Obama administration allies itself with Egypt protestors

[babylonsister]

Obama administration aligns itself with protests in Egypt with call for 'orderly transition'

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 31, 2011; 12:06 AM

The Obama administration firmly aligned itself on Sunday with the protest movement that has overtaken Egypt, calling for an "orderly transition" to a more representative government amid rising U.S. concern that the demonstrations are turning violent and that unrest could spread across the Arab world.

In telephone calls to Egyptian and regional leaders, President Obama and his top national security advisers tried to reassure them that their countries remain vital U.S. strategic partners, while warning that the political status quo is not sustainable.

Senior administration officials said that the "transition" wording, used by both the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was carefully chosen to indicate a desire for a representative, interim government to run Egypt until scheduled presidential elections are held in September.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013004401.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. For the time being

the WH is comfortable with the fact they now have their own pet torturer, Omar Suleiman, as VP in Egypt.

The Torture Career of Egypt's New Vice President: Omar Suleiman and the Rendition to Torture Program.

When Suleiman was first announced, Aljazeera commentators were describing him as a "distinguished" and "respected " man. It turns out, however, that he is distinguished for, among other things, his central role in Egyptian torture and in the US rendition to torture program. Further, he is "respected" by US officials for his cooperation with their torture plans, among other initiatives.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Torture-Career-of-Egyp-by-Stephen-Soldz-110129-181.html

Exactly what the WH considers its messages to convey are only of real importance to the Egyptian population and from their twitter responses all such messages have gone down like lead balloons.

[emulatorloo]

2. "desire for a representative, interim government" and "align with protestors" does not = "comfortabl

with Suleiman"

In fact it indicates the opposite. Which I am sure you are aware of.

[jonnyblitz]

3. and the Bush admin said Sadam had weapons of mass

destruction. :crazy: Our "interesting" relationship with Egypt has being going on long before the Obama admin came around. I don't blame his admin for much of the entrenched foreign policy that's been around for years that can't be changed magically overnight but let's get real here. They can't come out in PUBLIC support of "evil dictators" even though it might be in our "interest" to do so.

[emulatorloo]

5. 1, that is a bad analogy. 2. There is an article floating around here

that US started helping the opposition in Egypt in late 2008. Based on WikiLeaks cable.

One way or another the Mubarek era is over. Even if we did want to prop him up (which I don't think we do) he can't be propped up.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Read this

The United States has been involved in the appointment of CIA strongman Omar Suleiman as the vice-president of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, says former CIA analyst David MacMichael.

"I think the United States was involved at least to the extent in which Hosni Mubarak and his people asked the United States if they would approve or support the appointment of Suleiman who is of course very well known as head of intelligence and has worked very closely with the U.S. over the years. "To that extent, yes," MacMichael told Press TV's U.S. Desk in a Sunday interview, adding "I'm certain the United States was involved and that the United States approved him."

http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/162802.html

[emulatorloo]

8. "I >>think<< the United States was involved at least to the extent"

David MacMichael sounds like an interesting guy.

But that pretty much sounds like speculation to me.

Yes he does follow up with ""I'm certain the United States was involved and that the United States approved him." but I do not believe that indicates he has direct knowledge. Just that he is "certain" in his speculation.

[Enrique]

4. that's the message it's trying to convey

do the protesters believe the U.S. government is with them?

[emulatorloo]

6. Do you think that is the protesters top priority right now?

No doubt they are cynical, but I doubt it is number one on the agenda.