Out of Egyptian protests a new Obama doctrine is born

[CHIMO]

Hosni Mubarak has still not grasped how fundamentally the old political order is changing in Egypt and the Arab world – but it seems Barack Obama has.

In a forceful statement after the Egyptian president's latest exercise in reality denial, Obama came off the fence following a fortnight of humming and hawing. If the choice is revolution or repression, democratic ideals and values or hard-nosed self-interest, then the US is officially on the side of the angels.

This dramatic shift could in time have a bigger impact on the Middle East than the Egyptian uprising. In sharply criticising the Cairo government's prevarications, demanding it respect universal values, and stressing that his administration stands shoulder to shoulder with the demonstrators in Tahrir Square, the US president dramatically changed the way his country does business in the region. This was, to all intents and purposes, the proclamation of an Obama doctrine.

His statement was about Egypt but has a far broader application. He said, in part: "The United States has been clear that we stand for a set of core principles. We believe the universal rights of the Egyptian people must be respected, and their aspirations must be met. We believe this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/11/egyptian-protests-obama-doctrine

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I respect him for this stand.

When he's good, he's very very good...

Recommended.

[Lorien]

2. Blowing with the wind. nt

[The Magistrate]

3. Beats Pissing Into It, Sir....

Not that many choices, really.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Even joyful things, some people must turn negative. It's bizarre.

[theold fossil]

8. It's more like.....

wetting a finger into the wind, Sir.....
Ask the Iranian protesters.

[The Magistrate]

9. You Do Not Want To Guess About the Direction, Sir, When You Unzip, Now, Do You?

And it is hard to think of anything that would have been more destructive to the prospects of the demonstrators in Iran than a full-throated endorsement from the United States, a.k.a. 'The Great Satan' in popular local parlance....

[theold fossil]

10. Sir, I'm native, I don't guess on which direction to unzip.

Please excuse me for my late response. I do not have every hour of every day to reply here. My apologies again. How do you perceive the prospects of the Iranian demonstrators without the behind the scenes help of "The Great Satan" In my lexicon "not a snowballs chance in hell"
regards

[The Magistrate]

11. What Help. Sir, Do You Think We Could Provide?

[theold fossil]

12. My Dear Magistrate

I'm hesitate to post this because I think I could be gone! What, I made 10 posts? I would not regret if Pres. Obama undermined
Iran's leadership and there were winds of change! He has a lot of capabilities. We have toppled govts. before. The kids were
protesting so passionately .... she got shot in the head .... over, the world is not coming to support you.
3 toddies - off to bed for me!
I'm re-hiring regardless of what they tell you!
Regards
To all you out there....we are 6 days a week!!!

[kath]

4. But where will he send prisoners to be tortured if Egypt changes??

[KurtNYC]

6. Torture is so over-rated n/t

[Marnie]

7. He said, in part::

"The United States has been clear that we stand for a set of core principles. We believe the universal rights of the Egyptian people must be respected, and their aspirations must be met. We believe this transition must immediately demonstrate irreversible political change, and a negotiated path to democracy.


Illegal wars, renditions, torture, buying up with dictators and repressive regimes, invading the privacy of Americans.

Quite the comedic satirist is our POTUS.