This morning (PST), we woke up to joyous celebration in Cairo where we had expected to wake up to scenes of violence. However, Mubarak finally resigned and today is a day of rejoicing in Egypt. President Obama, of course, had to get in on the action and give a grand speech of sorts.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41534662/ns/politics/?GT1=43001
Now it seems he is telling the Egyptian military what they must do.
Today is truly historic. What comes next is uncertain. We all hope that this can be the beginning of a real democracy in the Middle East. We won't know that for awhile-even after the initial election. Keep in mind that in Germany, after Hitler came to power on January 30, 1933, the nation held an election on March 5, and the Nazis didn't even carry a majority. That was the first and last election under Hitler.
As of now, the military is in power. Whether they will stay in power or start phasing in a democracy with elections remains to be seen. What also remains to be seen is what will happen with the Muslim Brotherhood. Where Egypt goes, I'd bet that other Arab nations will eventually go. That means either toward democracy or toward theocracy. Should true democracy spread throughout the Middle East, this will be a momentous time in Middle East and world history, for it would be a major step toward bringing peace and stability to the region. But if the Brotherhood gradually- or more quickly- turns this into another Iranian revolution, that will be a catastrophe for the region and the world. The Egyptian people now have a choice. Do they want to be free and in peace-or accept another form of autocracy and go back to war with Israel? As of now, Israel and Egypt have a peace treaty. Hopefully, it will not be abrogated.
The French daily, Le Figaro, is reporting that Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, is en route to Washington to seek reassurances of continued American support.
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/
As of now, President Obama has placed his bet on the right horse. On the negative side, he has spread alarm to other Arab allies like Jordan and Saudi Arabia, both of whose leaders warned Obama not to humiliate Mubarak, who had been a trusted ally of the US and a keeper of the peace with Israel. Has Obama sent a message that the US cannot be counted upon when the going gets tough? Time will tell. Hopefully, our "intelligence" leaders will wake up from their incredible slumber. We all need to pay a lot of attention to the events unfolding in the next several months.
In the meantime, congratulations to the people of Egypt. They have a wonderful opportunity in their hands.
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13 comments:
Nazi comparisons already??? You stay classy, Mr. Fouse!
Don't worry, I will.
The only comparison is that we don't know what comes next ... "What comes next is uncertain."
Gary points out that sometimes, as in Germany, public uprisings end up with elections that install tyrants and that is the last real election.
There were no comparisons to Nazis!
I don't see how anyone could read that into it.
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EVERYONE wants to tell the Egyptian military what they must do, including Gary Fouse. I'd like to also, but I know they aren't listening to me.
By the end of the post though, Gary had worked himself into a reasonable analysis, and a courteous recognition of the remarkable accomplishment of the Egyptian people. Can't really complain.
This would be a good time for the U.S. government to make clear to the government of Israel that, if it expects continued support from us, which we really would like to provide, then it better come to terms with the gracious concessions from the Palestinian Authority (the ones al-Jazeera just leaked), and cut a lasting deal before its too late. If they are too stiff-necked or complacent to do so, we can't be responsible for bankrolling their foolishness.
The reference to Nazi Germany actually makes sense in this instance, but Gary makes so many references to Nazis when it's not appropriate that I can understand Anonymous's knee-jerk reaction (to a point).
Comparisons? The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was part of the MB and he had a direct connection to Hitler, which I have amply demonstrated with photos and documented history.
There were no "gracious concessions."
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011123234940952149.html
If this were simply a dispute over land, it would have been over 60 years ago.
The principles of the Hamas are stated in their Covenant or Charter, given in full below. Following are highlights.
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).
"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. "
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm
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Gary, I'm talking about your blog in general. You make so many Hitler references that it's only worth one shot in the "Fousesquawk Drinking Game." The naked soccer hooligan is worth two.
I originally posted this comment on the wrong thread. It has to do with anti-Semitism on the Arab street.
"Anti-Semitism has been taught in Arab and Muslim schools for so long now that it has become interstitial ... imbeded in their cells and tissue. They will continue to clng to it, without considering how much harm this does to their society. Nothing will change until this is fixed. "
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I would hold off congratulating the Egyptians until further notice.
I lived in Iran from 1977 to 1979, and I was there during their revolution. Everyone just wanted one thing, get rid of the Shah. They did with the help of the US and Europe. The rest is history.
And yes, Gary, you use the Nazis too much.
Miggie, it seems to have escaped your attention that Hamas is NOT negotiating with Israel (per their charter) and is NOT in control of the West Bank (despite having won an election). The Palestinian Authority offered everything Israel can reasonably expect. The only thing that will begin to leach anti-Semitism off the Arab street is an economically stable life that makes peace seem more worthwhile than glorious martyrdom.
Ingrid: Whatever people in Iran wanted, they followed an Ayatollah to get it. That isn't happening in Egypt.
Siarlys, that was the outcome but initially that was not what the Iranians were saying at the time. I spoke to many of the educated class and none were in support of the Ayatollah, or so they said. Of course the taxi drivers and people working in the bazaars, mostly devout moslems, were.
Whatever, we'll see what happens with Egypt soon enough.
As I recall, the tipping point that sent the Shah out of the country was when a large part of the Air Force committed to Khomeini. If they had committed to Mehdi Bazargan the outcome might have been different. With so many other oppositions suppressed, the Muslim clerics were the only force that could challenge the monarchy, and they played marbles for keeps. On the other hand, if Khomeini had died a few years earlier, Montazeri would have succeeded him instead of Khameini, and that would have been an entirely different story also.
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