Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman more >“Our intelligence collaboration with Oman Soliman is now probably the most successful element of the [U.S.-Egypt] relationship,” said a 2006 cable, which used an alternate spelling of his name.
U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey described Gen. Suleiman as a “pragmatist with an extremely sharp analytical mind.”
However, in a conference call with reporters this week, senior Obama administration officials declined to endorse Gen. Suleiman.
“I think it’s important to be clear that the United States has never gone out and said Vice President Suleiman is the right person or passed any judgment on who should be in charge with respect to the government in terms of leading this transition process,” said Jake Sullivan, deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and director of policy planning.
Obama administration officials have said they would like to see concrete and irreversible changes take place in Egypt.
“The test will be whether those changes are made or not. … Our question is not who’s leading it, but rather what the outcome is,” Mr. Sullivan said.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Ashish Kumar Sen is a reporter covering foreign policy and international developments for The Washington Times.
Prior to joining The Times, Mr. Sen worked for publications in Asia and the Middle East. His work has appeared in a number of publications and online news sites including the British Broadcasting Corp., Asia Times Online and Outlook magazine.
'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
Opinion, analysis, and musings on politics, pop culture, reinvention, and the resultant flotsam and jetsam floating around the right-of-center quadrant of the Left Coast.
Consummate traveler Todd DeFeo explores the unique stories that make destinations worth going to.
We welcome you to the intimate and personal thoughts on the news and events we, as editors, watch, read, and discuss with our writers every day.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
