File photo of Former Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa (R) and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at a press conference in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Jan. 16, 2009. Saudi Gazette Amr Moussa, a stellar candidate for the presidency of Egypt, said lately that “he warned Mubarak to call off security forces who attacked demonstrators.” He added that his advice-cum-warning was “ignored by an authoritarian ruler who seemed convinced he could ride out the popular uprising.” Moussa, probably for now the most- noted among a corp of Egyptian presidential candidates, was born Oct. 3, 1936 (75-years-old now) in Cairo, Egypt; earning a degree in law from Cairo University in 1957. This report sheds light on Moussa's strengths and weaknesses. Indisputably, he is popularly liked among the middle class youths and the commoners but, his position on some regional happenings could dampen his chances to Qasr Al-Qoubba… the Egyptian presidential palace where he stargazes to add a final polish to a sterling silver career. An Egyptian politician and diplomat; former Secretary-General of the Arab League Moussa craves today to lead Egypt through the post-Mubarak era. When asked in 2012 about his intention to run for the Presidency he replied “It's the right of every citizen that has the capacity and efficiency to aspire to any political office that would allow him to contribute to the service of his nation”. On Feb. 8, well-known American journalist, Seymour Hersh stated that Moussa was considered America's favored Plan B should Mubarak resign. Diplomatic career Moussa began his long twisted route into diplomacy in 1958; he worked in several Egyptian missions including Egypt's Embassy in Switzerland and the mission to the United Nations. From 1974 to 1977, he was an advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs; and during 1981-1983, Moussa was the Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. In1990, he was promoted as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He was named Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Sedki in May 1991. He retained the post until 15 May 2001 when he was elected Secretary General of the Arab League. Secretary General of the Arab League Moussa took office as Secretary General of the League of Arab States on 1 June 2001. Critics of President Mubarak allege Moussa's appointment to the Office of Secretary-General of the Arab League was motivated by Mubarak's desire to remove him from the public spotlight. On 13 June 2010, Moussa visited Gaza in a move to pressure Israel to lift its economic blockade over Hamas-ruled Gaza. Moussa's visit was the first by an official of the Arab League since the election of Hamas in 2007. Immediately after the Gaza flotilla raid, Moussa said the Arab League would go to the UN Security Council to demand the blockade be lifted. Nabil Al-Araby was elected Secretary General of Arab League succeeding Moussa in June 1, 2011. Foreign relations Amr Moussa has been involved with Egypt's foreign policy since 1958. Moussa was Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations, India, and Switzerland over a total period of 21 years. He has been an extremely popular political figure in Egypt due to his criticism of Israeli policies towards Gaza and the West Bank. At the Forum for New Diplomacy in Feb. 2010, Moussa gave a speech in which he criticized the US government's double standards supporting Israel's nuclear weapons policy but not allowing Iran to pursue nuclear energy. He also criticized Western countries, including the US for not recognizing the results of the 2006 Palestinian elections that brought Hamas to power. Like Al-Baradei and the Muslim Brotherhood, he supports opening the Gaza Strip, Egypt border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip. 2011 presidential candidacy Moussa held talks with Mohamed Elbaradei after his return to Egypt. Popular discussions convey the meeting was to probe constitutional reforms that will allow transparency in the election process as well as lifting restrictions on independent candidates. A poll conducted during the 2011 protests asking “Who do you think should be the next President of Egypt?” showed Moussa in the lead, with 26% of respondents naming him. Wiki leaks cables As indicated by cable # 09CAIRO874, the US has noted Moussa could be a possible candidate for taking over the presidency... “The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2011… the most likely contender is presidential son Gamal Mubarak; some suggest that intelligence chief Omar Soliman might seek the office, or dark horse Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa might run.” There would be one problem, however, if Moussa took power: Israeli leaders would not be pleased. Cable # 09TELAVIV654 reveals that a political counselor expressed disdain for the idea that Arabs think “progress on the Palestinian track” would make it easier for Egypt to publicly engage Israel”. Yacov Hadas, deputy director general for Middle East and the Peace Process, responded “While peace with the Palestinians is an Israeli interest and important in its own right, it should not be the sum total of Israel's relations with the Arab World.” The next sentence of the same cable notes Amr Moussa “invented the never-ending hurdle race in which Israel could never do enough to deserve a positive response,” and that “the Israeli-Palestinian track should not serve as an excuse to avoid action through practical steps to support the Palestinian Authority.” Cable # 09CAIRO722 stated “Moussa has publicly and privately minimized Iran's threat, claiming that the Arab world should strengthen its economic and cultural ties with Iran. He(Moussa) believes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict poses the greatest danger to the region.” The political shuffling in Egypt today indicates the Egyptian people will likely not settle for a new president who is a familiar face in Egyptian politics. They want a new regime and that means a fundamental shift in the political class, one that brings social justice with unambiguous connection to the past with all its goods and ills. __
