Kerry-McCain Resolution Urges Mubarak To 'Transition' Out Immediately

WASHINGTON -- Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) have cosponsored a resolution calling on Egypt President Hosni Mubarak to "immediately begin an orderly and peaceful transition to a democratic political system," including transferring "power to an inclusive interim caretaker government."

Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and McCain have been two of the most vocal Mubarak critics since protests began erupting last week on the streets of Cairo. And it's hard not to imagine a number of fellow lawmakers joining their cause -- which, it's worth noting, carries only symbolic weight in the sphere of international politics.

The end goal, the authors write, is for Egypt to "hold free, fair, and internationally credible elections this year."

The resolution's careful wording, however, underscores how many other political considerations are at play in the background of the Egypt crisis. Kerry and McCain expressed their "concern over any organization that espouses an extremist ideology, including the Muslim Brotherhood," in addition to underscoring how vital it is that any replacement government continue "to fulfill its international obligations, including its commitments under the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty."

The resolution is below:

egyptres

Comments

[Puller58]

08:37 PM on 02/03/2011

Resolution?  Can't we dispense with this meaningless, empty ritual?  Congress needs to do something concrete.  If Obama ends up having to try to renegotiate a treaty with Egypt down the road, then Congress can take action in ratifying it.  Until then, skip the showboating.

[TrishaJ]

07:29 PM on 02/03/2011

I have a hard time with our legislators telling another soverign nation what they should do. Just think what the reaction of our legislators would be if the roles were reversed and Egyption politicians were telling us how we should run America.

Yes, America (and many other countries) will be affected by the outcome of what is happening in Egypt. That still does not give us the right to tell them how to run their country. Surely even America is not that arrogant.

[Sweetbay]

08:08 PM on 02/03/2011

The world is watching a tyrant turn on his own people.  You think the world should be silent about the brutality it's witnessing?

It's one thing to be considerate of the diplomatic repercussions, it's another to be blind to the suffering of millions.

[wardropper]

07:06 PM on 02/03/2011

I just love these "resolutions" we make concerning countries which are none of our legitimate business, like they were listening to CNN all day, waiting to find out what we think they should do next...
U.S. arrogance really can be priceless.

[Sweetbay]

08:11 PM on 02/03/2011

Since we do business with this country, this country is our business.

[wardropper]

08:55 PM on 02/03/2011

I see, so we do a couple of business deals with a country, and that gives us the right to dictate both their domestic and their foreign policies?

I think we can do better than that - at least if morality counts for anything at all today...

I know... it doesn't, does it?

[doctor4kids]

06:03 PM on 02/03/2011

I just hope we end up on the right side of history this time. Go democracy!

[wardropper]

07:08 PM on 02/03/2011

Er... ... ... ..."WE" ???

Funny, I could have sworn this situation was in Egypt...

[ashcom]

05:41 PM on 02/03/2011

It's good to see these two working together. Hopefully, Obama will continue his earlier successes improving the US image abroad -- and hopefully the conservatives and progressives will work toward that end, as well -- not without saying, protecting the best interests of American citizens (the human kind, not the corporations.)

[Karencnj]

04:27 PM on 02/03/2011

I hope that nearly all the senators will vote for this - even though it does not force Egypt to do anything. As this is what President Obama wants as well, it means that the US is speaking with one voice on this foreign policy issue.

Senator Kerry's op-ed and various interviews have been the best comments made by any American leader - including early on speaking of other leaders of peaceful protests - like Ghandi and MLK.

[wardropper]

07:14 PM on 02/03/2011

The U.S. always ultimately speaks with one voice on all issues, because Rabid Morlock controls most of the press, and the man absolutely flourishes on conflicts of interest.

As George Carlin would say, "Don't listen to them, folks - it's bad for ya."