@katiecouric: Egypt in Crisis
February 9, 2011 3:15 PM
Katie Couric discusses the latest developments and long term implications of Egypt's uprising with columnist and blogger Mona Eltahawy, Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations and CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer.
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We were quite pleased with how the United States handled the uprising in Egypt...The United States had no right to dictate how Egypt or any other country lives and manages their own people...if Egypt was content with the way their country was operating...so be it. Now Egypt has a voice and yes, The United States supports their cry for democracy. The United States did not tell Egypt what was 'correct'...The United States supported Egypt when Egypt needed their help the most. The United States has given Egypt military support, because Egypt was stable...had a peace treaty with Israel. The 1.3 billion... given to the Egyptian military, was retrieved by The United States when Egypt purchased United States military equipment. I think the support President Obama gave Egypt at their time of need was more valuable than any monetary support ever given previously and it didn't cost anything.
The winds of change have blown and it is Egypt's decision to reach out for change/democracy... was not dictated by the U.S.A. or anyone else. Kudos President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton...we are proud to be North Americans!
We lived and worked in Taba, Egypt in 2000, Hurghada in 2006-2008, on hiatus for a year and back to Egypt in 2009. Yes, we saw poverty, but never saw discontent...some of our closest Egyptian friends shared their dislike of President Mubarak...most would not say anything. Until Tunisia ousted their president...the Egyptians thought they had no power, but they've had it all along...only needed a nudge and Tunisia provided the push. During the protests, I wrote family and friends, and have always maintained...Egyptians are non-violent people...they proved themselves to the world! I know of their gentle hearts after adopting a few young Egyptian men in Hurghada as my son's...I still have contact with them to this day...they have taught me so much. Alfa Mabruk...Viva Egypt!
Go up and spread to a certain extent/
You the Egyptians however proved something else:/
People's movement in non-violence has no limit/
Till the dictator kneels before the public demands
-Prem Nizar Hameed
And now, more than 11 years later, the country is still struggling in many ways. Poverty rate is incresing. People find everything are more expensive and they even struggling to bring their children to school. What a freedom they are talking about? Sometimes we wonder, if this is what we call freedom and democrary. Certainly, it is not a better situation and condition. We are still in fear, fear of starvation and anarchies. Be strong Egypt. Hope you have a better future than Indonesia.
This is the time for us too, to stand at the right side of history and emerge as the nation guided by its humanism and essential values, when the aspirations of the people of the region are met and we are required to face the change.
Our political leadership missed this opportunity with its flat footed,timid response when the crisis surfaced in Egypt. Then we saw a wavering stance and a clear disconnect between President Obama & Hillary Clinton in their respective positions. That was sad.
In fact this is the time to rethink our failed policy in the Middle East, a region vital for our geo-poltical and economic interests. No longer can we afford to be pressured and dictated to by lobbies & special interests when formulating policies in that region. Time to go with the reality on the ground and changing dynamics.
No time should be wasted in resolving the simmering Israel-palestinian conflict in the spirit of justice & morality. Our misadventure in Iraq cost us dearly. We have to wind up there & in Afghanistan. Sanity, diplomacy & statesmanship should prevail when dealing with the Iran issue.
Or we lose whatever credibility, prestige and clout we have left in the M.East.