Obama will go down in history as the president who lost Egypt

The Neocons and Israeli Lobby dominated US foreign policy is what has 'lost Egypt and the ME' - it has put American on the wrong side of history and on the same side as the pro-Apartheid forces in Israel

Which will finally bring down the american empire? Hope so! Although I'm little bit worried about Israel. Yes I'm, after all we're ''neighbours'' and many arabs living in peace inside Israel. This is a brilliant opportunity to make peace as fast as possible, and SOLVE the problems. Yes do that before you fall a big fall, every arrogant nation in history that has messed with politics will fall. Do it and don't complain that '' we don't have peace partners with the blood-thirsty arabs- BS''. Do it before its too late, do it before WW3 is a reality. The key is in your hands.

1. Not a single protester or slogan-bearer summoned up the Israeli-Palestinian dispute as a factor in the most revolutionary transformations to overtake the region's countries in half a century. The Palestinians issue was totally absent from street demonstrations and Iran's takeover of Lebanon - giving the lie to the decades-long claim by Western decision- and opinion-makers that the Israel-Palestinian conflict was the root-cause of instability in the Arab and Muslim worlds and if it were not settled, those worlds would turn against the West. The Palestinians were plainly far from the minds of this week's Arab demonstrators. 2. The force most energized by the popular uprising in Egypt week turns out to be the extremist Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood - not only in Gaza and the West Bank, but also in Jordan. Its enhanced potency makes it a menace for Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah, and the Hashemite throne in Amman. Flexing his new muscles, Hammam Saeed, head of the Muslim Brotherhood of Jordan and a close ally of the Hamas's Damascus-based leader, Khaled Meshaal, said this in Amman Saturday, Jan. 29: "Egypt's unrest will spread across the Mideast and Arabs will topple leaders allied with the United States." DEBKAfile's Middle East experts predict that however the Egyptian uprising turns out, and in whichever direction it is pushed and pulled by the United States, it will end in a new parliamentary election and a new civilian government in which the Muslim Brotherhood will be substantially represented. This government will not abrogate the 1979 peace treaty binding Israel and Egypt for 33 years – no Cairo administration will risk losing the substantial aid package from America – but its format will change. The intimacy of day-to-day cooperation on common security and other matters may well be disappear and Israeli political, military and intelligence figures will not longer be welcome in Cairo for consultations on common concerns as they are today. The Palestinian leader Abbas may also find the welcome mat withdrawn, unless he is willing to succumb to Hamas and cede control of the West Bank to the Palestinian extremists.

will be the year Israel finally lost support from moderate arab nations, after so many stupid mistakes...

Which will finally bring down the american empire? Hope so! Although I'm little bit worried about Israel. Yes I'm, after all we're ''neighbours'' and many arabs living in peace inside Israel. This is a brilliant opportunity to make peace as fast as possible, and SOLVE the problems. Yes do that before you fall a big fall, every arrogant nation in history that has messed with politics will fall. Do it and don't complain that '' we don't have peace partners with the blood-thirsty arabs- BS''. Do it before its too late, do it before WW3 is a reality. The key is in your hands.

you cannot lose something which is not yours. The error of Western policy towards the Middle East has been to over estimate the power of the West to shape events. This was true event in the 19th century when Britain and France competed in the region. The US tried to replace the old powers after Suez but the steady decline in US power has meant that its reach has been much shorter than imagined. The US simply cannot control events in Egypt - just has it has be unable to force the Netanyahu government to accept a settlement freeze so it is unable to "reform" the Mubarak government. The Middle East is on its own.

Not saving brutal and corrupt dictators like Mubarak is an honor that President Obama should be honored to have in his legacy. "Losing" these tyrants is like losing a stinky can of garbage that you don't want and don't know where to dispose of.

Answer: Tyrants

you can not stop a river flowing, with your hands alone.The 80 millions egyptian people deserves freedom and democracy as anybody else and it is immoral, not to wish them success, but to continue living under a repressive and corrupt dictatorship for decades.

and our tolerance of them has tied our hands with our other allies in the middle east. settlements have been used to fuel anger against the U.S. thorughout the Arab world, including Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, and elswewhere.

If anything the egyptians are embracing democracy much like the americans, obama is the one who gained tunisia and egypt, netanyahu is the one who lost all israels friends and turned it into rogue state.

The blatant bias for Israel can be seen by the blind. You champion democracy in iraq and Afghanistan but when the people want it you'd rather support the dictators who do as you say. Justice comes to all...

The Shah was a repressive dictator aiding the Western/US/UK oil cartels. Mubarak is not different (minus oil) in his approach to interests and methods of ruling. The "elections" cited are merely a referendum "Do you want me for another 6 years?" and he miraculously wins by 90% of the vote, often under massive vote irregularities noted by international organizations, opposition, etc. The PROBLEM is what or who fills the void. Radical Religious oppressors? Popular discontent is what leaders fear the most. We in the West are bombarded by rhetoric and narrative. But our consumer toys and distractions aid in our numb approach to governmental responsibility and accountability. Are we waking up? Now the people in the Middle East are fed up and we in the West "worry" after our manipulation, wars and proxy conflicts. Too late. The massive difference between Iran and Egypt is that now information is more available to us and them. Leaders are VERY worried the world over. Very. And good ... The US admin is worried. The Israeli government is very worried...and sorry but it's their fault as they had plenty of time to halt settlement construction, make overtures of peace and give a sense to a Palestinian State. Instead every Israeli admin did the opposite. Time to panic? Yes ... and quite deserving. No time to play the narrative now... A third intifada has been predicted by Shin Bet for a while. Fmr SB head Ami Ayalon has publicly spoken about this for years. So when is it our turn, people in the West, to overthrow our democratic regimes of corporate, oil/gas, bank, weapons industry interest groups and funders? Get your heads out of your iphone apps and start thinking and looking at the bigger picture. .....who's next?

This article is just an insult to the people of the world in general and people of Egypt in particular. Since when you made people slaves while they were created free. Enough with this mind of superiority and let people paint their own destiny and live under their own form of system. As long as there is no respect and dignity in this world, peace will never see the end of the tunnel.

Regimes dependent on outsiders are not really sovereign. That is true of groups such as Hamas and Hizbollah dependent on foreign sponsors opposed to peace, as much as Arab nations such as Egypt and Jordan receving American aid for being supportive of peace. Aluf Benn should note that what is happening is that the people do see a link between a fading American power and aging local tyranny. That American power is fading is self-evident, that an aging local leadership had not renewed itself is also obvious. But the fact that Obama is president at the moment is not the salient point. It was not his policies that led to America's decline. If one wants to look at the underlying causes of all this - do I dare mention Marx, there is a demographic change in the ME - large numbers of young adults without jobs and alienated from the governance of their own nations. Or are Israeli commentators so blinded by their economic miracle, a gas discovery and using blockade to suppress opposition they have lost touch with the needs and aspiration of fellow human beings.

Your opinion is just that. Bush was the friend of Israel because he was a born again Christian. As a born again he was a "Crusader" and had to recapture Jerusalem. His neo con friends were all Jews: Wolfawiitz, Perle, Kissinger, Kristol. I am a Jew and was bar mitzvahed Orthodox. The neo cons used Israel and the Jews for Armagedon (return of Jesus after all the Jews die) Revelations. I supported the 6 day war and retaking Jordan so that Palestine would be on both sides of the Jordan. The Brits and the French divided the Middle East as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Blame them for the problems in the Middle East, not Obama. The Middle East did not belong to America and the Carter and Obama lost nothing as it was not theirs. I supported Israel during the Yom Kippur was. I blame the CIA and Churchill for overthrowing Mosedegh and reinstating the Shah. The Shah was overthrown due to his being a dictator. Palestine belongs to whomever occupies it and so does every other country in the world. Bush owned Iraq after killing Saddam. No one has ever owned Afghanistan, not the Brits, the Russians or Alexander. The tribes own Afghanistan. The Jews own Israel. American stole American from its Indians. Pres. Jackson drove the Indians out of their own land on the "Trail of Tears". Egypt was occupied by the Brits who used that country to fight the Turks in WWI and the Germans in WWII. Most of North Africa was colonized by the French. Africa below Sudan was divided up among the Brits, French, Belgians, and the Germans. Africa was never theirs, but they took it, stole its people and shipped them as slaves to the Americas on British ships. America fought its Civil War with 600,000 killed. Islam will fight its Civil War among its Tribes. We should all butt out. It is their problem to solve. The Jews now occupy Israel and it is theirs to defend. I have no problem with Israel expanding its borders. Just dont blame Carter and Obama if the dictators and Kings are overturned by its people. Israel is divided between the secular and non secular Jews. When a Jew assassinated Rabin the Jews from that point on cannot live among themselves. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are populated by Jews divided by Orthodoxy. Get your own country together before you criticize others. You have a divided Knesset as we have a divided Congress. "So what else is new?" Martin S Friedlander, Esq. Historian

As a dumb American, please stop interrupting my vastly superior reality shows regarding a country most of us think is somewhere near Mexico. "I mean, like, there are no hot girls/guys in the cast, and what's the deal with the voting? How am I supposed to know who's winning? We should be able to dial in our votes like on Amercian Idol, you know, omg. And another thing, this better be over b4 the big wedding! Kate Parker is the best, omg. She must be really important cuz that Prince guy she's marrying has a lot of money!" Try to sex it up a little for us, and when all else fails bring in Simon Cowell to narrate the story, then America will start paying attention.

aluf benn does not mean that obama literally owned egypt and then lost it. what he means is that obama has failed to understand the middle east and its enormous complexities and hence his policies have failed.

Democratic states. Dictatorships must know they don't have the support of democracies. Enough of hypocrisy.

Every one. Now that,s a legacy worth mulling over.

So far the idea the USA and Europe want democracy in the world, makin war for it all over the world. Now the people in Tunesia and Egypt want democracy it is seen as a problem...

It is no accident that the Iranian revolution took place under Carter and the Egyptian revolution took place under Obama. A weak US with a weak president who coddles terrorists, lacks a moral compass, and would probably not declare war if bombs fell on Washington, guarantees instability for the foreseeable future. Many of us are holding our breath and coutning the days until dignity and gravty is restored to the White House. Hopefully that salvation will not be in the form of Sarah Palin, but at this point Sarah is looking better and better.

lost Egypt just as Carter lost Iran.A shortsighted view of the turbulent ME,& lack of understanding the core issues,culture & aspirations of the common people.

As long as there are authoritarian regimes in the region, there will be immigration and terrorism problems for the west which will be eventually more dangerous because of hopeless people of the region. Iran was the first example of its kind (from authoritarian regime to sheriah) so there might have been a misreading of Carter administration. But today situation is not the same, people are connected to each other via internet etc...unlike the period of Iran revolution. That affects the things. Furthermore there is an example to follow for pious muslims (eventhough some Israelis hate, Erdogan government is good for even Israel if u think well) Obama administration made a strategic decision and they chose long term security instead of short term.(of course let's not forget the desire of the people for change, which became more and more unstoppable) We will watch it and history will write the rest.

The Author forgot to mention that Truman lost China and Nixon lost Vietnam, the old cold war tripe. Indeed, the central idea upon which this article is based--that foreign states are the US's to lose--is so old and, please forgive my lack of nuance, just plain wrong. The US can't control the internal events of Egypt, a county to which it gives billions, just as it cannot control the internal events of the state of Israel, a country to which it donates tens of billions. If Obama lost Egypt this week than surely the US lost Israel a long time ago, since it hasn't listened to us in decades.

I didn't know the USA owned Egypt? I guess i misunderstood something.

By the standards of this opinion piece, Glenn back is the rational and reasonable and factual one on Fox News. Fact One - The Shah got cancer and Jimmy Carter did not give it to him.

...before it is too late...

I don't know what fantasy land this guy lives in other than rabid Obama hatred. None of the mainstream press in the U.S. has mentioned a thing about Obama having lost Egypt, nor for that matter Turkey. Certainly not because he is a so-called leftist and too soft. If anything, Benn should look at his own inept and corrupt government, which wii someday also face an uprising from the Palestian and Arab street because of its inaction and delusional belief that the status quo is sustainable. This guy doesn't have a clue about American politics and perceptions of Obama.

I just looked at my world map and--I found Egypt! It is still there and it belongs to the Egyptians.

But he got the Nobel....

What a ridiculous article. Let's be clear America is not god, and has no right to impose it's will on anybody! period. Egypt belong's to it's people!

Israel will never be threatened by the kind of truly democratic revolutions we are seeing in Tunisia and Egypt. Obama did not lose Egypt because Egypt was never Obama's to lose. Rather, the Egyptian people are reclaiming Egypt for themselves. Long live the Egyptian Revolution! Long live Egyptian democracy! All our support is with the Egyptian people.

What neocon historical revisionist tripe. Those old enough to remember know that the Shah got cancer. Carter offered treatment and the revolution took place while the Shah was out. They took the Hostages because carter would not send the Shah back. And the Iranian Army stood aside and let the revolution happened. Short of invasion, there was nothing the US could do about Lebanon or Tunisia or Egypt. As for Turkey, it is a US ally, a member of NATO. You are starting to make Glenn Beck sound rational.

what good is giving something that is real (land) to a Dictator that will eventually be overthrown? whether in one years time or 30 years time. What can Israel offer than?!

as standing for democraxy and the people of eygpt as he should have done.

I guess 30 years under a dictatorship isn't long enough.

More likely Bush "lost" Egypt by over spending, under regulating and launching the foolish Iran war which had the effect of making Iran the regional power. But, much as I thought Bush was an idiot, Bush wasn't to blame either. Mubarak is getting really old in a region where the population is young and unemployed. This was going to happen anyhow give or take a few years. I think we should demand democracy of countries like China, and demand the rule of just law and much more freedom in places like Egypt. I too, though Jewish, am on the side of the protesters ... though I realize that this could end up as a worse dictatorship like Iran, but hope for something better like Turkey. Either way, maybe the US and Israel should stand for justice and clean up their own acts as well.

Two years in office and already Obama is blamed for the 30 years of Mubarak rule. I mean Bush I, Bush II, Clinton, they were all right, but it's Obama who lost Egypt???Come on!

the author is right when he states that in obamas speech in cairo he said "i am one of you" he is.it is also true that he is anti ISRAEL as much as he is anti AMERICA and he has proven to be as inept as jimmy carter,lets hope the US electorate remembers

You make a great case for why we should stop supporting Israel until it establishes acceptable borders for a palestinian state. And thats not going to happen while you let your own hard right- like the (ultra) 0rthodox continue to steal land that belonged to palestinians for a thousand years. You are as guilty as the palestinians.

The Middle Eastern people want to be able to steer their own courses. The dictators that have been held in place by the USA have become useless and more corrupt, because absolute power inevitably corrupts. The Egyptians caused many Christian Copts to flee decades ago so they lost professional well-education potential leaders. Egypt is the poorer. Some hope...a democracy in the Middle East?

The problem for american goverments is their national security require them to be in bed with dictators,the arab world want peace with Isreal but the USA and the arab dictators will not allow it because a stable middle east means the US cant sell weapons any more, and the arab dictators have to answer for their actions,the opposition will honor the peace treaty with Isreal and will open up Egypt for real investments.....lets move on to Syria where the real devil lives......

This editorial contains a lot of nonsense for the following reason: (1) US declared a war on Iraq and lost billions of dollar and thousands of lives under the slogan of spreading democracy, but when it comes free of charge in Egypt, you want US to stand agaist it! (2) The change in Egypt is going to happen sooner or later, do you stand agaist it and get no respect like with Iran, or do you make a balanced position and get some respect? I would choose the latter one.

its your messiah. fasten seat belt, here comes the truth: at the end of the day, every people are responsible for their own actions. their own government. israel too. nope, its not the US.

So let me get this straight, George W Bush talks tough about Democracy and the Egyptian people don't hold a revolution. Barack Obama addresses the Egyptian people in a milder manner and they want to overthrow their dictator? Am I getting your point? And aside from that, anything else you want to blame on America in general?

Obama will primarily be remembered as the person who won the passage of the US healthcare law.

If you read any liberal New York Times columnists (Krugman, Herbert), you will know that Obama is not a leftist President. In the State of the Union address he did not even mention the poor. Remember, the American public wants the US military out of Iraq and Afghanistan, so if Obama were to send American troops into Egypt he would face severe opposition.

George Bush will be remembered as the freedom seeking American president. After all, it was his major justification for the Iraq war knowing what he knows now. Obama continued this freedom doctrine.

Its not about Obama or Bush. It's more about your innate unexamined fear and coming to grips with how you want to live peacefully with the others in the MENA region by promoting a fair deal; and well beyond the simplistic and tired old irrational arguments calling out for more repressive dictators/autocrats (portrayed mistakenly as a stability precursor). Its also not a choice between the Islamists or repression (oddly labelled stability by the pundits!). Frankly, the old approach shows an utter lack of common sense (let alone basic human understanding) to think that one can broker a "lasting peace" by simply supporting the autocrats within the region to help sustain it. It is a misguided strategy at best. Thugs/dictators/autocrats who run rough shod over basic human rights and freedoms of their people have no legitimate interest or basis to win over the people's aspirations, let alone their trust in order to help get a "buy-in" for a lasting peace. They have long overstayed their welcome and are frankly well overdue for retirement in a fast changing world. Hard as it may seem at first blush, it is wiser to garner a " buy in" for a lasting peace on the base of legitimately elected leaders that respect the rights and freedoms of the majority they present (not just mouthing words and false promises). And certainly not on the autocrats who are too busy building their own empires and fiefdoms at the expense of developing their people. Lessons learned?: Repression and stifling of basic freedoms and aspirations of the people simply does not work in helping ensure a sustainable peace within any country or region. Never has and never will on a lasting basis. Arguably, most Israelis would be the first to march for their basic human rights and freedoms. Why can't the others in the MENA region have this right? What makes one think that they would not have similar human aspirations ? Perhaps these steps towards freedom (and democracy) in the MENA region could in fact finally help move many in the right direction in garnering a lasting peace, based on the will of the majority rather than the transient grip of the autocrats, who have been too busy all these years significantly building their own personal economic and political empires. They did not really spread the dividends of peace to their people. Its never too late to seize this opportunity for a change in the right direction! It should be welcomed rather than simply feared - now more than ever.

A more democratic Arab world will be very hostile towards Israel and the USA.

The way to lose a country is to do what we did in Iran - continue to support a dictator until the very end, guaranteeing that the people who finally overthrow him will see you as the oppressor and enemy. On the contrary, lending support, even moral support, to the inevitable revolution is the way to win the country - when they get Mubarak out of there, they will see the US as an ally. What a ridiculous article.

Talk about hyperbole - Obama was 20 when Mubarak took power; and he's kind of been taking care of global financial and economic crises (let alone the mess that was left by the previous administration). As an American, I'm sorry to admit it, but Egypt just isn't on the Top 100 list of priorities... Wish that those in the Middle East that have put up with their dictators and oligarchies would take some responsibility for them and stop blaming Obama and America.

I am of the opposite opinion regarding Obama pushing the settlement issue to prevent Arab anger. The absence of any mention of the Palestinian issue in this Egyptian volution draws into question whether settlement construction has any bearing at all in the stability of the middle east

Aluf Benn are you speaking to yourself? President Obama, perhaps if anything, can someday claim that Democracy broke out in the Middle East on his watch. With 6 more years left for him to preside over the executive branch of government in the USA we might find that he can claim peace between Israel and Palestine and the collapse of the Islamic regime in Iran. Bush gave us a couple of wars and millions who hate us and a collapsed economic system.

Bush lost almost all South-America And we are better without the US. But this is precipitated, Egypt government is not down yet.

• Obama sincerely supports the Egyptian people, and puts strong pressure on Mubarak to transition to democracy. Very strong pressure, including financial threats if he doesnt. • I believe, a patient, peaceful, intelligent, and smooth transition into a democratic government is in the best interests of the Egyptian people. Violent revolutions seem to accomplish nothing except brand new dictators to replace the old dictators. 3. Ironically, I believe Obama is - to some degree - personally responsible for all the unrest in Africa and the Mideast. Obama himself has a 'Muslim African background'. And he became the president of the most powerful democracy on the planet. I believe many Muslim Africans look at Obama and asked, 'If him, why not us?' • Mutually empowering freedom isnt easy. In fact, it is very difficult. I believe, Mubarak sees Egypt has evolved and wants a free society for Egyptians. Egyptians should do what they can to work with him. • Mubarak is a brilliant statesperson. If it is true, he wants Egypt to be free, Egypt can benefit from his statescraft. He is truly talented. In the future, Egyptian history will see Mubarak in context and be proud of him. Mubarak sees himself has 'tough' but 'fair', and that self-assessment seems accurate enough.

Obama will be honored in history for helping make Egypt to become a free nation, and so we want the rest of the Arab countries with constitutions and legitimate leaders instead of the CIA sustained crocks.

An 82-year-old dictator with no succession plan -- this was bound to end suddenly and badly. Obama happened to be on watch when global wheat prices hit a 30-year high. Egypt cut food subsidies this month, and kablooie. In essence, you're blaming Obama for the weather.

... go down as the leader who lost Egypt. Israel has far more riding on this than America does. Frankly, the unrest in Egypt has zero effect upon America, certainly in the short run. The effect on Israel, however ....

Nothing would have been different if bush (jr. or sr.), reagan, or any other right winger had been president. indeed, we saw the great successes of reagan (lebanon) and bush (iraq) in the middle east. BTW, turkey was already "lost" under bush.

Contrarily, Obama's deferential speeches and perceived "weakness" may have been wildly successful at "building ties with the Muslim world", so successful that its masses have decided to, like Americans, embrace democracy and finally reclaim what should always have been theirs - their voice, vote, and destiny.

There is no reason to assume that America lost anything - they never had it to start with.

This may be true, but only in some people's account of history. The reality is despite the will of dictators and superpowers, people around the world will always be free to rise and take control of their own destiny. That this is remotely scary, shows how trite and selfish we are as humans.

Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon are not America's to lose. Nor are they Israel's to lose, The neighborhood is changing. We have to learn to live in it as friends of its peoples. Doing so, we will find real Shalom - peace with justice and a shared sense of well-being.

Who lost Iraq? Why is that not mentioned? GW handed that country over to Iran!!!

So America should side with the citizens' will or autocratic dictators? Wrath of the citizens? Shame on you. What about the wrath of Mubarak (pharoh) on the citizens of egypt?

If Israel makes peace with dictators that;s fine but the peace will only be a heartbeat away, the PEOPLE hate Israel and that is who israel needs to make peace with.,

The Israeli issue would not have stopped the Tunisian or Egyption problem. We all know that. However, the hatred for Israel will still be there no matter who is in place. It's the masses that despise you, not the leaders. Dictators and Kings are here because you won't question there dictaorships if they take a soft line on Israeli policy. Just like Egypt is paid by the USA, these dictators are not questioned on their legitmacy. THINK about the long term. You need peace with the people, NOT peace with 1 man. You can win the hearts and minds of the people, then you can prosper in saftey. However, if you cannot even keep your own Israeli arabs happy, how the HELL do you expect ordinary arabs and muslims to react. Peace should start at home first. It can be done.

This is silly. This isn't about Obama, this is about Egypt. No one knows how this will play out. It was a matter of time before dictator Mubarak was tossed aside. The way you should have written this article should have been" Obama the president that witnessed democracy spreading".....

The unrest in Egypt has been simmering and in the making for at least a decade. In true democracies people do not have to go to the streets. They unseat a government in a balotbox. In dictatorships the oppressed citizens are not given such anopportunitt. Obama as a leader of the largest democracy in the world is obligated to talk the talk and walk the walk. The notion that Obama has 'lost' Egypt to its own citizens id not only undemocratic but anti-democratic. The outcome might not work in Israel's favor but the leaders of Israel should have entertained the eventuality long ago and preempt the consequences by defusing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For years Israel has denigrated the Arab countries for their undemocratic regimes. Now that a change is taking place Israel has to eat its own preachings and grandstanding.

The Americans have a history of backing the wrong side. Switching allegiance in the interests of political expediency is part of their agenda - Israel should take heed of the warning.

The style of oppressive authoritative governments are bound to fall, especially with an interactively changing global world which entail nations of pluralism and inclusiveness, how could things remain the same year after year? In the ME any U.S. intervention is frowned upon negatively - supportive of Mubarak or not supportive. It's an internal socioeconomic situation which has been brewing for years and which bred Islamic fanaticism as well. One can actually state that Obama's Cairo speech was an inducement for change with some countries in the Middle East. They are tired of corruption and want to see improvement in their lives.

The whole premise of this article is flawed. We lost Iran because we supported a tyrannical dictator. I'd rather see Egypt free itself that us not "lose" her because we are propping up a brutal dictator. Egypt will not be lost to a fundamentalist regime. I'm excited for the people of Egypt and hope that they when their freedom.

I'm sorry, but as a US citizen I resent the notion that I own a piece of Egypt, or Israel, for that matter. Please, I don't want it. It's their's. If some corporatists decided to stick a dictator in charge, I didn't get asked and would have said, no way. Please learn to get along with your neighbors and stop fighting each other, and I'll work here, in the US, to get us out of your hair. Good luck. Play fair and try to get along.

I seriously doubt that years from now " Obama will go down in history as the president who lost Egypt". Most people have enough sense to realize that the protests and the downfall of the Egyptian government are a result of Mubarak's own failure as a leader and not Obama's. It is simply time for a change in the middle east. The citizens of a country can only take tyranny and oppression for so long. In this case, after thirty years, it's time for a change.

Torture is 'being lost'- not Egypt

Egypt is not Obama's or the USA's to loose or keep. Egypt is a sovereign country of its people and its government. When will people understand that the USA does not own the world such that we can "loose" foreign countries? Not that I in anyway what so ever endorse the immoral and illegal operations of the regretable George W. Bush, for his middle east policy and practice I am ashamed to be an American.

The Israeli people and the Palestinian people must come together to demand a democratic and egaliterian OneState solution.

If, and I say if egypt will loose mubarak chances are quite high that either the muslim brother hood takes control or at least will have very big influence in a comming new government and that would mean that the peace treaty from 1979 could be anullated.why? the peace agreement is an agreement between israel and mubarak as a dictator! there is no international component which means that a new egyptian government could easily say the agreement is not valid anymore.as result israel would loose and even more the chance of a new mideastwar where this time shiites and sunnis and even turkey would stand together as allys would be very very high.times for israel the life of its people its security and its struggle for accepted existence are at stake if egypt falls into the hands of foes of the peace deal.in addition there are 2 more problems...first suez canal...imagine foes of israel and the west in control of that canal!!!! economic desaster prices skyrocketing!....second a very well trained and quite good equipped egyptian army mostly payed an established through us and israeli money...in the hands of foes...egypt army is biggest and most modern among arab world...none of us wants that!!!egypt...who cares???????????????? EVERYONE IN THE FREE WORLD SHOULD CARE OR TOMORROW WELL HAVE A TOTALLY NEW AND CERTAINLY WAY MORE DANGEROUS WORLD WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE IN!

Erdoğan is enemy of Turkish republic and Israel. Because both are modern countries with their difficult neighbors. Erdoğan is hired by States for re-shaping Middle east for economical benefit. This Includes punishing Israel and Turkey by establishing separate states like Palestine and Kurdistan for non-stability then they will offer peace for a price. wake up my long lost friends. Turkish and Israel interests are drowning under Araps and USA agitations. Wish God saves us from Erdoğan and his evil partners. They have sent a ship of terrorists to Israel under the banner of Turkey. 600 years of friendship in difficult times is in danger because of world policy they foresee.

I think that what you are seeing in the Middle East now is a result of the changes put into play with the removal of Sadam from Iraq. That was the Dawn of a new age for the Middle East. The removal of the most powerful dictator showed all that change is possible. The seeds of democracy/change planted are now sending roots out over the whole region. Arab counties and Israel will slowly come to grips with the notion that yesterdays government policies of minimal change and procrastination that only serve the few powerful are coming to an end. All governments will have to start listening more and more to their people else risk being replaced.

What an ignorant article! "Obama's loss" is the Egyptian peoples gain. Freedom from the US backed dictator of 30 years.

My country should never support dictators with our tax dollars. No matter how strategically helpful they are. Power to the People!

Obama will be remembered as GW Bush II. Egypt is the least of out problems.

I'm sorry but I find the premise and conclusion of this article somewhat ridiculous. The current president helped unleashed waves of populist pro-democratic protest in iran, tunisian, and egypt, leading to the kinds of changes in the region which will benefit people not rulers. Bush's bellicose bravado lead to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which mainly helped our geostrategic position as it destabilized countries. These protests are the opposite of that: we are removed but supportive. The next generation of Egyptian politicians will be friends with us, not because they trust us, but because they know what their own citizens are capable of. Frickin' triumph this week, and you can only see it from inside a State department sideseat at the Pentagon. Go outside, feel the air. This is not Jimmy's Carter's era. This is not Jimmy Carter's failure. Didn't you hear that things are different now. I just read a tweet about it.

Power comes from truth, honesty and supporting rhetoric with action. As long as the US supports strong arm, non-democratically elected rulers who serve geopolitical agenda its lip service toward defense of liberty will always be exposed as that. If world events have taught us anything about power ,it is that conviction trumps muscle in the end. A leader must talk the talk..and walk the walk. Despite our history it is never too late to choose freedom over brinksmanship

we have our own problems we can't solve. notice to world, you're on your own, good luck.

Why of all the countries in the world should the US do anything? People resent us no matter what we do we might as well just be neutral and not have to take the blame.

You really think the average American cares about Egypt let alone the President? Sure, he has to put up a front, but c'mon, we really don't care about Egypt. lol

This is what happens when your wishy washy with not only your allies but your own People. Even the blind that followed him during his election can see that he says one thing and does another.

Mubarak and his friends (including Israel). His time has passed. The US never owned the place as far as I know. It just paid rent.

The only good leader that Egypt has ever had was Joseph. Perhaps Bibi could loan them one of Joseph's descendants to take the reins for a while.

A free, democratic Eqypt is rising while Obama is president. History will look kindly on this development.

America has paid only lip service for calls for democracy in Egypt. As long as Egypt was friendly to Israel, opposed Muslim radicals America was willing to turn a blind eye to the repressive regime there. No president, including Obama, can take credit for what is going on in the streets. America has ignored the Muslim world too long

I believe Israel made a major mistake in not seriously approaching peace talks and continuing to pursue inflammatory construction. The US can not and will not continue to support Israel in a relationship that only weakens the United State's position in the 21st century. Now Israel may have lost its chance, and somehow you project blame onto our president instead of your non-willingness to negotiate a fair outcome with the Palestinians.

The sooner America has nothing to do with the Middle East, the sooner it will become great again. In American history, the Middle East will not even be listed as a footnote. It simply does not matter.

Obviously the Egyptian govt. wasnt fair to its citizens or they wouldnt be having a revolution. Also, when has it been America's goal to silence people fighting for their rights?

I've not understood why we, a country that is suppose to stand for democratic ideals, ever supports non-democracies. Our focus should be on becoming energy independent and not on picking the least of two evils as allies around the world. We shouldn't be supporting regimes who oppress their people. If you really want to spread American values, it's time we stop supporting un-American values.

How can the US lose something it never owned?

hahahahah

Lie, Lies, Lies. Mr Aluf Benn, you need to look at policies of the current Israelli government, Nentayahu, and see the impact on the overall Middle East, and stop blaming Obama who tried to bring Fairness and Justice to the Middle East that will be beneficial to both Israel and USA in the long run.

Some might say Obama was the catalyst for change with his speech he gave in Cairo a year and a half earlier titled "a new begining." Is it he that lost Egypt or the populus of Egypts citizens that demanded that new begining?

egypt's opposition: nasserites, marxists, islamists. none are democrats in the western sense. obama's cairo speech will go down in history as a strategic blunder. the american foreign policy establishment is known for its blindness when assessing revolutionary movements. there can be no democracy without a strong democratic tradition and a civil society.

and, unlike Turkey, the new Egyptian government will be hemmed in by the 'red lines' of American foreign policy that the Egyptian people will demand (rightfully) that Egypt be on the 'wrong' side of, so there will be no way for the new leadership to find a way to keep the US mollified while easing its way out of the US stranglehold. Of course, some future Israeli President or Prime Minister will 'go down in history' as the one who 'lost Israel' (unless the Palestinian population decides to keep that name for reunified Palestine as a gesture to the Jewish population of that new/old state) rather than them listing those who failed to come to some sort of agreement with the Palestinians over the years that would let the Palestinian population accept the breakup of their country while the global situation was such that they could not see hope of reversing the situation.

United States does not have any friends. Only has interests.

I didn't know US or Israel owned Egypt . If you have the ownership paper please show it to us.

The ony people who think Obama is weak are Israelis who write op eds.

Egypt will soon gain freedom and democracy. I worked for Turkey, and it should work for Egypt. We hope that it'll work for Yemen, Jordan, and Syria.

I don't agree with your opinion on this. This is not an Islamic revolt. From what I understand of the situation there are Muslim and Christian people protesting side by side. They are demanding true freedom not some religious distortion of freedom.

Just a comment: "the world doesn't revolve around Israel".

while mubarak is planning his 'graceful' exit, his replacement will not be much different. the country may lose its 'martial laws', the ruling national assembly, and a few iconic mega rich businessmen; but israel and the US know well another algeria experience is in the making unless one of mubarak's own strong men holds on to power. this man is Sulieman the VP and future president.

the author states: "Obama apparently believed the main problem of the Middle East was the Israeli occupation" Enough, already. Not sure if it's paranoia or megalomania or perhaps just old fashioned scapegoating, but such claims distort President Obama's record. Time after time, President Obama has made it abundantly clear in both word and deed that U.S. interests in the Middle East place Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran above Israeli policies towards the occupied territories. unless the author is claiming these countries do not reside in the Middle East, his claim is either ignorant or disingenuous. . . .

June 2005 Hezbollah won elections in southern Lebanon under GW Bush's watch. With GW Bush's army, Iraq's autocratic government was defeated and Iraq was lost to ethnic battles and genocides.

I didn't realize the United States owned-and could therefore lose-whole other countries. That's pretty cool. If "losing" Egypt means one less autocrat in the world, I think I can deal with that.

Do you really think that this is a case of "the people" finding their "Freedom"? Get real. Please do some research before saying stupid things like that. The Egyptian military controls Egypt. If Mubarak goes it is only because they decide he should go. Besides, you are just plain silly if you think that the US is just watching the situation and not doing anything. Don't take my word for this. Do your own research.

President Obama will go in history as the US president who encouraged popular and democratic changes in the Arab countries. This policy started after 09/11/2001 and now with Tunisia first and Egypt second and the rest to follow, its getting in shape and bringing results. These are popular liberal uprisings and not religious uprisings and there resides its strength and its continuity.

Egypt was not lost by him but for all the Presidents before him who allowed Mubarak to stay in power this long .Now , he may be the President who will loose Mexico to the drug cartels ,right on our backyard !

Obama never had Egypt to lose. Ethnocentric viewpoint of the situation.

It's about time the U.S. "loses" an ally in the Middle East. Seems like you're making the comparison that if the U.S. doesn't rescue a regime, then that inaction will inevitably result in a radical resentment of the U.S. later... There is no fight in Egypt for the U.S. There is no saving of a 30-year term president there. There is only hope that people can protest peacefully and reform happens. The U.S. intervening on the side of this regime would go against everything the President prescribed in his recent address to the country. Staying out of the fight of Egpyt's people for Egpyt's country will only allow Egypt to further respect the U.S. down the road when stability returns. I will remain cautiously on the fence with Obama and watch as Egpyt is rewarded for its own commitment to Democratic government reform.

Egypt may not be lost - there are educated moder people in Egypt who want the modern world free from dictators or fatwas. Obama could have urged a bloody Tiananmen Square-like crackdown but doubtful the Egyptian Army would be as willing as the PLA to fire on its own people. Obama seems to get blamed whenever things go badly but no credit when things go well. He inherited Mubarek from Bush W who loved Egypt's interrogation methods. it is to early to know what will happen. -- There could be a new and long lasting birth of freedom earned by Egyptians - not bestowed by Europe or America but made by and for Egypt.

firstly -- it is WAY too early to tell what outcomes will evolve from the present unrest and how beneficial or damaging they might be to American/Egyptian/Israeli interests. it is possible, that, if we see something closer to the best case scenarios emerge, that Obama might get partial credit for having "liberated" Egypt but if so, it would be as large a fallacy as the central premise of the article, that Egypt's fate is in the hands of the U.S. President, whoever that might be. the most important thing to focus on, is that at this point, so far, "down with Mubarak" has not been accompanied (as it was in Iran in 1979) with vilification of "the Great Satan" -- perhaps, because Obama has let Egyptians decide the fate of Egypt . . . .

israel is shaking in it's matzah...

All the political calculations made are going to fail; the power of people is strongest and justice will prevail. All my best to people of egypt, algeria, tunisia, ...and the list is long because the list of corrupt and criminial regimes is way too long...

More people have gained liberty while obama has been in office. Give me a break.

Go to The Oil Drum to see why Oil is the cause. Egypt becomes a net oil importer this year. The West no longer needs them, except to keep the Suez Canal open.

All this happenings show how weak America with Obama and the Democrats foreign policy.Their apologist system now is being exploited by the the little known anti American in the past.

"Leftist" president? Benn has been paying too much attention to right wing nut jobs in the U.S. With advisors like David Rubinstein, Warren Buffet, et. al., Obama is hardly "leftist." Calling him that is either a sign that Benn is not up to the task of writing relevant commentary or just another sophist posing as a political commentator..

As an American, I don't see Egypt as U.S. possession to be "lost". I don't remember Jimmy losing Iran either. Nice try though.

No government can quell the movement of people, except Iran and North Korea who have brainwashed for decades. How could the US where true freedom exist stop protesters? Every country will wait and make ties with new government in Egypt. Good luck to the world if it's an oppressive Islamic Republic. No bias meant just observation.

pres obama is doing his best to do what is necessary in a world where the environment is dead...so lets face it, pres obama is not the man to blame for killing earth, that would be human beings and the critics who never offered any constructive advice!!

I think this particular piece is extremely biased. To begin, Egypt's problems stem from the stagnation of a 30 year long rule with which the people of Egypt are extremely unhappy. To suggest that the PUSA could do anything to ease tensions in the nation is a total fabrication. The events in Egypt have far more to do with Egyptians than a president with plenty on his plate. This is not Obama's jurisdiction.

In The United States, when the right wing is in power, it spends recklessly on its credit card (while cutting taxes) and after losing power, blames the problems it created on the newly elected (center/left) government. The same goes for foreign policy. The right, under Bush, lost the Middle East, and now blames Obama for not cleaning up its mess fast enough.

There was a 10 month settlement freeze and the Palestinians still refused to come to the table. As far as the Egyptians are concerned, the reason they are in the streets is because they can not live on $2/day. Mubarak's foot has been on the Egyptian neck for 30 years. Their anger at him does not have anything to do with Israel.

is eliminating the mindset that the US owns any other country.

... lackadaisical leadership

The will of the Masses/People can never be stymied, no matter what. You forget about the Soviet Union!

See what happens when the Republican party takes over Congress.. We lose the middle east

What a stupip thing to say. "The US can do little to save Egypt from the government." Who would or should the US save Egypt and Tunisia from themselves? It is the people's governments. It is for the people to decide their destiny without outside interference. That is the nature of democracy---the people decide their own fate, not a dictator, not a religious fanatic, not some corrupt business person! The people choose for themselves. Peace to Egypt and Tunisia!

While the citizens of Egypt are suffering, our president has done nothing to aid them other than pressure the crumbling head of the government, Hosni Mubarak. America stands for empowering the people. I don't believe that his inaction will have any direct action on the United States. Whenever there is a new leader of Egypt, the president will extend all support possible. Don't jump the starting gun and assume that President Obama lost Egypt. If he had acted to overthrow President Mubarak, then the United States does nothing to counter the assumption that we want to overthrow governments and replace them with friendly puppets, as many feel we did in Iraq and Afghanistan. Action equals US Imperialism to many openminds outside of the United States. We respect the sovernignty of foreign goverments, but always side with the people. Egypt's regime will collapse, the US is counting on it.

Odds are that Mubarak will stay in power and nothing will change. This article just goes to show how shoddy journalists are in general.

Egypt belongs to Egyptians. It does not belong to its despotic and undemocratic rulers. Why should US shed tears on this issue? Its your fear that is reflecting in the article.

I wish I could foretell the future as well as this author! What stocks should I buy?

The US failed to embrace the popular revolution in Iran against the regime that it and its Western allies supported. The US didn't "lose" Iran, it chose not to welcome it. Just as it chose not to welcome the North Vietnamese liberators that it had if fact encouraged and supported during WW II. The West and its colonial remnants are fading into history as these people are becoming free, just as our own countries did long ago.

Trying to find any reason to attack the President and the United States. You should be more grateful.

prbably he will loose egypte because of Israel

While the comparisons between Obama and Carter are legion, I have not seen it put so well until now. I personally agree more with the policy Obama has put forth, especially in not giving Israel everything it wants (which it has been accustomed to for the past two administrations), it is clear that the path he has chosen is starting to bring back results which do not bode well for future American policy.

President Obama should recognize that this whole thing is NOT about the United States. It is about the people of Egypt. I would like to see Obama say something like "We stand by the people of Egypt, and believe that President Mubarak should abide by the decision of the citizens of Egypt and step down We will not interfere, as this is their moment, and not ours."

This is about the Egyptian people tired of tyranny and poverty. There is no peace if there is injustice. I only hope that those dedicated to the people, peace, human rights and justice, will take over the government. A Jeffersonian Egypt would be wonderful!

' We' never had Egypt in the first place. All we had was a dictatorship that placed American needs and desires above those of the Egyptians themselves -- which of course meant that it was bound to fall regardless of what we did.

What are you talking about...Obama never had Egypt.

The title of this story is so fail its hard to describe. The thought that one can loose a country arouse when china "fell". That idea that you could loose a country has since drove presidents to do irrational things such as Vietnam. To use such a title shows that the authors education clearly lacks a certain amount of history.

obama did not loose anthing, the people found their freedom, a very beautiful thing to find in any part of the world. lets hope it is freedom that they find, not some other repressive goverment

We have bigger problems in our country. Why does the US "always" have to play world cop?

"The street revolts in Tunisia and Egypt show that the United States can do very little to save its friends from the wrath of their citizens." This is bad, why? Democracy should be supported regardless of its face. Typical of Israel to support undemocratic means.

Jimmy Carter is not known as the president who lost Iran, but as the president who couldn't get our hostages back. Egypt doesn't have any hostages, and the USA is looking forward to the end of Mubarak's presidency and a new govt. with better rights for the people. Let that country work things out for themselves. It's none of our business. We give them plenty of aid every year, now stop whining and trying to drag us into Egypt's problems.

Great forecast for the peace in Middle East and all over he world

And jordan, Israel, etc.! All the dictatorship he support with money, weapons and politicaly, will fall! The hypocrite will bite the dust! Freedom is coming!

Maybe he should just lose these "good friends" and embrace democratic changes which everybody will be concern about the future of political scene. the changes must come!

So isn't it a bit early to say that Obama "will be remembered as the president who "lost" Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt"? Indeed, Turkey is NOT lost to the US, and the US state department HAS had close contacts and cooperation with some in the Egyptian opposition(wikileaks cable), and that guy Miqati is a pretty shrewd and balanced individual. So hey, it's a bit early...wouldn't you say? Matter of fact, we may just be ADDING Syria to our realm of friends.