First, let me say, I try to be neutral, objective, but I am very American. That is sometimes a downfall, but also a badge one should be proud to wear. With an Irish heritage that means I understand from my historical studies, what it is for a people to be oppressed and killed off (the Brits thought for centuries that the Irish were just moving targets and a people to be stolen from leading to millions dying).
I am pro American. I say that for the monitoring these articles will go through by our own agencies, and perhaps rightfully so, but also truth be told, I am for the most part, a patriot. I say mostly because I believe in Human rights. Rights that although they are very American, sometimes our own government, behind closed doors, sometimes behind closed prison doors, seems to forget that. But they are there trying to maintain our own status quo. We owe them a debt, but we need to keep them under control just like any civilian populace needs to keep their military under control.
So anyway, here we go again. Mubarak, by his current ongoing delusions, is not unlike a cuckolded spouse, unbelieving that he is (HAS, deal with it, Hosni, HAS) been replaced. After a thirty year relationship, sometimes its hard, understandably so, to assimilate that things have changed, that you are no longer wanted, that you are not only already out the door but there is a new guy in your place and your wife REALLYyyyyy like him better. It's childish not to see reality and move on, to have class, to have a stiff upper lip, then to pack your bags and get the Hell out. No, really, Hosin, get the HELL OUT, now! And your vice president, well, what an ass.
The US has used Mubarak for help in tempering the Middle East (AND Israel) for years. Now what? WE know we need to somehow handle Israel. We KNOW they are unreasonable sometimes and are certainly their own person. I have for decades been stunned at how after the attempted Nazi genocide of WWII, Israel could ever say some of the things they have said over the years, or NOT stood up and shouted at the top of their lungs over genocide happening around the world. Yet they haven't. And they have put down lives and human rights themselves. Not that I'm pro Palestinian as they've certainly been obnoxious in their own ways.
But what about where Egypt is now going?
Well, some here say there are groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood (calm down, there's others), who would have an investment in tempering Israel and other countries in the Middle East. The problem here though, is in the US thinking Policy is above Human Rights. That cannot be the case. We need to do our business around the world and the world needs to (and I think does) understand that. We are moving out of our own adolescent stages. So don't lose hope for us. We are trying to find out way too, in this new world structure.
But no one is above the law. We need all countries to be free around the world. We say that, all the time. But do we mean it? I hope so, but its not what we see sometimes. Why? Because it's so much easier, cheaper, and more to the point, if we have a push button capability of control. How 1950s if you ask me.
If we are going to help nations grow beyond dictators, we will be (sadly for us) spending more money and effort and not always get what we want. That means we have to deal with some other countries like we (hopefully) are adults and they (understandably) are adolescents and just like any teenagers, need to be dealt with, and sometimes, unsuccessfully so.
In the end, there will most likely be a meeting of the minds, but we do need to do it above board and in the light. Dealing with Mubarak all these years, as we had made similar mistakes before with people like Saddam Hussein, Sadat, Shaw of Iran, etc. (now, you do have to deal with whoever is in charge at times, but we also need to push for things like we are now for Egypt), and now we have to deal with hopefully, a more democratic regime.
Anyway, NPR had an article today that was interesting:
"For U.S. policymakers trying to gauge how American interests are at stake in
Egypt, the popular uprising there is a tale of two risks. The democratic
process, if allowed to run its course, could bring to power a new government
unsupportive of U.S. priorities. But if the democratic process in Egypt is
blocked, the outcome could be equally damaging to U.S. interests.
"The uncertainty over the Egyptian scenarios has brought even the most
hardheaded foreign policy analysts to different conclusions.
"The U.S. aims in Egypt are longstanding and clear: maintaining peace with
Israel, keeping the Suez Canal open, and supporting U.S. and allied efforts
against al-Qaida and other extremist groups. Republican and Democratic
administrations alike have seen these as vital U.S. interests, and they have
consistently ranked them above the promotion of human rights and democracy. In
practice, this has meant supporting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, no matter
his faults.
"The recent political upheaval in Egypt has not fundamentally altered the
assessment of these interests, but it has raised questions about what U.S.
policy best promotes them."
Full NPR article
