Why all of a sudden is there now all of that "trouble" in Egypt? And why is President Obama now drawing criticism for his handling (or lack thereof) of the situation? Granted, the President did not really give Mubarak's people any direction on what to do to make changes -telling them they need "to make moves towards real changes" is like telling a woman who is about to shoot her cheat'n husband after she just caught him in the bed with another woman, "Baby you ought to make some changes." Yeah, she'll make some changes. She'll probably shoot him and the heiffer she caught him in the bed with, both in the head. President Obama's people gave Mubarak no real advice.
And no surprise what happened. I was reading earlier today that supporters of President Hosni Mubarak charged into Cairo's central square on horses and camels brandishing whips and whipping people while others threw firebombs from rooftops at the protesters. The news reported that it appeared to be an orchestrated assault against protesters trying to topple Egypt's leader. Now he is trying to "make moves towards real changes." Mubarak is cracking heads.
Sure President Obama's women (Hillary Clinton is still a woman) were trying to put some pressure on Mubarak and appease the right by publicly suggesting that he make changes. Sadly, vague policy directives will always give you some crazy results. But President Obama does not deserve all the blame for this mess. This trouble has been brewing in the kettle of political discontentment long before President Obama. Mubarak has been in power for over 30 years. He was in office during the Reagan Administration, during Bush I, during Clinton and during Bush ii (although I doubt Bush II actually knew it).
Mubarak certainly was a key friend in the Middle East. But the U.S. is losing an opportunity to be a leader in the Middle East. President Obama is a Rockstar in most African Nations (Egypt is no exception). It's time for him to step up and personally get involved in Egypt and help them move towards free elections. If the Egyptian people had the right to vote and a U.S. President like Obama helped them get it.... a U.S. President who is being ostracized by the folks that put Mubarak in power and kept him there all those years.... then Egyptian folk might respond positively.
Mubarak certainly was a key friend in the Middle East. But the U.S. is losing an opportunity to be a leader in the Middle East. President Obama is a Rockstar in most African Nations (Egypt is no exception). It's time for him to step up and personally get involved in Egypt and help them move towards free elections. If the Egyptian people had the right to vote and a U.S. President like Obama helped them get it.... a U.S. President who is being ostracized by the folks that put Mubarak in power and kept him there all those years.... then Egyptian folk might respond positively.
People worrying about gas prices..... Gas prices went up to historic levels while Mubarak was in power under Bush II. Let em go up again. If that's the price of democracy for some suffering Egyptian souls, then let us endure pain at the pump for democracy's gain.
