The New Republic Daily
Report
01/31/11
A Note of Warning and Encouragement for Egyptians, From an Iranian Writer Who Lived Through the 1979 Revolution Abbas Milani
After days of unrest, after declaring martial law in
some of the country’s main cities, the authoritarian leader gave a much
anticipated television speech. His tone was repentant. He promised change and
reform. The people wanted democracy and he promised to bend to their
wishes.
For a long time, the United States had been advising him to open his political system—but had been seen publicly as his chief supporter. The U.S. president had given lofty and elegant speeches defending democracy and human rights, assuring the people of the Middle East that the United States supported their democratic demands. But both the leader and his American supporters were caught off-guard by the size of the demonstrations. American officials began trying to walk a dangerous tight-rope: offering support for the beleaguered leader but also establishing ties and credibility with the opposition.
Continue reading "A Note of Warning and Encouragement for Egyptians..."
American Liberals and the Streets of Cairo Leon Wieseltier
01/31/11
A Note of Warning and Encouragement for Egyptians, From an Iranian Writer Who Lived Through the 1979 Revolution Abbas Milani
After days of unrest, after declaring martial law in
some of the country’s main cities, the authoritarian leader gave a much
anticipated television speech. His tone was repentant. He promised change and
reform. The people wanted democracy and he promised to bend to their
wishes.For a long time, the United States had been advising him to open his political system—but had been seen publicly as his chief supporter. The U.S. president had given lofty and elegant speeches defending democracy and human rights, assuring the people of the Middle East that the United States supported their democratic demands. But both the leader and his American supporters were caught off-guard by the size of the demonstrations. American officials began trying to walk a dangerous tight-rope: offering support for the beleaguered leader but also establishing ties and credibility with the opposition.
Continue reading "A Note of Warning and Encouragement for Egyptians..."
American Liberals and the Streets of Cairo Leon Wieseltier
