Unrelenting repression of democratic opposition in Egypt

In today’s Washington Post, Anthony Shadid, in the second installment of a multi-part series on the democratic movement in Egypt, discusses the evolution of the controversial relationship between the United States and Egypt.

In a speech in June 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that the U.S. would take serious steps to promote democracy in Egypt, including putting pressure on Egyptian government to grant greater freedoms to its citizens. However, it seems, as Shadid writes, “pragmatic priorities triumphed over promises.” Secretary Rice sent a strikingly different message after the December. 7, 2005 Egyptian elections, saying, “We can’t tell Egypt what its course can be or should be.”

Indeed, it now seems that the U.S. is backing further away from our key ally in this troublesome region. “The Americans now prefer stability over democracy”, said George Ishaq, a demoralized Egyptian opposition leader.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian government has continued to relentlessly crack down on democratic opponents. Hundreds have been arrested, with many being members of the Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, which poses the most serious threat to the ruling National Democratic Party.

For the full article, click here.
For Sunday’s article, click here.