U.S. Lawmaker Slams Obama Administration over Lebanon, Egypt

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration was the target of harsh criticism in Congress Wednesday for not doing enough to support "pro-democracy forces" in Lebanon and Egypt.

"In both Egypt and Lebanon, we have failed to effectively leverage U.S. assistance in support of peaceful, pro-democracy forces and to help build strong, accountable, independent, democratic institutions as a bulwark against the instability that is now spreading throughout much of the region," said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen at a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committee she heads.

"Instead of being proactive, we have been obsessed with maintaining short-term, personality-based stability -- stability that was never really all that stable, as the events of recent weeks demonstrate."

In Egypt, the Republican lawmaker said, "the administration failed to seize the opportunity to press for reform to address the demonstrators' frustrations and prevent chaos and violence."

In Lebanon, where the Hizbullah-led camp has forced the collapse of the government, she said, "We are again confronted by the absence of a long-term U.S. strategy."

Criticism also came from the Democratic side, with Representative Gary Ackerman arguing that Washington is failing to capitalize on the democracy movement.

"In Egypt I fear we are snatching failure from the jaws of success," Ackerman said.

"We simply cannot afford to be viewed in Egypt as the bankrollers of repression. The people yearn to be free. I cannot help but muse if (actor) Charlton Heston were to be appointed the special envoy onto Egypt. He would stand there speaking softly with the big stick in hand and say to President Mubarak, 'your people have let you go.'"

Robert Satloff, executive director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the delay in a democratic transition is negative for Washington.

"Mubarak said (a transition should be) eight months, Obama said now. And every day since then has been a victory for Mubarak," Satloff said.

Satloff said Washington should be concerned about the possibility of radical Islamic groups like the Muslim Brotherhood -- which has begun negotiations with Mubarak's government -- getting involved in Egyptian politics.

"The Muslim Brotherhood was founded to Islamize the society, to govern under the sharia law," he said.

"It has never given up its goal."