EGYPT: Opposition leader urges U.S. to stop backing Mubarak
Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said the U.S. approach to fostering democracy in Egypt has not worked and Washington must move away from supporting longtime President Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt has a powerful military that has kept Mubarak's ruling party in place for more than 30 years. Its largest and best-organized opposition group is the banned Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group. In this environment, other opposition groups have not been able to develop, and that absence could make a democratic transition difficult.
ElBaradei called fears that Egypt may end up with a religious-based government "bogus" and said the U.S. has been incorrect in seeing the only two options as Mubarak's repressive regime or a fundamentalist Islamic state. Egyptians want democracy, he said, and it starts with Mubarak stepping down.
The United States is "losing credibility by the day" in calling for democracy in Egypt while continuing to support Mubarak, ElBaradei told CBS on Sunday. "On one hand you're talking about democracy, rule of law and human rights, and on the other hand you're lending still your support to a dictator that continues to oppress his people," he said.
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-- Paul Richter and Peter Nicholas in Washington
Photo: Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei speaks to protesters at Cairo's Tahrir Square on Jan. 30, 2011. Credit: Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
What usually happens after a revolution is a provisional regime until that time when societal forces re-align themselves and the most powerful contender emerges. Should El Baradei become President, he will surely be just a transitional figure.
Posted by: Chris Taus | January 31, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Mubarak looked like a mummy on TV. Before they embalm him, he should flee to Saudi Arabia, just like Idi Amin did. We should offer him Air Force One, so he could join his autocratic pals there !
Posted by: fred charatan | January 30, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Mubarak looked like a mummy on TV. Before they embalm him,
he should flee to Saudi Arabia, just like Idi Amin did. Let's offer him
A ir Force One, so he can join his autocratic pals there!
Posted by: fred charatan | January 30, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Yes! The world needs democracy in Egypt. No more supporting these tyrants that drag our foreign policy down to their level. Obama should come out and call for change.He can see that Mubarak has been there for 30 years and is over 80 years old! What can that man do for Egypt now but retire and see that the country goes for the will of the people? What type of politics keeps these types in power against the overwhelming will of the people? Certainly nothing that the US should support!
Posted by: Trajan | January 30, 2011 at 01:05 PM
Democracy for Egypt
Posted by: Abdelkhaleeq aqrawi | January 30, 2011 at 11:31 AM