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Loose Canons
Sleeping in the Tank
Egypt goes the way of Turkey, while the administration is asleep even as it keeps switching positions.
On Saturday night, according to a report by the BBC’s Jim Muir, Egyptian protesters were “…sleeping under the tracks of tanks to ensure that they could not advance.”
To sleep in front of a tank’s treads means a brave protester had an uncomfortable night. To sleep under a tank’s treads means the protester won’t wake up again and the undertaker needs to use a paint scraper and a vacuum cleaner to perform his duties. All of which means that in Egypt’s current crisis the ever-liberal BBC editors are just as incompetent as Obama’s diplomatic team.
I suppose it is metaphysically possible for American policy to be more confused, but how it could be is not readily discernible. The truth is that America lacks any level of influence over Egypt’s future. We have slowly and willfully degraded our power to influence events there — and across the Middle East — for decades.
And while the Egyptian crisis drags on, it infects the region. Massive protests have already caused Yemeni President Saleh to say he won’t stay in power beyond his present term and will not attempt to pass power on to his son. Jordanian King Abdullah — the most westernized and influential Muslim ally we have in the region — has fired his cabinet. And purportedly pro-American President Ali of Tunisia (a.k.a. Carthage) has fled the country when bloody riots reached the point at which he could no longer resist.
But don’t we have a president who — in his 2009 Cairo speech, by his charming personality — restored American popularity and influence in the Muslim world?
I often write that Obama is not naïve or incompetent because his efforts to reduce us from superpower to also-ran are pursued with malice aforethought. In the Egyptian crisis, however, Obama’s perverse intentions are trumped by his and his team’s confusion and incompetence.
Last Tuesday night, President Obama said that the he sympathized with the Tahrir Square protesters and that a transition from Mubarak’s regime “must begin now.” Which, of course, the world and the Egyptian protesters took as a call for Mubarak to resign. On Friday, Obama said Mubarak should “listen” to the protesters and craft a way forward that is “meaningful and serious.”
Oh, that word. When a liberal says “meaningful” he is speaking psychobabble, asking for something that makes people such as him feel good regardless of its merit. And when it’s our chief diplomat Mizz Clinton, the psychobabble creates confusion even worse than what comes from the White House.
At a Munich conference last week, Hillary called upon new Egyptian Veep Omar Suleiman to lead the country peacefully into a democratic future. (So Mubarak is still out?) Which statement was concurrent with Islamic terrorists blowing up an Egypt to Israel gas pipeline in the Sinai. Her statement — and Obama’s from Tuesday — were contradicted quickly by Frank Wisner, a U.S. special envoy to Egypt, who said that Mubarak “must stay in office” during the transition of power. (So Mubarak is still in?)
Clinton and the White House denied that Wisner was speaking for them. (So Mubarak is still out?)
Clinton also said, “The transition to democracy will only happen if it is deliberate, inclusive and transparent,” and that “the status quo is simply not sustainable.”
Oh, that other word. “Inclusive”? Of whom, precisely? Apparently, she means the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood.
The Washington Post reported that a council of Egyptian political leaders had refused to meet with Suleiman, as did leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood and their pawn, former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei. Hillary “…urged opposition leaders not to reject talks out of hand and warned that the alternative could be a takeover by radicals.” Apparently the Brotherhood — by cloaking itself in ElBaradei’s unearned UN credibility — has successfully achieved legitimate status in the State Department’s eyes. For Islamic terrorist sponsors, the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood has been accepted by the international community is sufficient for them to turn Egypt into another Syria or Lebanon.
On Sunday, the Financial Times reported that Rashad Bayoumi, deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood, met with Omar Suleiman. According to that report, Bayoumi “…told the Financial Times on Sunday that the group had decided to meet Mr Suleiman ‘because we were given to understand that they are prepared to respond to all the demands of the uprising carried out by the youth.’” Suleiman could not have told that to Bayoumi without the military’s acquiescence.
The only questions that remain are whether the Egyptian military will join in forcing Mubarak out and accept a radical regime in Mubarak’s place. That they are willing to recognize the Muslim Brotherhood as one of the parties to the transition bodes ill for their willingness to prevent Egypt from sliding into the radical Islamic sphere.
About the Author
Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies. You can follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.
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Melvin| 2.7.11 @ 7:52AM
All this past weekend, all that was in the media, was the the State Dept. and the White House were in consultation with the regions new, "Beasty Boys," The Muslim Brotherhood.
I won' bore you with what the Muslim Brotherhood stands for, because most that post on American Spectator are very aware of this group's radical past.
The media under direction of the State Dept. is attempting to protray the Muslim Brotherhood as Egyptian intellectuals, who could be bargained with. "!Prepare to to go to war with Israel," has been the rallying cry of the brotherhood since these demonstrations began.
It appears that the Administration and the State Dept. are trying to make the best of a really, really bad situation and is attempting to gain a glimmer of influence with the brotherhood's leadership.
Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton desperately do not want to be painted with the, "Administration and the State Dept. lose Egypt."
Politically by all appearances, that Egypt is lost to the Muslim Brotherhood, but who controls all those Abrams tanks that sit in the marshaling yards, the Sinai, and Cairo?
We could also have a situation similar to here. The far left in which Obama and Clinton belong to only account for 2% or so of the population. Close to 70 plus would like to tell Obama to take a flying leap. So if Obama say for example, if Obama wanted to invade Canada, this seventy percent would basically say, "We don't think so." Egypt could be in the same position. The Muslim Brotherhood doesn't account for a large portion of the Egyptian population. Many Egyptians do not relish in going to total war with Israel, and that small percentage of Muslim radicals who are basically controlled by Iran and the Wahhabi sect of Saudi Arabia are despised by most rank and file in Egypt.
There is something that we should look at here. All the Presidents that have entered into war and conducted these wars badly has been Democrats, JFK/LBJ losing Vietnam, Jimmy Carter losing Iran, Bill Clinton dealing badly with Iraq and the Acetaminophen factory, and now Barrack Obama, and Hillary Clinton handing over on a golden platter, Egypt and maybe the entire middle east over to the Muslim theocracies controlled by Iran, and the Wahhabi sect of Saudi Arabia.
If this outcome comes to pass, and this whole thing blows up in some US Presidents face or maybe Barrack Obama's if he gets reelected will result in th murder and deaths of millions of Israelis and millions upon millions of citizens of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
da monk| 2.7.11 @ 8:53AM
Melvin: Do I read you correctly? Are you suggesting we go to war? Also check your history, Eisenhower first sent troops to Vietnam AND in your list of presidents in failed wars whatever happened to George H.W. Bush's War and George W. Bush's war?
Melvin| 2.7.11 @ 10:04AM
"Go to War," Come to think about it, when have we ever stopped? But go to war over Egypt? Nah, but if things don't turn out positively in Egypt it very well may to com us whether we want to get involved or not. We may not be offered the choice in the matter.
Actually there was two wars in Indochina I was referring to the latter. In July 26, 1950 - United States military involvement in Vietnam begins as President Harry Truman authorizes $15 million in military aid to the French.
irish19| 2.7.11 @ 1:37PM
I hope you're right about the rank and file. However, IIRC a recent poll had something like 68% of Egyptians in favor of Sharia as the law of the land. That would tend to point towards that theocracy being the ultimate outcome.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.7.11 @ 7:52AM
Jed,
It seems to me that Egypt is going down the road of an "Islamic Republic", and commenting on the many gyrations on the way will be mildly interesting...but not very fruitful.
The people of Egypt are Islamic...and "excitable". Nuff said.
Pelligrino| 2.7.11 @ 9:23AM
How we must use expatriates in the efforts to normalize and stabilize these trending explosive lands.
Does anyone ever bother to consider that perhaps a primary function of the US State Department (with the Commerce Dept.) ought to be: The readiness at all times to have dozens of expat cadres ready to return from America's shores to the shores of their homelands... for the deliberate PURPOSE of raising up a new, BETTER, NORMALIZED nation in that 'homeland.'
There are enough very well educated and business experienced expatriate Egyptians alone in Washington D.C., New York, Boston, and L.A. who could form the core of a 'new' Cairo leadership.
(Combine them with ‘allied assets’ in London, Australia, Canada, Berlin....Egyptians, like Iranians are EVERYWHERE to be found in the Western World. Some really bright, entrepreneurial, thoughtful, and NON religious ones. They are secularized, IT savvy, medical professionals, business-tested….)
I mean: What is a US State Department for?
We know that we don't need another Cuba, Venezuela, and now Bolivia in this hemisphere.
Even worse another Iran since the 1979 'revolution' to force a Middle East war that will make our efforts against Iraq in 1991 and 2003 look like small skirmishes.
In Iran, 31 years and counting: We still have not overturned that Tehran cesspool of evil kooks? What is a US State Department for? And please do not tell me that the populace of Iran wants those megalomaniac false clerics in charge; they don’t.
All readers here: Get out of your rut; go walkabout in a major metropolis near you in the Western World. You find Expats and their offspring from all these corrupt, broken, radical/evil Islam trending countries. They’re everywhere. You’re tripping over them they are ‘here’ in such abundance.
And, sorry, their ‘tenure’ here is not without BIG strings attached.Why is it not part of the deal?
Yes, Mr. Moroccan, Mr. Algerian, Mr. Iranian, Mr. Egyptian, Mr. Chinaman, or Mr. Viet Nam, we'll let you settle here, work here, own a home here, raise your kids here, let them go to our universities here.... BUT you WILL be conscripted into service FOR your homeland to expressly:
1. Return there for 1 – 5 years depending on your usefulness, experiences, demonstrated competencies, and severity of the situation.
2. Infuse in the land of your family heritage the freedoms, primacy of education for all, practices of democracy, liberties, AND rule of law for all that you have come to know in your hospitable Western country.
3. Persevere and demonstrate every willingness with high energy levels to achieve normalization and stabilization for the land(s) of their forefathers.
Those Western World expats not eagerly willing to participate in such a thoroughly executable and deliberate plan – at various levels depending on age, skills, experiences, education – should not be permitted to stay here. They should be considered unwelcome and processed for riddance.
America is not a free lunch. Our cities and suburbs are not your “get out of jail free cards.”
Isn’t this what ‘Government In A Box’ should be? Ready to go, NOW! US State Department lists and assembly points, quick train-up with rapid deployments ready to be activated like emergency/wartime efforts and with great PRECISION.
Otherwise I frankly have far less use for Iranians and Iraqis in Detroit or San Diego, Egyptians in the Big Apple, Afghanis by the thousands (over decades now) in Washington, D.C.
AND I have NO respect for them. What? I am supposed to treat them as my equal and respect them when they are not actively working to attain for their homelands the blessings we enjoy here?
The first, second, and third generation emigrants on our shores should be working to become 100% Americans if aiming to live or already living here permanently.
Simultaneously, they should be ready – in a heartbeat – to give up their lives for the lands of their forefathers. And this should be in a ready-like-the-Minutemen US State Department executable plan.
Why does the behemoth US Government in alliance with London, Berlin, Ottawa, and Canberra not have these expat people at the ready, these plans already being executed for Egypt?
Fire the whole State Department if we don’t have this ready for Saudi Arabia. And, yes, the real government for Iran ought to be meeting MONTHLY/QUARTERLY in Washington, D.C., Ottawa, and London.
Anthony| 2.7.11 @ 9:26AM
Nothing good will come from this administration's 3rd rate sophomoric sophistry on Egypt.
Watching Obozo and Clinton, the veneer of style that masquerades for substance is frightening. These "best and the brightest" clowns are so over their heads, they're simply winging it.
They are also completely clueless; there is no connecting the dots with this bunch, probably because like most leftists, they want change for the sake of change, consequences be damned, except Obozo would have no problem if an Islamic caliphate took the place of Mubarak. It suits Obozo's world view and furthers the diminution of America's power.
This is the amateur hour on display, and the LSM just plays along, like the good little toddies that they are.
Disgraceful, simply disgraceful. Sister Sarah hit the bullseye once again, Obozo has us on the express lane to ruin.
WJ| 2.7.11 @ 9:40AM
What a bunch of hypocrites. "We must remove Saddam because he is an evil tyrant, ....." but when it comes time to remove another evil tyrant then we have a change of heart.
Either you are for freedom or you aren't. If you aren't for freedom for national security reasons (Israel's) then that is fine. Just don't disguise it in some kind of crusade propaganda like we did in Iraq. After the WMD lie was exposed Bush quickly turned to the "bring democracy to Iraq" argument.
This country does evil things and supports evil people for national security reasons. There is nothing inherently wrong with that.
Anthony| 2.7.11 @ 10:01AM
WJ, you are a simplistic fool, just the way Obozo wants you. If you think Mubarak is on the same level with Saddam, you are truly clueless and your moral compass is broken.
What proof do you have that this "movement" is a genuine movement for freedom, as opposed to an opportunity for radical Islam to pull off another Iran? Why do you so easily buy into this simplistic either or senerio?
Furthermore, what evil does America perpetuate for our own good? If supporting less than stellar governments because of their support for our cause, what is evil about that, unless you believe everything America does on the world stage is evil, which I suspect you do?
And speaking of hypocrites, why is it Obozo remained mute during the recent uprisings in Iran? Where was Obozo then and his support for democracy. That was a real people's moment to support real freedoms, but Obozo remained silent because the current regime in Iran is just fine with him.
Don't be such a fool. Wake up.
Louis Jenkins| 2.7.11 @ 10:53AM
I think we're jousting at windmills. Hillary and Obama have been show to be weak, scatter brained, and unorganized. We have sent a boy to do a man's job in other words. From the very first moment a protestor hit the streets those two said the transition must be orderly and peaceful. Yes, it will, as soon as the Muslim Brotherhood, outlawed by the way, gets control. Two percent of the population will control the other 98%. Just like the other middle eastern countries. Things do not look good for Israel or the US.
Old Soldier | 2.7.11 @ 11:00AM
Mr. Babbin talks about the problem in the Middle East and Islam in general without identifying it.
If those tanks were crewed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Muslim Brotherhood - nobody would go near them because they would be absolutely run over. Once the truly self-righteous Islamics take over, they will feel justified dealing death. In fact they relish in it and the tanks crews would obey because they agree or out of fear. (The same could be said for Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Saddam’s thugs)
If the wrong people take over Egypt, there won’t be anyone sleeping in front of tanks and there won’t be a next revolution.
irish19| 2.7.11 @ 1:41PM
You're exactly right. If there is an election, it will be one man, one vote, one time-unless the Islamists lose.
Peter McGrath| 2.7.11 @ 11:26AM
The problem for liberals like Barry and Hil is their abject lack of a moral compass. The Muslim Brotherhood is a radical, fascistic, organization, but its name implies a religion, a way of life, and far be it for someone as morally wan as Obama to decry anyone's religion.
Unfortunately, Islam in its purest expression establishes society based on Sharia law which imposes strict controls on expression and, hence, thought. Sharia-based societies are just as totalitarian, and in some ways even more evil, than Stalin's Russia or even Hitler's Germany. Brutal punishment for minor crimes, subjugation of women, blasphemy laws - Sharia-based societies are a throwback to medieval oppression and cruelty. Combined with modern technology, the tyranny of Sharia is unescapable. Submit or die.
The failure of the West is its failure to defend Judeo-Christian values. For multiculturalists - like our useless POTUS - the very concept of defending Christianity from evil oppressors is anathema. The values to which Obama pays lip-service, such as freedom of speech, a free press, the right to assemble, etc., are meaningless in societies where there is no freedom of religion. Sure, one can exercise free speech in Tehran - just don’t offend God’s Law (according the local Imam). Unless and until we confront this reality - and begin to fight back - more and more of the world will be plunged into darkness.
Anthony| 2.7.11 @ 11:43AM
You are so right Peter. You have defined the rot at the moral core of leftists like Obozo and Clinton.
No American ally is safe. The willful disregard of basic human values because of their radical distain of Western Culture and values will indeed plumet the world into an abyss.
Israel is truly on its own. Obozo,Clinton and the American left have abandoned it and other Western democracies all in the name of radical multiculturalism.
chris haynes| 2.7.11 @ 12:45PM
What on earth are you talking about? "The willful disregard of basic human values because of their radical disdain of Western Culture ......."
If you want to see "wilfull disregard of basic human values', just look at the USA. We've had 50,000,000 abortions. If that's not the greatest holocaust in history, tell us what is.
Anthony| 2.7.11 @ 1:21PM
chris, I did not discuss the issue of abortion on this thread about Egypt, as we try to stay on topic at TAS, however, I think my post speaks to the moral depravity of the left, which would include abortions and their attitude about them. O.K.?
jmulcahy| 2.7.11 @ 8:37PM
Sorry, Chris, you need some perspective. Mao killed 60 million of his own people and China commits 9-12 million abortions a year.
martin j smith| 2.7.11 @ 1:35PM
If one takes as a given Obama behaves incomeptently but is a Trojan Horse President inserted to push our demise ( and this is where I am at ) then I believe there will support for an Islamic Radical State in Egypt and other neighboring nations. Thus paving the way for a major World War. Great Job Obama !!!!!!!!
Uli Kunkel| 2.7.11 @ 1:56PM
There should be one and only one goal of Obonehead's pseudo diplomatic outreach: Don't grease the skids for the Muslim Brotherhood's inclusion in an Egyptian government!!! But what does it appear he's doing, just that and with gusto.
Is there anything Obonehead does that doesn't weaken America and our standing with allies? Kinda wondering, how long before there's blow back at the regime (Obonehead) that even a compliant MSM can't overwhelm with its misdirection?
Folks, were running out of time and time will hardly permit Obonehead serving out his 1st term, much less his muscling a second one and if he does, America is doomed!!!
Paul Kotik| 2.7.11 @ 2:15PM
We've seen this train wreck coming down the tracks for a long, long time. Everybody knew post-Mubarak Egypt would flip. The only thing we seem to have done about it is to make sure the radicalized Egypt would have plenty of excellent American military hardware in inventory. Which it will.
Swell.
Okay, Egypt's history. Let us now turn our attention to the main course, the Egypt-on-steroids.
Pakistan.
Melvin| 2.7.11 @ 2:28PM
This, "Swell" military hardware which will fill up the Sinai just as the Soviet, "Swell" military hardware did.
John| 2.7.11 @ 3:04PM
the Arab revolution for freedom and indepence has began. The question for USA is how it can continue to have influence. The answer is clear. America must now ally itself with Arab and Islamic nationalist . This is a no brainer. The alternative policy of isolating and disparaging Arabs has no future in this vital region. It is ironic that closest american ally in ME -Saudi- is also responsible for most of the terrorism afflicted against it . Saudi is also resposible for one of the most tyranciall theocracy in ME. What this tells us is that America does not fear alliances with Islam. What it fears is Arab indepence . It needn't do so. USA needs to align itself with Arab and Islamic interests in ME. I guarantee your influence would rise. the current policy makes no sense.
George True| 2.7.11 @ 9:20PM
Your comments never cease to amaze me. You must truly be living in Bizarro World. Nothing you said has any relation to the actual facts in THIS world. This is no independence movement in Egypt. This "revolution" has been orchestrated by the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamsa Hezbollah, and Iran. The goal is to overthrow the regime and establish in its place an Islamic theocracy like Iran. There will be NO freedom for the Egyptian people. There will only be a islamofascist totalitarian regime ten times more repressive than Mubarak. You apparently think that would be a good thing, or else you naively believe that the Muslim Brotherhood is not the virulent and malevolent force that it clearly is.
A.C.Guard| 2.7.11 @ 4:04PM
Has there ever been a more inept Sec. of State than Hilliary? Worthless, like her boss and the rest of her department, in a time of crisis.
MacDaddy| 2.7.11 @ 4:10PM
How fast can we get ANWR producing, and why the HELL isn't someone standing up in congress and DEMANDING the ANWR be opened up immediately? I cannot for the life of me IMAGINE why we continue to let the ISLAMISTS get a strangle hold on the lifeblood of our economy. My understanding is the the ANWR is our "rainy day oil', kept under glass for an emergency rainy day. Guess what? It's not just raining, it is frigging POURING!
Impeach Don't Wait| 2.7.11 @ 6:18PM
Does the President HAVE to be the only representative of government to formulate the U.S. response to such events? I wish more trustworthy/experienced/wiser heads could be enjoined to decide the official "U.S." response. So much rides on this, it's tantamount to him taking sides in war--all future wars in fact. He needs to press for the SAFEST outcome, not just "what the protesters want." Lord help us if that place falls into the hands of Islamist abettors. I mean this could lead to nuclear war. It ain't just about what the protesters want, really.
shipley130| 2.7.11 @ 7:53PM
Maybe Hillary is getting even for America making fun of her pant suits.
Tim the Enchanter| 2.8.11 @ 2:16PM
...and cankles. Don't forget the cankles!
Reebok | 8.11.11 @ 4:10AM
is good
العاب | 4.11.12 @ 4:39PM
Maybe Hillary
is good