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Posted on 01/28/2011 9:14:48 AM PST by SE Mom
From FOX:
DEVELOPING: Loud explosions and gunfire were heard in the Egyptian capital of Cairo Friday, as protesters demanding the removal of President Hosni Mubarak defied a curfew, Al Jazeera reported. Egyptian television reports the ruling party headquarters in Cairo are on fire.
From TWITTER:
WashingtonPost: Clinton: We urge #Egypt authorities to allow peaceful protest, reverse unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications less than 20 seconds ago
It been reported the Tear Gas cannisters have “Made In America” printed on them.
I think it was a joke. If it wasn’t beat me up, okay?
My husband and I talked about the absence of females last night.
This link shows some women but I must add that it does include some **graphic** photos of a man who was shot.
http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/01/the-egypt-protests/
Good grief. I made a comment in the form of a question. I thought it rather remarkable that the A J talkers speak British English - rather that the Arabic accented English one might expect.
I took no offense at your response. And I missed the joke, if it was one.
There is a close up of one of the canisters on the link I just posted. It’s about 2/3 down on the page.
That this is a largely non-ideological struggle against a ruler who has held on to power for 30 years. Certainly there are people in Egypt who hate America and Israel, like what you'd find in ... America and Israel.
Still, this isn't a Muslim Brotherhood production. This is a political revolution has been pent up and simmering for decades. While it's wise to be concerned about how this could go wrong, there's more than a little cause for cautious optimism.
“With Obama apparently behind the Egyptian mess”
OH GOOD LORD!!!! Give me a break!
Old Hawaii-Five-Oh line...
Geez, I keep on offending you, and I don't mean to.
Pax?
(more analysis from NR)
2) Do you see the threat of an Islamist takeover by the Ikhwan?
So far the uprising has not been led by the Muslim Brotherhood. But it is the only large organized opposition group. It is hard to see how it would not be the leading force after a while. The leadership would have to decide that it is facing a revolutionary situation and that this is the moment for an all-out effort. But if it does so and fails there will be a terrible repression and the group will be crushed. It appears that the Brotherhood is joining the protests but has not made its basic decision yet. In the longer term if the regime is completely overthrown I do believe the Brotherhood will emerge as the leader and perhaps the ruler of the country.
3) Do you see any chances that Egypt will witness the same model of Iran of 1979, the democratic protests followed by an Islamist rule?
Absolutely yes. On one hand, so far they lack a charismatic leader. On the other hand, alternative non-Islamist leadership is probably weaker than it was in Iran. Remember also that the Iranian revolution went on for almost a year, with the Islamists emerging as leaders only after five or six months. Many experts predicted that moderate democrats would emerge as rulers and said an Islamist regime was impossible but that isn’t what happened. I very much hope I am wrong.
4) How the Arab status quo can be reformed and changed without letting the Jihadist fanatics take power? Is it possible to have democracy and liberalism?
One would need strong leaders, strong organizations, an ability to repress opposition, a clear program, and unity, among other things. None of this is present on the moderate democratic side. Again, I wish it was otherwise. More than any other country, reformers—though not all of them—have believed they can work with and then manipulate the Islamists. That seems like a mistake.
The chances for democracy and liberalism are different in every country. Tunisia has a good chance because there is a strong middle class and a weak Islamist movement. But in Egypt look at the numbers in the latest Pew poll.
In Egypt, 30 percent like Hizballah (66 percent don’t). 49 percent are favorable toward Hamas (48 percent are negative); and 20 percent smile (72 percent frown) at al-Qaida. Roughly speaking, one-fifth of Egyptians applaud the most extreme Islamist terrorist group, while around one-third back revolutionary Islamists abroad. This doesn’t tell us what proportion of Egyptians want an Islamist government at home, but it is an indicator.
In Egypt, 82 percent want stoning for those who commit adultery; 77 percent would like to see whippings and hands cut off for robbery; and 84 percent favor the death penalty for any Muslim who changes his religion.
Asked if they supported “modernizers” or “Islamists” only 27 percent said modernizers while 59 percent said Islamists:
Is this meaningless? Last December 20 I wrote that these “horrifying figures in Egypt...one day might be cited to explain an Islamist revolution there....What this analysis also shows is that a future Islamist revolution in Egypt and Jordan is quite possible.
5) What kind of threat the Muslim Brotherhood network pose to Israel and the Western democracies?
In power? A huge threat: renewed warfare, overwhelming anti-Americanism, efforts to spread revolution to other moderate states, a potential alignment with Iran and Syria (though that might not happen), incredible damage to Western interests. In short, a real disaster. What shocks me is that Western media and experts seem so carried away by this movement they are only considering a best-case outcome. As I suggested, I would prefer things were otherwise but I am deeply worried and one of the things I’m worried about is that others don’t seem to be worried.
*
Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. His latest books are Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict, and Crisis (Palgrave Macmillan), Conflict and Insurgency in the Contemporary Middle East (Routledge), The Israel-Arab Reader (seventh edition) (Viking-Penguin), the paperback edition of The Truth About Syria (Palgrave-Macmillan), A Chronological History of Terrorism (Sharpe), and The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley).
Well Put.
sorry don-o
My initial reaction was completely negative. However, today I join you in cautious optimism.
# The New Prime Minister of Egypt Ahmed Shafiq was Aviation minister under the Ahmad Nazif govt 8 minutes ago via web
# BREAKING Al Jazeera: Ahmad Shafeeq is the new Prime Minister, asked to form government 9 minutes ago via web
# BREAKING Al Jazeera: Omar Shafeeq is the new Prime Minister, asked to form government 10 minutes ago via web
# Suleiman is an “ideal candidate”, he saved Mubarak’s life, close friend of Israel & West, opposes Muslim Brotherhood + Military background. 11 minutes ago via web
Good thought...and I will pray it turns out good for all. I still think our civilians and nonesentials need to leave the ME immediately, for I still hold safety as a priority. Things can turn on a dime, quickly in the ME....imho
Now we wait to learn about who this fellow Shafiq is and if the people will find him acceptable...
Ok Thanks.
I’m on dial up. Takes forever to laod pics.
Does the canisters say “Made in America” on them.?
laod = load.
Contrast that to the oath that American office holders (ang the military) take - to defend the Constitution.
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