Amb Wisner doesn’t really have to protect his reputation, because his reputation proceeds him. I used to work for him. He calls them as he sees them, and his legacy is intact.
He was the most beloved American Ambassador to Egypt.....ever. Even the Egyptians will tell you that.
And as an example of his leadership and mentorship.....he produced Amb Ryan Crocker: who was his political secretary in the late 80’s.
Fair enough, but Amb. Wisner is a diplomat.
Why would he cross swords with the President?
He sounds good.
He probably represents the time when being in the Foreign Service was a profession. Ambassadorships now seem to be based entirely on political pay-backs (even leaving out truly glaring cases like the recent fiasco in Luxembourg, which I guess has always been a plum for political contributors).
Obama has very carefully stripped the professionals out of just about every area of the government and replaced them with ideologues or personal loyalists. I guess Wisner somehow escaped his radar.
I’m glad Wisner was principled enough to speak up.
Not all of us here have such a close perspective. Nonetheless, and with perhaps little or no perspective, most on this thread respect the man for fearlessly voicing his professional assessment of the current situation in Egypt.
Many observers around the world believe Obama is selling out an American ally in order to facilitate the succession of an Islamic government. It is refreshing to see a highly regarded professional with impeccable credentials shed light on the event.
It is clear, however, that if Amb Wisner had publicly voiced an opinion that was in conformance with both the position of the State Dept, his principal and the expressed position of his president, that his reputation with those that know and respect him could well have been smashed.