It has been pretty clear from comments over the past few days that the Obama Administration is keen on Omar Suleiman, Egypt’s newly appointed Vice President and long-standing spymaster, as a successor for dictator Hosni Mubarak. WikiLeaks cables have suggested he has long been Israel’s favorite successor candidate as well.
But while his decades near the head of Egypt’s torture-happy regime doesn’t seem to phase them, his public comments may make it harder to publicly back him as loudly as they might like. That is because Suleiman is openly insisting that Egypt simply isn’t “ready for democracy.”
Which is really one of those things a savvy dictator is supposed to keep to himself, and the US, master of downplaying shameful behavior in its allies, termed the comment “unhelpful.” Though it seemed many may have designs on Suleiman as the new dictator-in-chief of Egypt’s pro-US regime, it seems this would be difficult to pull off without Suleiman insisting that he is “pro-democracy” in some nominal way and at least giving lip-service to some future reforms.
It also seems to support the opposition’s claims that Suleiman is not negotiating in a sincere manner on democratic reforms, and indeed is just ignoring some of the biggest demands of the protesters, hoping they’ll eventually give up. With protests entering their third week, there is no indication that this is happening.
The US should be withdrawing diplomatic recognition from Egypt's illegitimate government, but Obama has neither balls nor principles.
Yep. But one has to consider that after the billions poured into that sand trap the Americans, like the Egyptian goons they prop up, are in de' Nile. ( cue drum and cymbals )
Very punny! 😀
… and yet another tinpot would-be dictator rises to the world stage with the help of the US. We who are SO fond of telling everyone how democracy is the end of all the world's ills, are still backing someone who says his own nation isn't ready for democracy? Then why are we talking to this guy at ALL?
I guarantee you most of the world's governments would rather deal with a hard-line government the likes of Iran over a mealy-mouthed wishy-washy outfit of the sort Suleiman is trying to cobble together- at least with Iran, you know where they're coming from and they make no bones about their position in political circles.
Or is Suleiman saying he's going to embrace the Muslim Brotherhood and ask for their help in establishing a forward-thinking Islamic state based on sharia law? If he's the man who can bring THAT together I'm for him but somehow I get the impression he's just another tinpot dictator-in-waiting. Waiting for what, you may ask? Maybe for those Marines to arrive on Egypt's shores so they can install him as Dear Leader at gunpoint.
Not ready for democracy- well no wonder; they've only been a civilized country for what, 6,000 years? What they hey- give it another 6000 and they'll be well and truly ready.
Manufacturing enemies has ratcheted up production, they need enemies to keep domestic Zombies enslaved it is a win-win for Masters and lose-lose for the oppressed. Resist Terror, Tyranny and Fourth Reich.
There is no place for him in future as he is known by Egyptians as killer. He worked mainly for israelis and egyptian will never tolerate.
This is bad luck that america and israelis both like to kill opposition in every form and still they claim to be democrat. What is good for them is bad for others and keep the others as slave and will not function.
Enough is enough what america and israelis did for Egyptian people and robbed by political elite of the country and the country became poorer and poorer and is the same story where americans are present. Public is dying of hunder and poloiticians are enjoying in the west.
When the livestock is fed and watered everything is OK on the farm.
I am now boycotting this website…
Suleiman is Mubarak's Heinrich Himmler. Once again in the name of expediency America takes a known murderer into its political bed. Washington, Jefferson, and Madison are turning in their tombs.
The word 'democracy' is a wounded word, abused by both Western leaders and despots alike so as to inflict the world's poor with hope and then steal it from them in the same breath. But in this case this puppet (and alleged torturer) Suleiman is actually using the word honestly: that Egypt cannot have a true democracy because the West won't allow it!
Frightening pic of Omar and bubu but it explains better than words how is it that this animal is the favorite to become the ruler of a "democratic" Egypt. I sure hope the Egyptians won't put up with it.
1- He is just another "fundamental dictatorial" policy maker who see and feel that he and his people are just about to lose their power grip over the people therefore he says what he have said. The matter in Egyptian people uprising that bothers me is the Muslims Brotherhood, let me explain: for democracy to flourish democracy needs to be lead by the people.., for people democracy to flourish people need to help peoples demands. Islam, Muslim, Christians or Jewish or any other brotherhood as such is not about democracy, is about a fundamental religious dictatorial system – regime.
2- The Iranian Islamic republic have shown their true face when it come to democracy which was the Iranian people demand. Religious needs to be out of any social politics, but they do have the power to help the democracy to grow, here the People of Egypt and their uprising is not about a Muslim awakening nor is a communist revolution lead by Stalinism dictatorial working party nor is about socialism.., this and all other uprisings that’s happening in Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere is the peoples voice from all part of a society and therefore is the voice of a democratic demand for freedom and social justice.., and if is respected it will flourish to a full democratic system working for people. The Iranian regime did just the opposite, they used religion to empower themselves and their religion whereby people are left behind and therefore there is only this “Islamic Republic” of Iran where all the social laws are based on Islamic laws where no other idea or ideology is accepted. If you or any other think that this is democracy then good luck to you and your brothers.
On a lighter note, I'm tickled pink the CIA's man in Egypt has a name like a Tolkien villain.
Suleiman should get a long close look at a 4 x 6 with no windows
To Antiwar.com… is that how its work,, those who have points or more can write whatever and as long as they want and Antiwar will publish .., but not those whom have just started or don’t have that much of points.., question is.., what is different between Anti war.com and Hosni Mubarak….? or is it so that these people paying to antiwar.com to be treated differently…? Hey I all buy you lunch if you come around…lets talk business sometimes.
Points? What are you on about?