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The Spectacle Blog
So the Egyptian military has dumped Hosni Mubarak and taken over. The people of Egypt are ecstatic, but this is far from over. Egypt is, for the moment, ruled by a junta; it's incumbent on the US to work toward real reform of the system.
Abe Greenwald smartly pointed out this morning that Mubarak actually did us a favor yesterday:
[When] the Egyptian president lashed out against "foreign interventions or dictations," he clarified for the Egyptian people that the United States was not on his side, but theirs - something the Obama administration proved incapable of doing.
Whether Mubarak goes today or in September, he is going. One of the few opportunities for America to affect positively what happens afterward rests in Washington's ability to establish itself as an ally of Egyptian democrats. Those who warn that siding against Mubarak will only empower the Muslim Brotherhood miss an important tactical consideration. If the majority of protesting Egyptians see that the U.S. is on their side, they will be less likely to throw in with the Brotherhood. It is the suspicion of America as the dictator's ally that will pave the way to widespread radicalization.
Military aid to the tune of billions over the decades has bought the US some leverage with the Egyptian Army. Now is the time to use that leverage to push toward the opening of Egyptian society. Make no mistake: An Egyptian government that reflects the will of its people is likely to be worse for America's short term interests than Mubarak was. But Mubarak was terrible for America's long term interests; his society was a breeding ground for anti-American terrorism, including some of the 9/11 hijackers. That sort of society won't change overnight. But President Obama struck more or less the right note this afternoon in calling on the military to usher in democracy. Pushing for a free election this year will be the easy part, though. Making sure it's not the last free election will be the hard part.
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More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/11/a-people-powered-coup
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Egyptian Revolutionary| 2.11.11 @ 3:45PM
This is a great day for Islamic revolutionaries everywhere. All pro-American Islamic leaders must be eliminated. Jordan is next then Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. That day is now when Arabs unite and Islam rules the world.
Interested Conservative| 2.11.11 @ 7:01PM
Especially the arabs in Pakistan!
Alan Brooks| 2.12.11 @ 12:41AM
"But President Obama struck more or less the right note this afternoon in calling on the military to usher in democracy.'
You can't give straight praise to Obama? he tries to reach a modus vivendi with the Rightists of America, but you are obligated to write "more or less the right note", rather than positively writing:
"Obama struck the right note",
and leave it at that? You have to qualify what you write about Obama to shade him in a negative light to contrast with your supposedly positive partisan interests?
IMO you are far more partisan than you are positive-- or at least that is "more or less" my position on this.
Camille| 2.12.11 @ 3:07AM
Coptic Christians were murdered in Egypt on Jan 1, 2011 http://articles.latimes.com/20.....-20110102.
We need to be convinced by actions of muslims, not promises, that they will repect and allow other religions to practice in their countries.
A secular government is the best model for Egypt.
Camille| 2.12.11 @ 3:06AM
The military has controlled the government in Egypt for six decades http://www.bloomberg.com/news/.....ests.html.
The Muslim Brotherhood assassinated Anwar Sadat, because he signed a Peace treaty with Israel(someone said Mubarek was sitting close nearby) http://middleeast.about.com/od.....81006a.htm .
Hook| 2.11.11 @ 4:15PM
Very thoughtful post, Mr. Tabin, but I fear that
Egypt will not be the first Arab Democracy.
The post above may have some of it right. People confuse democracy with freedom. I think we have a one man one vote one time coming. Already there are chants of death to America.
bert| 2.11.11 @ 10:17PM
Let me get this straight ?
The same Radical left wing media that cried and carried on about what a great guy poor sweet Sadam Hussien was and cried /screamed about that Evil Republican Bush was conducting an illegal meddling in the Middle east is high as a kite over that evil Mubarak being driven out by the combined forces of the radical Marxist- Muslim combined forces non stop attack ( Muslim/Marxist Obama, Soros, Code Pink, UAW, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood).
The Radical left wing hell our Soro's puppet President was placed in the WH for is on the way folks!
Lillith| 2.11.11 @ 10:25PM
Bert. Each sentence needs a Noun and a Verb. Extra points for connecting them in a meaningful way. Try a comma - it is not communist.
Lillith| 2.11.11 @ 10:25PM
Bert. Each sentence needs a Noun and a Verb. Extra points for connecting them in a meaningful way. Try a comma - it is not communist.
lillith| 2.11.11 @ 10:27PM
I apologize for the double entry.
Lenny| 2.14.11 @ 1:43AM
It's always embarrassing to screw up when you're correcting somebody else.
Bob K.| 2.12.11 @ 12:18AM
How did all these Egyptian "democrats" suddenly pop up like daisies? Forgive me for being pessimistic but some how I don't think that this is a movement like eastern Europe's "Prague spring!"
Stan REdmond| 2.12.11 @ 11:20AM
AND where did the pre-printed English signs come from???
Camille| 2.12.11 @ 2:57AM
To Lillith:
I understand sentences can have the subject (You) understood, as in a command - "(You) Sit down.". In your fine example of a sentence with "a noun and a verb"--"Bert." --is the verb understood ?
What would be the subject and verb in " Extra points for connecting them in a meaningful way."?
Lillith| 2.12.11 @ 5:31PM
I stand corrected. That phrase was email speak. It should read "There are extra points for connecting nouns and verbs in a meaningful way."
PattyMor| 2.12.11 @ 3:07PM
I think Glenn Beck had it right. The demonstrations were carefully planned by the Red/Green backers. This was no instantaneous outpouring of innocent students. Elections for the MB are a means to gaining power not any whiff of democracy; but of Shariah Law.