Asked if he would characterize [Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak as a dictator [Vice President Joseph] Biden responded: “Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he’s been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with – with Israel. … I would not refer to him as a dictator.”
Let's look at a few facts. Mubarak assumed the presidency of Egypt following the assassination of Anwar Sadat by Egyptian soldiers in 1981. The subsequent "elections" were nothing more than rubber-stamp referenda. When Mubarak allowed opponents to run, they were hassled and jailed on trumped-up charges. Opposing Mubarak on the street has, before now, been a one-way ticket to one of the Mukhabarat's torture cells.
Egypt has a constitution; it has been suspended for the last 50+ years. Which means, in essence, that Egypt doesn't have a constitution. It is a one-party state which has become adept at using the police and the army to crush any opposition. Political dissidents are routinely arrested, tortured and imprisoned.
Mubarak is a dictator, in every sense of the word, even if he doesn't dress in flashy uniforms and holds massively-staged rallies.
So just shut up, Joe. Please. You are embarrassing us.
1 comment:
Laurel and Hardy reincarnate.
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