Wikileaks Egypt April 6th Movement report is from 2008

Many are claiming that the Wikileaks release from the US Embassy in Cairo proves that the US administration supported regime change in Egypt. First off, it's from a diplomat and about a dissident, so it's more observational than policy-indicative. Second, at this point in time (late 2008) the diplomat believes that Egypt's April 6th Youth Movement's goals and timelines (parliamentary democracy by 2011) are unrealistic, and she also believes these targets are not supported by other opposition parties, though the dissident claims / believes they are.

Third, the cable dates from a period when the Bushies were moving out of the White House, and the Obamas were moving in, so cannot firmly be placed within the "worldview" of either US president.


Excerpts from Wikileaks cable 30dec2008 regarding April 6th Movement in Egypt

Classified By: ECPO A/Mincouns Catherine Hill-Herndon for reason 1.4 (d).

¶1. (C) Summary and comment: On December 23, April 6 activist
XXXXXXXXXXXX expressed satisfaction with his participation in
the December 3-5 "Alliance of Youth Movements Summit," and
with his subsequent meetings with USG officials, on Capitol
Hill, and with think tanks. He described how State Security
(SSIS) detained him at the Cairo airport upon his return and
confiscated his notes for his summit presentation calling for
democratic change in Egypt, and his schedule for his
Congressional meetings. XXXXXXXXXXXX contended that the GOE will never undertake significant reform, and therefore, Egyptians
need to replace the current regime with a parliamentary
democracy. He alleged that several opposition parties and
movements have accepted an unwritten plan for democratic
transition by 2011; we are doubtful of this claim. XXXXXXXXXXXX
said that although SSIS recently released two April 6
activists, it also arrested three additional group members.
We have pressed the MFA for the release of these April 6
activists. April 6's stated goal of replacing the current
regime with a parliamentary democracy prior to the 2011
presidential elections is highly unrealistic, and is not
supported by the mainstream opposition. End summary and
comment.


Link to full text of Wikileaks cablegate release of US diplomatic report on Egypt's April 6th Movement