Gamal Mubarak, 42, a powerful political player and widely considered a possible heir to his father, Hosni Mubarak, told the U.S. officials that Egypt is committed to further democracy but said it would be a long-term process that will include setbacks. “There was no tension at all,” Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmi said in an interview. “They listened to his explanation of what was happening.”
. . .
[Egyptian ambassador to the US Nabil] Fahmi said Mubarak was on a “private visit” and decided to see top administration officials Friday. A source familiar with the talks said Mubarak came to the United States to renew his pilot’s license. Neither side announced the meetings, which were first reported by al-Jazeera television and later confirmed by U.S. spokesmen.
Aside from Cheney, Mubarak had a separate White House meeting with national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley. President Bush stopped by for a few minutes to shake Mubarak’s hand and convey greetings to his father. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stayed for a portion of the discussion with Hadley. It is unusual for a private foreign citizen with no official portfolio to receive so much high-level attention.
Why does he have a pilot’s license in the US? Is he a US citizen? Would someone really make a trip all the way over there to renew a pilot’s license and, while at it, casually stroll by Dick Cheney’s office to see if he had time for a cup of coffee and a nice chat? And meet the president while hanging around the West Wing’s water cooler?
My bet is that this is related to the heat Egypt has been getting in Congress on the military aid issue. And that would suggest, contrary to common pundit wisdom in Egypt, that Gamal does indeed have a foreign affairs/security portfolio on top of his public domestic policy/economy agenda. But of course it could be about all kinds of other issues, not least succession scenarios and his father’s ailing health, which is rumored to be a growing concern in US circles.
Hey, he’s an Arab man coming to the US to renew a pilot’s license – how on earth did he get a visa?
Wait – maybe he came to present his child-bride to the Court for their gracious approval.
Or maybe he came to swap notes with Cheney on how hard it is to do needs to be done with those pesky things called laws these days.
Beats me.
It is not uncommon for foreigners to hold a US pilots license. obviously it is uncommon to be able to walk in and chat with cheney and hadley, etc. I think what bears watching is that this is probably done even more for egyptian consumption than for the US congress and the aid issue. In particular I think it is done as a subtle reminder to the military that the mubarak jr. faction of the party is their key to continue receiving new toys and training.
Of course only a fool would buy the official theories as usual. Had Mubarak junior really gone to the US to renew his pilot license, why would he have to do it secretly?! My reckoning is that the succession minute is closer than ever. But neither Washington nor any other western power can really imagine what may happen in the biggest Arab country if that happens! any sane pundit can not deny the starking similarities between Egypt now and Egypt in the run-up to the 23-July-1952 military coup!! Watch out, guys, Egyptians may be overpatient, but patience apparently on the verge of running out!!!
Mubarak Junior visit was clear the way for crushing opposition, Ministery of Interior just issued a warning against Thursday Demo.
Only Egyptians can free their country from Mubarak family, corruption, and the rest.
A propos – just got this invite for an event in DC, if this gets enough high profile coverage perhaps it would be a good place to come and ask questions about recent Mubarak regime repression? I am posting the info in case anyone wants to go.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, May 25, 2006
10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Woodrow Wilson Center, 6th floor, Joseph H. and Claire Flom Auditorium
Human Rights Defenders on the Front Lines of Freedom
This event is hosted in cooperation with The Carter Center and
Human Rights First.
__________________________________
Gustavo Gallón (Colombia)-Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists,
Bogotá, Colombia
Saad Eddin Ibrahim (Egypt)-Chairman of the Board, Ibn Khaldun Center for
Development Studies, Cairo, Egypt
Hina Jilani (Pakistan/UN)-United Nations Special Representative to the
Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders
Dzmitry Markusheuski (Belarus)-Press Secretary of the Belarusian Helsinki
Committee
Sima Samar (Afghanistan/UN)-United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human
Rights in Sudan and Chair of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
__________________________________
Even as the promotion of democracy and the rule of law as a centerpiece of
U.S. foreign policy receives increased attention from both the
Administration and Congress, those on the front lines of defending human
rights and personal freedoms often face heightened challenges in their home
countries.
Front-line human rights defenders are especially well situated to address
how advancing human rights and democracy can reinforce and contribute to
effective counter-terrorism efforts – rather than being seen as divergent
policy objectives. The May 25 panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center
will explore this and related issues with prominent human rights defenders
from Belarus, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
To RSVP acceptance please contact Maria-Stella Gatzoulis at 202-691-4188 or
send an email to Maria-Stella.Gatzoulis@wilsoncenter.org. Please provide
your name, affiliation and phone number. A photo ID is required to enter the
building. For map and directions, please visit our website at
http://www.wilsoncenter.org .
An indication of the USG committment to democracy would have been not to grant Jr. a reception period-.even with the WHouse errand boy. At least the messages are not mixed anymore.
Honestly I don’t Know what the Mubaraks are up to! Travelling all this way to secretly “renew a pilot license”! And since when do Bush, Cheney, Hadely & Rice meet with foreigners renewing their licenses?!