AP: Mubarak Chides U.S. Over Double Standards

[Eugene]

Mubarak Chides U.S. Over Double Standards


Saturday May 20, 2006 4:16 PM

AP Photo XHM114

By SAM F. GHATTAS

Associated Press Writer

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) - President Hosni Mubarak opened a World Economic Forum
meeting Saturday with jabs at the United States and warnings that the world must
overcome the widening gap between rich and poor and block escalating threats
of terrorism.

With U.S.-Egyptian relations as strained as they have been at any time in Mubarak's
25-year rule, the 78-year-old Egyptian leader implicitly accused America of having
double standards on nuclear policy - Washington's resolute silence on the nuclear
arsenal Israel is believed to possess while leading a drive to deprive Iran of a
nuclear program.

<snip>

In a speech opening the annual World Economic Forum on the Middle East in this south
Sinai resort, Mubarak also hammered on the need for more equal economic and trade
treatment for developing countries.

He also said democratic reforms in the Middle East should "emanate from within the
region," a rejection of U.S. attempts to promote Western-style democracy. Mubarak and
other Arab leaders view the U.S. policy as interference in their internal affairs.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5834381,00.html

[cliss]

1. Well, somebody has to say it.

Egypt is considered a "friend" to the US. It seems that the friendship is wearing a little thin.

And really, Mubarak is having a lot of problems with demonstrations, unrest.

[Spazito]

2. The bush cabal is causing the US to become more and more

isolated because it is no longer a necessity to be seen to be "allied" with the US and, instead, becoming a liability. A major sea-change in a very short period of time.