Egypt follows Iran's path

Barack Obama started his foreign policy in 2009 with a world-wide apology tour (here are some clips). Before Obama delivered his speech in Cairo, Mitt Romney warned about the fallacy of apology:

I draw the line by saying in reaching out to other nations we certainly should not stand up and apologize for America. America has sacrificed too much to restore liberty to people in the world to ever be in a position of constant apology. I think the president was wrong in going on Arabic TV and saying that America has in the past dictated to other nations. I think he was wrong in fact and that it was the wrong thing to say. Ahmadinejad of Iran seized upon that to demand more apologies for America....

Two days later, on June 4th 2009, Obama delivered a sweeping, hour-long 6000-word address in Cairo, Egypt, aimed at reaching out to the world's 1.2 billion Muslims. Some, including Rush Limbaugh have called it an apology speech, others like NY times have disputed that assessment. Here are three quotes:

The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.

Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism.

America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election.

The first quote suggests an understandable rise in American misconception of Islam, if not outright bigotry. The second quote is directly applicable to France, which passed a ban on wearing burqas in public that went into effect in April of last year. Apparently, the French are trying to "disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism".

Hosni, I'm going to have to throw you under the bus.

The last quote has a direct bearing on the Arab spring. A little over a year ago Obama called on Mubarak to leave by announcing publicly that he told on the phone that "transition must begin now". Obama also expressed his hope that Egyptians will "seize the promise of a better future for your children and your grandchildren and I say that as someone who is committed to a partnership between United States and Egypt".

Mubarak was an authoritarian dictator to whom FDR's statement "he might be a bastard, but he’s our bastard” is applicable. Arab spring has replaced him with something far worse - approximately 3/4 or the People's Assembly, the more powerful lower parliament of Egypt has been taken by Islamists. They are already changing the direction of the country.

Mubarak was an authoritarian dictator to whom FDR's statement "he might be a bastard, but he’s our bastard” is applicable. Arab spring has replaced him with something far worse - approximately 3/4 or the People's Assembly, the more powerful lower parliament of Egypt has been taken by Islamists. They are already changing the direction of the country.

Recently, 19 Americans who worked for NGOs in Egypt were prevented by the military from leaving the country. They have sought refuge in the American embassy. This elicited a response from the U.S. State Department, which said the $1.3 billion in annual aid to Egypt may be in jeopardy. One of the Americans, Sam LaHood is the son of U.S. Transportation secretary, said at the time that the group was "expecting the worst". His instinct was correct - Egyptians have announcing their intention to prosecute the American NGO workers that can result in sentences of up to five years. In addition, Egyptians canceled meetings with U.S. lawmakers today in response to warnings about aid.

As I suggested ten days ago, Egypt appears be going Islamist and is following in the footsteps of Iran, including detention of Americans. There are other worrying signs, described by Barry Rubin that suggest the new Egyptian regime is choosing confrontation. Having the U.S. as a scapegoat for internal troubles is apparently worth more to them than Obama's speeches, and billions of aid.