Edward S. Walker, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel and the Christian A. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Global Political Theory, was interviewed this morning on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Walker spoke with host Steve Inskeep about the violent clashes in Egypt and the challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's authority. “These are serious protests reminiscent of the 1977 bread riots that I went through – they can be very frightening if you are in the middle of it,” said Walker. “If Mubarak doesn’t take this seriously he is making a big mistake.”
When asked by Inskeep if these protests were good for the United States, Walker replied, “They are good for the United States if they lead to serious reform in Egypt. The problem is that the United States has been a little too reluctant to criticize our friends because it is in our interest to make sure that these countries do remain stable. They just can’t do this if they ignore the will of the people.”
Asked what his advice would be for President Barack Obama, Walker said he would advise him to talk with Mubarak and tell him to start making some real changes in Egypt and to promise the people that things are going to change. “Otherwise he [Mubarak] is not going to be around very much longer.”
