The battle for Egypt

The Egyptian people has through peaceful mass demonstrations demanded the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak as a necessary first step to democratic reforms. But last night Mubarak said he would stay on as planned until elections in September. Today Mubarak supporters began attacking anti-government demonstrators. It seems Mubarak is trying to preserve his oppressive regime, in the face of both Egyptian and international opinion.

Not that international support for the democracy movement couldn't have been stronger. Both the US and the EU have been dragging their feet and neither has come out decisively on the side of the demonstrators. However, yesterday US President Barack Obama made an effort to side with the opposition, calling for the "transition" to start "now". Obviously he didn't dare to directly call for Mubarak to resign.

Despite Obama's effort there is no sign of Egyptians waving the American flag. To that end US policy in the Middle East hasn't convinced people that the US is a true ally in the struggle for democracy. Indeed, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged this in her 2005 speech in Cairo:

For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region here in the Middle East -- and we achieved neither. Now, we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people.

Unfortunately, the policy of supporting democracy hasn't been firmly pursued, reflected in Obama's hesitant response to events in Tunisia and Egypt. Mubarak needs to be told to step down now. Anything less will jeopardize the transition to democracy in Egypt.