Now posters are appearing in Cairo promoting ‘Omar Suleiman for President. You'll recall that as long ago as last summer, a website sprung up promoting the idea.The "anonymous" group prmoting Suleiman remain a matter fof speculation: are they just anti-Gamal, or is there some genuine effort by the army or the security services to influence the succession? The fact that Suleiman still has his job suggests either that he's not behind it, or that the regime may not be as committed to the Gamal succession as most people think. I suspect the former.
The idea of Suleiman as a transitional figure probably appeals to some in the US government as well, but it's hard to see a career intelligence man as a democratizing figure. (Though to be fair, General Intelligence has a far better reputation than State Security, which is under Interior Minister Habib al-‘Adly and is the really feared agency.)
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2 comments:
"The fact that Suleiman still has his job suggests ... that he's not behind it"
Shouldn't he, well, say that? If it's really that clear where he stands on succession, one can't help but think a public statement would be in order. The absence of one is what's really perplexing.
aron:
Perplexing,yes, but typical. Suleiman almost never speaks for the record, never says much to the press, and then ONLY on Israeii-Palestinian issues, the one part of his portfolio that he's allowed (or perhaps chooses) to comment on publicly. His rare public appearances are off the record; I attended one some years ago, but have to respect the ground rules, though he said nothing of substance you don't already know. He's a classic spook. Say nothing much, and say even that on deep background.
I don't think he could make stump speeches: the aversion in professional spooks is pretty ingrained.
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