-
Who’s Politicizing Benghazi?
May 9, 2013 | 6 comments
-
A Tale of Two Teams and Two Stars
January 10, 2013 | 8 comments
-
Mitt Romney Just Got Himself Elected President
October 3, 2012 | 17 comments
-
Obama to Gays and Hollywood: Show Me the Money!
May 9, 2012 | 13 comments
-
Ruinous Obama Austerity
May 9, 2012 | 2 comments
The Spectacle Blog
The conservative pessimists are out in full force today here at The American Spectator; and I could not disagree with them more.
Ben Stein, for instance, laments that “our (sort of) pal in Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, is under siege,” and that the Obama administration has had the effrontery to urge Mubarak to begin the transition to a new and more representative government.
Of course, nary a vote has been had yet in Egypt; and yet Jed Babbin knows with certainty that a new Egyptian government will “gradually become an Islamist government.”
Aaron Goldstein, meanwhile, wrongly suggests that anti-Semitism and a hatred for Israel are the driving force behind the Egyptian uprising. And, to buttress his concern, he cites Sarah Palin, who told David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN):
We want to be able to trust those who are screaming for democracy in Egypt. [But first] we need to find out who was behind the turmoil and the revolts and the protests.
I like and admire Sarah Palin in many ways; but her focus here is entirely misplaced. Her comment does, indeed, bring to mind, as the Daily News’ Mike Lupica notes, Groucho Marx’s famous line: “Who are you gonna believe: me or your own lyin’ eyes?”
The fact is that ever since this uprising began, reputable Western reporters have been on the ground in Egypt, talking with and interviewing the protesters. We know perfectly well what the these people want and what they seek: a better life, greater economic opportunity, and a more responsive government.
The fact that the Egyptian people often lack the democratic vocabulary necessary to give voice to their inchoate political aspirations doesn’t make their aspirations wrong and illegitimate. To the contrary: that the Egyptian people have done so much with so little re their uprising is remarkable and a cause for genuine optimism.
Egypt, remember, is a poor country ruled by a corrupt autocracy. As such, it has been a breeding ground for Islamists and other radicals who seek to destroy the West.
The mass uprising there thus offers the United States its greatest strategic opportunity in a generation: to finally and belatedly bring about much-needed and long-overdue reforms to the one part of the world where it is most urgently needed: the Middle East.
Does the Egyptian revolution pose a risk? Absolutely. Liberty is never guaranteed; it is always at risk, especially in a country, such as Egypt, whose democratic roots are fragile and newly born. Which is why it is incumbent upon the United States to actively intervene to help foster democracy there.
The alternative is to watch the Egyptian revolution flounder and fail and perhaps even get hijacked by the Islamists. This as a new generation of Egyptians, empowered by the Internet and social-networking technologies, becomes radicalized and hostile to the West.
The irony is that conservative pessimism is in full bloom even as we on the Right celebrate the centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birth. Yet Reagan was the antithesis of pessimistic.
He was, in fact, a great optimist who saw, seized and created strategic opportunities — in Poland, Nicaragua, Grenada, Angola and elsewhere — to rollback communism.
In Egypt today, the United States has a similar opportunity to rollback radical Islam. Yet all many conservatives can do is wring their hands, shake their heads and despair. But given what’s at stake, given what we know, and given who we are as a people, this attitude is wholly inappropriate and wrong — and it is decidedly un-Reagan-esque.
The United States can help the Egyptian people to bring about the democratic change they need and want, and we should do so — now.
View all comments (29) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John R. Guardiano
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/07/the-conservative-pessimism-abo
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Nuts to Nutter
- The Demise of Money and Credit
- Wincing at Cumberbatch
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Bob K.| 2.7.11 @ 6:35PM
OK Mr Guardino, don't stop there! How should the United States help the Egyptian people to bring about the democratic change (you say) they need and want? And how should we do so -- now?
Or do you want to wait a bit and think about it?
John Guardiano | 2.7.11 @ 9:03PM
Bob K,
When you learn to spell my name right, maybe I'll consider responding.
Regards,
John
Bob K.| 2.7.11 @ 10:18PM
Sorehead!
Bob K.| 2.7.11 @ 11:08PM
Upon giving this more thought, I apologize for my carelessness and impertinence and sentence my self to spell your name 10 times.
Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano, Guardiano.
There!
mortimer| 2.7.11 @ 11:48PM
MR.guardiano.. ITS FRUSTRATING BEING A REPUB/CONSERVATIVE.especially in these instances when you try to clear away the claims of special interests and explain to them the easily verifiable truths behind the edgypt issue, so when they discuss the matter they can form opinions intelligently after taking into account evidenciary information derived from facts on the ground/in the region.
Alan Brooks| 2.7.11 @ 9:42PM
Egypt is not the nation to worry about-- Iran is.
Egypt can do alright without Iranian meddling, but Iran WILL meddle. Iran will fight to the last Egyptian.
Even if Ahmadinejad died in his bed tonight, another Hitler-lover would take his place.
You are not too pessimistic or optimistic, Mr. Guardino, you are GULLIBLE.
Conservative Bob| 2.7.11 @ 6:42PM
John BHO is president and Hillary is SOS how exactly are we as conservatives going to manage foreign policy and the US response so as to A) assist the freedom loving people of Egypt in the attainment of a better life B) avoid the Islamist hijacking the revolution? Whether we are optimistic or pessimistic the levers of power that control the response of the US are in the hands of a team that prefers to dither and obfuscate and hope they can take credit if it turns out well and not get blamed if it falls in the ditch. ...
Bob K.| 2.7.11 @ 6:55PM
Agreed. With this crew in charge doing nothing seems sensible. Like the medical maxim: "Do no harm."
Greta| 2.7.11 @ 6:45PM
Trust be verify. In throwing Mubarak under the bus so rapidly, we are sending another message to those who have worked with us and stood by us that we cannot be trusted. We know that Soros has a candidate in this fight and that there are some strange bedfellows in and around the muslim brotherhood. Palin is right on this one as are other with some concerns. I think it would have been wise to call on regional leaders such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and other key allies to really take a look at what is good in the long run for peace in that area of the world. It would have shown we are standing with a firm committment to keeping the peace and fighting against any move by Islamist to take over a country as long as that group is committed to violence.
PCC| 2.7.11 @ 6:47PM
Well said, Mr. Guardiano.
Also, what practical alternative is suggested by those who oppose your views? Lend our support to the corrupt aging autocrat with a chant of "six more years"? Oppose a grassroots democratic movement that seeks the basic civic rights that we enjoy as a birthright in favour of a hereditary dictatorship that forbids them?
When are we going to learn that the policy of "he may be an s.o.b., but he's our s.o.b." has always been a loser for the U.S. and its allies when the winds of democratic change blow?
We've already missed the opportunity to get on the Egyptian democracy train before it left the station. Let's not compound our earlier policy mistakes now by standing in the middle of the tracks and shouting "Stop"!
Bob K.| 2.7.11 @ 6:51PM
When Mr. Guardino posits an alternative, practical or otherwise, instead of views we can discuss it.
Kenny| 2.7.11 @ 6:53PM
Who can actually believe that Egypt has a shot at democracy?
The best outcome is for the military to take over and run the show. But that will only last a while. Sooner of later, chaos breaks out and then the Islamists step in.
PCC| 2.8.11 @ 7:13AM
Spoken like a true Loyalist on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
Curly Smith| 2.7.11 @ 7:05PM
We could have helped Egypt but now it may well be too late. Obama should have congratulated Mubarak on stepping down and encouraged the people to use the interim to campaign, present their ideas and garner the votes.
Instead, Obama played to the mob. The new government is catering to the mob by giving new concessions... and the mob now appears to be run by the extremists when it initially looked like a genuine outpouring of popular frustration. Plus, the new government is also catering to the Government employees which largely tells the people that nothing will change short of extremism.
Obama screwed the pooch, Egypt screwed the pooch and friends of Democracy get the blame.
JP| 2.7.11 @ 7:21PM
In light of our recent forrays into spreading democracy in the Middle East it seems a little weird that our democracy cheerleaders here in the states still cry tears of joy over mass protests. Nearly 7000 US servicemen have died since 2001 in God only knows what hell holes in order that the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq can kill eachother more efficiently, and that Karazai can mass a private treasury in some Qatar bank.
We all know how this little drama will end, for we've seen it played over many times. Jihadists will eventually take control over Egypt, and since the US lacks the nerve to US covert operatives, spies, and spec ops to prevent such take-overs North Africa will become a proxy for Iran and other assorted Muslim mullahs.
And when Muslim riots break out in Greece, Italy, and Spain I'm sure there will be plenty of so-called conservatives here celebrating the birth of a new Islamic Republic.
Thomas| 2.7.11 @ 7:44PM
Please, even if the demonstrations in Egypt were spontaneous [and evidence seems to discredit that scenario] politics are controlled by organizations. Tammany Hall controlled the City of New York for years. Chicago politics and the dynasties it has spawned is, well, Chicago politics. The U.S.A. is controlled by two parties with elected members of Congress who do not belong to either party making up about 1%. Most of the countries in the world have "strongman" governments of one type or another that are controlled by a small group of people. So, who has the best chance of ending up in control of any government, including Egypt, is important. It is something that has to be asked.
So, who is behind the demonstrations? Who is controlling them now? Who is positioning themselves to benefit the most from a change in government? And what are their long-term goals and objectives? Once the answers become clearer, then the United States Government will be better able to come up with a strategy that benefits the greatest number of people both in the Middle East and in the U.S. Right now,the future is murky.
mortimer| 2.7.11 @ 11:58PM
It wouldnt matter if the ayotolla took over edgypt, the gripe 80 million edgyptions have is that as part of the camp david accords israel was supposed to free the palestinans and let them have their own state, but israel never fulfilled its end of the treaty but they were quite satisfied with mubarek accepting 2 billion a year to ignore the peoples willand work against any palestinian rebellion. israel wont free the palestinians because they can make america ensure that a puppet government arises. 80 million citizens rise up against a brutal dictator and aipac and jewish interests force america to side with a dictator! our relationship with that third world toilet of religious extremism has dirtied our hands and disgraced american on the world stage.
simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 9:54PM
They have been offered their own state and territories since 1948 and have refused to take them but instead insisted that Israel had no right to exist, must disolve, and must turn over Jerusalem. The religious extremism is found in the Arab and Palestinian Jew hating Muslims. Bet you did not know that Israeli parliament is made up of both Israeli Jew and Israeli Arabs..did ya? Israel has the most open and free society in the middle east. Stop with the nonsense and idiocy!
simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 9:46PM
Who? The same bastards that were behind the Iran revolution.
Don Pardo| 2.7.11 @ 8:27PM
Do what? Do what?
Do wa ditty ditty dum ditty dee?
Or just dum?
Chris| 2.7.11 @ 11:02PM
I think this article provides some decent evidence that the Islamists are already winning.
http://www.israelnationalnews......spx/142158
tatosian| 2.7.11 @ 11:29PM
Egypt approves 15 percent raise for gov't employees --
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.c.....oyees.html
Tide turns in favor of Egypt's Brotherhood --
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.c.....rhood.html
tatosian| 2.7.11 @ 11:33PM
Foreign residents become tense amid rising xenophobia in Egypt
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/e.....obia-egypt
Ex-minister suspected behind Alex church bombing
http://www.alarabiya.net/artic.....36723.html
martin j smith| 2.8.11 @ 7:47AM
I am getting tied of AmSpec very quiclky and if I hear more of your ilk postings well at least I will not bother with them. But here is the deal: There is nothing short of making Egypt our 52nd State--Israel would be 51. I doubt either nation would agree. Particularly Egypt.
But here is the usefulness of "perssimism" over "optimism". In the rgion other than Israel there is NO DEMOCRATIC TRADITION. NONE. The players are of various sorts of autocrats some maybe benign others not so much. What are the chances of a positive outcome--meaning a truly Western Style representations and a duly elected leader with Western-like values ( notice the word like ) Very little chance. in my view. This so called Revolution does not even represent the MAJORITY OF EGYPTANS. But rather small groups. Now i9f you are a pessimist, as I am and we get El Baradei--the great Atomic energy inspector --this guy is very negative based on his role in Iran and his apparent ties to the Muslim Brother Hood.
If on the other hand we get the double of Anwar Sadat, we can all breath again with relief. But even so--
Turning a blinds eye to negative outcomes in region with so much instability and hatred for others who non-Muslims is foolish. But to jump the gun and push Mubarak out very quickly is just as stupid.
Take the position--be aware of the worst cases, but hope for the best-do not intervene in Egypts affairs -but do on a verbal level encourage True Democratic values and hope for the best. That is it. But, if one is caught with ones ones pants down--unprepared for disaster--that person will look like as ass.
PCC| 2.8.11 @ 8:36AM
And so, in conclusion, you're channelling President Obama and Sec'y of State Clinton: inept, confused, infuriating and ineffective.
Well, your approach does have a precedent: NYC Mayor Ed Koch was hated equally by everyone!
simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 9:45PM
Martin..please do not stop reading AM..this guy is only one columnist..we need people like you to set the record straight. Thanks for your comment.
Wayne | 2.8.11 @ 8:54AM
My hope actually comes from the incompetence in white house. His inept approach even turns off the Egyptian people. He has alienated all the friends and allies of the US. He will blunder his way into actually creating a good reaction.
simon templar| 2.8.11 @ 9:42PM
John G..its not pessimism..it's practical realism. We are not so dumb to think the Egyptians are seeking a democratic republic. They want a Islamic Totalitarian State. You can not see this? Perhaps, you lost your way and should consider being a liberal. I am sorry but you are starting to get on my nerves. I am also sick to my stomach hearing this load of crap about Egypt's displeasure over the Palestinians. They gave a rats ass about them and have used these people for political purposes. All those refugees rotted in Egyptian camps and they did nothing to help them.
Occam's Tool| 2.8.11 @ 9:59PM
Dear John:
"He was, in fact, a great optimist who saw, seized and created strategic opportunities -- in Poland, Nicaragua, Grenada, Angola and elsewhere -- to rollback communism."
Yes, Ronnie was---but in the Middle East he muffed it big time in Lebanon, keeping Israel from destroying the PLO.
And I fear something similar with your views. These people have NO history of Democratic government in Millenia! It would take a genius in the White House to get us safely through this...and all we have are Obama and Clinton. We're very badly screwed, sir.