Good JK NYT op-ed on Egypt

[Luftmensch067]

It is not enough for President Mubarak to pledge “fair” elections, as he did on Saturday. The most important step that he can take is to address his nation and declare that neither he nor the son he has been positioning as his successor will run in the presidential election this year. Egyptians have moved beyond his regime, and the best way to avoid unrest turning into upheaval is for President Mubarak to take himself and his family out of the equation.

snip

The awakening across the Arab world must bring new light to Washington, too. Our interests are not served by watching friendly governments collapse under the weight of the anger and frustrations of their own people, nor by transferring power to radical groups that would spread extremism. Instead, the best way for our stable allies to survive is to respond to the genuine political, legal and economic needs of their people. And the Obama administration is already working to address these needs.

More here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/opinion/01kerry.html?_r=1

[karynnj]

1. You beat me - just read it in the Times and came here to post it!

It really is very good - especially in the way he gives Mubarak a face saving way to look at leaving. I wonder if JK has been speaking to him. I like that he goes to the further step referencing his, Lugar's and Berman's Pakistan bill.

[Mass]

2. Good editorial, but we are probably way too late for that.

The latest developments probably mean that Mubarak will be gone way sooner than that.

BTW. I am confused by the GD thread about this editorial, discussing whether the piece was vetted by the WH or not?

[karynnj]

4. I thought it completely weird, but suspect it is because Kerry is saying what they want Obama and

Clinton to say. However, there have been times when Kerry has taken positions that differ significantly with the administration - such as on Afghanistan and Even more on Honduras.

It is rather strange as it would be wrong for Obama to insist on "vetting" the Chair of SFRF's oped (or any Senator's). The fact is that Kerry does not speak for Obama.

I don't know that it is too late for the intent of what Kerry is calling for - which is fair, elections with no Mubarak. I don't see him addressing the timing and I would assume that Eqyptians want to have a caretaker leadership - not appointed by or including Mubarak to be in charge until that happens.

[Inuca]

3. A very wise and

as shown in your 2nd quote loyal commentary. It states very clearly what needs to happen, while at the same time showing respect to Mubarak for the good aspects of his legacy. The one word I qould quibble with though is "gracefully", as in "President Hosni Mubarak must accept that the stability of his country hinges on his willingness to step aside gracefully to make way for a new political structure." The time for steping aside gracefully has past. Unfortunatly.

[karynnj]

5. I think if Mubarak made an eloquent speech recognizing the goals

and motives of the crowd ending with an offer either that he and his son not run and a plan for the transition and a fair election as quickly as possible might be relatively graceful - compared to the alternative. The truth is that he has been forced out - it is kind of like executives "resigning" when the alternative is that they are "fired".

I do agree that the transition could be done more easily if Mubarak and his government help by turning over the reins.

[Luftmensch067]

6. I think JK is a true and effective diplomat

It seems to me that he often casts the potential actions of those with whom he negotiates or about whose actions he is writing in the most positive light, a way of gently suggesting and guiding people toward choosing their "better angels." It's effective, when it works, because he does allow people who have not been acting well to save face and therefore find it easier to change their behavior without feeling like they are defeated (it seems to me that SoS Clinton does not understand this concept at all!) I think this is why he succeeded famously with Karzai on that famous occasion. Unfortunately, even a diplomat can't ensure lasting outcomes, only hope to encourage them. Even so, gentle encouragement, applied judiciously, can (sometimes) turn the speeding car away from the cliff's edge and it's always worth a try. Thank goodness we have someone who's as good at it and as willing to try as JK.

[karynnj]

9. nicely said

[Mass]

7. The Globe has a write up on the editorial - Weird comments, like the assertion that Kerry has only

focused on foreign policy after 2004 (even weirder coming from Glen Johnson, who is not new when it comes to covering Kerry).

Frankly, I find it very weird and irritating, particularly because of the implication he does not care of the state (interestingly, this makes his previous assertion wrong, given that under Kennedy, there was already the implication that Kerry took care of foreign issues and Kennedy of domestic issues), and that it only matters because he could become SoS.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/02/kerry_mubarak_s.html

Kerry: Mubarak should step aside in Egypt
E-mail | Print | Comments (6) Posted by Jason Tuohey February 1, 2011 09:11 AM
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

Senator John Kerry says Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must give up power because "the stability of his country hinges on his willingness to step aside gracefully."

In an op-ed column in The New York Times, the Massachusetts Democrat writes: "It is not enough for President Mubarak to pledge 'fair' elections, as he did on Saturday. The most important step that he can take is to address his nation and declare that neither he nor the son he has been positioning as his successor will run in the presidential election this year. Egyptians have moved beyond his regime, and the best way to avoid unrest turning into upheaval is for President Mubarak to take himself and his family out of the equation."

Kerry, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said relinquishing power after three decades will give Mubarak "the chance to end the violence and lawlessness, to begin improving the dire economic and social conditions in his country and to change his place in history."

Kerry has focused his attention on foreign affairs since his unsuccessful campaign as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee. He was among those President Barack Obama considered for secretary of state in 2008, and after the job was given to Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kerry immersed himself in his Foreign Relations Committee work. Most recently, he has used his senatorial stature and administration stamp on missions to Pakistan, the Sudan and the Middle East.

His connection to the administration, and speculation he may replace Clinton in a potential second Obama term, has given heft to his travels -- and his writings.

In his column, Kerry says the United States is not completely blameless for the anti-Mubarak outpouring that has been evident the past week in mass public demonstrations across Egypt. Some critics have blamed the United States for propping up a near-dictator in the form of Mubarak.

"It is true that our public rhetoric did not always match our private concerns," Kerry wrote. "But there also was a pragmatic understanding that our relationship benefited American foreign policy and promoted peace in the region. And make no mistake, a productive relationship with Egypt remains crucial for both us and the Middle East."

He called on the Obama administration to provide "real assistance" to the Egyptian people.

"For too long," he wrote, "Egypt's military has dominated our alliance. The proof was seen over the weekend: tear gas canisters marked 'Made in America' fired at protesters, United States-supplied F-16 jet fighters streaking over central Cairo."

MORE FROM BOSTON.COM

[karynnj]

8. Very weird slant there

It is most annoying as it makes it seem that he switched after 2004 and it is because he wanted to be Secretary of State. It really doesn't make sense. (But neither have the Boston Globe articles on Brown listing every bill he is CO-sponsoring as if it is his legislative program.)

Could they be annoyed that he gave this to the NYT - which owns them?

[Mass]

10. I am not quite sure what is the problem with Kerry's columns and the Globe.

I noticed the Herald gets a lot more of them than the Globe, which, when it comes to political leanings, is counterintuitive. I never quite understood why?

[MBS]

12. it doesn't only not make sense. .

it's just plain wrong. Yet more sloppy globe reporting.
But Kerry's editorial is good, and, to my mind, even arguably courageous.
Good for him.

[karynnj]

13. Courageous and it shows his heart and understanding for someone

completely different from himself. This is the only statement I have seen that appears to consider how things might look from Mubarak's point of view - while his first statement was the first to see the protesters as being in the footsteps of Ghandi and MLK.

[Mass]

17. This article made it on the Globe frontpage this morning.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/larger_view/?g_date=2011_02_02

(not the full article, but a title on the right of the page)

[Inuca]

11. Major quote (and kind of funnt small picture)

in the Guardian's blog

" A call by John Kerry (left), the Democratic senator who unsuccessfully ran against George W Bush for the presidency in 2004, for Hosni Mubarak to step down has generated a lot of discussion." Not sure what the "lot of discussion" is...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/01/egypt-protests-live-updates#

[Mass]

14. Kerry statement after Mubarak announcement

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/02/kerry_urges_mub.html

Kerry urges Mubarak to help establish interim government
E-mail | Print | Comments (1) Posted by Stephanie Vallejo February 1, 2011 05:48 PM
By Mark Arsenault, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON – John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, responded to Egyptian President Mubarak’s announcement today that he would not seek reelection by urging Mubarak to “work with the military and civil society to establish an interim caretaker government.”

“It remains to be seen whether this is enough to satisfy the demands of the Egyptian people for change,” said Kerry, in a statement. “We arrived at this point because millions of Egyptians spoke with one voice and exercised fundamental rights we Americans hold dear. They made it clear the future they want is one of greater democracy and greater economic opportunity. Now, that future belongs to them to shape. The Egyptian people are writing the next chapter of Egyptian history.

“Much work remains to be done to turn this auspicious moment into lasting peace and prosperity,” said Kerry. “Egyptians must now prepare for elections and achieve a peaceful transition of power. The military must continue to show the restraint it has so admirably exercised these past days. And opposition leaders must come together to develop a process that will ensure that all of Egypt’s voices are heard.

“As friends of the Egyptian people, there is much that the United States can do as well. Egypt has been a close ally of the United States for many years, and it is my fervent hope that our relationship can grow stronger as the Egyptian people take control of their destiny.”

Kerry had urged Mubarak to step aside in a New York Times column published this morning.

It is getting approval on GDP (it must be the White House who wrote it) :sarcasm:

[Mass]

15. Kerry was on PBS NewsHour tonight (video at the link)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/johnkerry_02-01.html

My husband saw it, said it was excellent.

[ProSense]

16. Thanks for the link.

That was an excellent interview.

[wisteria]

18. Thank you so much for posting this. n/t