Egypt and Arab States circle toilet bowl

[skysidhe]

hehehe funny video

I lol'ed

[TheMercenary]

A good article on the subject....

http://bigthink.com/ideas/26695

[DanaC]

Interesting article. Thanks for that.

[TheMercenary]

Dictator or Democracy. Wait didn't everyone tell Bush not to export Democracy?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-egypt-mubarak

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...d=opinionsbox1

[TheMercenary]

WASHINGTON Feb 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. intelligence committee warned President Barack Obama's administration of instability in Egypt at the end of 2010, but did not foresee the trigger for unrest, a top U.S. intelligence official said on Thursday.

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptN...01485620110203

[Pico and ME]

And Obama was supposed to do what with that vague warning, given only a month ago?

[TheMercenary]

Maybe formulate a plan for a response rather than waiting days and days. Sort of reminds me of the criticism that people put to Bush about 9/11 after he took office on 8 months prior. I find it more interesting rather than a chance to bash Obama but it does present a contradiction in our Foreign Policy when we want to support democratic events overseas on the one hand but don't want to ruin relationships that have been fostered over 30 years in an effort to maintain peace in the region.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

And Obama was supposed to do what with that vague warning, given only a month ago?

Virtually nobody saw this coming. The Economist about two months ago noted the coming instability because so many Arab leaders are so old and so authoritarian. Cited were Mubarak, Kaddafi, and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

Even those in Egypt probably had no idea this was coming.

Responsible leaders are supposed to make provisions for the replacement. Important to protect their legacy. In democracies, we call that elections. In Egypt, Sadat had selected his successor - Mubarak. One would think Mubarak learned. Nope. A problem when one lives in an ethersphere for too long. In his case, 30 years.

Mubarak is so detached from reality as to blame another political party - the Muslim Brotherhood - for his problems. An example of what happens when one lives too detached from his people for too long. And a real shame. A man who did so much for Egypt would so tarnish his legacy by making so many mistakes in the past decade. He is so removed from reality as to believe 90% of Egyptians voted for his party? Too much time in the ethersphere will severely pit what could have been a stellar record.

Americans have no pig in this race. And should not be involved. Even whether Mubarak has plans for a successor is not for any American to demand. Well, an American president did try to subvert elections in Australia. How did that work out? Learn from history. Only they can decide the government they want. Our job is to be talking to all parties - nothing more.

[TheMercenary]

No response Pico?

[Pico and ME]

What are you expecting? Its so vague and only a month old. But even so, how do you know that they didn't already have a response formulated.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

But even so, how do you know that they didn't already have a response formulated.

Because none was given. Did you even follow the news in the days when the protests and then riots started? Did you follow the response from the White House? There was first support to for the ruling dictator followed by fence sitting. They can't have it both ways.

[Pico and ME]

You're talking about a public response, you dont know what was said or done behind closed doors.

[TheMercenary]

Yes, I am talking about a public response... to the world.

[Pico and ME]

In other news, Fox says ObamaCare could cause the same kind of uprising here.

Obama's been warned!

[TheMercenary]

Chris Matthews: Panama Canal is in Egypt

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/archives/28748