Obama in Cairo - Part 1

President Obama is addressing the Muslim world from Cairo on June 4th. I really tried to wait to post anything about this until after the speech but with all the preparations around town I just couldn’t hold my tongue any longer.

As some of you know, I totally predicted that Obama would come see me because he was disappointed I could not make it to the inauguration earlier this year. And it appears to be true. Seven months from the day that I voted and boarded a plane for Cairo, Obama will join me here.

I invited him to stay with me in Mokattam. But I think he saw my recent blog posts about my beautiful and “pig-free” neighborhood, because he declined.

And unfortunately, my invitation to any of the Obama events has been lost in the mail. But I am getting ahead of myself.

For the past month, there have been daily articles in all of the newspapers speculating and lobbying for (1) the perfect location for the speech; (2) speculating and coaching for what he might say or should say to the Muslim world; and (3) even a few dissenting arguments – not in the mainstream government papers of course – for why Obama should not speak from Cairo at all - presumably endorsing the Mubarak government.

Finally this week, decisions and schedules were announced and true preparations made public. It’s actually shocking to me how much of the Presidents calendar the general public is aware of – you’d think that the secret service would do a better job of keeping that secret.

But, here’s what we know so far:
He’s staying in Saudi Arabia the night before. (Everyone agrees that this is a safer location to spend the night then Cairo. I wish someone told me that before I moved to Cairo.)
1. He arrives in Cairo at 10 am.
2. Meets with President Mubarak in his palace.
3. Then goes onto Cairo University for the speech.
4. Finally meeting with the US Embassy after this.
5. And leaving Cairo by 6 pm. (Clearly Cairo really isn’t a safe place to sleep.)

We hear reports of efforts to clean the streets and communities the US President’s motorcade will be traveling to or through and that all these streets will be closed during his visit. As unrealistic as that sounds given the amount of territory that Mr. President will be traveling it is totally feasible and expected that this will happen. My office is not far from Murbarak’s palace and any time he goes for a jaunt all of the main streets are closed to traffic and to pedestrians.

So unlike in the US, supporters or detractors or demonstrators of any kind are not allowed on the street. I hear mixed messages from my Egyptian friends as to what to expect from security on the street the day of the visit. I want to go to Cairo University and greet the motorcade even if I can’t get in to the speech. They blast the calls to prayer everyday I’m sure they can handle broadcasting the President’s speech on loud speakers in the area. Alas, I am nervous about being caroled far from the location and not seeing anything but maybe the back of a police van.

RELAX!!! I’m not that stupid.

Security reports are insane. Some say there will be 10,000 police here protecting the President including Egyptian and US forces. Others report there aren’t even 10,000 trained police in the whole country. They discuss having snipers on top of all the building along the travel route. Already there are reports of about 300 foreign students having been “detained and questioned forcefully by police as a “precaution.” (For some these precautions illustrate perfectly the human rights abuses in Egypt.)

The media is having a field day! Rumors of all types are rampant. Last night the evening “news” reported a change in venue of the speech, citing all sorts of reasons, security, larger location, to fool the terrorist, etc. I highly doubted the change given that they already started cleaning one part of town they would never have time to clean up two parts of the city at the same time. All of this was disproved with later “news” reports.

We even had advertising executives in the office today trying to sell full and half page ads in their papers to any businesses who would write a “XYZ Company welcomes President Obama to Egypt!”

It’s an exciting and crazy time here. Even more Cairo-crazy then usual. But mostly in a good way. For the most part, everyone seems really excited about the visit and upcoming speech. All of the Egyptians I know love Obama or are at least hopeful about his presidency. Most of the newspaper reporters or commentators however caution against full fledge support just yet; and I continually read that, “actions speak louder then words.”

Unfortunatley, I have had NO luck in securing a ticket to any of the invitation only events. I have tried many avenues but I just do not have any connections here that would help me in this way. If you want a deal on a children’s laptop computer I can help there, or even a free beer I can help with that but otherwise I got nothin.

But, I still have about 36 hours to figure something out though. Wish me luck!