时代周刊精选文章(1).doc

Enter the Diplomats
Posted by MASSIMO CALABRESI Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 3:22 pm
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UPDATED
After a week of increasingly pointed but ineffectual rhetorical forays, the . waded directly into Egypt's turmoil today, dispatching envoys to the opposing parties in an attempt to steer the unrest towards what Hillary Clinton over the weekend called an “orderly transition.” It is a risky move by Obama, putting the . between millions of infuriated protesters and the intransigent dictator Hosni Mubarak in a situation that could still turn ugly. It also holds the potential of a significant diplomatic win with resonances beyond Egypt if the administration can broker a positive e.
First, the . sent former Ambassador Frank Wisner to speak to Mubarak. Wisner and Mubarak established a "very close" relationship when Wisner was the . envoy to the country under Reagan and Bush, says a senior administration official. The White House in consultation with Obama's national security principals decided Wisner was the best person to "nudge" Mubarak towards the exit in part because he is seen as sympathetic to Mubarak and can influence the Egyptian leader.
Wisner spoke with Mubarak Tuesday, and conveyed to him Obama's mendation that he not seek re-election. The nudge was apparently not enough. Mubarak announced his intention not to run in September's election late Tuesday, but i