Egypt

[Classicblast]

Does anybody really have a take on what's going on in Egypt? I am concerned as obviously everybody should be a bit. But I don't know what the right course of action is for the US or any nation and what concerns there are. If there's nuclear warfare on the horizon or what.

I would love to read the input of the other board members.

[Phil]

I remember I was 10 years old and President Anwar Sadat was assassinated and therefore Hosni Mubarak became Egypt's 4th president and he still has that position over 29 years later. Mubarak was also wounded in the Sadat assassination, he was wounded again a few years later. So he has been shot at least twice.

I know there's some displeasure wit Mubarak among the people. A bunch are calling for his resignation. Some Mubarak supporters of past are saying he has lost touch with matters of today others are saying he has become power hungry and or has been in power too long and could have the support of the military and could be able to keep the position regardless of what could happen election or whatever else.

I don't know those details either. But a major concern is if he does leave office by will or by force that a terrorist regime could take power. There's a lot of speculation but right now last I heard was there is a standoff between the Egyptian military and protesters concerning Mubarak.

[Ordinaryguy]

I agree with what Phil says, if a democracy comes naturally out of it that would be great, problem is that's never really happened in the Middle East. Secular dictatorships tend to be replaced by Islamic dictatorships like Iran and that would be very bad indeed.

[Jersey]

A Democratic Republic would be nice, but unfortunately a collapse in the Mubarak regime could either lead to a takeover by the jihadist extremist group Muslim Brotherhood, or by a socialist regime. Socialists in the U.S. are out professing their continued support for the Egyptian protestors, as well as expressing their hatred for the Mubarak regime and the country that aligns itself with it: the United States. Imagine that.

Anyway, the current administration in Egypt is serving as an ideological and governmental buffer between Israel seeking to stay sovereign and protected and the extremism running amok in Iran. It's an unstable situation at the moment so we will just have to wait and see.

[Classicblast]

It seems as if there's a few different groups licking their chops to see who can take over if the president does leave office. And there's no way of knowing what would be the succession of power. Currently Egypt is a democracy with elections. It looks as if they're 6 year terms but no limitations.


That does not mean that there's necessarily going to be a war if Mubarak does step aside or is forced aside.

I do understand the concern though and I tend to believe that its better to have the devil that you already know.

[Phil]

It looks like despite pressure, Mubarak is not going to resign. He is supposed to address his country tonight that he will stay put til the October election but will not seek reelection.

That might not take much pressure off but it could buy some time to hopefully not end up with an unsavory government.

[Kimm]

Theres a lot going on there too.

The USA might say they want him to resign but the reason to want him to resign would be to have a better chance of controlling who they can have in office.

I think the right thing is what Mubarak is doing. To keep the electoral process proper he should keep the job until the election and then step aside and pass the torch to the new president.

[Phil]

It looks like Mubarak has resigned.

[Jersey]

Feb 11, 2011 13:56:47 GMT -5 Phil said:

It looks like Mubarak has resigned.

Yes, he resigned today and gave control of Egypt over to the Egyptian military. Time for the world to fasten its collective seatbelts because this ride is not going to be anything but a nightmare. I would look out for the Muslim Brotherhood, the same group that cozied up to Adolf Hitler in the 1930s, to make a power grab soon. More than likely with a nice bribe to the military with money donated from Iran. I cannot doubt they've sent some.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is as happy as a pig in sh*t right now, since these events are what he and the radicals in Iran have been counting on. Mubarak's resignation leaves the power position in Egypt wide open, and the time for a radical Islamic takeover could not be any more feasible. He is currently calling this a victory for the Egyptian people, while also saying this is a big step towards the goal of ultimate destruction for Israel and the same for the United States.

History has repeated itself, believe it or not. There are some members here who may remember the Jimmy Carter administration and what happened in Iran under his watch. The pro-U.S. and pro-Israel Shah of Iran was deposed and removed from power by a radical jihadist regime that opposes both aforementioned nations. It remains in control to this day, and is now in the process of developing a nuclear weapon. Under the watch of Barack Obama, the same thing happened today.

It never ceases to amaze what can happen when those in influential, even critical world positions, are recognized for their weaknesses and taken full advantage of.

It's time for the U.S. to pull out of the Middle East for good, and it's time to do it now. This could get really ugly.

[Classicblast]

I think that kind of puts Egypt in a state of being uprooted doesn't it?

I man that kind of makes it so there is not really a president even though there is a series of protocol the military doesn't have to give into the next link in the chain of command and can cause a lot of disarray.

[Demona]

I read he's gone and the military was in charge now. Don't know what will happen, but whatever it is, I hope it's better for the Egyptian people. Mubarak was in Parade magazine several times on the top ten list of world's worst dictators. It could always be worse of course, but I think since they wanted him out, they have to deal with what comes next.

[Classicblast]

I agree with Demona but as I best understand, Egypt has elections every six years. If that's right that means that the people of Egypt have elected Mubarak at least 5 times for him to be in his 30th year as President.

Unless I am wrong about that they could have removed him any time through democratization. AKA election.

[Phil]

Feb 15, 2011 1:08:31 GMT -5 Classicblast said:

I agree with Demona but as I best understand, Egypt has elections every six years. If that's right that means that the people of Egypt have elected Mubarak at least 5 times for him to be in his 30th year as President.

Unless I am wrong about that they could have removed him any time through democratization. AKA election.

I agree with you mostly but if Mubarak was doing something that was making the people's quality of life suffer, I'm not saying he was, Im saying if that was the case, I could see the need for an overthrow.

I mostly agree though elections should run their course except for extreme circumstances. I have mentioned the Gray Davis thing. Gray Davis was governor and they ousted him and had an emergency election.

I would not have voted for Davis because his views are more liberal than I care to have, but it was a fair election. He won the election only 10 months earlier the people of California had the chance to get him out and they elected him. Since he didn't break the law, or put the safety of the people in danger I would have said you're stuck with him til the next election. Start campaigning if you want to get him out.

[dinin]

well its pretty hard when the party in power cheats the electoral process, like in north korea, u really think 100% of the people would vote for kim jung ill? in many third world contries elections are a farce. a fake democracy to give the people and the world the illusion of a democratic contry.

[dinin]

the truth is that the elections are rigged, and the so called presidents are really dictators. like Ben ali of tunesia.

[Classicblast]

There's some truth to that. And obviously the less democratized country the less chance the votes are real. And who is even allowed to vote in those places for that matter.

I know that Egypt has elections but I must admit I don't know the truthfulness of them as far as that goes.

[dinin]

thats right, like in china, they have elections, but every candidate is from the communist party...

who else then me is outradged that col kadhafi ( from lybia ) is using fighter planes and helicopters to crack down the protests?

i mean using missiles agains't your own civilians? thats really low.

the death toll is already beyound the 300...

[Classicblast]

And obviously in some of those countries you can't be sure what's in the newspaper either. They only print what the government will allow them to not necessarily freedom of the press.

In my life I got write ups in local papers that weren't necessarily to my liking but its the right of the press. If a baseball writer thinks I suck he has the right to say that.