For my readers, I've posted this comment on the Egyptian uprisings.
"'The administration's essential Egypt strategy began to shift to focus less on Mubarak's departure, allowing that Egyptians "could get through this door another way," in the words of another senior administration official. The process, the official said, would include all key political parties and would probably involve discussions over the constitution and institutions that would have to be changed to ensure democratic elections."
Critics of the Obama Administration will always find something to carp about. But, the bottom line is:
ALL efforts of the Obama Administration wisely centered around the avoidance of violence perpetrated against non-violent demonstrators. The fact is, this is the first massive, non-violent "uprising" or "change in government" in the modern Middle East.
In Tunisia, government security forces (Army & Police), responded in various ways, but people were killed by such forces firing INTO crowds of human beings trying to upset the status quo. In Syria, the protests failed to even get off the ground. In Jordan & Yemen, leaders were either forced into withdrawal from future participation as leaders, or, firing cabinet, & addressing critical concerns of their public.
Egypt, the most populous Arab nation in the so-called Hub Of Islam, has the potential to change the tone & tenor of political processes by serving as a powerful model for peaceful protests. We have heard for a decade now, that Islam is "a peaceful religion." I, for one, have serious doubts about that.
As a Quaker/Buddhist, who saw peaceful &/or violent protests against the Vietnam War, I know the difference. As one in protests against the Iraq War, I know also, as a former leader, how incredibly difficult it is to maintain a posture of non-violence when some participants respond to violence, cat calls, insults, etc., w/some of the same. A peaceful, non-violent demonstration is an exercise in discipline.
Whether the Egyptians did this or not, I do not know. The 6 April Movement, & the corner stone motivational group, "We Are All Khaled," which I highlighted a week or more ago, in comments to Karen de Young, were @ the heart of a "movement" that ignited this entire event via social networking efforts, means & methods. THEY had been demonstrating against Egyptian Security forces' brutality for more than a year. Their peaceful, non-violent demonstrations were motivational. They were a core group using the Quran & perhaps, techniques gained through study of American & Indian practices in their non-violent demonstrations.
President Obama, as the first African-American President associated through friends, philosophy, & belief in non-violence, who visited Egypt shortly after his inauguration, may have inspired these young people to practice non-violence. As a person who knows the descendants of Martin Luther King, he can call on all ages of Egyptians, to remain committed to non-violence. Couple with that commitment from the American side; active, robust intelligence; and, Obama's team approach to contact every level of government, the Army was an instrument that responded to American entreaties, v. responding by Mubarak's default setting of unleashing ugly forces as we saw last week.
If Obama can emphasize, again & again, American belief that the process will remain Egyptian, but urge Egyptians to continue to protest peacefully, I think the outcome will be Egyptian, but, also, show the marks of the traditions of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bishop Tutu, Nelson Mandela.
This is an ENORMOUS opportunity to influence the peaceful elements of Islam in the Hub Of Islam. Imagine THAT! We can now reinforce that behavior, and possibly see whether Islam really IS a peaceful religion. Emphasizing that now is vital to shaping these events. The moral high ground will go to those manifesting PEACE, not violence, in their protests. And if the Egyptians effect this change that way, my GOD, what a victory for the world!
Tactically, we're aware of all the various factions & players. A wiring diagram is needed to understand the players, parties, movements, groups. But we're engaged, I'm sure, in understanding the issues of these people & groups as they enter the negotiations.
If we intervene directly, we'll have disaster. We don't want Mossadegh or Diem Brothers style coup d'etats. Obama doesn't want blood on his history. This will be delicate, & require deftness. Obama's the man to adopt those approaches.
IF this movement stays peaceful, it will be an enormous counter to violent jihadist Islam. Don't we want to see more of that? Isn't it worth a slower process? And, after all, there really ARE other ways to get this process through the door of change.
The Army's maintained a discipline remarkable to see. Working w/peaceful protestors, the Army's garnered tremendous respect for these ways. The Army's learned that somewhere. I'd bet, from Americans."