Egypt needs 'free, democratic' 2011 vote: US senator (Kerry)

[mogster]

Source: AFP --> Yahoo

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US Senator John Kerry on Friday urged President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to quiet violent unrest there by promising that September elections will reflect "a free and open democratic process."

"In the final analysis, it is not with rubber bullets and water cannons that order will be restored," said Kerry, a Democratic White House ally who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"President Mubarak has the opportunity to quell the unrest by guaranteeing that a free and open democratic process will be in place when the time comes to choose the country's next leader later this year," he said in a statement.

At least eight people have died in four straight days of protests in Egypt, a major beneficiary of US aid.

Kerry's comments came as Egypt state television showed images of a blaze, apparently set by protesters, consuming the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party in Cairo.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110128/pl_afp/egyptpoliticsunrestuskerry

[sasha031]

1. beautiful statement by Senator Kerry

[Ian David]

2. Would have been nice if he'd said the same thing about Ohio. n/t

[politicasista]

5. Wanna trade Senators?

You can always have:

Alexander and Corker representing you, (but keep Porno Brown and let us have Kerry), live in a red state or have our fat cat GOP governor, a GOP controlled legislature, crazy Teabagger Congresspeople (Like hearing "Obamacare" and "Socialism" 24/7)? Really.

Not surprising that Obama supporters continue to disrespect one of his alies, and MA doesn't appreciate one of the true liberal, progressive Senators in DC.

[Ian David]

10. Mostly I blame James Carville. n/t

[politicasista]

11. Ok

rant edited.

[poverlay]

6. Oh Snnap! So true! This country would be so much better off if he had been president. Not perfect

Mind you, but undoubtedly better..

[poverlay]

7. Oh Snnap! So true! This country would be so much better off if he had been president. Not perfect

Mind you, but undoubtedly better..

[dipsydoodle]

3. In which case

The Muslim Brotherhood , which is currently barred from taking part in Egyptian elections should be able to field candidates in their own right as opposed to standing for election as independants.

[anakie]

22. and if they win

in an internationally monitored free and fair election, which IMHO they will, will the US recognise them as the legitimate government of Egypt?


Peace

[ananda]

4. I agree but . . .

... so does the USA.

[fascisthunter]

8. yes, just don't use electronic voting

[Jamastiene]

9. Damn straight. n/t

[KG]

12. way to go out on a limb, there...

:eyes:

[WestSeattle2]

13. Funny how these statements come out only after there

is blood in the streets. Same ol, same ol. See which way the wind is blowing and then run fast to get ahead of it.

Mubarak has had over 30 years to guarantee a "free and open democratic process" and hasn't done a damn thing.

Too little too late.

Leave.

[valerief]

14. So doesn't the U.S. Kill electronic voting. nt

[EFerrari]

15. This isn't Mubarak's opportunity. It doesn't belong to him.n/t

[JI7]

20. it can becme his if he makes it the way Gorbachev did

[JI7]

21. it can becme his if he makes it the way Gorbachev did

[sledgehammer]

16. Kerry's been on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for around 20 years

Egypt has had three sham elections in that time.

Unless there are other similar statements made by him in the past, I can't be too impressed by this. It's just a reactive statement to the reality that things might change.

[ProSense]

19. "Egypt has had three sham elections in that time. "

And ME peace hasn't been achieved.

He's a U.S. Senator, not the leader of Egypt.

Elections are happening around the world in places like Afghanistan. The U.S. can promote democracy and monitor elections, but no American, not even the U.S. President can make them free and fair.

[sledgehammer]

23. No they can't, I agree with you

But their policy can be clear and unwavering.

You don't have to wait till massive unrest occurs to seriously press a dictator to hold free and fair elections. This is really just Kerry and the Senate FRC trying to be on the right side of history.

This is the problem when you have leader-specific policies. Having country-specific policies works a lot better since you are forced to take into accounts all players.

[No Elephants]

27. Doesn't address Reply # 16 at all.

"He's a U.S. Senator, not the leader of Egypt."

Was he a U.S. Senator when he finally spoke out?

If so, what prevented him from speaking out before, when he was also a U.S. Senator?

[No Elephants]

26. Bingo

[IamK]

17. On Egypt, Kerry said that he would not tie foreign aid to greater openness and reform

On Egypt, Kerry said that he would not tie foreign aid to greater openness and reform. "I would first want to link it to the warmth of the relationship with Israel and the effort to secure general stability in Middle East," he said. "You have to put your priorities first."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A1443-2004May29?language=printer

[denem]

18. Yeah. Just like the Year 2000 "Free,democratic' US vote.

[Tripod]

24. Good job Kerry. Thanks for the post.

[BlueIris]

25. Do your duty, Senator.

I know you will.

[No Elephants]

28. I like Kerry more than most Senators, but this is transparent (unintentionally).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4715828