Posted on 02/05/2011 4:58:29 AM PST by nuconvert
The Egyptian government has survived the first crisis of the revolution and both the government and the protesters are moving to a new trial of strength. Surviving the first blast of popular fury — and of international criticism — is an important milestone for the government. The longer it can hold out, the more likely it is that the core power centers of the Egyptian regime — the ‘deep state’ as the Turks say — will survive the Mubarak era and dominate the country for some time to come.
I am not sure what to wish for. The current Egyptian system in many ways has overstayed its welcome and the economic, political and social development of the country has been seriously affected. Revolutions, though, however thoroughly justified, have their drawbacks. Both the major revolutions of the English speaking world, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the American Revolution of 1776, ended unusually well. Those revolutions, however, were the exception that proves the rule. The outcome of other revolutions has been less unambiguously good.
The French Revolution, for example, quickly degenerated into the Reign of Terror and culminated in the military dictatorship of the “Emperor” Napoleon and a generation of brutal war. The liberals of the February Revolution in Russia lost out to the mindlessly bloody and destructive Bolsheviks ten months later, and Russia plunged into an unspeakable civil war and the genocidal horrors of Leninist/Stalinist rule. China’s revolutionary communists killed scores of millions of people through their grotesque mixture of brutality, fanaticism and incompetence. The clergy of Iran turned on their allies, leading the country into the horrifying and pointless war with Iraq and establishing a regime worse than anything the Shah could have dreamed of.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.the-american-interest.com ...
All "revolutionaries" are really "freedom fighters."
Terrorists are also “freedom fighters”. And I forget what we calling the “war on terrorism” now.
” the American Revolution of 1776, ended unusually well. Those revolutions, however, were the exception that proves the rule. The outcome of other revolutions has been less unambiguously good. “
Not so sure that’s exactly the case - in case nobody’s noticed, Our Revolution is in the process of being co-opted by a ruthless, radical, totalitarian faction....
It may have taken longer than France (1789) or Russia>USSR, Cuba, and China - but it’s happening, nonetheless.....
I am waiting for Mubarak to point out to (.)bama the US had a revolution of sorts against his rule in the past democratic election here in that the House overwelmingly changed hands from his party to the GOP. He should follow up that comment with a comment (.)bama should leave now, and now is now.
That would be a delicious irony wouldn’t it?
Revolutions need to be grounded in a concept of Natural Rights granted by God, not the state to individuals. Natural rights which are inalienable.
Without that premise, Democracy becomes mobocracy.
Egypt needs a “Tea Party”... lets call it the the “Falafel Party”..
“To be fair, Saddam started the 1980 Iran-Iraq War by invading Iran.”
Yes, but had the Shah not been overthrown, Saddam wouldn’t have invaded.
Anybody want an education about the French Revolution? Accurate? I don’t know but probably as accurate as any other version.
Several years back, I decided that I wanted to read “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo, in the unabridged version. I had to get it from the local university library and it came in 3 thick volumes. I read it in it’s entirety and it contains more than any normal person could possibly want to know about the French Revolution.
Yes, I know that “Les Misérables” is a work of fiction.
That’s dedication. I only had to read the short version...but in French.
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