In the wake of the overthrow of the Ben-Ali regime in Tunisia, and Yemen's calling for the exit of longtime president Ali Abdullah Saleh, revolution certainly seems to be in the air lately.
In the past week, that sentiment also seemed to be true in Egypt. While there has been no takeover of the Egyptian government, there have been protests throughout the country, with many people calling for the ousting of longtime Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
Unfortunately, these protests took a sour turn last week, as Egyptian police have cracked down on the protesters rather harshly. Their tactics have included the use of water cannons and tear gas, as well as the beating of the protestors.
The main target of police force is the Muslim Brotherhood Party, Egypt's leading opposition party and one of the major dissenters of the Mubarak administration.
At The Spectrum, we believe the police reaction to these protests has been excessive to say the least. These people have the right to protest, and their free speech is being restricted.
It would be one thing if the protestors were attempting to remove Mubarak using force, but merely calling for resignation using non-violent protest does not justify such a violent response.
The situation in Egypt leaves the United States at an unfortunate crossroads. The Mubarak regime has long been a U.S. ally, so it is understandable for President Obama to be reluctant in condemning the actions of his administration in dealing with the protests.
In addition, the United States is internationally known for being a control freak when it comes to international affairs.
It is has a long history of getting involved it disputes that, in many countries' eyes, are none of its business. As a result, taking a firm stance here could not only cost the U.S. a long-term ally, but also spark the anger of the international community.
At the same time, it is hard to deny the inherent wrongdoing of the Egyptian government in handling the protesters. That's why we believe the U.S. should behave with extreme diplomacy here. The best stance to take may be none, and if President Obama does wish to criticize the Egyptian government, he should be careful to avoid inflammatory language, which could lead to anti-American backlash.
Furthermore, we believe that if a regime change does take place, the U.S. should not attempt to impose its constitution on Egypt.
Doing that sort of thing is what gives America its reputation as a country that can't mind its own business. The cruelty of the police force in Egypt is undeniable, but in this situation, the best thing America can do is keep its distance, and let the situation play out.
