"We supported corrupt autocrats as long as they kept oil flowing and weren’t too aggressive toward Israel."
Nicholas, with all due respect, let's examine several of the issues that you have failed to address:
1. The bottom line is that power in Egypt now resides in the army, and although the army's behavior was gentle, we are still looking at a military coup. A deal had been made on Wednesday with the Egyptian army for Mubarak to step down, which was known to Washington, giving rise to expectations - and leaks - that Mubarak would announce his resignation on Thursday. Mubarak unexpectedly backed out of the deal, causing surprise and embarrassment to all involved in "brokering" this arrangement. Again, the bottom line is that power now resides in the military, and we will need to see how fast they relinquish it.
2. While reporting from Tahrir Square, did you interview members of the Muslim Brotherhood? They were there, although they arrived belatedly. No mention in your columns that 82% of Egyptian Muslims favor stoning people who commit adultery; 77% favor whipping/ cutting off of hands for theft and robbery; and 84% favor the death penalty for people who abandon Islam. Some 95% of Egypt's Muslims believe that it is good that Islam plays a large role in politics. Is this fertile ground for democracy?
3. I don't recall you ever addressing in a meaningful way in your column the horrifying outrages perpetrated against Egypt's Copts over many years? Do you hold yourself to blame for not examining this brutal persecution? Do you believe that it will now disappear? You blame Obama for being slow in responding, but where were your columns concerning the Copts?
4. Bedouins in Sinai are now revolting against Egyptian rule - again, something that is not mentioned in your column. Should they be granted independence?
5. For that matter, I do not recall your column addressing the failure to provide the Middle East's 35 million Kurds, who reside in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, with freedom. How do you blame Obama, when your columns never relate to the oppression of this people?
6. Why have your columns to the best of my recollection never mentioned the brutal oppression of Iran's Baha'is?
7. The overwhelming majority of wars in the Middle East have not involved Israel, and yet you seem to think that the interests of Israel dictate U.S. policy. Were you influenced by the placards at Tahrir Square with pictures of Mubarak with a Star of David on his forehead? Peculiar how your recent columns never mentioned that both the protesters and Mubarak's supporters were busy blaming the Jews and Israel.
8. Your column never mentioned Egypt's annual population growth rate of some 2.0%. Given this explosive rate of population growth, the chances that Egypt will emerge from its poverty are almost nil, even if Mubarak and other wealthy Egyptians are forced to repatriate their assets. Is Israel also to blame for this birth rate, which guarantees future economic and political instability?
In short, don't blame Obama. The Middle East is anything but black and white, and there are many issues that you have also chosen to ignore. Meanwhile, the Egyptian army today surrounded and fought with the remaining protesters in Tahrir Square, took down their tents, and arrested more than 30 protest leaders in a tribute to nascent Egyptian democracy.
None of the problems you mention would be ameliorated by leaving Mubarak in power.
ReplyDeleteThank, anonymous. Leaving Mubarak, soon to be 83, in power could not ameliorate these problems, and I was no fan of his oppressive regime, but we'll see where all of this leads. How soon will the military relinquish power? Will the Muslim Brotherhood rise to the fore? The jubilation of the Western media, with all the earmarks of a reality television show, has come to soon.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Mubarak could not ameliorate these problems, Kristof, from his New York Times pulpit, could certainly have drawn attention to the Kurds, Baha'is and Copts.
Hi, Jeffrey,
ReplyDeleteDo you think that population growth has to go down before the economic growth goes up?
Otherwise, I think this is a very good post.
Thanks, Marina. Each year, there are another 1.5 millions persons in Egypt to feed, clothe and educate, and who must ultimately find jobs. Moderate population growth can spur GDP; however, what is happening in Egypt is ultimately unsustainable.
ReplyDeletea reality television show is more authentic than the biassed-amplification of CNN's coverage of Egypt.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that PBS NewsHour dropped Kristof's delusional "reporting" after the first report.
Since Egypt depends on the foreign exchange from tourism (at zero for past four weeks) to pay for wheat imports, I wonder if the U.S. will direct surplus wheat (if any) to Egypt, or China, in need due to drought.
The Egyptian Army should send the Tahrir Tweeters to teach rudimentary literacy to the 35% of Egyptians who are illiterate. (Elliott Abrams suggestion on his cfr blog today)
K2K