While Belarus' freely-elected Lukashenko is one of America's enemies, Mubarak (in the picture with President Bush) has been America's "friend" and "ally"
These are not rhetorical questions. Obama and Clinton were quick to endorse the change in Tunisia, and American government is always on the side of the "people" if they demand democracy. However, the value of freedom actively drops when the position of an American-friendly tyrant is in question. Had Lukashenko ruled Belarus for 30 years straight with an iron fist and millions of Belarusians demanded his resignation for a week - Obama and Clinton surely would have issued a statement demanding his soonest departure on the first day of the protests.
However, when the time came to establish a truly free nation in Egypt, the White House was slow to respond. Clinton made contradicting statements, State Department and the White House sent mixed signals, and--a week later--Obama vaguely said "status quo is not sustainable and a change must take place." Whatever that means, that's not what Egyptian people want (or even understand; Mr. Obama, you're talking to Egyptian people, not Washingtonian think-tank scholars). "Whoever gave him that advice gave him absolutely the wrong advice," commented opposition leader ElBaradei on Obama's remarks. Wow! Mister President, your advisors miscalculated. While this one isn't as funny as your gift of the DVD set with American "regional settings" to the British Queen, the results are all the same: the Queen cannot watch the movies in London, and Egyptians cannot use your advice in Cairo.
Police tortures under Hussein in Iraq somehow were more dramatic and worthy of America's criticism than exactly same actions under Mubarak. In fact, even though Belarus' Lukashenko was elected in fair elections (as noted by multiple international observers), Obama's White House practically embargoed the country. Its president and highest government officials are not allowed to travel to the States, and the State Department demands "freedom" for Belarusian people. The reality is that--according to my personal accounts with Belarusians and people who recently visited Belarus--the country is the cleanest, safest, and most independently prosperous (if you wish) nation of the former Soviet Union. Lukashenko says "no" to Putin, to Obama, and does what his people want. But him saying "no" does not qualify him as a U.S. ally, and thus voids the democratic process behind his presidency.
Dear White House folks, if you're reading this - pass this one to your boss. Bad formula is this: Lukashenko = tyrant, Nazarbaev = great democratic leader; Hussein = terrorist and criminal, Mubarak = friend and ally. Consistency is the virtue, and the one that needs to be preserved. Otherwise, the war for freedom in the Middle East, the words of the Founding Fathers, and the Freedom itself become a mockery. That's a dangerous slippery slope. You're on it. Beware!
I am starting to think Obama's plan to curry favor with the Muslim world is to simply let it develop into a super caliphate that will subjugate Europe and demolish Israel.
All these riots internationally - if their politicians behave the way ours do in the UK, it's no surprise!
The people of Egypt are following a long known process that a society does when the general public feels powerless, impoverished, and helpless. The selfishness of Mubarak is unbelievable. He now talks about caring about the people that he has kept close to hunger, with no rights, and the ability to pursue a future. Given the right leadership, this country was located in an environment which could have been has financially and socially successful as any EU country.
One should wonder whether Obama is a hypocrite or he has developed a common trait of the American thinking: the Double Think! The capacity to hold contradictory beliefs at the same time!
The Americans believe that Russia of today is the same as the Russia of Tsars. Therefore the terrorists attempts of today are the natural continuation of the terrorist murders of Tsar Alexander II, of Stolypin, of Tsar Nicholas II, etc.