The Politics of Apology

AP Photo Nasser Nasser

Did the US Embassy in Cairo (part of the "Obama Administration" according to Romney) issue an "apology"? According to Politifact.com (and just about anyone who read the statement) it was nothing of the sort. It did what our politicians should have done: distancing the American government from the anti-Islam film that was the cause of the protests. While people have the right to say abhorrent things  -it's called free speech - we need not endorse the views of the hatred-mongers.

The film seems to follow a familiar pattern. If you have been paying attention recently, a veritable industry of anti-Islamic propaganda has been creeping into the media and public discourse. Much of this seems to be driven by right-wing Christians who view Islam as a religious threat and are selling it as a threat to American values. Think not just of Pastor Terry Jones, but Ayaan Hirsi Ali and numerous less visible others who promote anti-Islam through books, articles, TV shows, movies, wherever they can. Lest we forget that people actually read/listen to this stuff, recall Michelle Bachman's specious claims that the Muslim Brotherhood (not a terrorist group) was infiltrating the US State Department. According to US News and WorldReport:

But all signs point to the likelihood that Bachmann didn't develop these ideas on her own.

Rather, it looks to be the brain child of Frank Gaffney, the president of the American Center for Security Policy, a nonprofit that received $4,084,750 in contributions in 2010 to educate Americans on the "Shariah threat."

Why don't we call out these hate-mongers? They have the right to spew hate, just like anyone else, but it is our responsibility to point it out as what it is: hate speech not representative of the American people. When racists burn crosses, for example, and spew racist bigotry, responsible people distance themselves from it. 

Recall after 9/11, officials from all sides of the political spectrum called upon Muslims to disavow violence and distance themselves from extremists. Can we not return the favor?

So while Mitt Romney and Republicans in general like to makepolitical hay out of Obama's supposed "apologies" for America, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot. Not only should we condemn hate speech (even while freedom of speech allows it), we should be aware of the message we are sending with our disgust for "apologies." 

Putting aside the fact that most of these supposed apologies were nothing of the sort, does Mitt not realize that an unapologetic hegemon is hated everywhere. That is exactly where this anti-American sentiment is coming from. We tell others what to do, when to do it, and don't even pretend to understand others' cultures or points of view. If that is what makes American great in the eyes of Republicans, then they obviously don't want allies by our side. And when we need allies to work with us in identifying those people who may truly be threats, I don't want us to find ourselves alone.

Freedom for Egyptians Only?

As dictators across the Middle East open fire on nonviolent citizen protesters, the US remains on the sidelines. Bahrain, Algeria, and Libya have clamped down on media coverage, making these uprisings are much less visible to everyday Americans than the Egyptian uprising, which garnered 24/7 news coverage during its peak.

Protesters putting their lives on the line should not feel abandoned. While they are indigenous, capable movements, they are at the mercy of their police and military establishments. In Bahrain and especially Libya, the relative “restraint” shown by Egypt appear to have been abandoned. The message learned from Egypt: crack down hard and early, before protests become too large.

I hope the Obama administration is not intimidated by the importance of the 5th Fleet’s home in Bahrain. No amount of blood is worth a naval base, even one that serves to pressure Iran and safeguard important oil shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf. The US should make it clear that we stand up for the rights of all who desire freedom, even those with the unfortunate bad luck of living where we have placed an important naval base.

Freedom is for all, not just a chosen few.

The "Leaderless, Spontaneous" Revolution that Wasn't

The "leaderless" "social media" revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt have struck me as requiring some explanation. Revolutions don't just happen. Revolutionaries plan for them, in painstaking manner. They only succeed under certain structural conditions. No matter how unhappy people are with Mubarak, something must happen to change the political environment from one in which protesters are few and outnumbered (and arrested) by police, to one in which protesters can completely overwhelm the police with their sheer numbers, as occurred in Egypt January 28th and subsequent days.

I expressed my doubts in a previous post, and said I would update as my understanding of the situation developed. Now I can (briefly) update with some additional information.

Newsbreak: The revolution was not leaderless. It simply didn't have a "face" already known to western media, like Mohamed AlBaradei. Instead, young leaders eschewed the media limelight. Organizing, not posturing, seemed to be their main task.

More: Twitter and Facebook did not "make" this revolution; people did. Their hard work organizing people on the ground is what made this happen.

More on all this later, but for now, I'll simply post a few links to essential reading on the details of my argument.

Wired and Shrewd, Young Egyptians Guide Revolt

An Egyptian and Tunisian Link that Shook History

Revolution U: What Egypt Learned from the Students who Ovethrew Milosevic

The Hopeful Network: Meet the Young Cyberactivists who have been Planning Egypt's Revolution for Years

AP News: Mubarak's final hours: Desperate bids to stay

AP News: Mubarak's final hours: Desperate bids to stay

AP news has written a fascinating account of (former) Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's last attempts to cling to power. According to the article, which quotes "a senior Egyptian official, editors and journalists from state newspapers close to the regime who have spent years covering Mubarak's presidency, retired army generals in contact with top active duty officers, senior members of Mubarak's National Democratic Party and analysts familiar with the machinations of Mubarak's inner circle", Mubarak was expected by the military and top members of the ruling NDP party to resign in his speech Thursday night. Instead, in a bid to ride out the protests - as his son Gamal Mubarak and inner circle of advisors suggested - he offered a few concessions but did not resign. It only enraged the protesters, who came out in greater numbers the next day to Tahrir square, the Presidential palace, and the Radio and Television building. As the protests grew, the military moved decisively to take power directly.

If true, the account explains why the world was taken by surprise by Mubarak's speech Thursday evening and the conflicting signals given out throughout the day. It all points to the unique stubbornness of one man, who finally managed to be pushed aside so a New Egypt could emerge.

A Nation of Heroes!

From Al-Jazeera English 11:42AM EST.

A nation of heroes has prevailed. The dictator is gone. Let the celebrations begin!

Let dictators across the Arab world and, indeed, the entire world, quake in their guarded palaces and towers! The people know their power. It is peaceful. It is wise. And it reveals that the emperor has no clothes. Without the instruments of repression, without the consent of their people, dictators cannot remain in power.

تحيا مصر !!!

New Momentum?

Christians protect praying muslims in Cairo

Reports suggest that today's protests in Cairo are among the largest yet, spreading to the gates of Parliament and attracting Egyptians that until now have remained on the sidelines. What has brought them out of their homes? The release of a young Google executive, Wael Ghonim has captivated Egypt and potentially brought a face to the "leaderless" revolution. His emotional interview on a private Egyptian satellite channel, where he sobbed over the needless deaths of youth killed in violence and commended the heroism of the protesters who were standing up for their freedoms seems to have touched the hearts of many Egyptians.

"I cried," a 33-year-old upper-class housewife, Fifi Shawqi, said of the interview with Ghonim, who she'd never heard of before the TV appearance. She came to the Tahrir protest for the first time, bringing her three daughters and her sister. "I felt like he is my son and all the youth here are my sons." (AP)

This comes at a time when the government seems determined to hem in the protesters in Tahrir square and drag out any negotiations for "reform" until the public spotlight is gone and public pressure fades away.  The protesters appear ready to seize the opportunity given them by the huge turnout in Cairo, Alexandria, and elsewhere. They have stormed the gates of Parliament to demand it be dissolved and continue to hang tough on their demand that President Mubarak step down.

The energized crowd in Tahrir should not be underestimated. The revolution may have a leader.

Obama - Don't Stack the Deck Against Egyptian Democracy Activists!

I have had no time to post on Egypt lately, but today I just can't keep my thoughts to myself. It seems that the US administration is in favor of an "orderly transition" but doesn't define exactly what that means. A transition to what? when? how "orderly"?

Yesterday Secretary Clinton was quoted fretting that ousting dictator Hosni Mubarak "too hastily" would compromise Egypt's transition or stability. Citing Egypt's constitution - which, just to remind you, was explicitly designed to keep the current regime in power - Clinton notes that if Mubarak resigns, elections must be held in 60 days. This would be too little time for the opposition to effectively organize and mount a campaign, she says.

Indeed it is true, as many analysts have noted. Egypt's constitution provides few avenues for transition to democracy, and intentionally so. But why is there now such a desire to adhere to the Egyptian Constitution? This document has been followed only when it has been convenient (such as the requirement to appoint a Vice President) and is meant to solidify the powers of the rulers. By insisting on playing by these rules of the game, we are stacking the deck against the protesters and all they have been fighting for.

Indeed, some activists and protesters are in fact calling for a suspension of the constitution to allow the political space for real regime change to take place. Others are calling for Mubarak to effectively give up his powers and dismantle the regime himself, since only he can do it. The common denominator among the several variations of demands in circulation is that they all call for real regime change, not cosmetic change and a continuation of the status quo.
 
Given the fact that the new VP Omar Suleiman is not only Mubarak's right-hand man but well-integrated into the regime's security apparatus, one cannot expect that he could be trusted to carry out the dismantling of the current regime once the international spotlight is off of Egypt. That is why the regime is trying to bide their time and draw things out, knowing that time is on their side. It seems that the US administration is going to let them get away with it. A real disappointment.

One thing that could be done RIGHT NOW is a lifting of Emergency Rule. It has been used for thirty years to falsely imprison Egyptians, subject them to military trials, and deprive them of their rights of free assembly. There is no reason why it cannot be rescinded immediately. Perhaps the US administration does not wish to push its reliable ally out the door so quickly, but it can use its influence to privately and publicly call for an end to emergency rule. The end of Emergency Rule would be an important first step toward leveling the political playing field.

Obama: don't stack the deck against brave Egyptian protesters!!!!! Press for an end to Emergency Rule!


Photo: A man waves his national flag during a protest in the capital's central Tahrir, or Liberation, Square, Cairo, Egypt, Monday Jan. 31, 2011. A coalition of opposition groups called for a million people to take to Cairo's streets Tuesday to ratchet up pressure for President Hosni Mubarak to leave. (Amr Nabil / AP)

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/At-Cairo-square-protesters-sow-seeds-of-new-Egypt-988001.php#ixzz1DJhxM6F8

From a Shift in Perspective to Regime Change

Egyptian demonstrators tear down a poster of President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria on Jan. 25.

Unprecedented protests in Egypt are calling for an end to Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule - and they are doing so with gusto! Inspired by the recent events in Tunisia, Egyptians who normally steer clear of political involvement suddenly are pouring into the street:

One woman in her mid-50s, who declined to give her name, said she had never before gotten involved in politics. But today she came out with her two teenage sons "to show them that it's possible to demonstrate peacefully for change."

It is clear that a psychological shift has occurred. But will it result in regime change?

No one is under any illusions that the Egyptian regime - diplomatically and militarily supported by the US - will crumble soon or easily, if at all. But no one is seeing it as impossible any more. Thank you Tunisia.