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I admit I do not know enough about JCPOA or our Iran policy to comment on a significant and course-changing matter as who gets the top job on the dossier.
But what I do know is that policy is personnel. And @Rob_Malley is someone I happen to know...
But what I do know is that policy is personnel. And @Rob_Malley is someone I happen to know...
In 2013, I was jailed in Egypt on bogus charges for live tweeting protests against the coup. I was tortured, kept in solitary confinement & made to live in conditions no human ever should. I nearly died more times than I can recall
Rob was a Senior WH official at the time!
Rob was a Senior WH official at the time!
He & his NSC team advocated heavily for my release, despite our Egypt policy at the time being horrendous.
The US had accepted the violent overthrow of Egypt’s nascent democracy soon after embracing the incredible youth who risked everything for a chance at a dignified life!
The US had accepted the violent overthrow of Egypt’s nascent democracy soon after embracing the incredible youth who risked everything for a chance at a dignified life!
Yet I was an American citizen, whom Rob had never heard of, nor stood to gain anything by fighting for. He & his team and so so many others did nevertheless
22 months into my detainment, 489 days into my hungerstrike & weeks after a circus court sentenced me to life in prison..
22 months into my detainment, 489 days into my hungerstrike & weeks after a circus court sentenced me to life in prison..
I touched down in Dulles airport on a wheelchair.
About a month later, after regaining enough strength to walk unassisted, I visited Rob and his team in the WH to thank them.
It was my first time ever in the White House & my first official meeting!
About a month later, after regaining enough strength to walk unassisted, I visited Rob and his team in the WH to thank them.
It was my first time ever in the White House & my first official meeting!
I was nervously waiting in one of the pretty Eisenhower building rooms, waiting to meet three senior officials who had championed my cause.
When they walked in, not knowing any protocol, I put my hand out to shake the hand of the guy walking in the middle.
When they walked in, not knowing any protocol, I put my hand out to shake the hand of the guy walking in the middle.
He causally moved my hand away, came in for a warm hug and said: come here man, it’s not everyday we get wins let alone meet them!
I am a passionate guy & so was grateful for his warm welcome.
But that did not stop me from letting Rob and his team have it for an hour and a half
I am a passionate guy & so was grateful for his warm welcome.
But that did not stop me from letting Rob and his team have it for an hour and a half
It wasn’t enough that I was home..
I was livid abt my country pulling the plug on its support for democracy in my country of origin.
I was crushed that my dad & 60K others remained unjustly imprisoned there. We send $1.3 Billion/yr to Egypt in aid w/o any real conditions!
I was livid abt my country pulling the plug on its support for democracy in my country of origin.
I was crushed that my dad & 60K others remained unjustly imprisoned there. We send $1.3 Billion/yr to Egypt in aid w/o any real conditions!
I went on and on and on as Rob earnestly listened..
He didn’t defend the policy.
He asked a lot of questions. He wanted to know the impact of said policy.
He genuinely wondered what I think could’ve been different had USG acted differently!
He didn’t defend the policy.
He asked a lot of questions. He wanted to know the impact of said policy.
He genuinely wondered what I think could’ve been different had USG acted differently!
This would be the first of many conversations about the MENA region, our foreign policy, the competing interests & the limitations of power..
We don’t agree on all, or even still see things through the same lens, but Rob genuinely and humbly listens... all the time
We don’t agree on all, or even still see things through the same lens, but Rob genuinely and humbly listens... all the time
He cares abt real life implications of policy (even though I wish he & others didn’t had a huge Syria blindspot) & is seasoned enough to know he can’t always mitigate all damage, but open enough to keep asking: what do you think can be done better? What should we do differently?
I am now finishing my last semester @georgetownmsfs bc I hope to be able to make my own impact on the world.
I was encouraged by friends & mentors like Rob who cared to listen to my experiences & guide me through understanding the massive undertaking that is shifting policy
I was encouraged by friends & mentors like Rob who cared to listen to my experiences & guide me through understanding the massive undertaking that is shifting policy
Egypt is not Iran & I do not claim to know what I don’t.
But I know having good, genuine people in positions of power makes all the difference in the world.
I know @Rob_Malley will be a great ally of human rights & democracy in this admin bc when you know better, you do better.
But I know having good, genuine people in positions of power makes all the difference in the world.
I know @Rob_Malley will be a great ally of human rights & democracy in this admin bc when you know better, you do better.
