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2011-02-06 Africa North

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Posted by tipper 2011-02-06 02:49|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 1) By no means was he a 'good friend', but he was somebody we could work with, as his motivations were rational.
2) His human rights abuses pale beside so many of his peers across the area - and most likely beside his successor. His biggest offense was diversion of funds to personal accounts - which pretty much describes all politicians, to some degree.
3) At this point the US is in a 'no-win' position. Any successor we support will be stained as an enemy of Egypt, but supporting Mubakak is pointless now. I understand we had been putting subtle pressure on him for several years to clean up his act, but he either wouldn't or couldn't.
Situation does remind me of Iran - Shah was no saint, but he was OUR sinner, and in retrospect he wasn't all THAT bad.

Posted by Glenmore 2011-02-06 11:19|| 2011-02-06 11:19|| Front Page Top

#2 There are other parallels. The shah was educating girls, discouraging the veil, and promoting an educated middle class - all of which angered the Islamicists greatly. He also offered a bulwark against the USSR at the time, in part through a US-educated and trained military officer corps.

Posted by lotp 2011-02-06 15:31|| 2011-02-06 15:31|| Front Page Top

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