Thomas Friedman on Egypt: the record (II)

Here are some words of his:  ""That is why, beyond Iraq, America's priorities should be to sign a free-trade agreement with Egypt which wold help foster and export-oriented private sectore there just as President Mubarak has signaled an end to 50 years of military rule--and get Syria out of Lebanon, which would free the dynamic private sector that already exists there, but has been stifled by Syria. Free Lebanon and free Egypt's economy and they will change the rest of the Middle East for us--for free." (3/14/05).  Or: ""In part as a reaction to the religious intolerance unleashed by 9/11, President Mubarak surprised his country last month by announcing that henceforth Jan. 7 would be a national holiday. Jan. 7 is the Coptic (Egyptian Christian) Christmas, and it has now been elevated to equal status with the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. For the first time the president's son, Gamal, attended midnight mass, a vist carried live on Egyptian TV." (1/18/03).  Or: ""Mr. Mubarak opened yesterday's conference with a speech that was, frankly, one of the most intelligent analyses of why a country has to reform its economy and join the global system that I've ever heard from a world leader. And he didn't just seem to be reading it. He seemed to have internalized it, especially when he declared: "This year Egypt joined the global economy. It will live by the rules." If President Mubarak really uses this as his blueprint for governing Egypt in the coming decade, he could change Egypt domestically as much as Anwar el-Sadat changed it internationally."" (11/13/96).  Or: ""I asked President Hosni Mubarak the other day what qualities he would like to see in the next U.S. Secretary of State." (11/20/96).  Or: ""Hosni, Egypt is a great country, with a great people. You led the way with peace with israel. You were a big help in the gulf war. It's because we respect the role you and Egypt could play that we were so disappointed when you don't." (8/11/00).  (thanks David)