Egypt protests Cairo is a war Zone

[Che -Guevara]

^It might prove harder to 'install' someone that will do their bidding to the letter.

[N.O.R.F]

^If it's done in a democratic way then its win win.

[ElPunto]

- From Canada's Fox News

 

 

Obama faces a Jimmy Carter moment in Egypt

 

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/01/28/peter-goodspeed-obama-faces-a-jimmy-carter-moment-in-egypt/#ixzz1CMkPX9qi

 

 

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.

 

The longer the Arab world’s turmoil percolates, the greater the likelihood those demands for fundamental change in Islamic countries may sweep out of the region into such volatile places as Pakistan. Karachi, Pakistan’s financial capital, is already boiling with ethnic, religious and political unrest and the country is haunted by terrorism and an unrelenting religious fundamentalism.

 

On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke out for the first time on the riots in Egypt, saying freedom of expression is essential and warning that violence is not the answer. Speaking to a “town hall” of YouTube viewers, Mr. Obama spoke of the United States long relationship with Egypt and his talks with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

 

“I’ve always said to him that making sure that they are moving forward on reform – political reform, economic reform – is absolutely critical to the long-term well-being of Egypt,” Mr. Obama said. “And you can see these pent-up frustrations that are being displayed on the streets.”

 

For a faint moment, Mr. Obama sounded as uncertain as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter did when he tried to politely distance himself from the Shah.

 

And the crowds in Egypt, as in Iran in the past, may pose as sharp a rebuke to the West’s past indifference as they do a challenge to our Arab world’s authoritarian allies.

 

 

 

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/01/28/peter-goodspeed-obama-faces-a-jimmy-carter-moment-in-egypt/#ixzz1CMkFEnPw

[nuune]

Mubarak skeptical of U.S. reform push: leaked cables

 

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama's push for democratic reforms in Egypt has faced resistance from its longtime leader, in part because President Hosni Mubarak believes Washington's past pressure for change has caused chaos in the Middle East, leaked U.S. diplomatic cables show

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking on Friday as anti-government protests rocked Egypt for a fourth day, said it was "absolutely vital" for Cairo to embrace political and social change as the United States has been pushing for years.

 

U.S. diplomatic cables posted on Friday by WikiLeaks show Obama has guided the United States to warmer ties with Egypt by avoiding the public "name and shame" tactics of his predecessor George W. Bush while urging political reforms in private.

 

But they also show U.S. pressure is viewed skeptically by Mubarak, who believes ill-advised U.S. pushes for reform in the Middle East have produced colossal mistakes, from the ouster of the Shah of Iran to the election of Hamas Islamists in Gaza.

 

"We have heard him lament the results of earlier U.S. efforts to encourage reform in the Islamic world," the U.S. embassy in Cairo told Clinton in a cable before Mubarak's visit to Washington in May 2009.

 

"He can harken back to the Shah of Iran: the U.S. encouraged him to accept reforms, only to watch the country fall into the hands of revolutionary religious extremists. Wherever he has seen these U.S. efforts, he can point to the chaos and loss of stability that ensued."

 

The cables were part of some 250,000 U.S. State Department documents reportedly obtained by WikiLeaks, a website that aims to expose governments and corporations through the leaking of information not previously made public.

 

MISSTEPS IN IRAQ

 

The cables indicate the U.S.-Egypt relationship soured under President Bush. Mubarak viewed the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a mistake that ultimately boosted the influence and power of Iran, Egypt's main Middle East rival.

 

"Mubarak viewed President Bush ... as naive, controlled by subordinates and totally unprepared for dealing with post-Saddam Iraq, especially the rise of Iran," the May 2009 cable to Clinton noted.

 

The Egyptian leader believed Iraq needed a tough and strong but fair military officer as its leader.

 

"This telling observation, we believe, describes Mubarak's own view of himself," the cable said.

 

The cables depict improving ties as Obama moved away from the Bush administration's public criticism.

 

Obama's overtures, and his speech to the Islamic world from Cairo in 2009, further helped to improve ties, even as his administration continued to press Mubarak's government for greater openness and an end to rights abuses.

 

"We continue to promote democratic reform in Egypt, including the expansion of political freedom and pluralism, and respect for human rights," the U.S. embassy cabled FBI Director Robert Mueller ahead of a visit to Cairo in February 2010.

 

t said Washington was pressing Cairo to lift its state of emergency, in place almost continuously since 1967, and replace it with a counterterrorism law that would protect civil liberties.

 

The government of Egypt "remains skeptical of our role in democracy promotion, complaining that any efforts to open up will result in empowering the Muslim Brotherhood, which currently holds 86 seats -- as independents -- in Egypt's 454-seat parliament," the cable said.

 

The Muslim Brotherhood is Egypt's largest opposition group and favors a return to Islamic rules, away from the secularism of the Mubarak government. Its members run as independents to skirt restrictions barring religious parties.

 

(Editing by John O'Callaghan)

[General Duke]

[General Duke]

President Mubarak also made mention of the protests which continued into a fourth day across Egypt. He defended the actions of the security forces, and said he 'regretted' the casualties, but described the protests as part of plot to destabilise Egypt and destroy the legitimacy of his regime.

[Dhagax-Tuur]

People across the Arab world have taken on their devils-in-charge to bring back power to the masses. When is our time going to be?

[BOB]

I've never seen a leader being so much out of touch with his people than this deluded dictator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace, Love & Unity.

[General Duke]

As for our moment, if only the Diaspora could agree then there would be hope..

[BOB]

Somalis care more about their qabiil than the country or the people in general....just look at how people keep praising their bloody qabiil in the god forsaken place called politics section...I really hate that place with passion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace, Love & Unity.

[General Duke]

If every Somali loved his clan. There would be no problem. It runs deeper than blame the clan.

Anyhow, we have a new nation to build, whats missing is the leadership.

[Mad_Mullah]

Egyptians are united...Somalis are not...its all about Qabeel, not country we couldn't care less what happens in Qabeel Y area as long as our area is safe and good...some Xaasids even want Qabeel Y Area to be poor and weak...

 

Wallahi, this brings a lot of hatred inside me for certain groups...look at Tunisia and Egypt why couldn't this have happened in 1991 instead of killing, rape and destruction?

[Khayr]

"There are no Islamic Flags being waved, there are no chants of God is Great. What is going on in Egypt does not have Islamist aspect to it. That is what makes it so different."

said the Reporter today.

 

What a statement and all from a non-muslim, white reporter? What is with this "Denim Revolution"? Just a mob of young denim wearers screaming and yelling for what? and guess what folks, this was started in Egypt by the Egyption Middle-class. They are rich enough to have access to computers and facebook and to complain for "demo-crazzzinez". The majority of Egyptians are very poor and can't afford "Denim Jeans".

If it ain't about God, then what is all this sweat and tears for - Democracy???

[Prometheus]

^ Awoowe, that's the beauty of these protests. It's not some parochial protest for this God or that God. Instead, it is about the universal needs and rights of humans. You have secular Egyptians, Coptic Egyptians, and Muslim Egyptians all expressing their anxieties about the banes of totalitarian government. And it's a good thing that weasel groups like the Islamic Brotherhood are on the sidelines. The last thing Egypt needs are divisive religious demagogues.

[Jacaylbaro]