Obama and Egypt

So, more interesting to me than the events occurring in Egypt will be how President Obama handles it.

On one hand, Egypt is a key ally in the region.  And, like him or not, the current President of Egypt is likely the best option as far as a government is concerned.

However, the community organizer in him must be screaming out in support of these people.  It sounds like they are protesting for their rights, for their jobs and for fairer wages.  ALL things that our current leader embraces to his very core.

Will he support the protesters or the President?

Time will tell.

9 responses to “Obama and Egypt

  1. Ultimately, the US should leave this up to the Egyptians and not try to tip the scales one way or another. The US shouldn’t do anything supportive of Mubarak unless we’re sure he’s going to prevail — otherwise any new government will be even more hostile towards us. If the government falls, that will be difficult for the US in the short run, but in the long run the kind of oppressive regime Egypt has is unsustainable. Half the population is under 24, they aren’t going to accept the way things have been. So I’m not sure if we gain anything by Mubarak holding out longer.

    • Ultimately, the US should leave this up to the Egyptians and not try to tip the scales one way or another.

      I happen to agree. I think that many of the troubles we have today are a result of the involvement of the US.

      but in the long run the kind of oppressive regime Egypt has is unsustainable.

      My hope is that this young generation that you mention will realize they don’t want either:

      A. This current regime.
      B. A strict even MORE oppressive regime that we see across the region.

  2. Rights, jobs and fairness. Obama must be some kind of monster! Interesting that you don’t really care about the bloodshed in Egypt, by your own admission.

  3. Rights, jobs and fairness.

    Hi poker face.

    I am all FOR those things. Any time that a nation is able to increase their Liberty, I am in favor of that happening.

    Obama must be some kind of monster!

    I think that Obama thinks he’s for rights, jobs and fairness. However, it is my argument that the policies he embraces to bring those qualities about result in the exact opposite.

    Without entering into TOO much of a debate, I understand that the Liberal passes minimum wage laws to help the poor and inexperienced worker make more money. It is my opinion that those minimum wage laws result in the exact opposite.

    In that regard, while not a monster, he is misguided.

    Interesting that you don’t really care about the bloodshed in Egypt

    I do care. I wish the people of Egypt would not resort to violence and bloodshed. I wish they could bring about change without resorting to bloodshed and violence.

    Do you?

  4. Absolutely. I got a little better understanding of your point of view from your comment than from the original post. We’re not that far apart.

  5. pino,

    The uprising in Egypt is broad based but, the Islamic fundamentalists are trying to take over the revolution. Hopefully President Obama will be a little smarter than Jimmy Carter when Iran went down the tubes. The parallels are eerie. Green Liberal Democrat President, repressive American friendly tyrant overthrown by Muslim population.

    One of the destabilizing factors is a global wheat shortage. Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer. Prices are rising. The summer drought in Russia and the current floods in Australia are causing trouble in the whole middle east. That we turn 30% of our corn into 3% of our gasoline does not help.

    • The uprising in Egypt is broad based

      I support that broad based anger.

      Islamic fundamentalists are trying to take over the revolution.

      This is my fear. However, fear of something not yet realized should not prevent us from supporting Liberty.

      a global wheat shortage.

      This will pass…..

  6. pino,

    ” a global wheat shortage.”

    “This will pass…..”

    When a food shortage or economic down turn hits. whoever is in charge is blamed. Mubarek is the modern Pharaoh of Egypt. When the Nile failed to flood and renew the crops, the old Pharaohs were overthrown. Mubarek was not popular anyway and now he is old and he failed to anticipate the rising food prices.

    The wild card is the Egyptian army. They hold the real power.

  7. I’m hoping El-Baredi will emerge as a new leader, and be able to convince the military to maintain stability. I don’t see Egypt becoming anything like Iran (and the Iranians are afraid of this wave of protest). Oil prices are very likely to rise significantly if this movement spreads. We live in interesting times.

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