"White House quietly prepares for a post-Mubarak era in Egypt"

[Clio the Leo]

White House quietly prepares for a post-Mubarak era in Egypt
By Peter Nicholas
Washington Bureau
January 30, 2011

Reporting from Washington — A tight-lipped White House is taking an even-handed approach to the crisis in Egypt, suggesting that President Mubarak might be able to hold onto power if he allows competitive elections and restores individual freedoms. But inside the Obama administration, there are signs that officials are preparing for a post-Mubarak era after three decades.

One former senior administration advisor said he had spoken to his old colleagues inside the Obama administration in recent days about the unrest in Egypt. As early as last Wednesday, the Obama administration recognized that they would not be able to prop up the Mubarak regime and keep it in power at all costs, the former official said.

"They don't want to push Mubarak over the cliff, but they understand that the Mubarak era is over and that the only way Mubarak could be saved now is by a ruthless suppression of the population, which would probably set the stage for a much more radical revolution down the road.''

Obama gave a much-publicized speech in Cairo in 2009 warning that governments cannot suppress people's rights. With protesters massing in the street demanding Mubarak's ouster, Obama would be hard-pressed to side with a repressive leader.

Obama administration officials "recognized that change was coming and they needed to be on the right side of history and not try to keep Mubarak in power against all odds,'' the former official said. "It's a very difficult balance to be struck. Mubarak is, after all, a friend of the United States for the last 30 years. A lot of our allies in the region -- the Saudis, Jordanians and Kuwaitis -- will be particularly nervous if it looks like the U.S. is doing in one of their friends.

"The administration understand this. But the most important thing they understand is that they have to get in front of this and not behind it.''

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-white-house-egypt-20110131,0,6627312.story

[jenmito]

1. I'm not surprised. This WH never seems to get credit, probably in part because they

just DO the right thing and don't brag/advertise everything when it's not the prudent thing to do. K&R.

[Skittles]

2. LOLOL

:rofl:

[jenmito]

3. I'm not talking about people who criticize him no matter what he does...

I'm talking about reasonable people who don't hear about stories like this on the news and don't read them, either.

But thanks for the intelligent post. I wouldn't expect anything more from you. :rofl:

[Clio the Leo]

5. BUt they NEED to brag/advertise....

.... it's the RIGHT thing to do! ;)

They need some surrogates post haste .... hopefully the roles Gibbs and Axelrod are about to assume.

[gateley]

7. I think this is an exceptional situation, though -- they are really in a tough place.

[Clio the Leo]

8. lol, not about THIS perhaps...

.... but in general. ;)

[gateley]

10. Oh, totally agree! That's been one of our major complaints! TELL the people

what you've done for them!

[jenmito]

9. On most things, yes...

like when they catch top terrorists, pass laws that help the vast majority of people, etc. Some things are better "leaked" but it's almost unbelievable that something like only 10% of people knew their taxes were cut. I hope I'm wrong on that %, but it was a very low number.

[jenmito]

4. Wow-people are unrec'ing this! n/t

[RichGirl]

6. That's a good stand...

...not interferring yet not throwing Mubarak under the bus. The other ME leaders can't expect Obama to support Mubarak. After all, don't they hate us for being bullies. Best to let them do whatever they are going to do and work with that.