Australia, anything to say to Mubarak?
On 11 December 2010, Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd met with the Egyptian dictator Mubarak. At a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, Rudd said:
[C]ould I begin by again affirming the strength of this important bilateral relationship. A 60th anniversary celebration is important because it causes us to reflect on what we have done together and what we resolve to do together in the future.
DFAT gives more details on the relationship between Australia and Egypt:
Australia has friendly and positive relations with Egypt, underpinned by strong people-to-people links. Trade, particularly in agriculture and resources, has long been an important aspect of the bilateral relationship. Australia works constructively with Egypt on international security issues including counter-terrorism, disarmament and the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In other words, Australia is a not unimportant Egyptian ally. Given that, why has the Gillard government said nothing about the Egyptian regime shooting down its own citizens in the streets? Will the Australian government side with the people or the dictatorship?
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This is exactly what we should be drawing attention to now. Thanks for the post.
Thanks Jeff for the reminder of the role Australia plays in supporting/sanctioning these sort regimes. Dictatorships and despots stay in power not just because of power, corruption and iron-fisted rule but because western democracies including Australia provide recognition and moral support that gives these regimes the legitimacy they seek. Allies, it seems, are allowed to get away with murder.
And now we have an answer:
Absolutely woeful.
I wonder, when Rudd talks of violence, if the violence he appears so concerned about is that perpetrated on the people or does he disapprove of the fight Egyptians are engaging in, without support, for what are essentially basic human rights. Certainly, he and his government didn’t seem too concerned about the violence that occurred and is still occurring in Iraq as a result of our intervention. And then there’s what’s happening in Afghanistan, Palestine…
It strikes me that Australia is particularly obsequious when it comes to their relationships with other countries including those run by dictators.
Yes, yes, the MOST important thing about the dissent in Egypt, the call for democracy, the courage of ordinary people to resist the might of US-backed military opposition dedicated to preserving the privilege of dictatorship is … the wellbeing of Australians.
No doubt Mr Rudd ran as quickly as his legs could carry him to find out what Mr Obama had to say.
Clare, you are so right on both counts.
According to Richard Neville in Crikey, Omar Suleiman, who is supposed to be the frontrunner for next president, was personally involved in torturing Mamdouh Habib.
Great article over at ‘Unleashed’ Jeff.
It’s amazing that we bomb some countries back to the stone age to remove dictatorial regimes and take tea with others.
Is it drawing too long a bow to suggest that the international community’s response, or lack thereof, to what is happening in Egypt can be summed up in one word: Israel?