Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Israel shocked by Obama's "betrayal" of Mubarak
Reuters ^ | Jan. 31, 2011 | Douglas Hamilton

Posted on 01/31/2011 7:02:15 PM PST by fightinJAG

If Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is toppled, Israel will lose one of its very few friends in a hostile neighborhood and President Barack Obama will bear a large share of the blame, Israeli pundits said on Monday.

Political commentators expressed shock at how the United States as well as its major European allies appeared to be ready to dump a staunch strategic ally of three decades, simply to conform to the current ideology of political correctness.

[snip]

One comment by Aviad Pohoryles in the daily Maariv was entitled "A Bullet in the Back from Uncle Sam." It accused Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of pursuing a naive, smug, and insular diplomacy heedless of the risks.

Who is advising them, he asked, "to fuel the mob raging in the streets of Egypt and to demand the head of the person who five minutes ago was the bold ally of the president ... an almost lone voice of sanity in a Middle East?"

[snip]

"Jordan and Saudi Arabia see the reactions in the West, how everyone is abandoning Mubarak, and this will have very serious implications,"

[snip]

"The question is, do we think Obama is reliable or not," said an Israeli official, who declined to be named.

"Right now it doesn't look so. That is a question resonating across the region not just in Israel."

Writing in Haaretz, Ari Shavit said Obama had betrayed "a moderate Egyptian president who remained loyal to the United States, promoted stability and encouraged moderation."

To win popular Arab opinion, Obama was risking America's status as a superpower and reliable ally.

"Throughout Asia, Africa and South America, leaders are now looking at what is going on between Washington and Cairo. Everyone grasps the message: "America's word is worthless ... America has lost it."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last
To: trumandogz

“We should not be involved in the decisions of people in other countries.”


Isn’t that what the Ovomit administration said about the Iranian revolt?


41 posted on 01/31/2011 7:53:51 PM PST by 23 Everest (A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone & easier to carry than a cop.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ladyjane
We have caused the overthrow of Suhahrto, the Shah of Iran, and numerous other leaders trying to bring to other countries what we thought would be good for them. No wonder they hate us.

No, no, no!

They hate us for our freedoms, and our culture, and . . and . . and . . (I'm guessing) our fondness for BBQ pork ribs.

Everyone knows that. <sarc>

42 posted on 01/31/2011 8:01:18 PM PST by logician2u
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG

Neither Israel nor the USA will be doing Mubarak any favors right now by any public displays of deep affection for him.


43 posted on 01/31/2011 8:05:36 PM PST by Walts Ice Pick ("I'm not going to shut up!" - Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tea Party Reveler; fightinJAG; Admin Moderator
Only an office weenie judge advocate could post such a stupid article.....

What the hell is your malfunction, newbie? That was completely uncalled for.

You owe FJ an apology.

44 posted on 01/31/2011 8:08:24 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: 23 Everest

That was not my statement.


45 posted on 01/31/2011 8:12:10 PM PST by trumandogz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz

The same arguments were used in the late 1970s TrumanDogz. How did freedom work out for the Iranians? I mean they get to vote. How’s that working out for them.

You’re really blind to what is going on right now aren’t you.


46 posted on 01/31/2011 8:13:04 PM PST by DoughtyOne (All hail the Kenyan Prince Obama, Lord of the Skid-mark, constantly soiling himself and our nation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG

This whole uprising is Obama’s work.


47 posted on 01/31/2011 8:16:35 PM PST by editor-surveyor (NOBAMA - 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG

BackBullets is what Uncle Sam is producing these days. Really, folks *still* don’t seem to get the reality of what Obama is. This is what he was brought in for: the man was trained as an Imam. Hello?


48 posted on 01/31/2011 8:16:43 PM PST by Hardraade (I want gigaton warheads now!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz
So yes, we made political decisions for the peole if those countries for years.

No wonder we are hated. We should get the hell out of those countries.

49 posted on 01/31/2011 8:17:14 PM PST by ladyjane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
I don't think Israel or USA should send troops in to save Mubarak.

I don't think it will help Mubarak if we or the Israelis publicly brag about how helpful he is to us because the Egyptians want their own leader.

What do you think we should do if we want to help Mubarak?

50 posted on 01/31/2011 8:21:35 PM PST by Walts Ice Pick ("I'm not going to shut up!" - Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Windflier; Tea Party Reveler

Tea Party Reveler:

I agree that not only was your remark uncalled for, it was really wierd and, indeed, IMO, evidence of some kind of personal malfunction.

Here’s a little advice about FR: stick to substantive comments that add to the political discussion and you’ll enjoy and benefit from your experience here.


51 posted on 01/31/2011 8:22:21 PM PST by fightinJAG (Americans: the only people in the world protesting AGAINST government "benefits.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz

I know it wasn’t, it was a previous one by another freeper that related to yours. Chill.


52 posted on 01/31/2011 8:24:16 PM PST by 23 Everest (A gun in hand is better than a cop on the phone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Walts Ice Pick

You’re not wrong, but, that said, I agree with the theme of the article that the abandonment of Mubarak will have deep ramifications for many world leaders who “work with” the U.S. when that’s not always so popular.


53 posted on 01/31/2011 8:25:07 PM PST by fightinJAG (Americans: the only people in the world protesting AGAINST government "benefits.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG
I agree with the theme of the article that the abandonment of Mubarak will have deep ramifications for many world leaders

I agree with you, but what do you think Israel should do in order to avoid the charge that Israel is abandoning Egypt?

That question focuses things for me.

54 posted on 01/31/2011 8:29:29 PM PST by Walts Ice Pick ("I'm not going to shut up!" - Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
Cairo is different than other places in the Middle East as culturally they are rather westernized and open political discussion is the norm. In other places, Islam dictates every thing.

However, there is a very large uneducated underclass that may opt for theocracy.

Once Mubarak is gone, the military needs to run the place and quickly institute social and economic reforms.

Establish a schedule for elections and design an electoral system that will heighten the power of the middle, upper and professional classes in Cairo and Alex while diminishing the electoral power of the people in the Cairo slums and rural areas.

55 posted on 01/31/2011 8:40:07 PM PST by trumandogz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Walts Ice Pick
I agree with you, but what do you think Israel should do in order to avoid the charge that Israel is abandoning Egypt?

It seems to me that Israel has to remain (for lack of a better word) aloof from all this, since how Israel is perceived on the Arab street is much different from the pragmatism shown by Mubarak and the King of Jordan over the years.

That said, the fact that Israeli pundits are voicing their dissatisfaction with how easily Obama & Gang threw Mubarak under the bus demonstrates that the zeitgeist in Israel is one that wants to work with "moderate" Arabs to have peaceful relationships.

These riots seem to have been triggered primarily by food inflation. Then all the other grievances, and the usual scapegoats (the U.S. and Israel) get added on. It seems incredible that this could have surprised either the Obama administration or Mubarak, but apparently it did (more so the Obama administration, as Mubarak seems to have come out swinging with a fairly immediate attempt to survive through a first-time appointment of a Vice President, etc.).

There are several leaders in the Middle East who "work with" the U.S. and Israel even though this would not be particularly popular on their streets. These are the leaders who no doubt presently are reevaluating whether the risk of "siding with" the U.S. is worth it if the U.S. heaves you under the bus at the first sign of trouble.

This is not to suggest that Obama could have done anything about saving Mubarak in power once these events got underway. But it is also not to suggest that the right messages were sent as the inevitable unfolded.

56 posted on 01/31/2011 8:40:29 PM PST by fightinJAG (Americans: the only people in the world protesting AGAINST government "benefits.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz

Heh, yes, my point exactly...


57 posted on 01/31/2011 8:42:52 PM PST by Deagle (t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: fightinJAG; All; kristinn; MindBender26
Related, important threads:

Key US military, intelligence assets imperiled in Egypt.

Admin Official: Obama "not ruling out legitimacy" of Muslim Brotherhood for New Egypt Gov't

58 posted on 01/31/2011 8:46:55 PM PST by fightinJAG (Americans: the only people in the world protesting AGAINST government "benefits.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trumandogz
I pray that you are right. We shall see. I will go on record now stating that if Mubarak steps down and el buttholio takes over... it will take the muslim brotherhood less than six months to set up a pro iranian theocracy.

There is no democracy in palestine... or iraq... or afghanistan... there were elections... but let's see... our own government says that afghanistan is totally corrupt and the elections are a farce... lebanon and palestine are run by islamic jihadists... palestine is a terrorist state... and Christians are being blown up, beheaded and jailed in every one of those places. Hell... throw in pakistan for that matter... and iran... they both hold elections too!

Bush was wrong... not about invading but about nation building. How many more people will die in Iraq from car bombs and Church bombings and iranian intel operations? Go to this link and listen to Colonel Allen West on why democracy and islam can never coexist. It also explains why nation building, based on democracy in the islamic world... can never work. Eventually they will all vote for their dream... the worldwide caliphate... it is who and what they are... and there is only one islam and one koran.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkGQmCZjJ0k He is right you know.

LLS

59 posted on 01/31/2011 8:53:46 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Walts Ice Pick

As you state, we are limited in what we can do. However, one thing Obama could do is to tell his staff to quit referencing transition every third word.

I also think Presidents can talk about these matters in general terms that help to remind foreign nationals that things don’t always turn out rosey when governments are toppled. He can also state that we ultimately wish the best for the Egyptian people, but that he doesn’t think what is taking place right now is the best way to achieve that. He could also point out other nations where regime change took place that turned put badly.

Other than that you stay in close contact with Mubarak expressing concern. You do not simply jettison an old friend to the U.S.

Then you contact others leaders in the region and keep abreast of what is going on there.

I would also try to develop some back channel contacts that might be able to help defuse this situation if at all possible.


60 posted on 01/31/2011 8:55:30 PM PST by DoughtyOne (All hail the Kenyan Prince Obama, Lord of the Skid-mark, constantly soiling himself and our nation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson