Posted on 02/12/2011 6:34:13 PM PST by Saije
A small, controversial effort launched under President George W. Bush to fund and train election monitors in Egypt played a key role in the movement to topple President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
The program, which provided millions in direct funding to prodemocracy groups, helped dispatch 13,000 volunteers to observe Egypt’s parliamentary elections in December. Thousands of those monitors, angered by what they said was blatant election rigging, joined the protests. Some became outspoken leaders; others used the networking and communication skills they learned to help coordinate 18 days of rallies.
“The very fact that they saw the fraud firsthand has contributed to them turning from monitors into activists,’’ said Saad Eddin Ibrahim, founder of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, which has used a share of the US funds to train volunteers. “They became very disillusioned with the regime.’’
The evolving role of the monitors provides a measure of vindication for Bush administration officials and allies, including Elizabeth Cheney, the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, who fought for permission to funnel money to the monitors, bucking a longstanding US policy of giving Egypt a veto over US funds.
“I certainly feel vindicated,’’ said Charles King Mallory IV, a former aide to Elizabeth Cheney, who could not be reached for comment.
But it also raises questions about whether some Egyptians will see a grain of truth in Mubarak’s allegations that “foreign intervention’’ fomented the uprising.
Stephen McInerney, executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy, a Washington-based advocacy and research group, said the protesters would probably still have been active without US support, but they wouldn’t be as well-organized.
“We didn’t fund them to start protests, but we did help support their development of skills and networking,’’ he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
The MSM is laying the ground work for it.
It is the State Dept holdovers from Bush that advised Obama and confused him into supporting the rise of the MB.
I’m not sure if what’s happening in Egypt is a bad thing. At least now, anything bad that happen there, is their own fault. They can’t use US as a scapegoat
The media is starting to figure out that this may not turn out to be skittle crapping unicorns and rainbows. Gotta keep Bush’s name out there just in case they need a place to smear the blame.
“The media is starting to figure out that this may not turn out to be skittle crapping unicorns and rainbows. Gotta keep Bush’s name out there just in case they need a place to smear the blame.”
Makes sense to me.
...a meteor could have smashed into the center of Egypt - and this would still have happened - it doesn’t matter what the actual cause of this is - the bottom line was that the Muslim Brotherhood waited until the right moment to start this turmoil - they have sought it for decades...yes I see that if Egypt goes sour - Bush will get the blame - but we must stand above the press/MSM - and be ready for the evil that will rise from Egypt. Regardless of who acted and who did not - we must prepare for a an encompassing war in the region - one that will be far larger in scale than Iraq and Afghanistan...
Watching and listening to the current Administration’s desperate efforts to have it both ways, and wait, and find
little avenues for their spin, in order to exploit what was already there WITHOUT OBAMA’S HELP, I couldn’t help but think that if any American President deserved any small share of credit for the beginnings of democracy coming to Egypt, it is George Bush. And I wasn’t even aware of the funds going to help Egyptians monitor their own elections.
The really hard thing FOR ME to see now is how Obama will take credit for it, be given credit for it, and how Obama will handle the inevitable ‘DE-Islamification’ that will certainly befall him. Next up, I believe, is Iran, and I’d like to see how Obama justifies getting involved THERE, finally, even rhetorically, after adopting a hands-off policy a few years ago. IT REALLY makes me sick to witness this, and to hear NOTHING from the Republicans, who should be saying IN UNISON what I’m saying here.
Everyone at the Boston Globe must be hanged. If anyone escapes, impale them.
Sounds like the media now expects the “revolution” to go sour, the way of Iran an are preparing to absolve Obama, after they praised Obama for his support and handling of it.
As always, it’s all Bush’s fault.
Of course, should it not bad and Egypt turn free, this little matter will be lost and Obama will be once again praised.
The media is starting to figure out that this may not turn out to be skittle crapping unicorns and rainbows. Gotta keep Bush’s name out there just in case they need a place to smear the blame.
*******************************************
This has been my theme for the last two weeks: If it turns out well Obama will get credit. If it turns out poorly then it’s Bush’s fault. We are just now seeing the groundwork laid for the way history will be written.
The program, which provided millions in direct funding to prodemocracy groups, helped dispatch 13,000 volunteers to observe Egypt's parliamentary elections in December. Thousands of those monitors, angered by what they said was blatant election rigging, joined the protests. Some became outspoken leaders; others used the networking and communication skills they learned to help coordinate 18 days of rallies.I remember December fairly well; there were elections in Egypt, along with murders of Coptic Christians. And regardless of when the program started, OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT AT THE TIME.
Oh, we can give George Bush all the credit!
Sorry Hussein. You dropped your balls again.
I truly believe that on That Terrible Final Day of Judgement, when all is revealed, that G W Bush and his father will be revealed ti have been the opposite of what they represented themselves to be.
Both have been in the service of interests out to destroy Our Precious Republic. JMHO
Go ahead a flame all you want, I stick by this prediction and assessment!
Good post...OUTSTANDING thread! Thanks to EVERY poster.
Tyrants in Iran and Venezuela will definitely blame Bush when they eventually fall.
which is why, I believe, he cut off diplomatic ties with the 'bummer and gang - leaving them dog-paddling in the dark and getting their 'updates' on TV
In the end, Mubarak punked 'bummer good. I hope he leaves memoirs that will spell out the whole thing.
I suspicion that he, knowing his days on earth, with his cancer, are numbered, orchestrated the step-down and passing the reins to his military - thereby shutting out the Muslim Brotherhood and their champion in the WH. I think Mubarak loves his country enough to throw himself on his sword to save it. Would that we had a leader that even LIKED our country.
'bummer got a lesson in what happens when a community organizer tries to play nasty with the gown-ups.
Groundwork for sure...
It took a year after the Shah fell for Khomeini to take power. Back then the NYT called Khomeini another Gandhi.
I started reading this, and then said to self not to bother as it’s the Boston Globe, but then decided to read it anyway.
I should stick with first impressions.
IMHO, I don’t see how the situation in Egypt can turn out well.
Since the riots didn’t put a radical Islamist in power, it is a failure as far as Obastard is concerned so they are going to blame Bush. Typical.
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.