Should the US stay out of the Egypt reforms?

"America has a close relationship with Egypt and is a large aid donor to the country."

The US has a close relationship with the Egyptian dictatorship, not the people, and is a large aid donor to the Egyptian military, not the people. US foreign policy is not about the values of democracy, human rights, justice etc, it is about gaining control and influence to serve their driving interests.
After standing with the dictator for decades, and then again standing with the dictator during the first few days of the protests, the US has done a U-turn and is now keen to be seen on the side of the people and pro-democracy movement. The only thing standing between the regime and the people's revolution is the US-funded Egpytian army. How much influence does the US still have on the army in the middle of this revolution? If the revolution succeeds in ousting the regime, how much influence will the US have left on Egypt, and how much influence will it have on the rest of the Middle East dictators it supports?

If the US foreign policy reflected the greatness of the values of the American people instead of the interests of bloated powerful lobbies, then the Middle East would look very different today, and would in turn look at the US in a different way. It would be a friend and guide to aspire to, not an obstacle to overcome in the journey to freedom and independence.

The US should have stayed out every country it has ever been in, regardless of entreaties, reasons or needs, and it should have been exceedingly circumspect in immigration policies as well. Yes Ibrahim in UK, the world would be a very different place were the US not part of it; and here’s wishing the rest of humanity could be able to experience the Earthly Eden that might have resulted.
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Yes, the USA and the world should stay out of it. Whichever side the US government plumps for, they will offend half the American voters and most Egyptians.

The USA is behaving like a mother-in-law...unwanted advice and meddling are never appreciated regardless of how well-intentioned.

I am of the opinion that America should stay out of everything and just go away. But thats irrelevant.

The point remains, the US does not care about Egyptians. It cares about Egypts stance on Isreal. (as Ibrahim kindly pointed out for me the other day).
It's just yet another example of the US meddling in things that are none of it's business. Whats Israel got to do with them either? Is this just eveangelist christians wanting something to be how it is in order to fulfull a thousands of years old prophecy to bring about the end of the world and the second coming?

My god, they frustrate me so much it hurts sometimes!

It is an internal problem, what gives the U.S. any right to interfere? As it is the west is doing enough to manipulate international opinion with their media propaganda.

Britain and America are largely responsible for the Tyrannical Dictatorship which has blighted the lives of Egyptians for the last 30 years. Therefore we have a responsibility to fix what we broke. Our best gift would be Fraud Proof Voting Systems.

Alex Weir, London and Harare

Egypt takes the USA's money!

Hopefully Egypt's new government will be smart enough to take the USA's advice!

Not only should any country sequester but also any institution that adheres to sharia rather than constitutional law.

Adherents of sharia essentially act as a bloc contravening civil law.

Politically speaking the US can't be unconcerned about the events unfolding in Egypt which of strategic importance. Egypt, at the same time, has enough thinkers from all the political spectrum to figure out a solutions the real problems of the Egyptians.

Although currently the opposition isn't organised well enough to take the reign of powers within 24 hours, Egyptian democracy should be given a chance to flourish. The US shouldn't have direct involvement in who should be in power as they can be seen as puppets of the US administration, especially when there are ongoing political problems.

Any government, after President Mubarak, is going to have to respect Egypt international obligations, such as the Peace Treaty with Israel and the good functioning of Suez Canal. The US on its part will have to respect the will of the Egyptian people. Now it has a chance to show the world that it is the friend of peoples and a champion of democracy to erase the hatred accumulated to wards it as the enemy of peoples because of its unconditional support for undemocratic regimes as long as they serve its interests.

I would like to see the money come back home to deal with our problems and let Egypt handle its own problems. But as long as money is pouring in to the government from the US, it will always stick its nose into their business. They did the same thing during the bail-out. Thats why the banks hurried to pay back the money. They didn't want the government telling them how to run their businesses. Maybe Egypt needs to tell the US to take its money and go home. But somehow I doubt it will happen. Everyone is quick to critic the actions of the US, but they are also just as quick to take the money. Just a thought.

It is not a question of whether USA should stay out of Egypt or not. As much as it is possible let the egyptians work this out without loosing more lives. If anybody should get in to mediate or intervene or intrude, that action will not be right because it the arab/islam or america/western world intervening. The egyptian must find common grounds without the incumbents insisting on clinging on to power or the protesters insisting on unrealistically outlandish demands. Right or wrong is not the preserve of any national, government, religion, or ideology. We are all mortal and bound to error.

It would seem that the way forward is to utilize a Tri-ruling entity composed of Speaker of House or Parliment along with Vice-President and the Commanding General of the Army.

In this way there would be a peaceful progression of transition for the People and the nation of Egypt.

Good Luck and Good Night!

The US should stay in long enough to make a statement in this respect:

"We, the Citizens of the United States of America, acknowledge that it was wrong for the USA to support the Conservative Dictator Mubarak, and we apologize to The Egyptian People for doing that. We see that we should have supported The People of Egypt in freeing themselves and then governing themselves."

"And so, we hereby reverse our previous US policies of supporting any and all Conservative "Small Governments", whether Dictators, Kings, or any other form or repressive small governments. And we put all such governments on notice that they have at most five years to change and create democracies in their nations through free and fair elections."

"And we will re-assign our CIA and other ACRONYM agencies to track down and stop the people and or Corporations who have corrupted such nations leaders and help to bring about honest and fair dealings in business and politics."

"And we ask for the help of The Egyptian People in making sure that Mubarak and any of his henchmen are brought to justice fairly and completely for any crimes they have committed against The Egyptian People and or any other people in the world. (Hint, hint, Dick "The Torturer" Cheney)"

"Just as you are changing your country, we are changing ours."

(End my idealistic reverie about justice in the world.)

should the US stay out of the Egypt reforms? interesting!!!
this just reminds me of the 1991 Iraqi revolution, when the US stayed out...check the history.
Hmmm, when it comes to help the people, they stay out.. if it is so, i think they must stay out of everything.

I am surprised that the BBC continues to focus on just the last 30 years of Mubarak's 'reign', I would have expected the BBC to prepare better and ensure all reporters were up to speed on this regime which dates back to the revolution of 1952. Since then the finger of the USA has always stirred the pot and at the time their finger was John Foster Dulles. He took the US into the Vietnam war, played a major role in Operation Ajax and overthrew the first democratically elected government in Iran and eventually supported the Nasser regime when Nasser hijacked the revolution in Egypt and forced the rest of the world to back off from the Suez invasion, which was a danger to the US long term plans for that region.

The rules for today's government were written then and maintained. They are keep the power in few hands and make sure you control the army and the money. Simple.

In those days,to the US, 'democracy' spelt communism . However, they miscalculated as JFD died in '59 and the US took their eye off the ball and Russia did step in as an ally for Egypt. The alliance was a disaster and the US stepped in and paid for peace with Irael.

The US is now wavering and does not know which way to jump, they know they are hated in the Middle East and that this is happening at the worst time. As a result they have pulled in the GCC states who are terrified of being left out in the cold during this period of democratic upheaval in the region. The US will still be involved by proxy as it has the bases in those states and the equipment.

Mubarak will repeat the takeover of Nasser. I am sure their speeches are similar! He will use the next 6 months to pull in all dissenters and critics. The Egyptians do not have the luxury of a government or an opposition in exile and their voice will fade, until come Ramadan, it will be snuffed and elections held, The Party will win again as the elections will not be supervised by a neutral body and if they are, there will be US interference to ensure the result they want will be achieved.

Egypt has a great potential in the ME, it has a well educated population, they are a cheap labuor force. They could be a successful manufacturing base for the multinationals, but they always back off investing because of the corruption and the potential partners with dubious 'democratic' backgrounds who ensure no one else gets a look in. Protectionism keeps the population having to do with low standard products being turned out by the exploiting families of those close to the throne who own so much of industry. One needs only study all the long ruling dictatorships to recognise the velvet clad hammer poised to drop.

Today is going to be a sad day as Mubarak's speech was a soft, but firm warning to the crowds and the army will take firmer but covert action.

In some comments I note that Brritain and the US are being lumped together. Britain was never a coloniser of Egypt. Egypt was termed as a Protectorate. Post WW2 that meant that Britain were ther as a protector and no more. Egypt had their own democratically elected parliament since 1952. Britain wer there protecting the Suez Canal and ensuring the safety of shipping. At the time Britain still had conscription and some thing had to be done with those young serving men. Britain did not interfer in government. The British were still there when the Egyptians revolted against their king but did nothing except ensure that the change was bloodless. However, egyptian generals took over. Anyone remember Naghib?? He was removed by Nasser. He was a mild gentleman, but he did not agree with the plans of others. What happened to him??

There seems to be a huge lack of knowledge of the recent history of egypt.

The solution in the end will be very much driven by the army and that will be driven by who holds the wealth. The answer lies in who now holds the wealth. Do not be surprised if you find that the army and the wealth are closely linked!!

Egypt is for Egypt! The internal political issues ought to be resolved by the egyptians. USA should not interfere in the internal issues.

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Egypt stops to be a Civilization of the North of Africa --occupied lately by Greeks or Romans to become a part of the Near East with
the coming of Arabs on 640 of the actual times --On the IX Century
of the actual times become a part of the Egiptian Caliphate--while on Cordoba,Spain was created The Caliphate of Cordoba and in Bagdad already was the Eastern Caliphat at The Meca--The United States and all the Western Countries have to Understand specially these last 1371 years and
have in mind that only Egigptologysts with a sound knowledge of the last 1371 years can know what is the best for a multilayer culture --
And specially respect their believes and dreams for the future of a Civilization of 5700 years--that an be a challenging adventure for all the humanity --while the things we have lived on these last weeks--ONLY WE CAN IMAGINE --BUT NOW WAS POSIBLE TO HEAR THE REAL SOUND OF THE DESSERT AND SEE THE REAL IMAGES OF THE SANDS---aND FEEL THE REAL THOUGHT OF THE MILLENARY PAST ---

Today we have a NEW ROSSETA ROCK like the one found by Napoleon on his arriving on Egypt--when under the pyramids he said [..]40 Centuries stare on you[..]--then Engravings and drawings were taken by artists and afterwards---Champoillon descipher the Rosseta in Jerogliphycs--Demotic and Greek--THIS ALLOWS TO UNDERSTAND JEROGLIPHYCS--
The same is today to descipher this Jerogliphic in egypt we must be very carefull and call Egyptologists from all parts of the world and carefully document was is happening --SO AS TO GIVE EGYPT AT LAST THE PLACE THAT THIS IMPORTANT COUNTRY DESERVES IN HISTORY AND CULTURE--Egypt is a culture that has demonstrated the importance that have had in the concert of the countries of the world --the best is to allow them to find what is that ---
contribution they have for the world---

Yes the U.S. government and administration should stay out of Egypt and let them freely decide what kind of government they should have. And I wish the Egyptians all the best.

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Yes you are of course so right in your analyses of what is and what should be in the human spirit, not only in Egypt but throughout the world.

America should stay a distant friend – America still has much to sort out in their own country . . as their influence declines around the world.

It will be interesting in the coming weeks, months and years how the collapse of Egypt will effect the Middle East in the new “spring clean” of Middle East nations.

As I watched the shouting and dancing of the Egyptian crowds – I couldn’t help but feel relief of an alcohol free celebration.

In such a situation in Europe these days such a crowd soon becomes a drunken mob. But this never happens in an alcohol free society like Egypt and most middle eastern countries due to their religion . .

Now we must cross our fingers as Egypt steps into bat for a true democracy.

They say come the moment – comes the man.

We must now wait to see the metal of such a man in Egypt, who will take the helm of and set the course for the Middle East – hopefully without the massive interference of larger nations and oil hungry corruption and greed.