President Obama, and especially Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have thus far been masterfully cautious and strategic in responding to the fevered uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Explains former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley in the Wall Street Journal:
"All eyes are now on Egypt and an Obama administration struggling to find its footing. The truth is that once revolutionary fervor emerges and a situation descends into crisis, any administration is largely hostage to events and the dilemmas are acute."Do we desert a longstanding ally, only to raise doubts about our staying power in the minds of other longstanding allies? Do we remain loyal to a longstanding ally even after he has clearly lost public support, only to alienate a people struggling to win their freedom? In the midst of a crisis like this, the options are few."
The present-day situation in Egypt, home to 25% of the Middle East population, is politically nuanced for the United States. Egypt has been a staunch ally for the U.S., and has stood strong to protect Israel. And Egypt's Suez Canal, which provided passage for 35,000 ships in 2010, is vital to U.S. commerce.
Of course, President Mubarak must go, sooner or later. His reign as an effective leader is over. And of course, democratic reforms must be instituted in Egypt. Undoubtedly, because the people have arisen and demanded reforms, democratic reforms will inevitably take place. Secretary Clinton cannily observed:
"It's not a question of who retains power. It's how are we going to respond to the legitimate needs and grievances expressed by the Egyptian people and chart a new path. Clearly, the path that has been followed has not been one that has created that democratic future, that economic opportunity that people in the peaceful protests are seeking."
A legitimate U.S. concern is that new leadership in Egypt will be grabbed by anti-U.S. fundamentalist extremists, as occurred in Iran in 1979 and by Hamas in Palestine in 2006. Hamas is "an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood," the very anti-Israel group that the U.S. fears will attempt to control post-Mubarak Egypt.
The Egyptian people's noble push for new, democratic leadership won't be resolved anytime soon, even if President Mubarak flees the country.
Christiane Amanpour of ABC News is providing extraordinary on-the-ground nightly coverage, largely due to her extensive experience and contacts in the Middle East. Richard Engle, MSNBC international correspondent, and Anderson Cooper of CNN are also broadcasting insightful, insider accounts.
I also suggest that you follow the postings of my About.com colleague Pierre Tristam who specializes in Middle East Issues. Mr. Tristam, a native of Lebanon, fervently supports Egyptian pro-democracy protesters who demand that Mubarak step down now. I recommend that you read the following Tristam columns:
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Can you be anymore of a fawning sycophant?