) regarding Islam was very high–siding with the Muslim Brotherhood is an excellent example. President Mohamed Morsi is the president by the grace of the Muslim Brotherhood and you can bet he remembers what happened to Hosni Mubarak. He isn’t going to do much to upset the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt, like Libya, is in a great state of flux. Getting rid of decades of oppressive rule doesn’t happen in one “Arab Spring”.
@George
I bet Murarak is is probably the first person he thinks of in the morning and the last he things of before going to sleep.
I don’t think any of this is highly unusual. All I have to do is think of the early days of our own country. We all act like it just fell into place. NOT. the miracle is that it survived.
The tests werent just in the early days. A civil War, a great depression, the 2000 election–all testimony to some sort of greatness or supreme stubborness.