While we have previously exposed the less than exuberant perspective of many Egyptians towards the US [8], it now seems the torrent of anti-US hostility has reached such large proportions that the mainstream media is forced to admit report it. As the WSJ reports [9], a headline in a major Egyptian state newspaper this week referred to the proposed U.S. envoy to Egypt as the "Ambassador of Death." Posters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, a center of pro-government rallies, depict President Barack Obama with a beard and turban, exclaiming his "support for terrorism." The moves, WSJ adds, highlight the depth of public distrust of U.S. policies, and draw from a "reservoir of anti-Americanism and conspiratorial theories".
[10]
[11]
One adviser noted, "the Mubarak people are unhappy with the way he was shoved off without a thank you. The military thinks we coddled the Brotherhood and didn't intervene to control them. And the Brotherhood thinks that we never supported them when they needed support, and then gave the green light to the military." Of course, U.S. officials say they are used to the onslaught, "there's been a great deal of misinformation out there."
However, hopes that America could reset its relationship with Egypt by appointing a new ambassador are dwindling, after the fierce media campaign that has targeted Mr. Ford. as "the engineer of destruction in Syria, Iraq and Morocco" and "the man of blood," to which the US defends with "he is the best we have."
Of course, after yesterday's revelation of the staged Muslim Brotherhood riots [12], nobody really knows just where US-Egyptian sentiment really lays but it seems fair to say that it is not improving.
Via WSJ, [9]
A headline in a major Egyptian state newspaper this week referred to the proposed U.S. envoy to Egypt as the "Ambassador of Death." Posters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, a center of pro-government rallies, depict President Barack Obama with a beard and turban, exclaiming his "support for terrorism."
...
"We're caught in a situation of having to essentially try to find a balance between our values and our interests. It satisfies nobody,"
...
The moves highlight the depth of public distrust of U.S. policies, and draw from a "reservoir of anti-Americanism and conspiratorial theories,"
...
"The state media are programmed to the line of whoever is in power. They don't need instructions or calls to be told what to write,"
...
The criticism against Mr. Ford erupted this week. An article on Monday in Al Ahram, the flagship state newspaper, called Mr. Ford "the engineer of destruction in Syria, Iraq and Morocco" and "the man of blood."
...
"He is the best we have," Mr. Jeffrey said of Mr. Ford.
...
"Let me just say as a friend of Egypt, we Americans see the demonization of our country in Egyptian state media and these kind of actions are harmful to our relationship and to your friends," Sen. McCain said Tuesday.
...
"In general, Egyptians want America out of Egyptian affairs. For the U.S. to take the Brotherhood's side is not goodwill. They have a deal to give power to the Brotherhood in Egypt and in exchange the U.S. will give Sinai to Israel," Mr. Elwishee said with a slight American accent.
When asked for his thoughts on Mr. Ford, Mr. Elwishee didn't hesitate. "He's a troublemaker. It's enough to know that he was ambassador to Syria," he said. "He is top in one of the U.S. spy agencies…and we don't need that kind of relationship."
When asked where he had read about Mr. Ford serving as an intelligence agent, Mr. Elwishee answered: "I'm telling you from the newspapers I read and the people who watch TV and tell me about it."