CFR's Foreign Affairs on "Egypt's Hero"

By Tony Cartalucci

In the Council on Foreign Affairs' (CFR) publication "Foreign Affairs," writer Steven Cook describes ElBaradei as "A lawyer and diplomat by training," and that he "has always played the role of the ultimate international bureaucrat -- a somewhat dour technocrat whose ties to his native country seemed purposely tenuous, to allow him to more freely contribute to improving global governance," in his piece tilted "Is El Baradei Eypt's Hero?" He goes on to write about ElBaradei's "National Front for Change" and how the Muslim Brotherhood has signaled support for it.

Cook also maintains the myth that ElBaradei cannot be accused of being "a stooge of the United States" side stepping his prominent position in the International Crisis Group and instead citing his clashes with the US during his time at the IAEA. It should be noted that these "clashes" did nothing to change America's insistence on invading Iraq or its continued belligerence toward Iran.

Finally Cook finishes his piece suggesting that "not acting strongly" in support of ElBaradei would best serve America's interests as Egyptian support for American foreign policy has long been a negative factor politically.

Indeed, if Americas' President Obama instead supported the besieged Muburak regime it may only fuel the protests. With any luck, and in the midst of emotional and violent chaos in the streets, ElBaradei may slip in without Egyptians ever considering why the real power behind America, the media and the think-tanks they work for, is so adamantly supporting him.