Mubarak Has More in Common with America's Founders than Bush

In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington called for America to "steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." 209 years later, in his second inaugural address, President George W. Bush stated that "it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world." Quite a contrast, wouldn't you say?

Now consider this from a recent AFP article:

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has rejected calls for tougher action in response to Israel's offensive in Lebanon, in comments carried by the state-owned press on Wednesday.

"Those who urge Egypt to go to war to defend Lebanon or Hezbollah are not aware that the time of exterior adventures is over," he told reporters on the flight back from talks with Saudi King Abdullah.

Mubarak stressed that throwing the country into a war would be irresponsible when 73 million Egyptians "need development, services, work and housing."

"Those who are asking for war will make us lose all of that in a blink," said Mubarak, quoted by the goverment Al-Gomhurriya daily.

He stressed that he was not ready "to spend the people's budget on a war... Which isn't their war".

"The Egyptian army is for defending Egypt only and this is not going to change," Mubarak added.

You know America is in trouble when the leader of a predominantly Muslim nation has more in common with our Founding Fathers than our own president.