Posted on 01/28/2011 10:25:35 AM PST by nuconvert
Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution is spreading with the same wildfire uncertainty as the tumult that deposed the Shah of Iran 32 years ago.
Then, as now, the United States and the the West were caught almost totally by surprise as they witnessed a world they had confidently managed and manipulated suddenly transform itself before their eyes.
The Arab world’s sudden, unprecedented, public demonstrations calling for authoritarian leaders to step down has the potential to produce fundamental change, as surely as the thronging thousands in Tehran changed the Middle East with their chants of “Death to America” and “Islam, Islam, Khomeini, We Will Follow You.” Today, as Egypt endures its third straight day of turmoil, it is easy to believe the crowds clashing with police believe they are eroding the foundations of Arab authoritarianism. Each demonstration, each round of tear gas, each fallen dissident and each Internet-fueled call for further rebellion is empowering and enlisting young people who demand change — even if they have no real idea where that may lead.
Radical Islamists are well placed to take advantage of the confrontations and could easily hijack the Arab world’s fledgling pro-democracy movements. It is not outlandish to predict that if the trouble persists, we in the West could face a perfect storm of radical Islam twisting itself into worldwide revolution.
There are realistic fears Tunisia’s trouble has already spread like a virus to Egypt and Yemen. Jordan, Algeria, Libya and even Saudi Arabia, whose 86-year-old King Abdullah is recuperating from surgery in Morocco, are all vulnerable to similar conflict. Lebanon is already facing a sharper, more intense and unpredictable conflict between its pro-Western alliance and the newly-installed Hezbollah-backed government.
(Excerpt) Read more at fullcomment.nationalpost.com ...
Maybe this is the challenge Biden said Obama would fail at. Seems he is failing so far.
Let’s be honest though, what in the world can the US President due about a 100 thousand rioting people in another country? It’s out of our hands folks, whatever happens happens ...
POTUS Obama is about as dumb as they come!!! He does not have a clue. He is losing the whole Middle East right before our eyes. Who knows? He probably wants this to happen!!! America is going to pay a dear price for having this moron buffoon as our POTUS!!!
Only this one is much worse, losing access or having the Suez canal blocked puts oil and our military movement at risk
I've been predicting a foriegn policy problem to be his undoing as Iran did to his mentor, Jimmy Carter. Perhaps Egypt will be the new Iran.
Mike
0 is probably salivating over that possibility. Cut oil flow and strand our people overseas. A wacko leftist dream scenario.
We can open the Suez Canal if need be.
What did Obama tell us in his book? Oh yeah..
WHEN THE POLITICAL WINDS SHIFT IN AN UGLY DIRECTION, I WILL STAND MUSLIM....
The demonstrators will quickly learn that removing secular authoritarian leaders to be replaced by religious authoritarian leaders is simply; Meet the new boss...same as the old boss.
Our Islamic Marxist in Chief continues to sit upon his hands while Egypt, the Sudan, Yemen, Jordan and Tunisia fall apart to fundamentalists within a week
There goes the Suez Canal and here comes $12.00 gasoline
.
And they have a lot of US built military equipment, a lot.
I would expect Egypt to go Islamic fundamentalist if Mubarak falls.
Very bad situation.
If that happens I think an attack on Israel is a possibility what with the 'moderate' Egypt lost and likely an antagonist.
What are we supposed to do? Send troops? LOL What troops? Issue a declaration of support for Mubarak LOL. I haven’t seen anyone give a clear answer on what to do.
What are we supposed to do? Send troops? LOL What troops? Issue a declaration of support for Mubarak LOL. I haven’t seen anyone give a clear answer on what to do.
Clearly, you should own oil.
And while we did not stand by the Shah, we must stand with Mubarak, even if it requires military assistance as we cannot lose Egypt to Radical Muslims. And don't think that the middle and intellectual class in Cairo and Alex will be able to match the votes of the uneducated radical Muslim masses in Cairo and the rest of the nation.
an excellent point - BUT indeed, Obama could have done a LOT different. He could recognize, as is clear now, that Israel is the only stable, free, Republic in the Middle East. As such, they are our natural ally. Also, rather than the BS apologies, bows, and recognition Obama has heaped on Muslim Gov'ts over the last 2 years, he should rather recognize his world-view is flawed, and the Arab world in fact, cares little about his "apologies." they are angry over their crappy gov'ts, and backward societies. Indeed, the USA can do little about that, EXCEPT protect ourselves from it.
Like clockwork. Put an anti-American wuss in the white house and the terrorists grab for whatever they can get
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