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Two Questions on Egypt
The first is silly, but in my paper edition of the Washington Post this morning, David Ignatius says Hosni Mubarak's nickname is "the smiling cow" while Jim Hoagland, on the same page, says his nickname is "the laughing cow." Who is right, readers?
Hoagland. Egyptians joke that their president looks like the cow on this package of cheese. (Ignatius is probably ashamed his French is so rusty, which might be why his error has been removed from his op-ed online.)
The second question is one the Obama Administration should be asking itself but does not appear to be: Where do we want Egypt to be six months (one F.U.) from now?
Thus far, all of the focus on Egypt has been on winning the day: making sure the administration does not appear to be caught lagging behind momentum. But a better strategy would be --
HOLY %$#@, as I write this, Hosni Mubarak resigns!!! Holy la vache qui %$#@ing rit.
-- figuring out how we want this to end. Do we want a transitional government? Do we want a Turkey-style republic? Figure that out, and we can then figure out what needs to happen for that to take place -- and how we can support the process. Maybe it's election monitors, maybe it's through constitutional lawyers, maybe it's through more aid for the military. But figure out where we want Egypt to go. I don't see that yet from the administration.
My first question
My first question is.......
How much did it cost the US, what was the deal to get Mubarak to step down ?
My second question.....
Is Mubarak really out of the picture ?.....Pelosi did not go away, she is still causing problems.
If you want a real piece of
If you want a real piece of red meat to chew on.....
This cost $90 Million.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48549160/RosettaStone
I don't have a twitter
I don't have a twitter account, but your "Leon Panetta: "I was 12 hours off. Back the $#@% off" is definitely a re-post to the social media I do use. Thanks! Crazy day...
Well we've already sent guns
Well we've already sent guns and money, why not lawyers?
Seriously, please no lawyers.
And on a (really) serious note, IMO best we can (and should do) is buck up the military to tell them that if they do a good job of midwifing this thing, we'll keep sending them $$$ and cool toys (well maybe not as serious a response as I was intending). Wonder if those who question all of our military-to-military contacts (like those who always protest the old School of Americas) realize this is what its all about. Building for a day like this. But at some point, the Egyptians have to figure this out for themselves.
And last point, the Admin, outside of Panetta's hiccup (or was it, or was it a ploy to pressure him? hmmmmm...) they've played this one well. Once it became a certainty that Mubarak was going to leave at some point, it made complete sense to throw in with the protestors. Whether its 6 days or 6 months, eventually some of the people in those crowds will likely be running the country. Might as well acknowledge that whether Mubarak had resigned or not.
I agree that our
I agree that our administration should be thinking of long-term goals, and I suspect that they are. My question is: would it be wise for the administration to speak publicly about the U.S. agenda in Egypt, given that whatever they say will be read in Egypt and may, depending on the audience, work against their long-term interests? You have pointed out that our efforts in Afghanistan are being hindered by statements from the administration regarding end dates and troop withdrawals. Obviously, our government should be thinking about long-term goals in Afghanistan and setting tentative goals and deadlines, but I agree that isn't helpful when these goals and deadlines are communicated to the enemy. Similarly, how would it help our cause if it appeared to the Egyptian public (and especially those participating in the riots) that our government was setting the terms for a new governing structure in Egypt? Of course we will be involved--we always are--but given that self-governance is a stated goal, it seems wise for our administration to maintain a low profile.
It's the laughing cow.
It's the laughing cow. Although he may not be laughing anymore.
Not knowing much about the
Not knowing much about the Egyptian military I'm curious was the restraint due to a genuine desire to have a peaceful regime change or was the lack of action an understanding by the high command elements that any command to use violence would be met with insubordination by junior levels ? Essentially did the military hold back to preserve their cohesion post Mubarak ?
It is not going to be a
It is not going to be a Turkey- Style republic. Military is too strong and feared. It is going to look more like Pakistan.
P.S: Madhu now that i have mentioned the 'P' word please don't go jumping out of the window.
"Well we've already sent guns
"Well we've already sent guns and money, why not lawyers?
Seriously, please no lawyers."
ROFL. It hurts when you have long ears.
Send them all!! Just wait till they have Sharia Law. I can't think of a bunch deserving it more.
ROE this, you bitches.
La Vache Qui Rit is sold in
La Vache Qui Rit is sold in the US under both the English and French names.
History: Mubarak got the name in the Sadat days as he was known for being rather slow, unimpressive, and more important, pleased with anything Sadat said. Why that name? Well, back in the day...that is, before the infitah, you could get your cheese in one of two ways, both local: gibna rumi [yellow] and gibna beida [white]. With the economic reforms, foreign foods came onto the market, including foreign cheese....though they were mostly, like La Vache Qui Rit, mass-produced items of dubious taste...but it was new, each wedge of the processed stuff individually wrapped....utter decadence for the status starved.
You might want to considerate it "Infitah Cheese" or "perhaps proto-klepto-capitalist cheese."
In those ancient times, bread also came in two forms, 'aish baladi [brown round loaves] and 'aish shami [white round loaves associated with Levantine food, hence the name.] in some neighborhoods, there was also a rather dried up sliced loaf bread called "tost."
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Runners always need new gear,
Runners always need new gear, and each time we go asics gel into gucci outlet a store, there are new versions of our old favorites. How do apparel companies come up with new products and styles gucci shoes each season? For insights I spoke with Patty Kelly, product manager at the ASICS apparel division. Not only has she been in the business for 20 years, but she has also raced all over the world as a member of the Canadian national triathlon team. Patty is currently working on apparel for fall 2011. Eventually she will asics shoes sale give a designer "product detail," which explains all the specific attributes of a given product she aims to sell. For example, she may request a seven-inch pair of shorts with two pockets and lightweight fabric. The designer will gucci shoulder bags create two or three models, gucci t shirts and she'll pick the one she anticipates the customer will like best. But before that can happen, she must do research, which includes figuring out how to differentiate this season from last and how to stay ahead of emerging trends.
Runners always need new gear,
Runners always need new gear, and each time we go asics gel into gucci outlet a store, there are new versions of our old favorites. How do apparel companies come up with new products and styles gucci shoes each season? For insights I spoke with Patty Kelly, product manager at the ASICS apparel division. Not only has she been in the business for 20 years, but she has also raced all over the world as a member of the Canadian national triathlon team. Patty is currently working on apparel for fall 2011. Eventually she will asics shoes sale give a designer "product detail," which explains all the specific attributes of a given product she aims to sell. For example, she may request a seven-inch pair of shorts with two pockets and lightweight fabric. The designer will gucci shoulder bags create two or three models, gucci t shirts and she'll pick the one she anticipates the customer will like best. But before that can happen, she must do research, which includes figuring out how to differentiate this season from last and how to stay ahead of emerging trends.
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