Am I the only one who worries that the gvt that follows Mubarek's gvt will be worse than what they

[FSogol]

have now? I remember how the Iranian's protesting the Shah ended up with a government they didn't want. What if the fundamentalists step in?

[leftstreet]

1. Why would the people tolerate an even shittier govt?

:shrug:

[FSogol]

3. See Iran's Revolution.

:shrug:

[leftstreet]

6. I see your Iran's Revolution and raise you one Bolivarian Revolution

Why is everyone making that comparison?

Interesting

[blondeatlast]

2. It's a distinct possibility, but Mubarek is pretty damn horrible, so I doubt it. nt

[librechik]

4. nobody knows what will happen, but what you fear is just as likely

as getting a good govt through overthrowing the old. Not good, historically speaking. The folks with some power seem to coalesce at the top no matter what the ideology

[EFerrari]

5. Step away from the Faux. n/t

[FSogol]

11. Fox? What a f'ing insult. You should be ashamed. n/t

[EFerrari]

15. Well, if that was insulting, I'm sorry.

Sleep deprived here.

The thing is, we've been drenched in the idea that no people in the Middle East can handle their own affairs and if we don't meddle, they will be overrun by fundies.

And, imo, we have to keep checking ourselves for these media implants as we go about the business of following and thinking about these events. It isn't only Fox, by any means, that keeps hammering that stuff in media reports or even in the casual language used by the State Department or the White House.

Those people were handling their own affairs before America was even a gleam in anyone's eye.

[cynatnite]

7. That's why I'm not going to praise at how wonderful this is...

I'm all for getting rid of corruption, but a theocratic type of government like Iran's is effing scary. They murder women and gays.

This could be a "be careful of what you wish for moment".

[socialist_n_TN]

34. I've got to admit that I HAVE thought about a...........

theocracy taking hold in some of these Middle Eastern places. When it started in Tunesia I kept asking what the basis was, etc. Then I came to the conclusion that it was similiar for me to the abortion issue. Yep, I have my ideas about it (I'm pro choice, BTW), but since I won't ever face that particular situation, I don't feel comfortable weighing in in opposition to choice. That's between a woman and her conscience.

Same in Egypt and Tunesia. Yes, it COULD be worse, but if it's bad enough in Tunesia and Egypt to take to the streets in a SERIOUS antigovernment, bottom up revolution, it got to be BAD. Ergo, I say let it happen and leave it to the people of these countries to settle it out.

I would love to see some of the newer socialist leaning countries of Latin America to do something to lend a hand to the new governments being set up though. They do have some experience in this area AND they might be able to provide some insight into how to set up something that benefits ALL of the people.

[readmoreoften]

8. That's the usual anti-revolutionary rhetoric first put out by J. Edgar Hoover

All revolutions end up in tyranny. Don't even bother. Quietly and politely beg for crumbs from your betters. Pretty silly rhetoric coming from a nation who began as a landowners' revolution against monarchy.

[gratuitous]

9. Holy smokes!

Have you called the White House?!

On the other hand, I'm not sure the U.S. has the credibility, the prestige, or the respect to do anything about what's going on in Egypt or really anywhere else. Our preferred method of affecting events is pretty tied down right now in Iraq and Afghanistan, and from what I'm gleaning from various sources, our intelligence community is watching in slack-jawed amazement like the rest of us.

[Uncle Joe]

10. There are major differences between Egypt and Iran regarding their level of fundamentalism.

Egypt has strong secular leadership if they're given a chance to govern.

However if Mubarak cracks down eliminating this leadership and the U.S. continues to support such an autocratic government, then the Egyptian People will most likely turn heavily to religion as means to seek relief and the boiling pot will eventually blow off the lid.

[FSogol]

13. Yes, I understand the differences and have traveled thru Egypt.

That said, I hope this movement can avoid the naivety that happened in Iran and not put new monsters into power.

[Uncle Joe]

18. I believe the U.S. could have a positive influence on events if it tries, but it means

supporting the will of the Egyptian People even if they end up choosing a government not to our ideal liking.

We must be for self determination, in the case of Iran we weren't and we've paid a heavy price for it ever since.

[redwitch]

23. Chile. nt

[davepc]

14. Sadat was a strong secular leader. It got him bullets in the head from fundementalists

In his own army at that.

[yurbud]

17. their fundamentalists like ours are idiots who can be manipulated by people with money and

propaganda.

[Uncle Joe]

19. And what happened after that, Mubarak becomes dictator for life, that's not the answer.

There will always be zealots and that holds true for any nation, but the best solution to that problem is inclusiveness and the allowing of national self-determination.

[NotThisTime]

12. It's a definite possibility

[yurbud]

16. we are not mad at Iran because they have an Islamic government but because they don't follow orders

If we cared about Islamic governments, we would be working as diligently to overthrow the Saudi gov't as we are the Iranian one.

[davepc]

20. Well there was also that whole hostage thing.

[yurbud]

26. related to our relationship with the Shah, and briefly harboring him after he fled

I don't excuse hostage taking, but you can't take it out of context.

[eissa]

21. The threat of an Islamic takeover

is what has kept the Arab populations down in many ME countries. All they've heard is "well, better us than those crazy fundies." So they've tolerated the corruption, poverty, brutality and incompetence for decades. I think they've finally reached a point where they're tired of settling for the lesser of two evils.

From what I've been hearing from Egyptian friends, this revolt is mainly the working/middle classes who are mainly well-educated. There has been very little, if any, reference to religion. This doesn't mean that the fundies can't sweep in and unsurp the movement if they succeed in ousting Mubarak, but there seems to be a lot of cautious optimism that it won't swing that way.

[CJvR]

22. No...

...you share that worry with just about every western goverment.

While I don't mind the fall of a dictatorship I would prefer if there weren't violent psycopaths waiting in the wings drooling in anticipation. In chaos the most ruthless tend to prosper, those are the last people you want in charge.

[Hamlette]

24. I'm worried too

while the muslim brotherhood is not the only group in the protest, it is one of them. They are fundamentalist at heart. Think Taliban.

[cynatnite]

25. If his government fails, will the one that follows support the treaty with Israel?

That and a whole host of questions have been on my mind.

[stranger81]

27. Funny how we didn't think about that before hanging Saddam Hussein.

Guess it depends on whose ox is being gored.

[treestar]

28. It's possible

Hopefully it turns out well.

[Major Hogwash]

29. No.

And that's why the Arab street is so nervous.
They might be creating a power vacuum.

[SoCalDem]

30. Every country goes through that .. even WE go through that every 4 years

and sometimes they are worse..but sometimes they are better.

No matter the outcome, we have no business meddling in their affairs..

If we are smart, we will lay low and then figure out how to deal with the eventual leader.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. The brotherhood was rejected in 1953

they are not as strong as the western propaganda tells you.

They could get a worst government, but I don't think it will be a theocracy.

[DeadEyeDyck]

32. I agree

[spanone]

33. there is no one 'poised'. it's a great time for another dictator to pounce

it's very volatile

[bluestate10]

35. I have that concern. nt.