Who to Trust on Egypt
This article is dated September 30, 2010. It seems to me the people who were shouting their heads off about what was about to happen before it happened are the ones who have the most credibility now.
“The bottom line is that we are moving into a period of guaranteed instability in Egypt,” said Robert Kagan, a foreign policy scholar with the Brookings Institution who co-founded the Egypt Working Group with Michele Dunne of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “So the idea [that] we can keep puttering on as if nothing is going to change is a mistake. ... ”
“We have a feeling that Mubarak has managed to bluff one more [American] administration, as he has done for 28 years,” Egyptian- American sociologist and civil society activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim told POLITICO. “He’s very skillful at portraying himself as the stalwart [Arab partner in the Middle East peace process], and arguing the focus should not be on elections and democracy while he has to attend to other important files — Gaza, the Palestinians, Iran, Syria; on all these [he portrays himself as] the best ally, the lever.”
“Frankly, I have not seen any” sign the Obama administration is pushing Mubarak much on free elections, Ibrahim said. “We hear noise that behind closed doors they do. But that doesn’t really carry much weight.”
So when they speak from now on, I suggest everyone listen.
Saad Eddin Ibrahim's views are especially worthy of note.
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Comments :
Jan '11
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
OK, I'll bite.
Are they saying anything about what happens next? And whether this is brewing elsewhere?
Sep '10
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Very, very interesting find Claire. Thank you for this.
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
KC Mulville: OK, I'll bite.
Are they saying anything about what happens next? And whether this is brewing elsewhere? · Jan 31 at 5:08am
I'm looking now. I'd wager good money that they're both saying "I told you so, you idiots."
Sep '10
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Claire could you refresh our memories on the Kagans and if they're all related to Donald Kagan at Yale? I'm starting to lose track of my pundits.
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Pseudodionysius: Claire could you refresh our memories on the Kagans and if they're all related to Donald Kagan at Yale? I'm starting to lose track of my pundits. · Jan 31 at 5:18am
I'm gratified that you think I've memorized the Kagan genealogical tree. This is Kagan--and I'm sure you'll find that headline as rich under the circumstances as I do.
Jun '10
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
If only the Middle East was covered as closely as Charlie Sheen is, then everything wouldn't be such a surprise. When Charlie Sheen goes back into rehab, we say, "obviously...we knew that was coming."
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Bob Kagan and Fred Kagan are the sons of my Doktorvater at Yale Donald Kagan. Here is what Bob and his Working Group have to say now concerning Egypt: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/working-group-egypt-calls-suspension-us-aid_537669.html
Sep '10
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Perhaps Jersey Shore can make their next season in Egypt instead of Rome.
Sep '10
Re: Who to Trust on Egypt
Paul, thank you. At one time I knew this (I think) but as the years pass, I'm finding that I'm forgetting the scholar links that I used to know.