Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has not been shy about criticizing President Obama on issues of foreign policy, is now adding his voice to the discussion on Egypt. In this case, Cheney seems to be straddling the fence between pro-Mubarak and anti-Mubarak conservatives — saying that the Egyptian strongman should be treated nicely by the United States, but perhaps it’s time for him to go.
AFP reports:
“I think President Mubarak needs to be treated as he’s deserved over the years, because he has been a good friend, not only to the United States but a lot of other folks that we do business with,” Cheney said a gathering in Santa Barbara, California to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of late US president Ronald Reagan.
“He’s been a good friend and ally of the United States and we need to remember that,” Cheney said.
Despite those words of support, on the issue of whether Mubarak can or should hold on to power, the former vice president added: “There comes a time for everyone to hang it up and move on.”
“That’s a decision only the Egyptians can make,” Cheney said.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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