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All this hysteria about the MB is ridiculous. (1) The MB is not the largest opposition group, (2) The MB is not a terrorist organization, they are a conservative Islamic group but that doesn't mean they are terrorists. (3) Israel is one of the strongest military powers in the world and the only nuclear power in the region, and they are backed by the U.S., I don't think a democratic Egypt is going to support war with Israel in the foreseeable future, I think Israel will be just fine.
I support democracy and freedom in Egypt whole heartedly. Egypt has been burdened by a crushing unemployment rate and an unstable economy for many years. If I lived there, I'd be burning some tires at this point myself.
I just hope and pray that the current regime is replaced with a secular democracy of some sort.
I have my doubts on that one.
"Currently unavailable" apparently.
"Currently unavailable" apparently.
I personally support secular democracy. However, it's silly to rigorously insist on 100% secularism, as if that is the only measure of a government. The Mubarak regime in Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, and The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Pakistan all have governments based entirely, or only partly, on Islamic law. The constitution of Iraq and Afghanistan -- you know, those democracies we are fighting for -- affirm their explicit Islamic character. That does not mean those governments are going to be hostile or aggressive towards anyone, in fact all of those governments are very close U.S. allies.Kathryn said:I just hope and pray that the current regime is replaced with a secular democracy of some sort.
I am ok with the democratic aspect, Mr. Spinkles, it's just the potential aftermath that I am a bit chilled by. I am not optimistic.I am astonished that so many Westerners show so little support for democracy, in spite of themselves.
What are you afraid will happen, realistically, if Egyptians are allowed to have free and open democratic elections? The MB is not even the largest opposition group. And even if they were what do you think they will do, pass Islamic laws, like our allies Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia? Or perhaps they will merely continue the religious restrictions which are already in place under the "secular" dictatorship?I am ok with the democratic aspect, Mr. Spinkles, it's just the potential aftermath that I am a bit chilled by. I am not optimistic.
What are you afraid will happen, realistically, if Egyptians are allowed to have free and open democratic elections? The MB is not even the largest opposition group. And even if they were what do you think they will do, pass Islamic laws, like our allies Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia? Or perhaps they will merely continue the religious restrictions which are already in place under the "secular" dictatorship?
The protesters want better employment, less poverty, less corruption in government. They aren't demanding less secularism.
Notice one of the things reported by Reuters on the first day was that bonds and other investments in the Middle East dropped precipitously due to the protests in Egypt. That's another motive for the U.S. to oppose any swift change.Perhaps the opinion of Mubarak's western supporters is that, at least with Mubarak, we know exactly what to expect, even if that happens to be torture, corruption, political repression and autocratic rule. I accept that if he is ousted we don't know what to expect. Nevertheless, because the movement to oust him is fundamentally democratic (as am I) I'm willing to wait and see.
I was listening to Obama's speech last night. At this point, I'm slightly more optimistic that the US Government will, in the end, back the Egyptian people versus the Egyptian Government than I am pessimistic it will do the opposite.
Yeah, I know: Obama's speeches are 90% lies, etc.,etc. He could easily be publicly telling the world one thing and privately telling Mubarak another. My hunch, though, is that, this time around, Obama both wants to keep Mubarak, and see real reform in Egypt.
I don't think he will get both, though. I think -- unless the US gives him a green light for total oppression of the protesters -- Mubarak has at most three more days in power.
But what does anyone else think? What's going to happen now?