We have to go slow in Egypt

[Enrique]

we have to give time for the American journalists to go back to the U.S. and for the American people to lose interest in Egypt and stop paying attention. And then we will need to give time for Omar Suleiman (he's a great guy, everyone on TV says so!) to disappear the Egyptian journalists. And once there are no journalists, Suleiman will need some time to "arrange" things so that the elections turn out the way that Frank Wisner and the U.S. Government and Israel and the IMF want them to turn out. So you see, we need to go real slow in Egypt.

[leveymg]

1. That's pretty much how they've planned things out for several years. Not spontaneous. Read this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8309792/WikiLeaks-Israels-secret-hotline-to-the-man-tipped-to-replace-Mubarak.html

The new vice-president of Egypt, Omar Suleiman, is a long-standing favourite of Israel's who spoke daily to the Tel Aviv government via a secret "hotline" to Cairo, leaked documents disclose.

By Tim Ross, Christopher Hope, Steven Swinford and Adrian Blomfield 9:25PM GMT 07 Feb 2011

Mr Suleiman, who is widely tipped to take over from Hosni Mubarak as president, was named as Israel's preferred candidate for the job after discussions with American officials in 2008.

As a key figure working for Middle East peace, he once suggested that Israeli troops would be "welcome" to invade Egypt to stop weapons being smuggled to Hamas terrorists in neighbouring Gaza.

The details, which emerged in secret files obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to The Daily Telegraph, come after Mr Suleiman began talks with opposition groups on the future for Egypt's government.

On Saturday, Mr Suleiman won the backing of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, to lead the "transition" to democracy after two weeks of demonstrations calling for President Mubarak to resign.

And, here's the most relevant section of the cable: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/egypt-wikileaks-cables/8309338/DEFENSE-MINISTER-BARAKS-DISCUSSIONS-IN-EGYPT-FOCUS-ON-SHALIT-TAHDIYA-ANTI-SMUGGLING-AND-IRAN.html

5. (S) In terms of atmospherics, Hacham said the Israeli delegation was "shocked" by Mubarak's aged appearance and slurred speech. Hacham was full of praise for Soliman, however, and noted that a "hot line" set up between the MOD and Egyptian General Intelligence Service is now in daily use. Hacham said he sometimes speaks to Soliman's deputy Mohammed Ibrahim several times a day. Hacham noted that the Israelis believe Soliman is likely to serve as at least an interim President if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated. (Note: We defer to Embassy Cairo for analysis of Egyptian succession scenarios, but there is no question that Israel is most comfortable with the prospect of Omar Soliman.)

[L0oniX]

2. We??? WTF

[BeFree]

3. Invade!!

bush would have invaded by now. What are we waiting for? Have we turned pansy, or what?

[Bragi]

5. Amazing how few DUers udnerstand alternatives to invasion

I know the White House and State are peddling the "false choices" line that the only alternatives are to "go slow" or to "invade."

This doesn't surprise me.

I am surprised, though, that the idea of the U.S simply and openly supporting the main demand of the pro-democracy movement -- that Mubarak leave now -- has gained so little traction here.

[Bragi]

4. Yep

In September, the Mubarak government will review the recommendations from the Mubarak transition committee, and adopt them all, without hesitation.

Full respect will be paid, however, to the families of all the slain and missing pro-democracy leaders.

[quinnox]

6. I'm sure the US will have little to do with it

We would never dream of interfering with the process of choosing a political leader in another country, our history proves this. Besides, a Democrat at the helm, our great leader, President Obama, would never go along with it. :dunce:

[defendandprotect]

7. You're exactly right!!

[damntexdem]

8. WE may have to. But Egyptians don't.

And neither do they intend to go slow.

[sufrommich]

9. 'We" who? Are you an Egyptian?

The Egyptian people seem to be pretty good at weeding out the bullshit and determining what they want. How about we cut the paternalistic bullshit.