Friday, February 11, 2011

Bad Omen

Pessimists, it seems, are seeing the fall of Mubarak on today's 32nd anniversary of the Islamist uprising against the Iranian government as a bad omen for Egypt.

But is it a bad omen for Egypt? Or Iran?

The BBC's Persian TV service is being jammed from within Iran due to its coverage of the unrest in Egypt.

It appears that the trigger point was a joint broadcast on Wednesday by the corporation's Persian and Arabic services in which Iranian and Egyptian callers exchanged views.

Perhaps a little presidential outreach to the Iranian people would be in order, too? However belated it would be today rather than in summer 2009? Instead of trying to predict which pro-American regime might fall, couldn't we take a shot at making sure the next uprising happens in an anti-American regime?

And let it be a warning to the Obama administration that the struggle for Egypt is just beginning.

UPDATE: Well I'll be ... Ask and ye shall receive:

The vice president said the events [in Egypt] have exposed fundamental problems in Iran, and called on its leaders to "let your people march, let your people speak, release your people from jail."

Now that's outreach I can believe in.