Good for Barack Obama who seems to be taking a strong pro-democracy stand in his conversation with Hosni Mubarak. This is a far cry, alas, from the US President’s behavior during the massive democracy demonstrations in Iran when Obama was curiously silent, seemingly determined to negotiate with a leader at least as fascistic (most likely more) as Mubarak – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. One wonders what people are thinking on the streets of Tehran right now, as they hear about or watch (if they can) what is playing out on the streets of Cairo. Will Iran reignite? No doubt the mullahs are primed to go on lockdown, if they already haven’t.
On the other hand, the Iranian authorities are telling the NYTimes that they see events in Egypt not like their demonstrations of two years ago, but like the demonstrations of 1979 which led to the formation of the Islamic Republic. Like we need more of those.
Congratulations is far too premature. Once you open the can lid there is no telling how or which conflicting party is going to prevail amid the chaos. If the Muslim Brotherhood prevail, as some suspect, is that really a good thing for the pro-democracy movement?
Why did Obama react differently compared to Iran? Very simple. The Egyptian situation gives Obama an opportunity to highlight his Cairo speech and his infinite number of “I told you sos” he gave to Mubarak.Of course, we all know the “I told you sos” included a chorus of voices including President Bush.
The future has to be lived. It can not be predicted. Important things are non-linear, complex and chaotic.
I hope the people if Egypt get a government that increases their freedom and prosperity.
Obamas wasting time talking democracy and freedom to an old dictator who will soon be out of power, either voluntarily or with the enthusiastic assistance of Egyptian multitudes.
Good chance for some consequence-free rhetoric, though.
Im waiting for Obamas lectures to Mubaraks successor, especially if islamists like the Muslim Brotherhood end up in charge.
I hate to go disturbing the narrative, but I have a radical idea.
Why doesnt Obama, the US government and everyone everywhere just mind their own business and quit projecting their own beliefs on whats going on over there. They really dont have a flipping clue.
Besides, doesnt the US have enough problems of its own to solve?
The Middle East will soon be entirely Islamic. Theyve (Islamsist) done their groundwork, much as the left here.
This may be the most frightening revolution weve seen in recent years. In regards to Israels sustainability.
To think all this will work for individual freedom is a pipe dream. This angst will shortly be directed toward us, as oppressors.
it is simple why Obama was silent about Iran
because Iranian hate USA and if he speaks about musavi in Iran so they hate musavi too
In 08, I was gripped by the fear that food / water / power… would be choked and kill many (especially in Africa – dependent on the [alleged] surplus of goods $s from the west). I cant help but think this is the actual front end of that starvation.
So naive. With Muslims, there are either Islamic/Sharia states, or there are western-oriented strongmen. Islam does not do democracy. It is sinful to the Muslim mind to even tolerate democracy.
So in countries with Muslim majorities, democratic movements soon turn to something decidedly un-democratic. Ill bet anyone $100 that Egypt marches towards Islamism in the coming weeks/months.
Naive, dangerously ignorant dilettantes. Study Islams holy books and writings, and see that there is no place for mans law, unless that mans name was Mohammed, and he lived 1,400 years ago. Tolerating democracy is to betray a Muslims faith.
Our ten years of meddling with Islam has taught too many all the wrong lessons.
Get ready for a flood of christian Copt refugees fleeing the latest batch of Mohammedan thugs.
maziar
Iranians hate USA? You would like people in the US to think so but that it is not true.
However, you probably mean people of the same views as I, maziar, have hate the USA, dont you?
Iranian authorities are telling the NYTimes that they see events in Egypt not like their demonstrations of two years ago, but like the demonstrations of 1979
Although IMHO majority of people in Egypt do not really want the kind of rule Iran has, the most organized opposition to Mubarak is Muslim Brotherhood. MB has somewhat similar aims to the aims Khomeini had in Iran. Muslim Brotherhood ultimately wants an Islamic state ruled by sharia. Therefore, although mullahs in Iran do have different views on some things than MB, some of their aims and some of their views on world and the role of Islam in it are the same.
So it is logical that Iranian authorities view present events in Egypt in this(1979) light.
Thank god for US intervention and the hanging of the stupidest arab dictator ever in the entire galaxy (called Saddam)
There was only 1 dictator in the ME, other Dictators not backed by the US are called autocratic rulers by western media
Shah style puppets are about to fall like dominos, why ? because Allah Akbar of course … ignorant westener observers do not understand the true phylosophical meaning of that phrase easily mitsake it for a dumb primitive religious call
sean who said so ??
dont share anything you dont know anything about Islam is bellied on democracy.. you can find in qouran {وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ} [سورة الشورى: آية 38]!!
[38] And those who answer the Call of their Lord (i.e. to believe that He is the only One Lord (Allâh), and to worship none but Him Alone), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.
please Sean you can just stick your head alone in the dirt with that lame islamophobia propaganda
one other thing , Egyptians will have a difficult time overthrowing their current dictatorship because Egypt is a strong ally of Israel, so there is a possibility that the US will intervene and make sure protesters fail. Egypt is a key component in aiding Israel succeed with the occupation of Palestine and the closure of the Gaza strip. Anything in relation with supporting the Zionist state will make for a tougher battle than trying to lessen food wages, as in Tunisia. With that being said, its not completely impossible to overthrow the Egyptian regime, it will just take a lot of time and determination from the Egyptian people because its problem is much more layered.
Its not Islaophobia (the new racist tag to stifle debate in the 21st century) to point out that Muslims will not tolerate democracy, and that Islam is wholly incompatible with and hostile to democracy.
Maybe the passage you quoted means something in arabic, but it comes across as utter jibberish. If thats the best you can do to prove that Islam is not hostile to democracy, youve proven my point.
qais – Maybe in some hypothetical sense, there is room for republican democracy in the Qu’ran, but empirically speaking, Islam is not receptive to republican democracy.
Hopefully the new madmen in North Africa will cause enough stir, to keep US forces busy in the future. So one day Iran is not used as a punch bag for the US military to substantiate its role in front of the US taxpayer.
Mr. Simon, Im sure you meant to type, Good for Barack Obama who seems to be taking a strong pro-Islamist stand in his conversation with Hosni Mubarak.
Youre deluding yourself to think anyone else will end up controlling Egypt if Mubarak is forced out this way. Not surprising given that Obama and his minions have been courting the Muslim Brotherhood ever since he got into office. As George W Bush once famously and infamously said (before he lost his nerve entirely), Youre either with us or with the terrorists.
Well, Obama is with the terrorists (and fascists). Democracy has got not a damn thing to do with it, Mr. Simon.
Mr. Simon, Im sure you meant to type, Good for Barack Obama who seems to be taking a strong pro-Islamist stand in his conversation with Hosni Mubarak.
Youre deluding yourself to think anyone else will end up controlling Egypt if Mubarak is forced out this way. Not surprising given that Obama and his minions have been courting the Muslim Brotherhood ever since he got into office. As George W Bush once famously and infamously said (before he lost his nerve entirely), Youre either with us or with the terrorists.
Well, Obama is with the terrorists (and fascists). Democracy has got not a single thing to do with it, Mr. Simon.
To answer your question,
Iran,run by enemies of America
Egypt,run by one not opposed to America.
ella,
maziar is right. A May 2009 (just before the election) TFT opinon poll showed that Iranians viewed U.S. more negatively than positively by an almost 2:1 ratio. Also 59% said that US working to promote democracy in Iran would not improve their opinion of the United States.
http://www.terrorfreetomorrow.org/upimagestft/TFT%20Iran%20Survey%20Report%200609.pdf