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Another "urgent" statement pending from Mubarak office being reported.

Posted: Feb 11, 2011

Egyptians surround presidential palace, State TV and the information ministry. Meanwhile, the army has secured the area surrounding SUEZ CANAL, which protesters have tried to approach.

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Done Deal. He stepped down. History has happened. - nm

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nm

Now the scary part - what happens next? - nm

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nm

Democracy. Be scared. Be very, very scared. - I think I got it.

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If this message is any indication how much faith we have in OUR OWN political process, then by all means, let us give way and have our hypocrisy reign supreme. The Egyptian people have shed the shackles of their oppressors, seized democracy and taken their fate into their own hands. That Americans are standing by in fear is very telling of their desire to own that institution and parcel it out in bits and pieces on their terms only to the ones they deem worthy. Pah-the-tic.

What? You are pathetically laughable. Sure, - the Egyptians have reason to celebrate, BUT

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now what? They have NO leader ready to help them. The military will now take over, and unfortunately, most likely, the organized will take over.. and at the moment that is The Muslim Brotherhood, a group of radicals. It IS scary. Egyptians are standing in the streets cheering, but when asked who will be their leader now, they seem to have no clue. "Americans are standing by in fear"? Gee.. some Americans know history, unlike yourself apparently. I am American, and I wish the Egyptian people well, but I am not blinded by the temporary celebration. Ignorance is bliss on your part. This is a step to freedom.. its not there yet for them.

agreed - sm

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It kind of reminds me of Iraq not long ago. Joyful in the streets but total disaster and innocent people dying not long after that. Now, before the libs jump all over the "Iraq" comment, I said it KIND OF reminds me of Iraq and is certainly NOT the same! I would only compare the jubilant people in the streets who are celebrating (as I certainly would be!) but, I really am concerned about their future. I agree that this is a step to their freedom but they are not there yet and they have a long way to go. There's an entire generation of young people over there who have not known freedom. They will make mistakes as they grow into their new government, and I pray they end up to be a peaceful and friendly land. I also have my fingers crossed that the Muslim Brotherhood is not taking over.

Forgive me for pointing this out, but they - did not seem to need help from a leader

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when overthrowing 30 years of yet another failed corrupt US-backed dictator/stooge whose iron fist rule over them took the form of 3 decades of "emergency law" that enabled them to silence any and all dissent, prevent the emergence and evolution of political parties, establish a state propaganda machine that destroyed freedom of the press, undermine the citizens right to assemble throughout the country to redress the government on their own behalf, and maintain a so-called security apparatus that constantly harrassed, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, executed and exiled countless Egyptians who had the misfortune to live through this reign of terror. He robbed the country's youth of any sense whatsoever of hope for their futures, not to mention 70 billion dollars in baksheesh, silenced their voices and relegated all but a few privileged to a life of poverty. At this stage of the game, as difficult as it is for Americans to grasp, NO leader is better than any leader they have ever known. By they, I mean Egyptians under the age of 30, who constitute nearly 2/3rds of the population, 90 percent of whom are UNEMPLOYED. One of their parents interviewed on NPR this afternoon had to SELL HIS KIDNEY to feed his children. No telling how many similar stories are yet to be told.

Since martial law has been in place for 3 decades, the population views the military as the lesser of all evils in the establishment, in this land of little to no choice. It would seem from all accounts, both video and audio, that the military commands respect amongst the people, who have repeatedly placed their trust in them over the past 3 weeks. Regardless of who takes charge of the moment, it is patently clear that their tenure will be briefly fleeting and transitory at best, as all eyes both inside and outside of the country will now turn onto the process of party building in the lead up to fair and transparent elections.

Barf. Now I reach the part of your post where you start regurgitating US propaganda about the Muslim Brotherhood and lecturing me about being ignorant of history. Yawn. The Brotherhood represents less than 20 percent of the population in Egypt. The Egyptian chapters are committed to nonviolence, are avowed enemies of Al-Quada, do not support global Jihad-inspired terrorist initiatives and basically operate in the lay capacity of providing charitable social services which otherwise would have gone unaddressed by the ruling regime. The big bad Brotherhood renders local medical care, runs 29 hospitals across the region and feeds poor hungry children. I knew this about them before Mr. Clapper tried to educate Americans on this subject yesterday. It is regrettable that he felt forced to "walk back" his truthful comments under pressure from right-wing conservative media who predictably went ballistic and scurried to shore up damage control that otherwise could have undermined their divisive message of fear and predictions of the imminent emergence of a NWO Islamic Caliphate (as if).

I am old enough to remember the Suez Canal crisis of 1956 which at age 10, I distinctly remember my parents discussing at the dinner table. I have been alive and kicking long enough to say I have watched the Middle East's passage through history with my own two eyes. My perspectives do not derive from Twittering tweets, Facebook, chat rooms, anonymous forums or cable infotainment news sources. They are Fox-free formations cobbled together from direct and deliberate cross-cultural experiences with Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Israeli, Syrian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Iranian, Pakistani, Afghani, Tibetan and Nepali fellow students, acquaintances, friends, colleagues, coworkers, husband(s) and family members.

I had the privilege of standing next to them throughout my entire adult life in attendance at family, social and educational gatherings, many of which centered around a broad variety political activities. I also was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to live amongst them in the Middle East for several years. As such, I can say with complete confidence that the Egyptian people will manage to muddle through these next few chapters of their history on their way to a well-deserved liberation from the shackles of so-called western interests, without misplaced guidance from Americans, who evidently do not give a hoot about real democracy, human rights or the welfare of those 80 million folks who have staked their claim to a future Middle East where they are in charge of their own destinies. They are well aware of the fact that their jobs have just begun.

As for the US, it is high time they stop trying to be masters of the universe, take a back seat, keep their mouths shut, watch the movement unfold, let the chips fall where they may and deal with the long overdue consequences of their endless meddling in the region. By the way, there is nothing blissful about the deep-rooted ignorance that is the real driving force behind all this fear, as posts like yours clearly illustrate.

Your post. - sm

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"As for the US, it is high time they stop trying to be masters of the universe, take a back seat, keep their mouths shut, watch the movement unfold, let the chips fall where they may and deal with the long overdue consequences of their endless meddling in the region."

Thanks for telling it how it really is. We could be a great country if we learned from our mistakes and if our ego as a nation was not so massive.

wait, what? - tpmt

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Who said Americans are fearful? Fearful of what?

And where do you get the idea of some Americans with a "desire to own that institution and parcel it out?" Seriously, what are you talking about?

One answer to both questions. - sm

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Fearful of democracy in the Middle East and what might come as a result of (any) Arabs being in charge of their own futures. Desire to own the institution of democracy and to parcel it out only to those who are willing to fall in line and serve our interests at the expense of their own.

This is not rocket science. Just take a long, honest look at our foreign policy track record in the region ever since the birth is Israel in 1948. A good place to start would be the nasty business behind the 1953 US/CIA backed coup (Operation Ajax) that overthrew Iran's well revered Prime Minister Mosaddegh who had the utter gall to spearhead a movement to nationalize Iran's oil industry in the face of the Shah's cooperation with Britain (who held controlling interests at the time) and the US. The coup initially failed, resulting in the Shah's exile (whoops), but ultimately the US prevailed (driven by unfounded socialist/communism paranoia of the McCarthy Era), and the Shah was reinstated as the West's puppet leader, while Mosaddegh was held under house arrest until his death. That installation of US-backed dictatorial leadership would eventually open the doors to the Islamic Revolution in 1979 on account of the same type of repression under the Shah we now are forced to admit ocurred under Mubarak.

Support of Israel has resulted in immeasurable bloodshed, suffering and upheaval in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria Jordan and Egypt. Then there's Iraq and Afghanistan. Just try reading the history of these US involvements from an objective standpoint minus the spin. It's really a no-brainer.

You are quite revealing. You are too blinded by your - own hatred of USA/Israel

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to have any common sense on these issues. -thats a "no-brainer".

Touchy touchy. - Sticks and stones. nm

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nm

Nope, just truth you deny. Good job. nm - Keep it up.

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nm

Can you refute the facts in the post or - sm

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are denial and personal insults all you have to offer? The coup happened. The Shah repressed his political opposition. He was overthrown by a grass roots revolt that was high-jacked by the Islamic regime. The presence of Israel has destabilized the region ever since it was established. These are verifiable historical facts. Presenting them is not hateful. Your response says more about you than the other poster.

Bravo. Well said. Reassuring to know someone out there - gets this. nm

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nm

You cannot see or refuse to see past your nose - for the truth, -how pitiful.nm

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nm

I'll take that as a no you cant. - One more question for ya

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Doesnt denying historical facts such as these sorta belong in the same category as Holocaust denial, kinda like this poster was accused of doing in the "sad" post below? Just sayin.

So, you would rather Israel disappear? - Backwards Typist

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"The presence of Israel has destabilized the region ever since it was established." In other words, the people should go back to having no country at all? This is the jist I get of your message. If I'm wrong, okay, I apologize, but what do you exactly mean by that remark?

My contributions to this thread have focused on - sm

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failed US foreign policies throughout the region. Specific instances of US interference that have led to disastrous results were given, both regarding government backing of autocratic dictators and human rights abusers and our continuous military aid to Israel, which in my opinion has been the single-most destructive/destabilizing force in the Middle East for the past 60-plus years. The statement was meant to illustrate a need for the US to take a step back and honestly evaluate the role it has played over the years in propping up very UNdemocratic systems and fostering environments where human rights abuses are overlooked in the name of our so-called national interests. In other words, the comment about Israel says more about US foreign policy than Israel's right to exist (or not).

In my estimation, democracy and human rights are at America's CORE values. Our foreign policy in the Middle East has always been driven by 2 main factors. Early on it was our desire to control US access to THEIR natural oil reserves AT ALL COSTS. Post 9/11, the war on terror added another dimension to US Middle East policy making. I am merely proposing that, given our past failed initiatives, the time has come to revamp and recalibrate our diplomacy in ways that we do not end up sacrificing those values Americans profess to hold so dear.

That old addage comes to mind that you attract more bees with honey than vinegar. I do not believe that proactive promotion of democracy and human rights FOR REAL in the Middle East while striving to achieve our expressed oil/WOT objectives are mutually exclusive concepts. In fact, given the way the winds of change are blowing at the moment, if we do not start walking that walk, we could end up losing all credibility and influence and find ourselves relegated to our rightful place in the pages of history along with those ousted dictators whose time has passed.

The first step toward restoring credibility and repect would be to withdraw financial support of Israel's military (which we obviously can no longer afford to sustain) while continuing to engage in LEGITIMATE trade and commerce relationships. It is time for Israel to stand on its own and let the laws of nature take their course (survival of the fittest). We cannot continue to be the only Western country not willing to condemn the illegal occupation and the abominable human rights violations (not to mention war crimes) perpetrated against the Palestinian populations in Gaza and the West Bank. Along these same lines, we cannot in any way negotiate in good faith for nuclear disarmament in the Middle East while turning a blind eye to Israels known nuclear arsenal.

good to know - dentmt

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"The first step toward restoring credibility and repect would be to withdraw financial support of Israel's military (which we obviously can no longer afford to sustain) while continuing to engage in LEGITIMATE trade and commerce relationships. It is time for Israel to stand on its own and let the laws of nature take their course (survival of the fittest)."

It's good to know how you feel about Israel. I'm sure you're not alone, but it's always a good thing to know where someone stands on an issue. We will forever disagree about Israel, since I have a few friends there who live in fear every single day and only want to live without the threat of being killed on a daily basis.

I understand there are people who support Israel and those who (sadly) believe we should throw them to the wolfs, so to speak.

Maybe if Israel and Her people were destroyed, then I guess America's core values of human rights (as you stated) won't necessarily apply, right? We can just tell the survivors that we're sorry about what happened, but we're going to let nature take it's course (as you stated). Where are their human rights and dignity? Do you pick and choose who is treated with human dignity and who is not? How dare you. That is so hypocritical. Most can see right through your self-righteousness for what it is.

I said nothing about destroying Israel. - Time for a reality check. sm

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What are you talking about? A few facts relative to the laws of nature struggle. Israel has a robust economy (ranked 24th strongest in the world) and Palestinians live in abject poverty. Some quick stats:

GDP
I = $217.1 billion
P = $13 billion

GDP per capita
I = $29,500 (a whopping 100 times more than)
P = $2,900

Inflation
I = 2.5%
P = 11.5%

Population living below poverty
I = 23.6%. Of note, Haredim and Arabs make of 25% of the population and account for most of the poverty.
P = 60%. More than 50% of Gazans live on less than 50 cents per day.

Unemployment
I = 6.2%
P = 24% overall In Gaza, unemployment is much higher.

Ease of doing business ranking
I = 29th
P = 135th. Gee, I wonder why.

The IDF is ranked the 11th strongest military force in the world, thanks to Daddy Warbucks. Other Middle Eastern countries whose militaries the US has propped up rank as follows: Egypt 17th (armed the minute they signed onto the peace treaty), Iran 18th (during Shahs time), Iraq 37th (aid against Iran after the Islamic Revolution), Afghanistan 40th (aid against Russia). One might conclude that US military aid has served to escalate tensions with their soldiers of fortune schemes, huh? Other players in the region include Syria at 34th, Lebanon 42th.

As you can see, Israel poses a formidable challenge in the survival of the fittest contest and most likely can hold its own just fine. Cutting the apron strings of dependence and expecting them to support themselves is hardly the same thing as throwing them to the wolves. Those words are based on your own false premise and your comments about human rights, picking and choosing who does and does not get them, hypocrisy and self righteousness don't exactly hold water.

Speaking of self-righteousness and hypocrisy on human rights, let me say that I too have more than a few friends there living in the West Bank, Gaza, refugee camps and in the diaspora, who live in fear for themselves and/or their families every single day and only want to live without the threat of being killed on a daily basis. Instead of throwing down emotional appeals based on flights of fantasy, I prefer to deal with facts. Unlike your Israeli friends, my Palestinian compadres also contend with the following ON A DAILY BASIS:

For the Gazans:
1. Having every single aspect of their lives controlled by an occupying power.
2. Israel controls all land crossings in and out of Gaza.
3. Military incursions with rockets and sonic booms.
4. No-go zones wherein any Palestinian resident entering will be shot.
5. Control of Gaza's airspace and territorial waters.
6. Control of the Palestinian Population Registry allowing Israel to decide through a system of identity cards - who is a Palestinian (perhaps the biggest insult of all), who resides in Gaza or the West Bank, and who may or may not enter or leave either Territory.
7. Invasions and mass killings in Gaza, and other refugee camps.
8. Indiscriminate missile attacks and targeted killings. For example, Israeli security forces killed 668 Palestinians in Gaza in 2006 and 2007. Over half of them (359) were uninvolved in hostilities; 126 were minors; 361 were by missile attacks; and 29 were targeted killings. By contrast, Palestinian rockets killed four Israeli civilians and 4 IDF during that same time span.
9. Closures at border crossings. Meanwhile, 6000 Palestinians were stranded in Egypt and denied their right to return, 30 died.
10. Reducing electricity and fuel after the elections in Gaza, a sort of collective punishment for exercising democratic process by holding clean elections that produced the "wrong" results (according to Israel). Since that time, supplies, including food and medicine, have been cut back by 50%.
11. Termination of Gaza's bank services, halting their monetary system.
12. 80% of Gaza's population needs food aid.
13. Border closures prevent import and export. 95% of Gaza's industry has been closed, coastal fishing has been banned and more than 80% of them live below the poverty line.
14. Students are prevented from studying abroad.
15. Insufficient power to hospitals and water pumping facilities, create monumental sewage problems and an inconceivable health crisis 210,000 Gazans can access water for only 2 hours daily.

West Bank and Jerusalem
1. Occupation infrastructure still in place: Military incursions, settlement expansions, the separation wall, freedom of movement restrictions, house demolitions.
2. Incursions: Sample month November 2007: The IDF conducted 786 raids, killed one person (plus at least two others he didn't report), injured 67 others and made 398 arrests; in addition, public and private properties were damaged; curfews were imposed, and countless innocent civilians were terrorized by security forces and dogs;
3. Settlement population has increased by 63% since 1993 with new construction of 88 settlements underway. 38% of the West Bank consists of settlements, outposts, military areas, nature reserves off limits to Palestinians, and connecting roads for Jews only. At the end of 2007, Tel Aviv announced plans for 307 new apartments in the Har Homa settlement, but there's more as well - an extensive new E1 project with 3500 apartments, 10 hotels and an industrial park for 14,500 settlers near Maale Adumin. To complete it, Israel expropriated Palestinian land in Abu Dis, Sawareh, Nabi Moussa and al-Khan al-Ahmar for an alternate Palestinian road to Jericho that frees the area for E1. It's part of a larger scheme to replace territorial contiguity with transportation contiguity that will work like this - two alternate road and tunnel networks will be constructed, one connecting Palestinian cantons, the other for Jews only, and expropriated Palestinian land will be used for the project.
4. Checkpoints, roadblocks and permits that obstruct free movement, designed to disrupt personal life and the economy. In the West Bank, 561 obstacles to movement have been documented. They comprise over 80 manned checkpoints, 476 unmanned locked gates, earth mounds, concrete blocks, ditches and thousands of temporary checkpoints, called flying checkpoints, for limited periods that are sometimes only hours. In November 2007, there were 429 of them in the West Bank.
5. Travel is restricted or prohibited with permits (like South Africa's pass laws) required for transit between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
6. The wall of separation. When construction is finished around 60,000 West Bank Palestinians in 42 villages and towns will reside in the closed zone between the wall and the Green Line separating Israel from Palestine. The route may end up including up to 13% of Palestinian land, including many of the West Bank's valuable water resources and its richest agricultural lands. 68% of the village's agricultural land and its six wells are in the closed zone between the wall and the Green Line and are off limits without a visitor's permit. For example, only 40% of Jayyus' residents have permits to access their farms, and gate opening times are limited and arbitrary; as a result, by August 2004 (one year after the wall's construction) local fruit and vegetable production fell from seven to four million kilograms. Since then, things have deteriorated further.
7. The wall cuts off about 25% of the 253,000 East Jerusalem Palestinians. They can only enter the city through checkpoints and are thus impeded from accessing hospitals, schools, universities, work and holy sites, including the Al Aqsa Mosque.
8. House demolitions designed to flex macho muscle and show Palestinians who is boss. Sample month: May 2007: 354 structures demolished.

Arrests and abuse of prisoners
1. Since 1967 over 700,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned. Through year end 2007, Israelis held 11,000 or more prisoners, including 376 children, 118 women, (and) 44 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members. In addition, there are some 800 (or more) administrative detainees (other estimates place the figure much higher) against whom no charges were made and who are held for renewable six month periods.
2. Detainees are stripped, interrogated, beaten, tortured and deprived of their basic needs. The treatment of children is equally disturbing. Children are detained for between eight to 21 days before being brought to court. They're denied the presence of a parent or lawyer during interrogation, cursed, threatened, beaten and kept in solitary confinement throughout their ordeal. This type treatment terrifies adults. Imagine what it does to young children.
3. Prisoners are housed in tents that are extremely hot in summer and cold in winter. Overcrowding is serious, food is poor and anemia among prisoners is common. The role of prison medical doctors is questionable. They witness inhumane treatment - wounds, swollen limbs, signs of violence - but remain silent and ignore the torture.

Our tax dollars a work. For those among us who can ignore all of the above and defend support of this apartheid madness, I have only one question: How dare you?

Source: March 20, 2008 report following the Annapolis Conference
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8394

Wow. This thread sure came to an abrupt end. - sm

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I guess no one can answer the last question at the bottom. I sure can't.

sad - sm

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Wow, do you actually like America? In reading your posts, you seem to have quite a chip on your shoulder. You need to open a history book and stop listening to MSNBC for a bit.

I will stand up and defend America and Israel at every chance I get. Your words are offensive to those who have given their lives for this country and are bordering on antisemitism. Is the Holocust America's fault or did it never really happen?

I will NEVER apologize for being an American. I'm done with you.

History has its own way of revealing truths some people - are simply not ready to face.

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It is always there for the taking and today it thrust itself right up in everyone's face, demanding a recount, ready or not. America does not hold exclusive copyrights when it is written, read, interpreted or understood, despite your most bitter protestations. In this age of instant connectivity, MSNBC is merely a very small fish in a very vast ocean, as are any and all US cable outlets.

Those who cannot face facts often employ belittling, name calling, ridicule and the like in their feeble attempts to discredit. These limp chest beating patriotic proclamations, invocations of fighting to the death to defend the country, antisemitic accusations and equations to Admadinejad's Holocaust denial do absolutely nothing to change the truths that an objective peek at history conveys. Neither does preaching to the choir, so you will excuse me while I shrug my chipless shoulders and get back to celebrating the history that has been made today in the Middle East. Even you should realize that as a native born, tax paying, red blooded voting American who loves my country, I have the right to call out my own government's foreign policy, which IMO sucks bigtime, and has done so for at least the past 6 decades.

You are funny. You dont even know history. LOL!.nm - GetReal

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nm

Getreal: You are not funny. This person is - posting the truth about SM

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our foreign policy. BTW, MSNBC is not the source for this information. This "America is never wrong" attitude is disturbing in its utter ignorance of foreign policy history. I am as patriotic as anyone, which is why I wish the truth of our involvement/responsibility in the problems of the middle east would be revealed. You have to acknowledge a problem because you can begin to resolve it. Those with their heads in the sand and refusal to learn the truth will only perpetuate our problems here. How patriotic is that?

Finally a voice of reason. It takes courage to speak unpopular truths. - Well done. sm

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I was wondering if you have heard anyone in leadership (either here or abroad, particularly in the West) showing this kind of insight? When I survey that barren landscape, all I can come up with is a vast wasteland for as far as the eye can see, except for perhaps Dennis (the Menace) Kucinich.

Voice of reason? !! lol. No, more like voice of - bias and hatred.. how nice.nm

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nm

Clearly your sole objective is to - bait and instigate

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in the absence of the ability to support your own posts. Once again, a review of foreign policy history is not an act of hatred. If anyone is displaying raw ignorance and prejudice on this subject, it would be found in these vapid drivebys.

Baloney! ... I think someone is talking to themselves - Please

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This whole conversation started with people being worried about Egyptions and led to someone criticizing the USA, --craziness, but I am not surprised.

What the topic of the Egyptian revolution led to was - sm

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a reality check wherein it became apparent that it is impossible to separate 30 years of oppressive dicatorship from US financial backing of Egypts military and the underpinning hypocrisy of turning a blind eye to the abdominable human rights abuses for the sake of so-called stability in the region. What I dont get is why it is so hard for Americans to admit that no real stability can be achieved in such environments and under such intolerable conditions.

It is not as though this is the first time the US has backed these losers. In fact, we have developed a real knack for allying with or backing autocrats and human rights abusers: The Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein, Musharraf, Karzai, Ben Ali, and King Abdullah just to name a few. Then, of course, there's Israel who, by virtue of their occupation, commit war crimes on a daily basis. Yeah, right. We can all see just how much stability those choices have created.

That there are more than a few folks out there that recognize this is what has ruffled your feathers. FYI, besides myself, there appear to be 3 others who have spoken up in this single thread, like it or not. Makes no difference to me what you think about that, and I will be wasting no more of my time trying to convince you one way or the other. Not my problem that you have such a hard time facing the facts.

Baloney yourself! I posted the reply you are - referring to, and I am SM

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not the person who is trying to educate us on what really goes on with our foreign policy. I have learned quite a bit from her. What is it they say about a closed mind? Anyone here know that quote? Every now and then when I read this board, I actually wonder if some of these ignorant comments are posted just to stir up trouble. When I say igorant, I mean uninformed, uneducated about an issue. It is hard sometimes for me to believe how uninformed some people are.

These arguments are much more convincing - sm

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than the petty sniper fire they have drawn. I do agree with you about American foreign policy. It is time to revamp.

What in sam tarnation are you talking about. - see message

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Your message doesn't even make sense. All I said is the scary part is what happens next. That's because it is and that is what I keep hearing (from a lot of Egyptians themselves). Nobody really knows what is going to happen. Are they going to elect someone who will work for the people and not hoard 70 billion, or will their fate belong to extremists or what? Nobody knows what is going to happen, least of all the Egyptians themselves. This is a great time for the Egyptian people and they have a lot to celebrate with that dictator out. But right now so many things can happen and it's just a very scary time.

What is happening in Egypt has nothing to do with "OUR OWN political process"

The Americans are not "standing by in fear". I think the who world is waiting to find out what will happen now and who will be leading their country. Everyone is concerned as they should be.

Pah-the-tic? That's the message I'm replying to.

Lets keep this simple. - sm

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What is happening in Egypt has everything to do with our political process. We hold ourselves up as beacons of democracy both at home and abroad. Not only am I suggesting that Americans should have faith in that process, but also in the Egyptian people, who have shown the intelligence and capacity to stage a peaceful democratic revolution against nearly insurmountable odds.

At this moment, I do not believe that not knowing what is going to happen is nearly as important as knowing what is NOT going to happen. What will happen is the people will insure that those who gave their lives for this cause did not die in vain. They will have the power of choice where just yesterday there was none. They will seize control over the direction of their own lives by fashioning a system of laws that conveys the freedoms which allow human beings to live with dignity and guard against the abuse of their basic human rights.

They will not be passing a legacy of fear, despair and hopelessness to their children and will no longer be party to acceptance of living their lives out in abject poverty as status quo. While it is true that Egyptians do not know exactly what comes next, they do know there is no going back. It is called progress. Some fear it, other welcome the challenge.

I see the Egyptians as fearless, courageous and confident and I believe they have earned and are deserving of our humble respect. The rest of this garbage about extremists and fear is just more of the endless tired old drivel and impotent propaganda that comes pouring out of our own media outlets. If you want to buy into all that, feel free. I for one look forward to the Egyptians putting these fears to rest and prefer to embrace this moment (along with many, many more around the world) as one that holds much hope and promise. It is nothing more than a question of simple faith.

here's simple - sm

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I believe that the majority of Americans don't have anything against the Egyptians, and I certainly wish them nothing but peace and prosperity in the coming years. I'm hoping it turns out well for the Egyptians and not like Iran.

I'm confused though...what do you mean when you talk about "the rest of this garbage about extremists and fear?" Who's fearful? Fearful of what? What's the "garbage about extremists?" Do you believe there are no extremists who would love to have a say in Egypt? Enlighten me please.

I am sure there are and never said there weren't. - sm

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I am only expressing my own desire to take a leap of faith and believe that Egypt can play a tremendously significant role in diffusing the hold extremists have on the Middle East which, from my own personal experience with the people both here and abroad, is much exaggerated and overplayed in the US media. Ever heard of the addage, the squeakey wheel gets the grease? The media underplays the widespread repression in the region and remains oblivious to the reality of everyday citizens living there. Consequently, those Moslem Arab and Iranians who oppose their repressive leaderships and abhor terrorist activities perpetrated in the name of Islam receive virtually no air time.

I am in awe of how quickly two dictatorial regimes bit the dust behind the desperate act described in the fitting tribute post below about Mohamed Bouazizi and how there seem to be other rumblings in Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and even Iran, whose populations are spoiling for change. The challenges to authority that have happened in those places since Tunisia overthrew President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali have been largely overshadowed by the Egypt story, but nonetheless are very significant. I believe they are indicators that the entire region is ripe for change for the better, not worse, as the US media insists on showcasing. I also believe that democratic reforms in these countries would be the most effective way to diffuse the terrorist networks, flush them out and expose them for the evil they represent.

There is no enlightenment to be had here. These are simply my beliefs and like any others, just because I choose to adopt those as opposed to alternate propositions promoted by the US media does not mean I am not aware of the opposing scenarios. Like I said, it is a question of how I choose to exercise my own faith, nothing more, nothing less.

Our politcal process - givemeabreak

[ In Reply To ..]
Did we hold ourselves up as beacons of democracy here at home with our Native Americans? I don't think so lately. Study your history. What was done to them is an atrocity and inhumane.

We need to clean are own backyards up before butting in someone else's.

Change "Egyptians" to "Native Americans" in your post, then we might have something to discuss.

always be careful what you wish for/nm - holding my breath

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Agree, this is a tedious time...whats next? - Frank

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

The news this morning tells me - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
the Egyptians are not nearly as worried about moving forward with leadership and systemic change as Americans are, at least not until they grieve the loss of the dead, recognize the sacrifice they and their families made for this cause and secure the release of political prisoners who human rights organizations report have been subjected to abuse. Somehow, that seems fitting and appropriate, much more so than anything else coming out of the media at the moment.

I watched in awe this morning as the Egyptians erected THEIR OWN first tangible sign of victory, a towering visible marble monument in the square adjacent to the museum, as a powerful symbolic reminder of what just transpired and at what cost. I suspect things will evolve in accordance with the timetable set by the Street. At this juncture, in the absence of any clear alternatives, it would appear that THAT is the only dialogue available between themselves and the powers that be.

How long that remains the case is anybody's guess, but the pace is not likely to accelerate until the human tragedy, both past and in realtime, has been addressed. This most certainly will entail the public accounting of the personal stories they have to share. In my opinion, no effective party building can take place until they are able to exercise those first most basic rights to freedom of assembly, speech and press.

In terms of the day-to-day operations of the country, at the moment, they are cheerfully sweeping up their own streets, another symbolic gesture that indicates their desire for a fresh clean start along with the sense of pride I suspect we will be seeing a lot of in the days to come. Egyptians ran their own country before. They will return to work when they are ready to do so, can assume their individual roles and perform their various tasks without guidance from the authorities as well. They are now free to take it as it comes, day by day. I look for them to begin by restoring basic human services, such as securing provisions like food, medical care and the like and facilitating an orderly transition back into ordinary life BEFORE tackling the challenges of government and political process. One thing is certain. They can all sleep better at night, a small and mundane victory to be sure for those watching from the outside in.

Hats off to the Swiss once again, who have taken it upon themselves to freeze Mobarak's assets. Returning that 70 billion bucks back to where it belongs will more than adequately cover the loss of revenues generated in these past 18 days. In other words, a steady, deliberate, thoughtful march into the future with the Egyptian people at the helm is what is next, which is as it should be.

A fitting tribute to the man whose desperate act ignited - democratic spirit across the region.

[ In Reply To ..]
Mohammed Bouaziz. Not a politician, world leader or reknown diplomat, but a simple Tunisian fruit vendor trying to feed his family, who inadverntently inspired such courage in Tunisians and Egyptians, to seize the moment and do the unthinkable. How ironic that Iranians turning out in state sponsored propaganda-driven demonstrations celebrating the founding of the Islamic Republic have been upstaged from this day forward by a grass-roots democratic revolution in Egypt. Here's hoping this will embolden the Green Movement to close that chapter once and for all. God bless the Egyptian people whose time has finally come to pass.

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