A young Egyptian journalist, Ibrahim Merette, participated in the roundtable organized ised on the occasion of the visit in Cairo Minister of Defense, Robert Gates, March 23. In view of the enthusiasm she showed for the new Egyptian democracy, one would think that it ranked among the supporters of President Obama, who supports the political revolution underway in the country.
But this was not the case: the Egyptians, she said, consider the policy of Mr. Obama disconcerting. Welcome to the club - a club which is also booming. Obama promotes change, but fails to present a convincing way for young Arabs. Egyptian journalists have noted that I met some of his contradictions: Obama was opposed to military action in Libya until he supported it, he argued Hosni Mubarak until where he stated that it was immediately stepping down and has promised a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian talks, but it did not materialize.
The views of Obama are part of a logical, but it is not easy to explain to an Arab world grappling with the revolution. As indicated by his staff, he avoids putting himself forward to keep the U.S. out of the fray. But this discretion is not really the desired effect, she only succeeded in confusing the situation.
Instead of shaping history, Obama seems to follow. The best comment I heard on the magnitude of change was being made by the Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak. He compared the upheavals that shook the Arab world today in the fall of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War or the end of the French Mandate in the Levant after World War II.
Let us pause for a moment on this comparison. What is the fallen empire whose satellite states are now in decline? Undoubtedly the United States. Regimes that have collapsed so far were under American hegemony. Now that the revolution wins Syria and, hopefully, Iran, things may be different, but the historical analogy of the Israeli defense minister should still worry the president.
There is still time for Barack Obama to seize this tremendous opportunity. Here are some things he should say and do in the coming weeks so that my fellow Egyptian journalists better understand the role of the United States. First, the president should do everything in its power to contribute to the success of the Egyptian revolution: it is the sine qua non of a positive change.
If the revolution degenerates into political and economic chaos, it will be a dramatic setback for the country. Egypt desperately needs two things not to fail: a program of economic aid to avoid a crash almost inevitable and assistance in the field of security - such as training of police forces - to hold the post-revolutionary unrest.
Second, the President should not hesitate to defend U.S. friends in the region, even if they are conservative monarchies that have a lot of oil. The United Arab Emirates are not perfect, but they are much more free and progressive Iran, Russia or China. Saudi Arabia also has its problems but it does not represent a threat as Iran.
Encourage change does not throw a stick of dynamite in a barrel of oil and blow up the world economy. Thirdly, it should encourage the anti-war design Gaddafi in Libya not as a military campaign with a lot of fighter-bombers, but as a paramilitary operation conducted in the shade. Let us remember that conducted by the intelligence services to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Arabs want to get rid of Qaddafi, but they do not want another Iraq. Finally, Obama is scheduled to visit the Middle East and take the situation under control. I understand his desire to stay away from the spotlight, but it is a mistake. What is happening today is an historic event, as important as the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event which all his life and career have prepared.
Barack Obama should not miss this rendezvous with history. He must go to Cairo and, if possible, Bahrain and Damascus. He must listen to what these people say and the voice sincere, powerful and necessary of the United States. David Ignatius 
But this was not the case: the Egyptians, she said, consider the policy of Mr. Obama disconcerting. Welcome to the club - a club which is also booming. Obama promotes change, but fails to present a convincing way for young Arabs. Egyptian journalists have noted that I met some of his contradictions: Obama was opposed to military action in Libya until he supported it, he argued Hosni Mubarak until where he stated that it was immediately stepping down and has promised a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian talks, but it did not materialize.
The views of Obama are part of a logical, but it is not easy to explain to an Arab world grappling with the revolution. As indicated by his staff, he avoids putting himself forward to keep the U.S. out of the fray. But this discretion is not really the desired effect, she only succeeded in confusing the situation.
Instead of shaping history, Obama seems to follow. The best comment I heard on the magnitude of change was being made by the Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak. He compared the upheavals that shook the Arab world today in the fall of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War or the end of the French Mandate in the Levant after World War II.
Let us pause for a moment on this comparison. What is the fallen empire whose satellite states are now in decline? Undoubtedly the United States. Regimes that have collapsed so far were under American hegemony. Now that the revolution wins Syria and, hopefully, Iran, things may be different, but the historical analogy of the Israeli defense minister should still worry the president.
There is still time for Barack Obama to seize this tremendous opportunity. Here are some things he should say and do in the coming weeks so that my fellow Egyptian journalists better understand the role of the United States. First, the president should do everything in its power to contribute to the success of the Egyptian revolution: it is the sine qua non of a positive change.
If the revolution degenerates into political and economic chaos, it will be a dramatic setback for the country. Egypt desperately needs two things not to fail: a program of economic aid to avoid a crash almost inevitable and assistance in the field of security - such as training of police forces - to hold the post-revolutionary unrest.
Second, the President should not hesitate to defend U.S. friends in the region, even if they are conservative monarchies that have a lot of oil. The United Arab Emirates are not perfect, but they are much more free and progressive Iran, Russia or China. Saudi Arabia also has its problems but it does not represent a threat as Iran.
Encourage change does not throw a stick of dynamite in a barrel of oil and blow up the world economy. Thirdly, it should encourage the anti-war design Gaddafi in Libya not as a military campaign with a lot of fighter-bombers, but as a paramilitary operation conducted in the shade. Let us remember that conducted by the intelligence services to topple the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Arabs want to get rid of Qaddafi, but they do not want another Iraq. Finally, Obama is scheduled to visit the Middle East and take the situation under control. I understand his desire to stay away from the spotlight, but it is a mistake. What is happening today is an historic event, as important as the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event which all his life and career have prepared.
Barack Obama should not miss this rendezvous with history. He must go to Cairo and, if possible, Bahrain and Damascus. He must listen to what these people say and the voice sincere, powerful and necessary of the United States. David Ignatius
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