Amr Mousa

I watched Amr Mousa interviewed by the tele-Islamist, Amr Khalid (he likes to be called Dr., please) on Egyptian state TV.  I despise Amr Mousa and think of him as an opportunist and liar, but must confess objectively that he was very impressive.  He is running a campaign, US style.  He has formulated a concise and specific agenda and knows how to sell it, and can feign sincerity on cue.   It was a good performance.  A man who served for 10 years as foreign minister of Mubarak now wants us to believe him when he says that he was not a supporter of Mubarak.  Egyptian media are casually bringing out clips in which Mousa praised Mubarak and even expressed his desire to vote for him in re-election.  He spoke about the unpopular deal to sell gas to Israel and said that the documents that were leaked to Al-Masri Al-Yawm bearing his signature were misunderstood: that he wanted to send gas to Gaza.  Yes, like Bill Clinton, he is a good and smooth liar.  I am pleased at the increasing level of hostility toward Gulf regimes in Egypt: even Mousa took cracks at Saudi and other Gulf regimes and said that they oppose the Egyptian "revolution."  This hostility to Gulf regimes in Egypt is very healthy for countering the Arab-counter revolution in months and years to come.