CSIS Schieffer Series Implications of the Uprising in Egypt
Channel: Center for Strategic & International Studies
Date: 22/07/2014

Is it a revolt or a revolution? Bob Schieffer asked Al Jazeera U.S. bureau chief Abderrahim Foukara, McClatchy Newspapers chief Pentagon correspondent Nancy Youssef, and CSIS expert John Alterman during a February 3 CSIS-TCU Schieffer School discussion on the ?Implications of the Uprising in Egypt.? The panelists agreed that only time will tell. According to Dr. Alterman, the Egyptian political system is bigger than Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and will resist change. With Egypt at a critical turning point, Mubarak may stay or go, but what matters most is whether the outcome strengthens or weakens the status quo. Ms. Youssef observed that Egypt's army is an extension of Egypt and sworn to protect the state, not Mr. Mubarak. Mr. Foukara argued that the United States was too tentative in responding to the Egyptian hot potato; after a similar response in Tunisia less than one month ago, many in the region see the U.S. stance as a slap in the face.