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Putting on Ears
June 11, 2013 | 20 comments
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My Grandfather, Aaron Homnick (1893-1969)
May 29, 2013 | 4 comments
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That Is What We Do
May 14, 2013 | 108 comments
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Shame Old Shame Old From Obama
April 19, 2013 | 101 comments
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Cut Out the Chase
April 5, 2013 | 83 comments
At Large
All Barack, No Bite
Hosni Mubarak receives the boost he needed.
They only pay me for original stuff, so there is no point in noting that Obama is the Moses of our time. Everyone knows that. He said “Let my people go!” and the heads of American corporations immediately started letting people go in all directions.
Now he is taking his imitation a step further, trying to get today’s leader of Egypt to destroy his own regime in an orgy of drowning chariots. And this fool might actually get his way! Although the situation in Egypt appears to be confusing, the one aspect of it which should have been clear was the range of possible American responses. Perhaps counterintuitively, the United States was in a fairly good position when this began, because most of the options had some upside. Sure enough, Obama picked the one wrong way to go.
Not just wrong. Bloody-minded, short-sighted, ill-conceived, mean-spirited and self-destructive. Just about every pejorative you can cobble together with a hyphen will cover the situation amply.
Let us review. Egypt was the de facto leader of the Arab coalition which attacked the fledgling State of Israel shortly after it declared independence in 1948. It was seen as the leader of the 1956 force fighting Israel, although it worked very closely with Syria during that period. Between 1958 and 1961 Egypt and Syria merged into the United Arab Republic. After they split, Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser was again the leader of the Arab world in its bellicosity against Israel.
In 1967, a blockade instituted by Nasser in the Gulf of Aqaba triggered the Six-Day War, with Egypt again the prime opponent. The Yom Kippur War in 1973 was a direct invasion of Israel by Egypt under Anwar Sadat. It is fair to say that the Arab-Israeli conflict was mainly in those days the friction between Egypt and Israel.
This means that when Sadat made peace with Israel in a shocking turnabout, the idea of full-scale war between Israel and its neighbors, as had occurred four times in the prior quarter-century, was no longer a clear and present danger. Thirty-three years later, that impression has not been materially altered. All military engagement involving Israel since that time has been limited geographically; no sovereign country has directly been at war with Israel since. The only sort-of exception was when Syria allowed its Air Force to duel Israel’s over Lebanon in 1982, resulting in a humiliating rout. Also, Iraq shot 39 Scud missiles at Israel in 1991 while being spanked by George H. W. Bush.
A great deal of time and effort is invested into trying to smooth the feathers of the Palestinians, all this goes under the heading of the Mideast peace process. But in the real world those are very small potatoes. With Egypt on the sidelines, the danger of a real conflagration in that region is limited to the possibility of Iran making up the geographical gap between itself and Israel by virtue, or vice, of nuclear technology.
Which brings us to Mubarak. Since the assassination of Sadat, he has managed his country fairly well and managed the peace exceedingly well. The alliance between the United States and Egypt is by far the single most valuable asset we have bought in the entire world. Israel is a great asset, too, but they are peaceable people in their own right and would support our interests even if we showed them no favor at all.
Egypt is not democratic with some repressive elements involved. Still, there are no Iraq meat-grinders on the security front, nor are there leprous gangrenous scabrous limbless orphans in tatters begging in the streets like Calcutta. Tourists are permitted to roam quite freely there and they find a country with some prosperity and a lot of lower-middle-class people in mismatched clothes, a sort of Central-America-on-the-Nile. Mubarak is not Gandhi, but neither is he Ahmadinejad or Castro.
To treat the democracy demonstrators there better than those in Iran requires a degree of lunacy. And as this column’s honorary South American correspondent — Miss Latin America 2005 Claudia Monteverdi — has pointed out, it is beyond absurd to regard Mubarak as less legitimate than Manuel Zelaya was in Honduras in 2009.
We could have handled the situation by praising Hosni Mubarak’s benevolent leadership while pointing out that it is in the interest of Egypt and its neighbors for greater democratic participation. Much, in fact, as Condoleezza Rice did. However, mass anarchic demonstrations paralyzing the economy are counterproductive. As Abraham Lincoln said in 1838, “There is no grievance that is a fit object for redress by mob law.” We could have promised the good offices of the United States in working with our loyal ally to negotiate gradual improvements in the system.
Instead Obama chose to say: “The people are right. Get out, Mubarak. Now.”
Number one, stupid: we are now at the mercy of street thugs in the most sensitive country in a volatile region. Number two, heartless: taking Mubarak out is certain to visit horrific dislocation on the entire population. Whoever takes over will not be able to prevent Iraq-style suicide bombings all over the place, destroying the quality of life. Number three, morally obtuse: Mubarak is not a bad guy and should not be treated like Hu in China, who sticks electric cattle prods in people’s rectums to make them talk. Come to think of it, how did we treat creepy sadist torturer Hu when he dropped by the other week? Number four, ineffective, because Mubarak has no incentive anymore to play ball.
Here, then, is the climax of my argument. The money and the cover fire we gave him until now acted as a brake on his behavior, not an accelerator. By telling him now we were dumping him, we gave him the one trump card which could save him, anti-Americanism. He can now slam us while he fights to save himself, thus winning over some of the America-haters who can’t bring themselves to back any friend of ours.
Until Obama opened his mouth I thought Mubarak was gone. Now I think he will survive. Once his goons get the protesters out of the streets, good luck enforcing his Larry-Craig-style resignation effective in September. The Pharaoh of old saw cows in his dream, but today’s leader of Egypt is done with mooing for Barack.
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.3.11 @ 6:28AM
In fact, it's only "Bloody-minded, short-sighted, ill-conceived, mean-spirited and self-destructive" if you don't want the Muslims/Islam/Jihad in your future. That's precisely what Obama wants.
Mike D.| 2.3.11 @ 7:58AM
The Marxist and Islamist sympathizer in power in Washington has every intention of supporting a takeover by the radical Muslim elements in Egypt. The comrade and his "advisors" have had ties to radical Muslim elements for decades. Whats the surprise? The author seems to chalk it up to imcompetence. Its intentional my friends, its by design by the usurper in Washington. Marxists and Islamists have been in bed together for decades because of a common enemy, the USA and Isreal. If Egypt falls to these religious fascists, then the final defense of freedom in the middle east lies with Isreal's 200+ nuclear warheads and thats not a place anyone wants to go.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:39PM
WOW, thats what I was thinking...
Yes, B.O. is the King... of anti Americanism.
BTW, any chance you change your name, as another MikeD I have had several AS readers ask me about my comments, heh. They shuold know that me is much more a better speaker than you be. :)
Robbins Mitchell| 2.3.11 @ 6:32AM
Frankly I wouldn't blame Mubarak a bit if he told Barokeydoke to go Farouk himself now
oldfart| 2.3.11 @ 6:46AM
There is an old saying that goes something like this: “You actions speak so loudly I cannot hear a word you are saying.” The reaction of the Obama Administration to the situation in all of North Africa and the Near East is what one would expect from SGT Schultz. Until it hits them in the face like a ton of bovine excrement – “I see nothing, I hear nothing” is the modus operandi. I agree that whether by design, ignorance or incompetence, President Mubarak now has the means to save his Government, himself and some element of sanity in that region.
Booger | 2.3.11 @ 9:13AM
From the desk of Greatest Ex-President Ever Jimmy Carter:
To: President Barak Hussein Obama
Dear President Obama,
I know that this is a tough time for you right now, which is why I have decided to reach out to you with a helping hand. I realize you have not yet actually asked for my assistance, but I decided that must be because you are just too busy to get around to it. As a result I decided to make things easier for you and go ahead and give you the benefit of my great wisdom and experience as a world leader and peace maker. After all, we Nobel Prize winners have to stick together.
So, Egypt is all in a mess. Well let me tell you, when it comes to the Middle East being a mess, I know all about it. First of all, look at this President Mubarak fellow. He really is just like the Shah of Iran. He spent years thinking that if he could just play up to the United States and act like our friend, then we would somehow be obligated to bail him out when he finally got into trouble. I have to tell you, that kind of thinking just really chafes my buns. I am sick and tired of all the little people in Egypt, South Korea, Israel, Colombia, Poland, Georgia and Great Britain thinking that we owe them anything. After all, if they can't manage their own affairs, why should we step in for them?
Look at it this way. Sure the Muslim Brotherhood isn't perfect, but who are we to judge? After all, what country in the world is more racist, imperialist, self-righteous and greedy than the United States? So if the Muslim Brotherhood hates this country, then they must be on the right track. Believe me, I cannot begin to tell you how much hatred I've felt for this country since 1980. I since a lot of that same hate in you, and it makes me warm inside. So if the Muslim Brotherhood recognized the United States for the Great Satan it really is, and wants to throw Mubarak out for siding with the neo-cons and Jews who were running the place before you took over, why should we care? After all, they are only doing what's best for their own country.
Back in the seventies I took a hard line against the Shah in Iran, and I can honestly tell you I have never regretted it. Sure, the Ayatollah made a few harsh judgments when he took over, but after all, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. So if a few of those morons over there who were dumb enough to side with America when that cowboy Bush was in charge get their heads removed, is that really such a bad thing? And look at it this way: It's one step closer to the day when Israel no longer exists. Now I KNOW we can all get together on that, can't we?
Okay, these are just a few quick thoughts I put together for you. Remember, I'm only a phone call away any time you need some free advice.
Your friend and admirer,
Greatest Ex-President Ever Jimmy Carter
http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/
Jack in the Midwest| 2.3.11 @ 6:54AM
What a pile of hooey. The Egyptians are among the oldest and most civilized people on earth. To say that all these educated young people now trying to bring Egypt to Democracy and freedom are bad, and a corrupt old tyrant is good is insanity. Israel is just going to have to learn how to live in the neighborhood it stole. How about a united Israel Palistine with full civl and religous rights for all? That is what America and conservatives should stand for, not tyrany and theocracy, like we have in our allies in the region like Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Robbins Mitchell| 2.3.11 @ 7:01AM
Israel didn't steal anything,you libelous little revisionist...it was created out of the British Mandate territory originally sanctioned by the League of Nations and subsequently the United Nations...nazi much?
Stephanie| 2.3.11 @ 9:19AM
Thank you Robbins for setting that one straight.
Au Contraire| 2.3.11 @ 2:39PM
So suddenly UN and League of Nations decisions count for something? That's rich.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:42PM
Mitchell shoots, HE SCOOORRREESSS!!!
Nice one, Robbins.
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 8:11AM
"How about a united Israel Palistine with full civl and religous rights for all?"
For some reason, I suspect the Palestinians would never go along with this since:
a. The Palestinians don't provide full civil rights, or for that matter, hardly any civil rights, for their own people in the areas they self-govern, and
b. The Palestinians make no secret of the fact that their goal is the destruction of Israel, not a union with them.
Jonathon| 2.3.11 @ 2:43PM
Actually that was the central demand of the PLO for many years, until they were bullied into the "Two state solution" by the "international community". Most Palestinians, in my opinion, and even most Israelis would support such a solution. It is the powers that be, as much as in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as in Israel and the USA, that would never allow it.
And by the way, I wouldn't have thought self-proclaimed conservatives would support a UN decision to give away someone else's land...
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:46PM
Strange, my dog alway attemps to consume my feline...
Wait, I know!
I shall contain them both in the smaller bathroom of my house overnight. Certainly by morning they will be ..as thick as thieves.
Who knows, maybe I can get a Nobel in the process!
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 8:02PM
I wasn't around when the UN made that decision, so I was in no position to either support or oppose it, though regardless of whether I would have supported it or not, the fact is that it was the decision they made and right or wrong, we're stuck with. So are you.
Likewise, I am in no position to opine on what most Palestinians or most Israelis want or don't want, but I will say this, if the Palestinian people do want what propose, then maybe they take a page from the Tunisian playbook and get rid of the people who claim to speak for them - oh, wait a minute - that's right - they supposedly ELECTED those people.
loulou| 2.3.11 @ 11:43AM
Civilized but without flush toilets.
Idiot. You're not from Dearborn, are you?
Occam's Tool| 2.3.11 @ 7:17PM
Tyranny, civil, and Palestine. Work on it.
Appleby| 2.3.11 @ 7:00AM
Isaiah 19:2-4 (King James Version)
2And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
4And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.
canuckistani| 2.3.11 @ 11:00AM
Really?
How about injecting reason rather than quoting another mythology.
The Copts in Egypt - yes those Arabs that follow Jesus - are involved in nearly 80% of international business deals in Egypt. They are the useful idiots - and beneficiaries - on behalf of the regime that requires a more nuanced approach rather than the ham-handed sledge the army wields. They stand to LOSE enormously if the regime falls.
I have not read Rummies book, but if he excludes his warm relationship with Mubarak from the tome and his wet work there, then he is a fraud as is every president since the bullet entered Sadat's body that supported this guy in order to get the Tel Aviv cabal to STFU.
We, yes the royal WE - us - have underwritten this foment that has been coming for years. I know you were amused and confused seeing Abrams tanks lining the roads in Cairo this week. Aghast you query: How could this be? Simple. We chose sides a long long time ago.
Mubarak was scared to death after the '95 assassination attempt and the last election was one so spectacularly rigged, Jeb and Katharine should be feverishly taking notes.
His residence in Sharm Al Sheik has been his permanent residence for some time. It is likely the resort he stays at is Coptic-owned as well.
Will you join the next crusade to defend their interests - i.e villas on the beach for failed despots?
I thought not.
Dan Hirsch| 2.3.11 @ 11:21AM
"canuckistani"
You denigrate the Bible as mythology. Okay, I differ, but I'll let it go.
Then you proceed to make a slew of statements of what you deem fact, with no source whatsoever.
You refer to the Copts in the same language as anti-Semites in Germany complained of the Jews controlling all finance in Europe in the '30's.
You descry Sec. Rumsfield's 'wet work' that seems to be largely imaginary.
You know Mubarak's mind and physical location over the last fifteen years.
You remind me of our famous author, Mark Twain, who said, "When I was a young man, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not!"
You obviously don't like Christians. How are you on Jews? What do you believe? Would it be "I'll have another brewski."
canuckistani| 2.3.11 @ 12:22PM
I am a Christian, believe in the sanctity of life - all life.
I respect the Jews in that for a tribe that has been tortured, objectified and nearly exterminated, they have managed to survive and thrive in almost all levels of society and power structures. Given their resilience, perhaps they are the chosen people and we're just seat-fillers at the big gala.
In all seriousness, my preference is for people to be given the choice in all affairs.
Our culpability is by underwriting these regimes, even in the most well intentioned scenarios, and we still need a reasoned review to find out what happened and what do we do to avoid the same mistakes in future.
My problem with people quoting Bible text - especially the highly suspicious OT - you know the one where slaves and women are treated as chattel and people lived to 1000 - I get my back up. It is delusions like that that create the conditions for more hysterical responses.
The Copts are objectified by the opponents to Mubarak just like the lazy nationalists in post-war Germany in the 20's objectified the Jews. A world-view, I might add, that was shared by MOST of the power elite in the US, Britain, France etc at the time. Interestingly enough, anti-semitism in the Arab world was actually much lower during this peoriod, as their venom was typically reserved for colonialists like Turkey or the euro-powers in the region.
My Coptic friends know the deal - I've been to their churches and heard firsthand the concerns they have for their families and their businesses.
They made their beds with the secular-militarists, are the bagmen for every business deal, and realize the game is up if Hosni skips town.
As far as Mubarak's location - I'll bet you dollars to donuts it ain't anywhere near Cairo. His wife and son are in Saudi already.
My only hope is that BHO does not repeat Carter's folly and provide sanctuary here.
ClaudiaMonteverdi| 2.3.11 @ 3:31PM
Hey Dan, that electric prod up the rectum of which Jay speaks in this brilliant column, would merely serve to awaken your moribund brain.
Love,
Claudia
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 12:16PM
Canuckistani, why do you have such hatred for people who are not like you?
canuckistani| 2.3.11 @ 12:41PM
I have no hatred for anybody - except killers and hypocrites.
I do feel pity for Appleby that he has this peculiar need to quote Bible text - especially the OT when referring to an orally transcribed event a thousand years after the fact - as relating to this or any other current event. Hold your Santayana reference, please.
The Egypt problem is quite simple - those in power have pissed off those without any power and they have realized the cause is worth dying for. Period.
What would you die for?
GW crossed the Delaware for pretty much economic reasons.
The Egyptians are doing the same.
We're debating whether or not to support another George III and refuse to examine our role in it?
Jonathon| 2.3.11 @ 2:47PM
Exactly. The people of Egypt, young and old, Christian and Muslim, devout and secular, are in the streets demanding a better life for themselves and their children and so-called conservatives argue in support of a brutal dictator. Are you still having a hard time figuring out why September 11th happened?
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 8:21PM
Actually, the last news I heard out of Egypt about Christians was that, in at least some communities, they were being massacred. I doubt if many of them are out on the street. It is clear from our own government's pronoucements that the Muslim Brotherhood is who will assume power once Mubarak is gone, and let's bear in mind from history, that the result of a "popular" revolution against an "oppressor" is, as often as not, a more tyrannical regime than the one that was replaced.
The fact is that Egypt and Israel had been to war several times between 1948 - never to Egypt's benefit. They have not been to war once during Mubarak's tenure. I know he's not the man who negotiated that peace accord, but the fact is he's presided over nearly 30 years of peace with a neighbor that his predecessors wasted a lot of time, treasure, and lives fighting without success. I'm not saying he's a saint, but before you rush through door number two, you might want to find out what's on the other side.
Jonathon| 2.4.11 @ 7:12AM
Maybe you're right, it could be dangerous to go around supporting popular democratic movements. Better to support brutal dictators who at least protect US interests. Just do me one favor, stop trying to convince the rest of us that the right really does stand for justice and democracy.
ClaudiaMonteverdi| 2.3.11 @ 3:35PM
hey canuck old boy----stand up to these guys, why not? See, id primetime schmucks like you were not permitted to express their beliefs the U.S. would have to close up the senate----just keep that drivel spewing
Love,
Claudia
Appleby| 2.3.11 @ 4:37PM
Where do you live in Canada? It wouldn't be Toronto, would it? Or somewhere in BC, perhaps, with the draft dodgers?
Incidentally, I'm a Girl. So you can feel sorry for me because I'm Only A Girl, as well as an American Catholic Girl with a Jewish Father and Methodist Mother, Who Has Been To Bible College. Oh, and I'm twice your age, so you can feel sorry for me because I'm Old!
Meanwhile, I will feel sorry for you, because one day you will leave your Mama's basement, but you will never see the world I have seen or meet the people I have met because you'll never be able to pull your head out of your tuchis long enough.
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 8:09PM
Is that what the Muslim Brotherhood is offering them? I doubt it. Bear in mind that today, our own government said it is "reviewing" its relationship with the MB. Now, why would we need to do that if the people who are taking over the Egyptian Govt. are peaceful democrats?
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:56PM
Interstingly enough, this has already happened - more than once.
Keep in mind, the 'people of Egypt' and the 'territory' are not what they are today...
Interesting all the same, I like it!
Kevin| 2.3.11 @ 7:13AM
When America elected a president of Obama's obvious intellectual limitations there was, I think. a kind of background awareness that there was, and would be, no great crisis. Bad call.
canuckistani| 2.3.11 @ 11:21AM
What president would meet your standard on this point? Maybe Roosevelt who did the deal with the Saudi's behind the Turk and British backs. That's one.
Other than that, Ike took out the Iranian president as a tactical manoever against the Reds and put in the Shah, Nixon watched as Israel faced a multi-front war, Carter carried the water for Tel Aviv and Sadat signed his own death warrant, then Carter miscalculated the Shah's chances and chose badly.
RR cut and ran from Lebanon, jacked up cash payments to Mubarak and did closet deals with Iran. Bush 41 buckled under Saudi pressure to defend the Sheikdoms' hegemony in the region, did not go to Baghdad. Relatedly proposed most-favored-nation status for red China - now more relevant than ever.
Clinton opened the Chinese floodgates, but nearly had a deal with the ME.
Junior, well, not enough space here for him....
So where does BHO stand up in this pantheon of intellectual heavyweights when dealing with the Muslim world?
So far, he has tiptoed quite well. The Neocons know Mubarak was their useful idiot, and the next one may be more expensive to buy off.
Mubarak has essentially resigned, the Army has chosen a neutral path. It is time for the US to endorse democratic change and face the consequences or benefits of those changes.
In the words of Rummy: "democracy is messy sometimes".
People here forget the machinations by world powers after GW crossed the Delaware. Which one's chose wisely? It's not that different today.
Paul Kotik| 2.3.11 @ 8:22AM
Why, it's just like the good Rev. Wright screeched: America's chickens have come home to roost. You elected a hardcore socialist-Islamophile to the Presidency, and the bill is coming due.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:58PM
Amen.
Er, Praise Allah, sorry.
FREE tea| 2.3.11 @ 8:36AM
"The U.S. has one task left before its own
long-engineered destruction is manifest,
and the ultra genocidal RED China 'model'
is brought in to police the world ---and that
is to 'bring in' the recalcitrant Middle East."
-Alan Watt
2007 interview
(online)
----EVEN as we find Mubarak, tyrant that he is,
fiercely rejected the demands of UNESCO et al
for MASS sterilization programs, forced abortions, and 'stealth' eugenics via forced
injections.
------------------------Going to get a lot worse
everywhere until the Big Boys of our psychopathic New World Order 'club' are called
out, prosecuted and their BOGUS financial
machinery utterly dismantled.
Fearless auditing of the FED ---followed by the
capstone foundations and NGO's.
Fearless, unflinching prosecution here AND in London. (GO for it MATES!)
"Come out from among them.
Do NOT partake of their sin."
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.3.11 @ 11:37AM
Well folks,
My scroll button is wearing out.
Between FREE TEA, and canukistani, I'm going to sue them for the price of a new scroll button.
loulou| 2.3.11 @ 11:44AM
The mental cases are out in force today.
canuckistani| 2.3.11 @ 1:22PM
I'm glad I rate.
I am not in favor of a reduced role for the US in the region, nor the destruction of the country I love.
The Suez is a vital supply line and other than that, there is zero for us to consider. Israel can take care of itself.
If you conjure up other romantic reasons for our being there, you are lying to yourselves, again.
My challenge to the observers here is to use your brains and think for once that maybe people around the world see what we have and might think there is a better way to live. Perhaps an Egyptian is much like a Texan, or much like a Yankee - who knows, they will choose their own paths as free men, hopefully.
The Big E| 2.3.11 @ 8:29PM
Israel can take care of itself, but do we really want to put a country with 200 or so nuclear warheads in a position where it HAS to take care of itself?
I have no problem with the people of Egypt choosing their own path as free men - unless that path involves forbidding me from choosing my own path as a free man - but I think it is naive to believe that is what is going on. The Muslim Brotherhood is clearly the best organized and most violent alternative force in Egyptian politics. Even if they are not orchestrating this thing, they are clearly in the best position to seize/assume power regardless of what the Egyptian people want, and again, our own government's actions today indicate clearly that the administration believes that in the future, when they want to talk to the nation of Egypt, they will be talking to the Muslim Brotherhood.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 4:59PM
Yea, you're comming in loud n clear.
Melvin| 2.3.11 @ 8:42AM
The horse squeeze that Israel stole it's land is exactly one big steaming pile of Liberal, Progressive horse squeeze.
Historically speaking the Israeli's are supposed to have their own land as dictated in the bible. Then the British mandate as Robbins has pointed out.
And another things that gets by Micheal Jordan's in a bunch is, "Oh, the poor, poor, pitiful Palestinians. Israel's blockade of Gaza is starving them to death. Yea, starving them to death to the point of opening a high end shopping mall in Gaza.
Liberals and Progressives answer this question. This whole Palestinians issue has been going on for years and years now. How come the rank and file Palestinaian lives in squalor at the refugee camps and the Palestinian Authority lives in swank seaside villas? It is common knowledge that corruption in the Palestinian leadership since the beginning keeps Palestinians in the camps so that they can be used as chess pieces in propaganda against Israel and pull at the heart strings of stupid Liberals and Progressives because they cannot discern the truth from the propaganda that is directed at them.
Palestinian leaders have been stealing suitcase upon suitcase, upon suitcase of cash and the Liberals and Progressives are strangely silent on pointing that fact out.
The amount of aid money that has been stolen is in the billions. Weapons that were destined to be utilized by the Palestinian Authority police force are now used against our alley Israel, with the Libs and the Progressives squealing like little stuck pigs with that fact. It is perfectly fine for Israeli's school children to get blown up in school buses in Tel Aviv, but don't get in the way or stop some Palestinian kid whose parents strapped a vest laden with explosives on him.
Besides Palestinians are historically Jordanians, so they do have a home, and that home is Jordan. But the Palestinians screwed up a while ago. You see they tried to overthrow the old King of Jordan and take the whole Country for themselves but they didn't count on the King of Jordan ordering is security and army to start cleaning out the vermin that tried to overthrow the sitting government.
So all the Palestinians were booted out of Jordan and eventually ended up in Gaza and they went back to their old tricks.
If anybody stole anything it is the Palestinians who are trying to steal Gaza.
Besides Palestinians are useful idiots being used by the Arabs to be a constant pain in the butt to the Israeli's. But the Liberals and the Progressives are butt blind to that point.
Appleby| 2.3.11 @ 11:52AM
When I was a chld, there were blue boxes in every Jewish home that were for the collection to buy land in Palestine from the rightful owners , which all our spare pennies and money we found etc. went into. Lots of the land owned by Israel today was bought and paid for with Jewish money, and the deeds are in existence still.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 5:00PM
Nice, never heard that one.
Very strong Catholic upbringing here - but I still side with Isreal - they kick ass too :)
Curly Smith| 2.3.11 @ 8:47AM
Obama as Moses saying "let my people go" - that's the best witticism I've read in some time.
As for Egypt, I think we're being a bit hard on Obama and the Administration. All Obama said was "yield to the mob". Who among us would have thought "uhm... showing weakness to a band of rampaging thugs is a bad idea"? Who among us would have said "the mob may represent the 'will of the people' but of which people"? Who among us would have asked "who really benefits from a quick resolution - is it the people or is it the thugs"? The answers to all are, of course, everybody not associated with the Administration.
We say "marry in haste, repent in leisure". The Islamists say "One man, one vote, one time". Haste favors the Islamists.
Ed| 2.3.11 @ 10:16AM
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"
All Obama cares about is his socialist agenda. The rest of the time, he sits at his desk all day playing Fantasy Politics.
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 5:01PM
him to stop - doesn't he know he could go blind!
Jason | 2.3.11 @ 12:36PM
I find it interesting that the author tries to justify Mubarack's rule over the last thirty years by comparing him to other dictators who are worse, both currently and historically. If our current foreign policy is to make the Wilsonian idea of making the "world safe for democracy", then why are we giving leaders like this over $60 billion dollars of our money? Is how we promote liberty today, supporting corrupt and dictatorial governments because they aren't as bad as others and because it's in our own best interest. Here's a crazy idea for those of you who wish to support Israel's right to live peacefully in the Middle East. Let's cut off foreign aid to everyone in that region! Hear me out. Do you realize we give more more money, a lot more money, collectively to Israel's enemies than to them? By eliminating aid to this region we 1) practice true financial conservatism, 2) avoid supporting corrupt dictators, 3) avoid entanglements, 4) and help Israel in the process. Hmmm, I know we can't actually do that because we lose our control over these countries then, but wait I thought we were trying to make the world safe for democracy?
SpiralArchitect| 2.3.11 @ 5:05PM
Yes. Is the murderer of one in prision any better than the murderer of two...or three even?
Is the thief of ....
OK, you get the point, I know I am working with a ( mostly) smart crew here.
star | 2.3.11 @ 12:57PM
Israel didn't steal anything,you libelous little revisionist...it was created out of the British Mandate territory originally sanctioned by the League of Nations and subsequently the United Nations...nazi much?
free download
Landers| 2.3.11 @ 1:45PM
Good article. However, it is not true that Mubarak has managed his country well. The peace yes, the overall health of Egypt, NO. Forty percent of Egyptians live on $2 a day. One third are illiterate. There are homeless by the thousands scattered all over the country. But Mubarak has to be better than anything that will come after him. If this goes bad, don't be shocked to see Israelis in the Sinai once more.
MarkR| 2.3.11 @ 1:52PM
Excellent article on the ridiculous and fake MSM-Lame Stream Media that promotes this as "democracy in action". What was Hu when he was here- a loving democrat- or Honduras in 2009 or Iran in 2009. I swear the American left is in bed with the Jihadists- the irony is that the Jihadists would be as quick to behead them as any one else. What hypocritical self deceivers.
rdman| 2.3.11 @ 2:11PM
Obama is currently getting his ass kicked. The Conservatives in Congress are gaining traction with their initiatives. ObamaCare has been ruled unconstitutional again and those rulings will likely be upheld by the Supremes.
The great silent American majority has awakened, and has become aware and alert. Obama is losing credibility big time despite the Lamestream Media’s rigged polls.
And don’t forget this month’s celebration of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday and his accomplishments. This is the last thing Obama needs at this point in time.
So what does a good Leftist do… they create diversionary tactics. Let’s connect the dots…
* Since when does 100,000 +/- rioters in the street represent the "will of the Egyptian people" in a population of 8-9 million people??
* Anyone notice the rioter's signs... perfectly printed in perfect English????
* Anyone listen to Wade Rathke (Acorn), union thugs (Obama buddies) and Code Pink commenting on the Egyptian situation???
* Then…the minute Mubarak’s supporters showed up there is sudden violence according to Fox’s hysterical reporter Courtney in Cairo. Sounds like another radical’s diversionary tactic. Infiltrate the opposition when they show up with violent provocateurs to make the opposition appear violent.
Any doubts, eh???...
Jack in the Midwest| 2.3.11 @ 2:44PM
My my you boys don't know any history. The Balfour letter and the UN resolution which allowed the Jews to go back to Palistine all said that the rights of the native Arabs were not to be infringed on. That is all I am asking for in my proposal for a united Israel-Palistine with equal civil and religious rights for all. The Israeli's have been stealing Palistinians land and dening them basic rights ever since the founding of Israel. It is time it stopped now. No group spoke out more loudly for integration in the USA and South Africa then the Jews. It is time to practice what you preach.
BackToBasics| 2.3.11 @ 3:23PM
Less than 2 years ago, the people of Iran rose up in protest against their anti-American dictator and Ayatollahs and Obam was on the side of the anti-American leadership.
Today, in Egypt, the people are demonstrating against a mostly pro-American dictator and Obam says the people are right and the dictator must go.
When are you leftists going to wake up and see Obam for the anti-American that he is?
The only America he will love is the one that is a poorer communist state, hopefully subservient to China or another non-white communist and / or dictatorial power.
That'll pay 'em back for having colonies, won't it Barack Sr.?
ClaudiaMonteverdi| 2.3.11 @ 3:41PM
my oh my,
At last an example of what PERFECTION is...WOW..Jay, you hit the nail right smack on the head. Speaking as a leprous gangrenous scabrous limbless orphan in tatters begging in the streets, I relished every tasty morsel...
Is he a thug? Maybe. Is he a greedy autocrat? I guess. BUT, he is OUR thug, OUR autocrat and we have prospered all these years by his actions and behaviour. Is that greedy considering that I MIGHT be making a devil's bargain, our wellbeing in exchange for that of the egyptian masses? Yeah, could be and so what!
signed,
Just your every day South American Expert,
Claudia
PS..merely overwhelmed by the accuracy of your words...
jrjr| 2.3.11 @ 4:28PM
What the hell has Oboomba been doing with Baracki for the past two years? Whoops, I forgot that the smartest female in the world has been Secretary of Some State. HeckofajobHitlery! Wikileaks has exposed the State Department for a huge number of fools. So what have you been doing about it Hillary? Anyone get fired? Never mind, idiot!
John| 2.3.11 @ 6:10PM
It is in the interest of america to support the Egyptian people.
It is the interest of America to ditch mubarak.
It is in the interest of America to take it's troops and armies of Me.
It is in the interest of America to remove all its military bases in ME.
It is in the interest of America to remove all it's fleets from the ME.
It is in the interest of America to cut all likes with tyrants in ME
It is in the interest of America to stop funding of ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people
It is in the interest of America to stop killing arabs
It is in the interest of America to be an enemy of those who are enemies of Islam & Muslims .
Bring home your sons and daughters and out of harms way . they are dying for the zionist project in ME.neoconservative is just another word isreali foreign policy.
The Arab revolution is coming it will the despotic regime of saudi next. support freedom and human rights not murder and despots. I have no doubt Americans will see truth very soon. You are losing blood and gold for nothing.
Negro X| 2.3.11 @ 9:13PM
Eat shit islam boy.
Marxfreesociety| 2.3.11 @ 6:47PM
Obama is the lynchpin or linkin pin to ensuring worldwide consolidation under Sharia Law. Baby steps toward the Islamic States of America!!!
Nite| 2.3.11 @ 10:42PM
Obama is either ignorant or just plain stupid regarding the Muslim Brotherhood. However, it may be a deliberate way to get rid of Israel once and for all and allow Muslims to take over completely. It also may be Obama stabbing Mabarek in the back. Obama is very good at that too. Jordan was supposed to be the home of Abbas and his followers. However Jordan does not want them. Wonder why? The Muslim Brotherhood is causing riots and chaos in all of these Arab countries in an apparent attempt to get Sharia Law passed. They are trying to do the same here in the US if we aren't careful.
Yosemeti Sam| 2.3.11 @ 10:44PM
" All Barack, No Bite ...."
OUCH!
LOL.
John Carnal| 2.4.11 @ 1:18AM
Mr. President, show us your papers! [pass it on]
Tenn Slim| 2.6.11 @ 8:25AM
"Until Obama opened his mouth I thought Mubarak was gone"
Precisely, Obama fully understands all the options, opened his mouth, using his Saul Alynski play book.
Understand clearly, the OBAMA admin desires the end of Israel. Note the diss given to the PM visit. A means to the end.
We, the USA Electorate reap what we sow AKA Obama Transformation/Change.
Obama, the Egyptian folks, Murberak, eventually will reap what they are sowing today.
end
Semper FI
العاب بنات | 4.11.12 @ 4:05PM
are in the streets demanding a better life for themselves and their children and so-called conservatives argue in support of a brutal dictator