Just in from the PMO:
“Canada respects President Mubarak’s decision to step down in order to promote peace and stability in the country. The future of Egypt is for Egyptians to decide.
Canada wants to see free and fair elections; we want to see the rule of law and stability; we want to see respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities, including religious minorities; we want to see the transition to a democratic Egypt.
Our Government encourages all parties to move forward with a peaceful, meaningful, credible and orderly democratic reform process towards new leadership, including free and fair elections in order to build a brighter future for the people of Egypt.
Canada will continue to support Egypt in implementing meaningful democratic and economic reforms. We will also continue to encourage and support Egypt’s efforts to promote regional stability and peace, including with Israel as well as continued respect for peace treaties in the Middle East.”
That's all of 153 words. Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama went on for all of 850 words.
What's the matter? Are my comments no longer welcome here?
Or did I hit the wrong key?
I thought I had left this comment:
“That's all of 153 words. Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama went on for all of 850 words.”
I agree with you. Obama's quite wordy, isn't he? 😉
OK, it appears I may have hit the wrong key yesterday, since I now see my comment as published.
On a more serious note, much is being made in our national media about the PM's cautious remarks regarding developments in Egypt, contrasting them with the rhetorical flourishes of President Obama.
However, the national media fails to mention:
• The PM's remarks, especially the “tooth paste” one that Bob Rae and Paul Dewar have delighted in deriding on every talking head show possible, were made in answer to a reporter's question AND prior to the announcement of Mubarak's resignation.
• The PM's remarks, be they off the cuff or official statements, have always stressed the sovereignty of the Egyptian people in determining the course Egypt would follow, thus sending the message that it is not Canada that will dictate what shape the Egyptian government will take.
• Our media has hardly mentioned the ambiguities that emerged in White House messaging:
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/07/obama_administration_deals_with_conflicting_statements_on_egypt
Other sources/examples to follow.
VP Joe Biden, interviewed by PBS's Newshour [Jan. 27, 2011]:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/140923-biden-mubarak-not-a-dictator-protests-not-like-eastern-europe
« “I think the time has come for President Mubarak to begin to move in the direction that — to be more responsive to some of the needs of the people out there,” Biden said after stressing that he shouldn't resign. »
Special envoy Frank Wisner’s message:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12374753 [Feb. 5, 2011]
« On Friday [Feb. 4] US President Barack Obama urged Mr Mubarak to “make the right decision” and to begin the transition “now”, without explicitly saying he should step down. …
… Mr Wisner, a former ambassador to Egypt, was sent by President Obama to Cairo on Monday, apparently to urge Mr Mubarak to announce his departure.
“We need to get a national consensus around the pre-conditions for the next step forward. The president must stay in office to steer those changes,” he told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday [Feb. 6] »
In addition, the WH also seemed confused by Mubarak's Thursday Feb. 10 speech, when he said he was NOT leaving, whereas the WH had been expecting him to announce his resignation.
And finally, some media and other critics have pointed to Israel perhaps playing too major a role in the PM's position.
Some have even hinted (Travers ?) that Benjamin Netanyahu wrote to his allies/friends to garner more support from them on Mubarak. However, they forgot to mention other countries in the region similarly asking for caution:
http://thenewadmin.com/top-stories/allies-press-u-s-to-go-slow-on-egypt/
“Allies Press U.S. to Go Slow on Egypt
Posted On Tuesday, 08 Feb 2011
Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have each repeatedly pressed the United States not to cut loose Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak, too hastily, or to throw its weight behind the democracy movement in a way that could further destabilize the region, diplomats say. One Middle Eastern envoy said that on a single day, he spent 12 hours on the phone with American officials.
There is evidence that the pressure has paid off. On Saturday, just days after suggesting that it wanted immediate change, the administration said it would support an “orderly transition” managed by Vice President Omar Suleiman. …”
Oh, yes, one last thing — President Obama’s wonderful 850-word speech (I’m not being sarcastic) was a prepared speech, probably crafted very carefully by him and his speech writers, either in preparation for or immediately AFTER Mubarak’s resignation. The PM’s remarks, which Solomon’s Power Panel deemed not inspiring enough and downright “tepid” (Terry Milewski) were impromptu, made at the presser during the unveiling in Newfoundland of the MV Blue Puttees ferry, PRIOR to the announcement of Mubarak’s resignation.
Anyway, President Obama’s rhetorical excellence are undeniable. PM Harper’s speeches are not necessarily given to imagery and lyricism, but they convey the essential message he wishes to convey, IMO. AND his message on Egypt has been consistent throughout.