[Carley]

And which african country has ever repaid it’s loans?

NONE

[JimSEA]

Dithering is the trade mark of the O administration. Also, I fear that whatever comes after Mubarak will be intensely anti Israel and anti American. Our bribes are not likely to work anymore. Hatred of the Jews will unite the ruling coalition. JMO

[therightliveswithus]

Egypt is very similar to the Shah’s Iran. We shouldn’t kid ourselves

[kabar]

Instead they should be proactive: They should support establishment of a technocratic transitional government, use their soapbox to help it make the necessary legal changes to ensure a smooth election according to a set time line, and then welcome Egypt's new democratic order.

The author is deluded. Egypt has never really had a democratic government or order. The idea that somehow we can engineer a smooth transition to a democracy is nonsense. Whatever caretaker government emerges will just be a temporary aberration enroute to the results of a political struggle between the secular military/civilian elements and the Islamic fundamentalists. It will be messy and more than likely disastrous for the region and the US.

[silverleaf]

Rubin's analysis is idiotic
Egypt an ally in name only?

In international relations, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies- only permanent interests

As if peace with Israel wasn't in Egypt's long term permanent interest as well as ours?

So, we paid our friends to stay our friends - it's honorable and risky work to be an ally of the US in that part of the world. We got a better return on our investment in te Egyptian military than what we've gotten by pouring billions into a Palestinian or Pakistan (another ally?) rat hole Oh, and “We” sure wouldn't want to ALIENATE the muslim brotherhood, would we? Let's just talk about our mutual permanent interests with the MB....sarc

[silverleaf]

Rubin's analysis is idiotic
Egypt an ally in name only?

In international relations, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies- only permanent interests

As if peace with Israel wasn't in Egypt's long term permanent interest as well as ours?

So, we paid our friends to stay our friends - it's honorable and risky work to be an ally of the US in that part of the world. We got a better return on our investment in te Egyptian military than what we've gotten by pouring billions into a Palestinian or Pakistan (another ally?) rat hole Oh, and “We” sure wouldn't want to ALIENATE the muslim brotherhood, would we? Let's just talk about our mutual permanent interests with the MB....sarc

[silverleaf]

Rubin's analysis is idiotic
Egypt an ally in name only?

In international relations, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies- only permanent interests

As if peace with Israel wasn't in Egypt's long term permanent interest as well as ours?

So, we paid our friends to stay our friends - it's honorable and risky work to be an ally of the US in that part of the world. We got a better return on our investment in te Egyptian military than what we've gotten by pouring billions into a Palestinian or Pakistan (another ally?) rat hole Oh, and “We” sure wouldn't want to ALIENATE the muslim brotherhood, would we? Let's just talk about our mutual permanent interests with the MB....sarc

[Little Ray]

Nope. Egypt is even better armed, equipped and trained.
On our dime.

[Del Rapier]

What a cluster....