Just a friendly phone call
I would like to inform those of you who didn't get the memo that says that Bush is not pleased with Mubarak over what happend at the referendum, despite what Laura might've said, i would like to inform you of the "friendly" 10 minute call good ole Hosny got yesterday from him: President George W. Bush urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday to show the world his country can set an example for others by holding free and fair presidential elections. "I urged him once again to have as free and fair elections as possible because it will be a great legacy for his country," Bush told reporters during a session with visiting South African President Thabo Mbeki. Bush and Mubarak spoke by telephone for about 10 minutes and among the topics they covered was the start of the presidential election campaign in Egypt, and last week's referendum there and incidents of violence. Bush said Mubarak assured him that he wants to have free and fair elections. "I will to the best of my ability continue to try to convince him that it's not only in Egypt's interest, but the world's interests, to see Egypt have free and fair elections," Bush said. Activists urging a boycott of the May 25 referendum on a new presidential election system in Egypt were beaten, kicked and punched by plainclothes supporters of Mubarak, according to witnesses. Mubarak told Bush his attorney general was investigating the incident. Yes, and i am sure that he will find nothing despite the numerous pictures and eye-witness accounts of what happend that day! "He's publicly stated he is for free and fair elections, and now is the time for him to show the world that his great country can set an example for others," Bush said. The great country can set the example, no problem. It's Mubarak that has to set it really by punishing the kind of behaviour that took place the day of the referendum, and maybe, just maybe, follow some standards for a far election. Oh look, Bush has some for you in case you can't come up with some on your own: "People ought to be allowed to vote without being intimidated, people ought to be allowed to be on TV, and if the government owns the TV, they need to allow the opposition on TV, people ought to be allowed to carry signs and express their pleasure or displeasure. People ought to have very vote count," he said. See Hosny? It's not that hard is it? No? Ok, then why don't you stop being a douche bag and let us have our free fu**in elections? God knows you will probably win any way with the current state of the opposition, so why don't you just give the people a real right to chose for once? It may forgive some of the shit you've put us through those past 24 years. So, what do you say Guy?
posted by The Sandmonkey @ 6/02/2005 02:25:00 AM
4 Comments:
Absofuckingloutely partonizing...for god's sakd Dybya sounds like a mama trying to talk sense into its four year old..and let him/her/it share its toys and play nice..Bush and many in the admin have not come to terms with any option for Mubark...this is for the optics..public consumption...a little bit of a stick with a lot of carrots too..double talk a very confused administration....the question remains..did bush give Mubarak a missed call..walla he paid for it...tayeb hata yeemel ihteraam le fark el sen..the guy is some 25 yrs his senior..Bush was in elementry school when our Mubark embarked on ruling us...
MMI,
I see Mubark as a cold war relic for the US. He's stood by the Camp David Accords and so did we. That was good enough for us back during the cold war as Egypt was clearly with us vs the USSR (post the 1973 war). Granted Egypt was a bought and paid for ally, but that was common back then and still is today. Problem is, in the 9/11 world how do we push and ally towards Democracy? Invading works pretty well against enemies, but makes you look bad when you invade "Allies". Might piss off the population as well! That leaves sanctions/going back on Camp David, which is difficult as Hosni has kept his part of the bargain. Ain't gonna be a simple solution.
Later
Tater
When George W. Bush calls for free and fair elections in Egypt, he is putting himself in the sandals of the poorest and most vulnerable Egyptians. He wants the people of Egypt--regardless of their faith, background, age, or wealth--to have an equal say in how they are governed.
But George W. Bush is not doing this because of his altruistic nature--he knows that vibrant democracies are the most stable form of government and are the most likely to bring more peace to our world. Yes, maybe George W. Bush has a hard time with big words and stumbles in his speech, but these are little things--he's got the big things right!!
Anonymous, I disagree that the choices are sanctions or war. I think if there was sufficeint Mubarak opposition in Egypt, and if the US was reasonably certain that the opposition would set up a democratic and stable government, post Mubarak...
... then I think we'd see what active destabilization of a government can do. It's worked before. The thing is, there doesn't seem to be that sort of opposition in Egypt right now. Attempts by the US to destabilize Mubarak at this point in time would be foolish.
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