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Friday, 9 Jun 2006
Sorry US state department, but reading this douchebag's speech just pissed me the fuck off:
From my first nine months back
among Egyptians, I believe such confidence and optimism in the future
are richly merited, and I share them.I have found a dynamism and energy among Egyptians, in the private
sector and in the Government, which are just starting to be released
through the process of reforms.Too often, though, the wonders and promise of this great land and its
people are overshadowed by negative headlines and photographs that
report only a part of the truth about today's Egypt.
Ahh, ok. So Alaa getting thrown in jail, Sharqawi getting stuff stuck up his ass, and random people getting beat up on the streets, that's just "negative headlines". That evil media, I tell ya!
The dude doesn't stop there though. Check these words of endorsement out!
We support the economic and political reform agendas that President Mubarak himself laid out last year in his election campaign.
Last week, President Mubarak said,
[In Arabic:] “The Middle East is passing through a critical period on
the path to economic and social reform and we will complete the crucial
economic and political reforms in Egypt based on a gradual approach
that ensures sustainability… Pluralism and democratic practices are
necessary to strengthening collective peace and security."[In English:] Those are impressive words.
President Mubarak also has presented an historic legislative and
constitutional agenda for political reform designed, as we understand
it:
- To strengthen the electoral systems and political parties in Egypt;
- To strengthen the judiciary and its independence;
- To replace the emergency law with a modern counter-terrorism statute that also protects individual freedoms;
- To protect and expand freedom of speech;
- To empower local councils and decentralize governance;
- To limit the state's authority to hold people without charge;
- And, to shift more authority and responsibility to the Parliament.
It’s not the United States’
program for Egypt. That is the program laid out by the President, by
the Prime Minister, by the Hizb Al Watanee [National Democratic Party]
– a program developed by Egyptians for Egyptians.
A7AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. (an egyptian sound of of objection usually proceeded by a snort -like throat noise to emphasize how much like Bullshit what we heard just sounded like)
Please, people who follow this blog, do not get confused by all of this. The guys is certainly talking about that OTHER EGYPT . Yes, that must be it! In other unrelated news, Alaa continues to stay detained for his third 15 days pending investigation for demonstrating on the street. But no worries, he is apprently arrested in the bad Egypt that I live in, not that other one !
As for his question regarding Al Sharqawy or the detained activists?
Question: Would you
comment on the recent detention of the pro-democracy activists and how
this activity will effect U.S.-Egyptian relations?
Ambassador: I said our relations are on track. That doesn’t mean
we are unaffected by setbacks. By developments in the news, by
developments in Egypt, by developments in the United States. These are
times of stresses and strains in the world; stresses and strains within
Egypt. We care about Egypt. We care about its democratic opening, about
strengthening of the rule of law here. When things like this happen,
they appear to us to set back this great, optimistic course that
President Mubarak has charted and we are at the very least
disappointed. At the very least.We don’t know all the facts. We
know that there are at least two sides to every story. We’ve heard one
side. I think it’s incumbent on the Government — not to explain to the
United States of America, we’re not owed an explanation — but to Egyptians,
what are the true facts? And, if the facts are not as portrayed by the
opposition, then they should be brought out. And if the facts are even remotely
as portrayed by the opposition, then they should also be brought out.
And, what measures the Government will take to respond to those facts
should also be explained.I mentioned how we deal with it
in the United States. We have had such setbacks. We have had our
soldiers, of whom we are very proud, fail in their duties under wartime
stresses. We have had policemen, of whom we are very proud, from New
York City and Los Angeles, and Washington and my city of Boston, fail
under stressful conditions to uphold the law and their duty and their
honor to their service. But they are in the minority. We know that in
our country. When it happens, we investigate. When we find people are
guilty, we prosecute. When the courts find them guilty, we convict them
and they are punished.
Ok, is it just me, or did this american ambassador, whose job is to defend american interests, compared the protest arrests to Abu Gharib? And did he just say that we, and the pictures, and all the reporters who were out there and who got beat up, were all lying, or even worse, faced a few bad apples? Ok, fine, I will bite. Shouldn;t those bad apples been removed after the first week? How is it possible for them to do it week after week and claim that it's a minority situation? Is this dude high?
Ricciardone, it's people like you who give the US the world over a bad name and who are responsible for the anti-american sentiment in our country, because you continue supporting and cheer-leading for this regime, WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO. Well, this usually pro-US Egyptian has only this to tell you: FUCK YOU! Yes, fuck you you goddamn douchebag. I hope someone who actually knows what they are doing reads this and fires your dumb ass.
Grrrrrrrrrr………………..
June 9th, 2006 at 9:53 am
I understand your anger, but I think the guy is just being diplomatic. Imagine what would have happened if he had condemned Mubarak and the current administration in the strongest possible terms? Seriously. A lot of Egyptians would call it meddling in internal affairs, whether he’s right or not, asserting Egypt is their country and they do not need the American world police to monitor their governement. Egyptians across Egypt, opposition and administration alike, would consider it an infringement of their sovereignty had the ambassador used harsher terms.
The guy is in a very polite way both chastizing the abuses and human right violations while encouraging possible efforts towards a more democratic Egypt. What is there to gain by this ambassador confronting and insulting Mubarak? Diplomatic scandal and hurt feelings of national pride.. Those wouldn’t help the detainees either, on the contrary.
I don’t think there’s such a difference in opinion between you and him, SM, I think he’s adopting a careful, soft, diplomatic strategy.
And I think you need both. The sugar and the vinegar. Reward evolutions in the right direction, and condemn and punish the abuses.
The street protests and the soft diplomatic pressure.
Anyway. I’m aware I sound a bit idealistic.
Best
Ulysses
June 9th, 2006 at 10:32 am
Ulysses “Anyway. I’m aware I sound a bit idealistic.”
Not a bit - though you don’t need me to tell you that it won’t be popular.
June 9th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Ulysses, there is a huge difference between bieng diplomatic and being an apologist. The dude listed a number of achievments that never happend, and then comapred the violations that happend as “negative news” that shouldn;t get us to chnage our mind that reform is still going on and that any violations that happen are isolated incidents and not the general policy of dealing with people detained. You see, he could’ve stuck with the “strategic partnership” crap and I would’n;t have had such a problem with it, cause that’s international relations. But to praise Mubarak as a democratic reformer that deserves our adulation is nothing short of dishonest and ass-kissery. It’s a slap on the face of anyone who did believe that the US does champion democracy and reform in the region. Just saying!
June 9th, 2006 at 10:45 am
And here is a thought: If I do get arrested, I guess that would just qualify as more “negative news” that shouldn’t distract us from the reforms that are being implemented, right?
June 9th, 2006 at 11:05 am
He’s not diminishing it as mere “negative news”. He’s asking for explanations about what happened and what the administration plans on doing about it and encouraging Mubarak and the administration to take steps to combat abuses and human rights violations, all the while trying to keep from assuming a morally superior position. That’s why he refers to what the Americans did wrong themselves. He’s saying: look, there may be abuses, we have abuses too, we’re not condemning Egypt, we’re not claiming we are morally superior, but if you have abuses, you should do something about them. That’s what I’m reading in his diplomat speech. I’m sorry Sandmonkey, I think he shares your opinion, and mine, but he adheres to a different strategy - a strategy more appropriate for a diplomat than for a blogger.
And just to set something straight: I’m a big admirer and supporter of your blog, I think what you’re doing is very brave, and I for one would not classify your possible detainment as mere ‘negative news’.
Ulysses
June 9th, 2006 at 11:15 am
It’s only about time that we’re gonna start hearing someone like him praising the Sudanese government for how superbly great it is!!!!!
June 9th, 2006 at 11:45 am
A world gone insane with fear and greed.
June 9th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Sandmonkey - Man, I couldn’t possibly agree with you more. While I understand what Ulysess is saying, the U.S. has gotta draw a line somewhere, right? Especially as the U.S. claims to be the beacon of democracy around the world!
I hate to say this, but it looks like the U.S. is more interested in not upsetting Pharaoh Muburak and his Royal Court of Stooges than it is in ensuring any kind of real deocracy/future for Egypt. Has Pharaoh Muburak deified himself yet? Is he gonna build a temple of himself in Karnak and require the populace to worship him??????
For sure the U.S. knows damn well of the train-wreck that Muburak and the Islamist have turned Egypt into…why the U.S. won’t do anything? Because they’re satisfied with the status quo and those “fly-over rights” in the region.
Egyptians only hope for a new govn’t… a heart attack. But what if Muburak lives till 120 years??????
Whatever, but PLEASE PLEASE SM, don’t lose your “pro-U.S.ness”
We love you over here.
June 9th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Ah shit.
Sandmonkey: I agree 100%
This is a pinhead lackey obviously trying to suck up to the Egyptian government just in case there’s something the U.S. government needs from them in the future. He, apparently, feels like it’s not his job to look at the big picture. In his eyes, he’s paid to be a suckup and a “wheel greaser,” not to represent the ideals and values of his country.
I apologize. I’m sorry my country sent that douchebag as a representative. He certainly does not represent me.
June 9th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Welcome to the U.S. State Dept.
June 9th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Are you guys kidding me? This man, Francis Ricciardone, seems to be a very respectable person. He can speak some Arabic, has lived in Egypt before, and seems to be genuinely interested in Egyptian affairs and a genuine friend of the Egyptian people. I’m so glad he’s the US ambassador. Please tell us which of those accomplishments are “made up.” Even if Egypt stagnates politically, economic reforms under the Nazif government have done tremendous good, even you can’t deny that.
June 9th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Sorry Sandmonkey. Our other George Bush (you know, the one that was hiding inside the one we elected) must have sent you an ambassador from the other America … the one that lives inside the State Department and evidently comes from the planet Mars.
June 9th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
> Ricciardone, it’s people like you who give the US the world
> over a bad name and who are responsible for the anti-american
> sentiment in our country,
You’re a loudmouth sandmonkey, and that’s the reason why you
will never become a proxy the US.
Because - the first rule of a successful house-nigger is: NEVER EVER
complain about your massa! NEVER!
June 10th, 2006 at 3:50 am
I think it’s probably like Ulysses said, careful diplomacy. He kinda has to put on a friendly public face. It’s all bullshit, of course, but public diplomacy always is.
Also, there’s probably a fair measure of sincerity in his belief too, because of the alternative (Muslim Brotherhood). And compared to the others in the ‘hood (Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, etc. etc.), Egypt seems SO much better to us in the West. I know you know that, of course. NOT NOT NOT that it means the imprisonment of dissenters should be swept under the rug, of course! (You know I support Alaa, etc. 100%!) It’s the age-old dilemma–the lesser of two evils. Of course the problem is that the TRUE alternative, liberal democracy, is hidden in prison cells and silenced by the gov’t. I suspect though that considering the thirst for freedom that’s been awakened in the Islamic world, there’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes by the Bush administration.
Don’t mistake this as me being an apologist for bullshit public diplomacy, though.
June 10th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
SM I agree with you that this speech could have contained stronger language, and acknowledgement that Mubarak is oppressing his own people. He still could have been diplomatic in pointing it out, he just didn’t have to use so much soft soap. We need to send Condi there. She don’t take shit.
June 11th, 2006 at 3:01 am
What do you want me to do?
June 12th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
[...] Some US diplomats in the Middle East apparently were so busy arse kissing the local oil tick sheikhs that they completely missed the Presidents second Inaugural Address. The Egyptian Sandmonkey is epecially displeased with the one in Cairo. Remember - those striped pants smoothies assuring the local potentate that the regrettable accient involving the leader of the opposition and a vat of acid won’t get any coverage on domestic US television and asking if the regular annual jiziy…uh, I mean foriegn aid cheque had gone into his niminated account in Lichtenstein are working for the US taxpayer. They must feel so proud. [...]
June 26th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
[...] Democracy promotion must be universal and unwavering. The US has clearly wavered on this point in recent months by allowing abuses in Egypt, for example, to go without reprocussions. It must be clear that the US does not tolerate the behavior of Arab dictators anymore than other countries. And it should be articulated to the Arabs in clear Arabic, not in dubbed over robot-man Arabic or English. Even though it is perhaps impossible to take military action against every despot or to put meaningful sanctions on each criminal, statements can always be made and so can speeches. Aid can be cut, especially military aid. American leaders should write for Arabic newspapers (in translation), as Syrian officials often do. The US should make it easier for Arab students to come to the US to study, at various levels, middle school, high school and university for instance. And the US should make an effort to not be so gaudy in Arab countries (and forein countries generally). For example, the new US embassy in Baghdad will cost $592 million dollars and will be inside the heavily fortified Green Zone by 900 non-Iraqi foreign workers whoare housed nearby and under the supervision of a Kuwaiti contractor,according to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee report. [...]
December 15th, 2006 at 5:06 am
Hey Asshole, why don’t you shut the fuck up and stop this pretentious charade? You obviously don’t know shit about what it takes to be a leader or a diplomat. I know Frank personally and he’s one of the most intelligent, fair-minded, thoughtful, and genuine people I’ve met. He speaks fluent Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and others that I can’t even remember. He’s well-versed in the cultures and history of the Middle East since he’s lived and worked in the region for close to two decades (bet you didn’t know that, did you, Fuck-head?). And most importantly he pours his heart into his work. If you had even the slightest shred of subtly, you might understand the delicate position his work puts him in. Although you might have the unfortunate freedom to run your ugly, useless tongue whenever you feel like shiting through your mouth, he doesn’t have that luxury. He has to speak for an entire country. And as an ambassador, he has to balance the needs and agendas of two countries with opposite cultures and values. How dare you judge someone who has spent his life’s work trying to make a positive difference in this world? You don’t even deserve the liberty of commenting on him, you ignorant son of a bitch. Do the world a favor next time, and don’t run your goddamn mouth unless you know what the fuck you’re talking about.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:57 am
who are you people? Why the strong disrespect for the land that the corrupt Arab government is occupying?
Marcaesar I,
United Egyptian Imperial-Republic,
MMVII.
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:18 am
[...] السفير الامريكى السابق السيد فرانسيس جى ريكاردون Rantings of a Sandmonkey Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, FUCK YOU! function fbb_share_js_43273() { [...]