Unsettled on Egypt

[PhillySane]

After two weeks of protests in Egypt, the White House started the day yesterday with this...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/07/us.egypt/index.html?hpt=T1#4_3,2_%232_1,1_0_0e5a807c%235_1,1_0_aac0c58a%232_1,1_0_8d747dc8%232_1,1_0_9284e866%231_1,1_0_02c9ac96

calling for a slow, deliberate transition of government in Egypt.

Then, the largest crowd to date appeared in Tahrir Square, and the White house ended the day with this...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/08/us.egypt/index.html

criticizing Suleiman, and calling for a quicker transition.

I'm sorry, but, are they going to keep reacting this way on a day-to-day basis? Or can they actually get a policy on the Egyptian protests?

[Poll_Blind]

1. They talk whatever way the wind blows but behind the scenes they're doing...

...absolutely everything to make sure that either Mubarak or Suleiman or some other U.S. stooge is in control.

PB

[leveymg]

2. If it were a US stooge, that might not be so bad. But, it appears that Suleiman is Israel's choice:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/2/8/942141/-Wiki:-Israel-pushed-succession-of-Mubarak-by-Soliman-in-2008

[Poll_Blind]

4. For the most part, Israel and the U.S. are two legs that wear the same shoe: Mubarak, Suleiman.

PB

[leveymg]

5. That must explain why we trip each other up so often.

:hi:

[Poll_Blind]

7. .

:rofl:

Too true! What a well-organized clusterfuck...

PB

[leveymg]

8. From "World's Last Rogue Superpower" to just another fallen empire in one decade.

G-d, we work fast when we work together.

[Bragi]

3. I don't think there has actually been any change in policy

The President has been consistent, and has not demanded at any time that Mubarak step down "now".

He demanded last Tuesday that "an orderly transition" begin "now", but his statement made it clear that this did not require that Mubarak step down immediately, or that he not be part of the "orderly transition."

Obama's Tuesday night statement last week was, of course, a real disappointment for the pro-democracy movement, and he did energize Mubarak's supporters to fight the protesters.

However, the pro-democracy people have nonetheless persisted, despite their disappointment in knowing that the U.S President is not on their side.

The idea that he was on their side and has softened is mostly just U.S media spin. I doubt that many people in the rest of world believe this.

[PhillySane]

6. I don't think anyone believes he's on their side

least of all the protesters. Thus the huge crowd we saw yesterday. They (the protesters) are pushing back.