When it comes to Egypt, is it time for the United States to stop hedging its bets? According to columnist Thomas Spang of Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten, without actively asserting its waning influence, Washington risks the worst imaginable outcome for the Western world: an Egypt governed by Muslim fundamentalists.
For the Salzburger Nachrichten, Thomas Spang writes in part:
A sober analysis of the events in Cairo leaves no doubt that the future of Egypt is only conceivable without the damaged Mubarak. To do otherwise would be to ignore the people’s call for freedom and self determination.
Therefore, the White House cannot but abandon its reticence. Otherwise, any remaining influence will be lost for good. Obama will have no choice but to show America’s old ally the way to the door. U.S. diplomats could help develop a transition plan to channel the energy of the street. These show elections, scheduled for the fall of this year, could be enhanced under international supervision to be freer and fairer.
The Islamists have neither democracy nor human nor civil rights in mind. They have threatened to revoke the peace treaty with Israel and ally themselves with the Iranian theocracy. Obama must actively use America’s remaining influence and show leadership, or end up with an Egypt between the plague and cholera.
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