President Barack Obama has dramatically cut funds to promote democracy in Egypt, a shift that could affect everything from anti-corruption programs to the monitoring of elections.
Washington's cuts over the past year — amounting to around 50 percent — have drawn accusations that the Obama administration is easing off reform pressure on the autocratic government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to ensure its support on Mideast policy, including the peace process with Israel.
"Obama wants change that won't make the Egyptian government angry," said Ahmed Samih, head of a Cairo-based organization that in 2005 used U.S. funds to monitor parliament elections. "And in the Egyptian context, that means there will be no change."[emphasis added]
That's one of the great things about dictatorships--Obama will be so considerate of your feelings. Forget about how Obama abandoned protesters in Iran--just look at Syria--they assassinated a Lebanese leader and now Obama wants to send them a US diplomat.
So much for spreading democracy.
Technorati Tag: Egypt and Obama.
3 comments:
If only Netanyahu were to establish a dictatorship, may be then the Obami wouldn't want to make Israel angry.
Just a thought.
Nah. The US already has Israel pegged: they know Israel would do nothing to destabilize the region.
Then again, the current US position is that attacking Iran--for which the Arab world actually be grateful--would destabilize the Middle East.
What a world we live in.
The Obami think the way to win over the Arab World is to get tough on Israel. The truth is exactly the reverse - but how well do they really understand the region?
You're not going to have much progress towards an Arab-Israeli peace as long as Iran remains a huge destabilizing factor. Incidentally, that is just what Ari Shavit has said - stop demanding the impossible from Israel.
What a world we live in, indeed.
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