Radical Islam is an active undercurrent in Egyptian society, and Mubarak was a buffer against that radicalism.

This whole situation is rooting for the lesser of two evils.

The military has been in power and odds are will remain
in power. Even if Mubarak goes, odds are another military
figure will assume the lead. Thats how Mubarak got in...
He was Sadat's V.P. when he got shot but both were military....

Egypt is not like Iran or Iraq, Mubarek has initiated limited reforms in the last 30 years while squashing Islamic fundamentalists. The folks leading the current protests are not the Islamic fundamentalists but those who seek further reform and free elections. Mohamed ElBaradei who most would like to see assume leadership if Mubarek were to leave is a winner of the Noble Peace prize and past president of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He has significant influence and is pro democracy. This is not to say that the Muslim Brotherhood will not try to take advantage of the current situation, but i dont believe they have any real influence in Egypt.

Tomorrow is a big day for Egypt. Mubarak's regime has shut down the last ISP, closed the rail system, and has been shutting down cell service in an effort to stifle the planned major protests for tomorrow.

Have to think Mubarak's time is running out when the Egyptian Army is saying this:

Quote:"The presence of the army in the streets is for your sake and to ensure your safety and well being. The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people," the army statement said.

"Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody."

if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

yes, it certainly is a challenge. but the USA openly promotes democracy around the world and uses that as the 'beacon of light' to create appeal for the USA way of life. but how can anyone remotely justify the Iraq war and future 'wars for freedom' if they cannot even back the Egyptian people's movement for democracy regardless of outcome? it is blatant hypocrisy....i do understand the fear of the end-game but still...

(02-01-2011 10:14 AM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

yes, it certainly is a challenge. but the USA openly promotes democracy around the world and uses that as the 'beacon of light' to create appeal for the USA way of life. but how can anyone remotely justify the Iraq war and future 'wars for freedom' if they cannot even back the Egyptian people's movement for democracy regardless of outcome? it is blatant hypocrisy....i do understand the fear of the end-game but still...

Our government is hypocritical. What about our treatment of China when thier leader came here. I don't know what is best. Democracy would be my choice but will it be a true democracy or just changing of leadership. The new leaders will kill the old leaders and democracy will really not happen.

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

*sigh* Ignorance is a man who thinks Egypt is Iran. Who thinks the word muslim = extremism. Read a little bit. They are not the same nation. Let somebody else experience freedom.

(02-06-2011 01:05 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

*sigh* Ignorance is a man who thinks Egypt is Iran. Who thinks the word muslim = extremism. Read a little bit. They are not the same nation. Let somebody else experience freedom.

+1

The solution for the Middle East is simple. Relocate the people of Israel to south Florida. Next, remove every single American, British and Canadian person and business interest in that part of the world. Finally, let all them crazy sumbeeches in that part of the world blow each other up to kingdom come.

I'm half serious. Screw Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordon, Saudia Arabia, etc. The western hating extremists and radical faction of the Muslim world are hellbent on destruction. Let them blow each other up and lets no longer worry about the consequences. Hell, let them drop atomic bombs on one another and make that part of the world a wasteland for the next 10000 years. Would it really be much different than it is today, other that the oil? Democracy has zero chance of sticking in that part of the world. So let them all die in the name of Allah. The moderate and good people of the Muslim faith can simply relocate to other parts of the world as the price to be paid in advance.

(02-06-2011 01:05 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

*sigh* Ignorance is a man who thinks Egypt is Iran. Who thinks the word muslim = extremism. Read a little bit. They are not the same nation. Let somebody else experience freedom.

The radicals and extremists overrun that part of the world. Muslims of good standing and belief don't stand a chance. Ditto the Jewish people of Israel or any western world influence of any kind.

It is time that the Jewish people, Americans, and Muslims of good values exit that part of the world for good and let the rest of them bastards kill each other.

(02-06-2011 04:49 AM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  The solution for the Middle East is simple. Relocate the people of Israel to south Florida. Next, remove every single American, British and Canadian person and business interest in that part of the world. Finally, let all them crazy sumbeeches in that part of the world blow each other up to kingdom come.

I'm half serious. Screw Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordon, Saudia Arabia, etc. The western hating extremists and radical faction of the Muslim world are hellbent on destruction. Let them blow each other up and lets no longer worry about the consequences. Hell, let them drop atomic bombs on one another and make that part of the world a wasteland for the next 10000 years. Would it really be much different than it is today, other that the oil? Democracy has zero chance of sticking in that part of the world. So let them all die in the name of Allah. The moderate and good people of the Muslim faith can simply relocate to other parts of the world as the price to be paid in advance.

Have you been drinking lots of whiskey again Dick? Could you please explain how that is a solution when a considerable amount of our oil comes from that region? We aren't going to change consumtion overnight. It is going to take YEARS if not DECADES to end out reliance on foreign oil. We just don't have enough oil to make up for the lost oil if we did what you said, no matter how much we "drill baby drill". How about another solution? You know, a REALISTIC solution.

(01-30-2011 12:26 PM)HuskieFan84 Wrote:  The Islamic Brotherhood weren't even a part of the riots originally, they only joined in later.

When questioned by the media, the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have stated that this movement is the Egyptian People's Revolution not an Islamic Revolution. Let's hope that whatever happens in Egypt leads to a democratically and fairly elected leadership as well as in Tunisia. The ending of Monarchies and Tyranny in the end is a good thing for the western democracies.

(02-06-2011 01:05 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

*sigh* Ignorance is a man who thinks Egypt is Iran. Who thinks the word muslim = extremism. Read a little bit. They are not the same nation. Let somebody else experience freedom.

Don't try to paint me with your broad brush. I am fully versed in the history of the Middle East, the realities of modern Islam, and the differences in Arab and Persian nationhood.

We'll see who comes out on top of this. If you had carefully read my posts, which I wrote with a fair deal of moderation and thought, you see I am not really rooting for either side, I make no allusions to Iran, and voiced a fair and moderate concern for the growing influence of radical Islam in Egyptian society.

I am not alone in these concerns.

The Islamic Brotherhood is getting a stronger footing. They are aligned with Hamas and Hezbollah. Since this region has never had a democracy, changes will be slow. If Mubarak steps down, there will be power void(Military will take over). Is that good or bad? I don't know? And neither does anyone else.

(02-07-2011 09:14 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-06-2011 01:05 AM)niuguy Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 09:47 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(01-31-2011 09:12 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  if you fear the democratic movement because of who may come into power, then you have no idea of the principles this country was built on.

The dilemma facing American policy makers and Egyptian advocates of liberal democracy (namely, that a free democratic election would follow the pattern of "one person, one vote) is that the Muslim Brotherhood or similar religious fundamentalists would almost certainly win, and no amount of constitutional draftsmanship could prevent the disaster that would follow.

So the dilemma is having to back a dictator like Mubarak, or open the door to something worse.

Sometimes the only choices in life are between bad and worse.

*sigh* Ignorance is a man who thinks Egypt is Iran. Who thinks the word muslim = extremism. Read a little bit. They are not the same nation. Let somebody else experience freedom.

Don't try to paint me with your broad brush. I am fully versed in the history of the Middle East, the realities of modern Islam, and the differences in Arab and Persian nationhood.

We'll see who comes out on top of this. If you had carefully read my posts, which I wrote with a fair deal of moderation and thought, you see I am not really rooting for either side, I make no allusions to Iran, and voiced a fair and moderate concern for the growing influence of radical Islam in Egyptian society.

I am not alone in these concerns.

I would agree. Fox News paraded out "analysts" one after the other saying "Oh my God! The radical Muslims are going to take over! Everybody run for cover because they will have a nuke withiin a year! We need to invade NOW!"

(02-07-2011 09:37 AM)klake87 Wrote:  The Islamic Brotherhood is getting a stronger footing. They are aligned with Hamas and Hezbollah. Since this region has never had a democracy, changes will be slow. If Mubarak steps down, there will be power void(Military will take over). Is that good or bad? I don't know? And neither does anyone else.

So youu are an expert on the Islamic Brotherhood now? Oh wait. No you aren't. You are just repeating what some "expert" on Fox News told you.

(02-07-2011 10:48 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(02-07-2011 09:37 AM)klake87 Wrote:  The Islamic Brotherhood is getting a stronger footing. They are aligned with Hamas and Hezbollah. Since this region has never had a democracy, changes will be slow. If Mubarak steps down, there will be power void(Military will take over). Is that good or bad? I don't know? And neither does anyone else.

So youu are an expert on the Islamic Brotherhood now? Oh wait. No you aren't. You are just repeating what some "expert" on Fox News told you.

So they are the boy scouts. Lets analyze Islamic? Brotherhood? No mention of woman.

Klake.. you sound like an informed idiot with this Islamic Brotherhood blabbering. You're just repeating what someone on Fox told you. They are not nearly the threat they are making them out to be.

Thankfully real conservatives are supporting the revolution, Fox News can't make money off peace in the Middle East though. Their entire business model is built around fear and negativity towards Obama. When something goes right it kills their business model, so they have to make up a boogey man.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/s...41404.html