Prayers for our sisters and brothers in Egypt...

Innaharada, ehna kullina Misryeen is the colloquial Egyptian Arabic for: "We are ALL Egyptians!" As the revolt in Tahrir Square intensifies - and a growing international chorus calls for Mubark's resignation and immediate departure - I keep thinking about two thoughts:

+ First, the incredible presence and courage of the young people throughout Egypt who have led the revolt. Largely they are peaceful, clear-headed, committed to a new and better future for their great nation and inspired by Tunisa.

Nicholas Kristoff writing in the New York Times onf 2/1/11: The equivocation of the US is not working. It is increasingly clear that stability will come to Egypt only after Mubarak steps down... this is not only in our own interest, it is what we owe to the brave men and women of Tahrir Square: we stand with peaceful throngs pleading for democracy, not with those who menance them.

David Brooks, writing in the Times the same day, took this call deeper: The protestorss feel enormous pride that they are finally speaking up, even in the face of danger. They feels a surge of patriotism as the people of their country make themselves heard... (All of this reminds me of some observations the US should consider.) First, the foreign policy realists who say they tolerate authoritarain goverment for the sake of stability are ill informed. Autocracies are more fragile than any other form of government. Second, those who say that speeches by outsiders have no influence on places like Egypt have it backward. The climate of opinion is the very basis of the revolt. Third, for all the pessimism and nevousness that accompanies change, most countries that have experienced uprisings are better off..

The other thing we have learned is that the United States usually gets everything wrong (in these matters.) There have been dozens of democratic uprisings over the years, but the government always reacts like it's the first one. There seem to be no protocols for these situations, no preset questions to be asked. Policy makers always underestimate the power of the bottom-up quewst for dignity, so they are slow to understand what is happening. Last week, for example, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that the Egyptian regiem was stable, just as it was falling apart.

Further, their instinct is to comfort the fellow members of the club of those in power. The Obama administration was very solicitious of PResident Hosni Mubarak during the first days of the protests and of otherr dictaros who fear their regime may be next... (Why not) go deeper like the Working Group on Egypt - co-led by Michele Dune and Robert Kagan - suggest? (For more information please see: http://www.carenegieendowment.org/)

+ Second, why has the US blocked Al Jazeera broadcosts and reporting at such a critical time? Why have US leaders ignored Al Jazeera's repeated requests for interviews and commentary, too? We can access the site on-line (check it out @ http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/) This is either foolish, naive or mean-spirited. What's more, having clear and real time information helps us all learn that MOST Muslims are not only moderate politically and spiritually, but they are MORE like us than not.