Nour Rida

How quick was the America shift from a Husni Mubarak supporter to a backer of a "democratic" toppling of his government... but not so surprising! After he was the friend and ally of yesterday, the US today calls on Egyptian 30-year ally Husni Mubarak to step down as it seems he is out of service.

Again that is not surprising...As once said Henry Kissinger, an integral figure in U.S. foreign policy, holding positions in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations and of over a dozen books on US foreign policy and affairs, "America has NO friends, only interests". In other words, the US has temporary allies, as long as they are useful, they will continue to have a "special" relationship with the US administration.

Initially, when the Egyptian people headed to the streets on the 25th of January, the US administration tried hard to show support for the Egyptian regime. The US issued statements assuring that the Mubarak government was looking for reform. Until as recently as Tuesday, the US voiced unconditional backing for the "strongman", for instance when Hillary Clinton said the regime was "stable" and "looking for ways" to address protestors' grievances. But when her statements drew howls of protest and revealed skepticism about US motives in the region, the US administration shifted its tactics.

Only a week later, the Obama administration started to sound support to the protestors who remained in the streets of Egypt refusing to leave until Mubarak and "his regime" collapse.

On this note, Abdel Bari Atwan, Editor in Chief of the London-based Al Quds Al Arabi and political analyst, told moqawama.org that faces such as Omar Suleiman are only new US chosen ones to replace Mubarak but to remain under the same regime.

Atwan noted that the US stances are misleading the public. "These statements hold behind the scene a continuation to the Mubarak regime and there has been no clear message to the revolution or the people." He further added that "the aim of the US in its confusing steps is to have the bulk of the regime continue with no change but in faces of those in the government. By that, the US would ensure its interests in the region, and the interests of its ally, the Zionist entity."

"Mubarak is super glued to his chair and does not want to leave office; he is challenging the revolution and is driving the country to bloodshed," Atwan noted. Now Mubarak himself seems not to see the Big White Elephant in the room. Atwan assured this point saying "While ignoring the sufferings of the Egyptian people, Mubarak remains in office and refuses to listen to the protestors or see the major issues that led to the revolution. Meanwhile, the US is looking after its interests."

On the 2nd of February and Calling for Egyptian President Husni Mubarak to step down, US Senator Bernie Sanders praised Egyptian demonstrators who "have inspired people throughout the world who believe in democracy. He said that after 30 years of autocratic rule the time is now for President Mubarak to step down and make way for an orderly and peaceful transition to democracy. Bernie further added that the "violent attacks against the protestors initiated by President Mubarak and his supporters are clearly unacceptable."

Also, Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John McCain, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Mubarak to immediately begin an orderly and peaceful transition to a democratic political system.
Senator Kerry also said "Tonight, the United States Senate stands unanimously with the Egyptian people and speaks with a bipartisan voice in condemning the violence."
US President Barack Obama on his part said Washington will support the "orderly and genuine transition to democracy" in Egypt, following reports that Husni Mubarak will step down.
The US president said the world was "watching history unfold" in the face of widespread anticipation of the victory of protesters. He made the statements in a live speech as more than 3 million protestors gathered in Cairo's Liberation (Tahrir) Square in a final push to end Mubarak's 30-year regime to an end.

But to his surprise, Mubarak on Thursday announced he will not leave office until the end of his term. The US administration was in a state of emergency then as the US President rushed to meet with his National Security Team.

On Friday, a day after Mubarak's speech in which he said he "will not accept diktats from foreign countries", Senator John McCain issued another statement slamming the Egyptian President.
"When President Mubarak alleges that foreigners and outsiders are manipulating events in Egypt, he could not be further from the truth", he pointed out adding that "President Mubarak's announcement that he will remain in power is deeply unfortunate and troubling. The U.S. Senate expresses its full support for the peaceful aspirations and the universal human rights of the men and women of Egypt."

The United States, Egypt's second best ally after "Israel", has easily given up on the Egyptian President following the people's insistence on collapsing the Mubarak Regime, voicing support to the people and their democratic right.

But the US distanced itself from Mubarak and ingratiated itself with the democratic revolution to save what is left of the Mubarak regime, while the Egyptian president and his "face" is another no longer useful ally to its conspiracies in the Middle East.

Mubarak leaving office does not mean a loss to the US; the real loss would be the coming of a regime opposing US interests in the region, more important "Israel's" interests.

One proof to that is Omar Suleiman becoming Vice President of Mubarak. Suleiman has playing a key role in the controversial CIA rendition program.

Also, secret US diplomatic cables revealed on Monday that "Israel" has long preferred Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman as the preferred candidate to succeed President Hosni Mubarak.
According to an August 2008 cable released by WikiLeaks and published by the Daily Telegraph online newspaper on Monday, a senior adviser from the "Israeli" War Ministry told U.S. diplomats in Tel Aviv that the "Israelis" believe Suleiman would likely serve as "at least an interim president if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated."

The former head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate was appointed the second-in-command on January 29 amid an emerging revolution in the troubled country and mounting popular demands for the ouster of the tyrannical, "pro-Western" Mubarak.

The US end to the Egyptian story: If pro-Western Mubarak leaves, the rest of the 30 year old dictatorship pro-Western friends in the current power structure should stay and should do just fine.