Mubarak cancels controversial White House trip

Reuters reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is canceling his trip to the United States in order to grieve over the death of his grandson. But, like everything else about the opaque Mubarak regime, it’s not totally clear what’s going on. It was the White House that broke the news of the cancelation, and Egyptian ...

Reuters reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is canceling his trip to the United States in order to grieve over the death of his grandson. But, like everything else about the opaque Mubarak regime, it's not totally clear what's going on. It was the White House that broke the news of the cancelation, and Egyptian officials aren't commenting. Nor did Mubarak, who is 81 years old and is often rumored to be in poor health himself, attend his grandson's funeral yesterday.

Reuters reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is canceling his trip to the United States in order to grieve over the death of his grandson. But, like everything else about the opaque Mubarak regime, it’s not totally clear what’s going on. It was the White House that broke the news of the cancelation, and Egyptian officials aren’t commenting. Nor did Mubarak, who is 81 years old and is often rumored to be in poor health himself, attend his grandson’s funeral yesterday.

Although conspiracy theories are likely to proliferate rapidly in Egypt, the simplest explanation is probably the correct one here: Mubarak wants to grieve for his grandson. His visit to Washington was scheduled for May 25, which isn’t too far off. And U.S. President Barack Obama is coming to Egypt in early June, soon enough that they can conduct whatever business they need to conduct at that time. I doubt Mubarak was too concerned about what seemed to be a fairly mild groundswell of criticism of his regime.

I guess we’ll have to wait to apply the "Mubarak Test" to Obama’s human rights policies.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.