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May 22, 2006

Egypt: Mubarak Criticizes U.S.; Press Clueless

If you ever wonder why the peoples of the U.S. and Europe are so misinformed about Islam, just think about the cumulative effect of thousands of stories like this one, day after day, month after month, year after year: Ally criticizes U.S. over war, response to Iran

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak aimed veiled criticism at the United States on Saturday, revealing a growing rift between traditional allies over the pace of democratic reform in Egypt and the Bush administration's handling of the nuclear crisis in Iran and the war in Iraq.

First mistake; the U.S. and Egypt are not allies, but "allies"; the Mubarak government finds it useful to keep the charade of an alliance when speaking to the West.

Mubarak told hundreds of analysts, academics and politicians at the annual World Economic Forum on the Middle East that nations should avoid double standards and selectivity when it comes to nuclear development, a reference to the United States' intense concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions and silence over the atomic arsenal Israel is believed to posses.

And that is news because? That's the most often-beaten dead horse I have ever seen. (Although the U.S. opens itself to this kind of criticism by pretending we are an 'impartial observer', 'honest broker', etc.)

Mubarak, 78, also said he envisions a world that "steers away from unilateral actions," interpreted by participants as criticism of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, which has stoked unrest throughout the region.

A world that "steers away from unilateral action", of course, would lead a path open to Islam to commit whatever aggression it can get away with.

"The winds of change in the Middle East will not bear fruit in the absence of addressing its conflicts and tensions: the stalemate in the peace process, the situation in Iraq, the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program, the situation in Darfur, the tension between Syria and Lebanon," Mubarak said.

In other words; "we are Muslims, we deserve to dominate the infidels in 'Palestine', Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Sudan. Give us what we want; waaah, waaah, waaah...".

Such criticism rarely comes from Egypt, traditionally the closest Arab ally of the United States and the recipient of nearly $2 billion a year in aid. But pressure from the Bush administration for democratic change, which the United States had hoped would have a domino effect in the region, has caused headaches for Mubarak at home.

Again; they are no an ally but a backstabbing enemy, such criticism is nothing compared with the anti-American bile in the government-controlled Egyptian press, and the 2 billion dollars is not so much aid as tribute. Other than that, the paragraph is great.

Emboldened by the U.S. pressure on Egypt, opposition groups in Cairo have held large pro-reform protests, printed searing criticisms of Mubarak's 25-year monopoly on power and published long lists of alleged human-rights abuses by Egypt's vast security apparatus.

The U.S. pressure on Egypt is short-sighted. We should not intervene on the particular forms of oppression Muslims exert on each other. Our only concern should be for the plight of the Copt minority.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo had no immediate response to the president's remarks. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick is scheduled to speak later at the three-day conference in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik.

Of course; the State Department will urge 'caution' and no substantive response will be forthcoming. Bah.

Posted by Ruy Diaz at May 22, 2006 1:19 PM

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