FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: Feb 2, 2011
 
Democracy: not just for Americans

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Editorial


As reports emerge that more than 1 million Egyptians brought the protests to a new crescendo Tuesday, the U.S. still appears to be treading most carefully.


Frank Wisner, Washington’s former ambassador to Cairo, arrived in Egypt to meet with Hosni Mubarak. While the public has yet to learn the messages he carried to the 82-year-old president, the choice of Wisner attests to the kid gloves that the Obama administration is using with Mubarak; Wisner since 2009 has worked for Patton Boggs, a firm which lobbies on behalf of and does PR for the disgraced Mubarak regime.


The current U.S. ambassador to Cairo, Margaret Scobey, spoke Tuesday with Mohamed ElBaradei, the opposition figure entrusted to negotiate with the regime and a potential successor to Mubarak. Scobey and Wisner have not spoken in detail about the U.S. approach; the White House continues to mince words with talk of an “orderly transition” and its aversion to dictating anything to anyone.


What Obama and Hillary Clinton should really be declaring for all the world to hear is that free and fair elections must happen as soon as possible, and neither Hosni Mubarak nor his son Gamal should run in them.


Of course it is to be expected that the U.S. would have some trepidation about unrest in a nation of more than 80 million that plays a central role in the Middle East, and a bit of fear as an ally of 30 years seems set to be toppled.

Unfortunately, this is far from the first time that Washington has watched a similar script unfold, and yet U.S. president after president – as well as the entire policy establishment – has failed to learn from history. The same scene played out with the Shah of Iran in 1979. Before George W. Bush decided to take down Saddam Hussein, his Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had in 1983 in Baghdad cozied up to the tyrant as a trusted ally. Then again, Bush had also in 2004 welcomed the recently deposed Tunisian dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to the White House as a longtime U.S. partner.


Washington would not find itself in this situation time after time if it were able to learn a simple lesson. No matter how much aid the U.S. dumps into a country (with Washington’s favor almost always falling mainly on that nation’s armed forces) and no matter how close Washington buddies up to a ruler, the most important part of any country is its people. People’s patience will run out on their dignity being trampled and their future being snuffed out.


After all, the ideal model of government is of the people, by the people and for the people, as an esteemed American once said. It is truly a tragedy that the U.S. so sorely needs a lecture that the same holds true for other nations as well; the U.S. would do well to say so and behave accordingly.


The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Arab Network for the Study of Democracy
 
Readers Comments (0)
Add your comment

Enter the security code below*

 Can't read this? Try Another.
 
Inside:
Why Algeria will not go Egypt's way
When revolutionary euphoria subsides: Lessons from Ukraine
A letter from the Cedar Revolution to the Nile Revolution
Mubarak, save Egypt and leave
Barack Obama sees Egypt, but remembers Indonesia
Just changing generals is not freedom
Egypt’s Youth are Responsible for Defending their Revolution from Those who Would Climb upon It
Can Lebanon kill its own tribunal?
Egypt's future in Egyptian hands
Social media are connecting Arab youths and politicians
The Mediterranean between sunny skies and clouds of pessimism
For the West, act of contrition time
Lost generations haunt Arab rulers
Can Egypt's military become platform for political change?
The Tunisian experience is likely to mean evolution in Morocco
Why Arabs have airbrushed Lebanon out
The Middle East's freedom train has just left the station
For better or worse, Arab history is on the move
Tunisia may be a democratic beacon, but Islamists will profit
Is this a Gdansk moment for the Arabs?
Ben Ali's ouster was the start, and Mubarak will follow
Mubarak's only option is to go
Egypt's battle requires focus
The Arabs' future is young and restless
Arab rulers' only option is reform
Exhilarating Arab revolts, but what comes afterward?
Hezbollah enters uncharted territory
Resisting change fans the flames
To participate or not to participate?
choice decisive for Lebanon
Lebanon typifies Arab political poverty
Between Tunisia’s Uprising and Lebanon’s Tribunal
Lebanon, Between Partnership and Unilateralism
What might Hezbollah face once the trial begins?
In Lebanon, echoes of the Iraq crisis
Is Hezbollah's eye mainly on Syria?
Egypt's Copt crisis is one of democracy
The thrill and consequences of Tunisia for the Arab region
Three Arab models are worth watching
Tunisia riots offer warning to Arab governments
Tunisia has a lesson to teach
Amid stalemate, let negotiations begin!
Time for Lebanese to re-think stances
North Africa at a tipping point
The Options Available When Faced with the Failure of Arab Governments
Latifa and Others
The past Lebanese decade
Troubling trends in this Arab new year
An independent Egyptian Web site gives women a voice
Yet another Arab president for life
Beyond the STL
Fight the roots of extremism
Fractures prevail as Arabs cap 2010
Truth about injustice will help reduce Muslim radicalization
Christian flight would spell the end for the Arab world
Defining success in the Lebanon tribunal
60% of the Lebanese and 40% of Shiites Support the Choice of Justice
Without remedy, Lebanon faces abyss
The Saudi succession will affect a broad circle of countries
The Arab world faces a silent feminist revolution
The canard of regime change in Syria
Egypt faces a legitimacy crisis following flawed elections
Lebanon: Reform starts with politicians
Human Rights: Three priorities for Lebanon
What's changed?
Monitoring in the dark
Myths about America
Lessons from the fringes
On campus, not all get to vote
'Your credit is due to expire'!
Blood for democracy
Lebanon can solve its own problems
The Janus-like nature of Arab elections
Social Structural Limitations for Democratization in the Arab World
Jordan’s Public Forums Initiative
Islamic Historic Roots of the Term
Copyright 2024 . All rights reserved