Bye Bye Mubarak

[malaise]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12282493

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12273238

[mix]

1. k&r nt

[Kennah]

2. Are we invading Egypt now?

[EFerrari]

4. Maybe not. The State Department says the government is stable.

:party:

[eissa]

7. I was speaking with an Egyptian colleague about this

and his theory is that maybe the state department has agreed to make such tepid statements in support of the regime as long as they refrain from brutalizing the protestors. That once shots are fired all bets are off. Maybe? :shrug:

[eissa]

3. Cautiously optimistic here

The whole middle east is long overdue for these types of revolutions. I want to truly believe that these are secular protestors upset at the economic stagnation and rampant corruption they've had to deal with for so long. But my fear is that: (1) Egypt will do what so many other ME countries do when their people dissent -- show complete brutality and squash it (Iran anyone?), and/or (2) the Islamists sweep in (Iran anyone?)

[sufrommich]

6. I hope it stays secular, I fear it won't though. I imagine the

Muslim Brotherhood is still a powerful group there despite the Egyptian government's attempt to crush it.

[eissa]

10. The Islamists have been a blessing to some of these regimes

Egypt, Iraq under Saddam, Syria....they all tell their people that the only alternative to their repressive governments is the Islamists (and they may be right.) The vast majority of people in those countries fear the religious zealots more than the corrupt politicians, so they stay quiet. And they've remained quiet for so long that they now look around and see all these emerging economies in Europe and Asia while they lag behind in every aspect: economically, socially, politically. With no one at the helm for the opposition, I think they just felt helpless. The fact that the Tunisians didn't wait for a savior and basically ran out their government on their own has given some hope to countries like Egypt. But it's still a delicate situation and can go either way. Fascinating to watch!

[sufrommich]

14. I agree,eissa. Very well put. nt

[Canuckistanian]

15. Yup

And you can bet the Muslim Brotherhood will take advantage of ANY major social upheaval to try and grab power.

These guys were Muslim extremists before it was cool (in the Arab world) to be a Muslim extremist. It's practically the birthplace of Al Qaeda.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Be careful what you wish for.

Too many times revolutions simply substitute one set of shackles for another.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Notice this is not just the Arab world...

Start adding them.

Greece, Portugal, England, Tunisia, Egypt, yes Haiti...this is gaining force...it will be coming here sooner or later.

1847... Read on it.

[sufrommich]

9. The world is far less turbulent than it was just 50 years ago. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. But more than just 10 years ago and...That is the point

No revolt start with a sudden explosion...this been building. We are at one of those historic moments. How it will go is a good question though.

[Canuckistanian]

11. You really think so?

Mubarak has an iron grip over Egyptian politics.

You don't fight off the Muslim Brotherhood without knowing a few things about holding on to power.

[sufrommich]

13. I have a feeling it will end as it did in Iran. The world will know

it's people are very unhappy and doomed to stay that way for the time being.

[Canuckistanian]

19. Yes, the Iranian revolution was disappointing

There doesn't seem to be any more news of their progress. So I guess the government managed to repress it.

But one thing is clear. The government knows they're treading on thin ice.

[malaise]

16. Guess that's why his son and family

have flown to Britain.

[Canuckistanian]

18. Wow. Never heard that.

I knew the protests were big, but not THAT big.

[WillyT]

17. Fingers Crossed Here...

:shrug:

:hi: