Comments on: Bush stops in Egypt http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2008/01/bush_stops_in_egypt/ Olin Institute :: Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:04:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Emad Shahin http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2008/01/bush_stops_in_egypt/#comment-70 Emad Shahin Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:46:13 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2008/01/bush_stops_in_egypt/#comment-70 For many in the region, President Bush’s latest visit to the Middle East did not amount to more than a public relations tour. His public statements on Palestine, Iran, and democracy were viewed as dated, unhelpful, or untenable, reflecting policies out of sync with the expectations of the people of the region. Bush’s statement on a Palestinian state was not new, and was mitigated by his urging the Palestinians to accept geopolitical fait accomplis (the Separation Wall and illegal settlements) and compensation for the refugees. Instead of enlisting regional support for a multilateral solution and an honorable U.S. exit from Iraq, the President focused on Iran as a regional threat. In this, he failed to enlist the support of the Gulf states, including the United States' strongest allies, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Bush’s visit to Egypt was yet another clear mishandling of the historic and strategic relationship between the two countries. It was seen as signaling the diminished strategic importance of Egypt to U.S. policies in the region. In the President's first visit to the region in the seven years of his administration, he dedicated only five hours to Egypt, compared to two days in Saudi Arabia (where he appeared on Arab TV screens as “Bush of Arabia,” wearing the <i>abaya</i>—the traditional Saudi garment—and dancing the <i>arda</i>, a Saudi folkloric sword dance). Bush’s talk about furthering freedom and reform in Egypt was reminiscent of his strong 2005 stand on democracy, which Michele Dunne rightly sees to be “on life support.” The sudden revival of the reform agenda is viewed with suspicion, as a way to squeeze concessions from the Egyptian regime on regional issues. Strains in the relationship are likely to continue until a new administration enters the White House. <i>Emad Shahin is visiting associate professor in the Department of Government, Harvard University.</i> For many in the region, President Bush’s latest visit to the Middle East did not amount to more than a public relations tour. His public statements on Palestine, Iran, and democracy were viewed as dated, unhelpful, or untenable, reflecting policies out of sync with the expectations of the people of the region. Bush’s statement on a Palestinian state was not new, and was mitigated by his urging the Palestinians to accept geopolitical fait accomplis (the Separation Wall and illegal settlements) and compensation for the refugees. Instead of enlisting regional support for a multilateral solution and an honorable U.S. exit from Iraq, the President focused on Iran as a regional threat. In this, he failed to enlist the support of the Gulf states, including the United States’ strongest allies, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Bush’s visit to Egypt was yet another clear mishandling of the historic and strategic relationship between the two countries. It was seen as signaling the diminished strategic importance of Egypt to U.S. policies in the region. In the President’s first visit to the region in the seven years of his administration, he dedicated only five hours to Egypt, compared to two days in Saudi Arabia (where he appeared on Arab TV screens as “Bush of Arabia,” wearing the abaya—the traditional Saudi garment—and dancing the arda, a Saudi folkloric sword dance). Bush’s talk about furthering freedom and reform in Egypt was reminiscent of his strong 2005 stand on democracy, which Michele Dunne rightly sees to be “on life support.” The sudden revival of the reform agenda is viewed with suspicion, as a way to squeeze concessions from the Egyptian regime on regional issues.

Strains in the relationship are likely to continue until a new administration enters the White House.

Emad Shahin is visiting associate professor in the Department of Government, Harvard University.

]]> By: Dan Kurtzer http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2008/01/bush_stops_in_egypt/#comment-61 Dan Kurtzer Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:41:22 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/mesh/2008/01/bush_stops_in_egypt/#comment-61 Michele Dunne has put her finger on two critical issues, one symbolic and one substantive. President Bush is the latest in a long line of American officials who have treated their visits to Egypt as afterthoughts, as brief whistle-stops. Despite knowing how sensitive Mubarak is on this question—he constantly implores visitors to extend their stays—U.S. officials have passed through the country in hours. More substantively, President Bush's words about the strength of U.S.-Egyptian relations will do little to calm the bilateral waters unless he accompanied those words with a private commitment to try to restore the full amount of military aid which Congress wants to reduce. Is Egypt still "worth the money?" This requires a more thoughtful discussion than a few lines of comment, but the short answer for now is "yes." With such angst in the region about U.S. policy over the past few years, this is the wrong time to dump an old friend overboard. <i>Dan Kurtzer served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001.</i> Michele Dunne has put her finger on two critical issues, one symbolic and one substantive. President Bush is the latest in a long line of American officials who have treated their visits to Egypt as afterthoughts, as brief whistle-stops. Despite knowing how sensitive Mubarak is on this question—he constantly implores visitors to extend their stays—U.S. officials have passed through the country in hours.

More substantively, President Bush’s words about the strength of U.S.-Egyptian relations will do little to calm the bilateral waters unless he accompanied those words with a private commitment to try to restore the full amount of military aid which Congress wants to reduce. Is Egypt still “worth the money?” This requires a more thoughtful discussion than a few lines of comment, but the short answer for now is “yes.” With such angst in the region about U.S. policy over the past few years, this is the wrong time to dump an old friend overboard.

Dan Kurtzer served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001.

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