As Obama has boasted: “a new day has dawned in Egypt.” The Egyptian Army has dissolved both houses of Parliament, suspended the Constitution, and declared it will remain in control for six months—or until elections are held. By any definition of the term, “martial law” has been declared.
What we see in U.S. foreign policy in regard to Egypt is a complete reversal of Theodore Roosevelt’s “walk softly and carry a big stick.” Now, Obama holds a press conference everyday, each of which says something different. His policy seems to be “run loudly and carry no stick.” So far he has succeeded in exchanging a trusted friend for a military junta.
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.