A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Kleptocracy on the run in Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen and Lebanon...

Posted: Jan 28, 2011

May the demise of institutionalized greed and corruption be swift and final and the movements it inspires reach every corner of the globe.

;

While I don't agree with the dictatorship - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
in Egypt.....there is a much scarier factor in play here. What if the Muslim Brotherhood seizes power? I understand that Hosni Mubarak has done little to improve the standard of living in Egypt and I can sympathize with the country's frustration. However, the Muslim Brotherhood are jihadists who hate America and they will help Al Qaeda. That is NOT good for America.

The more news I watch and read about this - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I can't help but be nervous. Obama is definitely in a tough position on this one. Continue to support a dictator as we have in the past....or take a chance to see if this Muslim groups takes over power of Egypt.

The thing I find rather ironic is that they are protesting against a dictator and yet what do they think they will get if this Muslim Brotherhood takes over...freedom? Sounds to me like they could go from bad to worse.

I can't help but wonder if we aren't looking at the beginning of World War III. Truly scary!

Not much is known about the status of various - political parties in Egypt....

[ In Reply To ..]
on account of 30 years of fascist repression under Mubarak, particularly of religion-based groups, which are currently banned under the Egyptian Constitution. Shades of the Pahlavi regime in Iran. Do you remember the role the US played in propping him up after The CIA engineered the coup that ousted Iran's first DEMOCRATICALLY elected secular nationalist president, Mossadegh? That is the same kind of political repression under the Shah that we now see under Mubarak that fueled the martyrdom of Khomeini while he was in exile, allowed his populist appeal to become more entrenched and ultimately paved the way for the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

As near as I can tell, there are at least 24 distinct political parties in Egypt, 10 of which advocate Islamic law, and 14 of which are basically secular. A vast matjority of all parties have socialist platforms. One can only hope that outside interference will not cause this movement to be highjacked by regional conservative Islamic forces. That said, it would be utter folly to suggest that Islamic parties have no legitimate place in a democratically elected representative government in Egypt.

At this point in time, the best thing Americans can do is to keep their mouths shut, allow the process to run its course and pray that secular forces will prevail when it comes time to cobble out a new constitution.

I never suggested that - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Islamic parties have no legitimate place in a democratically elected representative government in Egypt. I merely stated that it is concerning to me if those sympathetic to Jihadists became a majority in Egypt's government. I know there is nothing I can do about it either way. If it is going to happen, it will. That doesn't mean I can't be concerned about it.

Agreed. - However

[ In Reply To ..]
it is not a foregone conclusion that all Islamic political parties in Egypt or anywhere else in the region are sympathetic to Jihadists and support terrorism. The time has come for the US to step back and take a long, hard look at its failed policies in the Middle East and the sobering results we now see. The anger and hatred expressed there toward us has been festering for more than 6 decades.

In the interim we have seen the fall of royal dynasties, the establishment of a Jewish state, the deconstruction of Western colonialism, the demise of secular Arab nationalism, the toppling of dictators, the crowning of oil as king with its attendant civil, regional and international turf wars, the arms build-up that threatens to go nuclear and the backlash marked by the rise of Islamic fanaticism and international terrorism. It is imperative that we recognize the part the US has played over the years in all of this and OWN responsibility for it before proceeding into the uncharted waters of diplomatic relations in the Middle East where foreign interests take a back seat to the will of its own populations.

Earth to sm. This is not about what is best for America. It is about - the reality of pure democratic process and

[ In Reply To ..]
basic human rights. It is about the hopelessness of decades of repression, false imprisionment and torture (much the same as occurred under the Shah\'s regime in Iran, another favorite US puppet dictator), not to mention the greed and utter corruption that underpins the unequal distribution of wealth that has led to abject poverty, lack of jobs and the inability of the majority of the population to establish even the most basic elements of an acceptable standard of living.

Hello. We are not in charge of determining the form of government or installing the leadership of OUR choosing in Egypt or any other country. Looks like we still have not yet learned our lessons in the Middle East with regard to the arrogance of our interference therein, despite the fact that our worst nightmares are still being played out in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and now Egypt.

I have to wonder. Since when is freedom of speech and press, an open party system, free and fair elections and democratically elected representation in conflict American interests? Are these rights and privileges reserved only for those populations who subjugate themselves to carrying out our bidding and are willing to fall in line with US mandates?

Why are you getting on me for simply - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
stating my concerns? Can we Americans control what goes on in Egypt? Of course not and I never said that we should. My point is that even though I don't think what is going on in Egypt with their government is right...I can't help but fear what might take its place. If Muslims take over who are sympathetic to Jihadists, that could be a SERIOUS problem and concern for Americans. I know we cannot control the outcome of all of us, but I am not wrong when I say I am concerned.

I am just amazed that you assumed I wanted the US to take control and determine what happens in Egypt just because I said I was concerned...wow. I said nothing of the sort. I'm worried...that is all.

So Earth to whoever the heck you are....get off my back.

I see no place in the previous post where - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
your right to worry has been reproached or any assumptions have been made about you personally. What I see is a post that points out the common thread between the Iranian revolution and the current uprising in Egypt, that being US backing of puppet regimes aimed at securing American interests in the region with a sustained and pronounced disregard of the human rights and dignity of Arab and Iranian citizens. It points out that the same approach has been played out in a variety of ways in Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. I would add occupied Palestine to that group. Finally, I see an extremely interesting rhetorical question posed in closing that remains unanswered with regard to democracy in the Middle East.

Now that you have launched such an adamant personal defense, maybe you could take a stab at addressing the chaging roles the US MUST consider, now that democracy appears to be breaking out all over the Moslem world.

Funny thing about democracy. Reminds me of - Forrest Gump and

[ In Reply To ..]
his box of chocolates. Once you open it up, you never know what you are going to get.

Perhaps you should do some - .....

[ In Reply To ..]
research on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

The information below was copied from wikipedia.

"The history of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt following its founding in 1928 has been one of huge growth followed by successive government crackdowns. Both royal and nationalist Egyptian governments suppressed the Brotherhood in 1948, 1954, 1965 after plots, or alleged plots, of assassination and overthrow were uncovered. Periodic suppressions have continued even after the Brotherhood officially renounced violence in the 1970s. Today it is illegal but tolerated as Egypt's most popular and powerful non-governmental organization."

"Anwar Sadat became president of Egypt in 1970 and gradually released imprisoned Brothers and enlisted their help against leftist groups. Since then, the organisation has been tolerated to an extent, but remains technically illegal and is subjected to periodic crackdowns.

In the 1970s, a large student Islamic activist movement took shape, independently from the Brotherhood. Sadat himself became the enemy of the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups after signing a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, and was assassinated by a violent Islamist group Tanzim al-Jihad on October 6, 1981.

In the 1980s, during Hosni Mubarak's presidency, many of the student Islamist activists joined the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood now dominates the professional and student associations of Egypt and is famous for its network of social services in neighborhoods and villages.[6] In order to quell the Brotherhood's renewed influence, the government again resorted to repressive measures starting in 1992. Despite mass arrests, police harassment and an essentially closed political system, Brotherhood candidates have made strong showings in several parliamentary elections. In the past decade, the Brotherhood has made repeated calls for a more democratic political system, and in 2005 it participated in pro-democracy demonstrations with the Kifaya movement.

In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood's candidates, who can only stand as independents, won 88 seats (20% of the total) to form the largest opposition bloc, despite many violations of the electoral process, including the arrest of hundreds of Brotherhood members. Meanwhile, the legally approved opposition parties won only 14 seats."

I don't believe anyone on this board would support the oppression that the Egyptian people have had to endure under this current dictator. However, there is a bigger concern. Let us look at what happened in Iraq with Sadam Hussein. A dictator who oppressed his people and needed to be ousted. When Hussein was in charge, terrorists stayed out of his country or they stayed quiet because Sadam would kill them. Once Hussein was out of the way, Islamic extremist terrorists freely entered the country and did as they pleased. So there is reason to be concerned if the Muslim Brotherhood would happen to infiltrate more of Egypt's government as they are Jihadists.

As an American..that is troubling to say the least. The last thing we need as another country run by Jihadists who want to wipe Israel and the US off the map entirely. Granted, there is nothing we can do about this and we will just have to hope and pray that the Muslim Brotherhood does not take this opportunity of crisis in Egypt to take over....but the very thought of that happening is very troubling.

The rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic fundamentalism - did not happen in a vacuum.

[ In Reply To ..]
Perhaps you should bone up on how historical events relative to interference from the West have contributed to the empowerment of Islamic fanaticism. If quote the last thing we need is another country run by Jihadists who want to wipe Israel and the US of the map entirely, unquote, maybe this would be a good time to pause and reflect on the obvious failures of US policies in the Middle East.

I do not agree that there is nothing we can do about this. We could start by withdrawing financial support (we can no longer afford to sustain) that props up puppet regimes in the Middle East who repress healthy democratic political process, violate the human rights of its less privileged citizens, siphon off the wealth generated from their natural resources, plunge large majorities of their populations into abysmal poverty and crush the hopes for the future of their youth. We could lead by example in terms of human rights by cutting Israels apron strings and let her sink or swim. The time is ripe for the occupation of Palestine to end along with the suppression and attempted annihilation of that population, both within the borders Israel/Palestine proper as well as those living in the diaspora.

Why not provide the link to the full article? - You left out a few things.

[ In Reply To ..]
Such as:

After the attempted assassination of Gamal 'Abd al-Nasser, in 1954, a member of the secret apparatus was accused by the authorities of being the perpetrator of the attempt. Nasser then abolished the Brotherhood and imprisoned and punished thousands of its members.

Many members of the Brotherhood were held for years IN PRISONS AND CONCNTATION CAMPS, where they were sometimes TORTURED, during Nasser's rule. In 1964 there was a minor thaw when celebrated writer Sayyid Qutb was released from prison only to be arrested again along with his brother Muhammad in August 1965. Sayyid Qutb, became the Brotherhood's most influential thinker. He argued that Muslim society was no longer Islamic and must be transformed by an Islamic vanguard through violent revolution. To restore Islam from modern jahiliyya Muslim states must be overthrown. Qutb was sentenced to death and executed in 1966.

While Qutb's ideology became very popular elsewhere, IN EGYPT, the Brotherhood's leadership distanced itself from his revolutionary ideology, adhering instead to a NONVIOLENT REFOMIST STRATEGY, to which it has remained ever since.

Within that context, these two paragraphs which you did include take on an entirely different meaning:

In the 1980s, during Hosni Mubarak's presidency, many of the student Islamist activists joined the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood now dominates the professional and student associations of Egypt and is famous for its network of social services in neighborhoods and villages.[6] In order to quell the Brotherhood's renewed influence, the government again resorted to repressive measures starting in 1992. Despite mass arrests, police harassment and an essentially closed political system, Brotherhood candidates have made strong showings in several parliamentary elections. In the past decade, the Brotherhood has made repeated calls for a more democratic political system, and in 2005 it participated in pro-democracy demonstrations with the Kifaya movement.

In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood's candidates, who can only stand as independents, won 88 seats (20% of the total) to form the largest opposition bloc, despite many violations of the electoral process, including the arrest of hundreds of Brotherhood members. Meanwhile, the legally approved opposition parties won only 14 seats."

Finally, why omit this sentence from the paragraph about the 2005 parlimentary elections?

This revived the debate within the Egyptian political elite about whether the Brotherhood should remain banned.[citation needed] Since 2007 the party has reportedly been weakened by government jailings and regulations and by "missteps" that have alienated "many Egyptians".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Muslim_Brotherhood_in_Egypt

Wiki did not mention that Mubarak eliminated - those 88 parlimentary seats

[ In Reply To ..]
won in the 2005 election by the Muslim Brotherhood reps in last fall's blatently rigged elections.

See paragaph 11 in this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/world/middleeast/31opposition.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Disturbing video on the Muslim - Brotherhood

[ In Reply To ..]
Just in case some of you still don't get why some Americans are concerned if this group should take over power in Egypt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp4yHd0tCRQ

You cite a Zionist propaganda piece with Speedy 2554 - as it source and

[ In Reply To ..]
expect to be taken seriously? Reality check: Wahhabi Islam continues to be the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia in realtime, yet that has not prevented the US and Saudi Arabia from establishing and maintaining strong diplomatic ties since 1933, despite numerous setbacks over the years, including the 9/11 attacks by 15 out of 19 Saudi nationals.

So what do you suppose is up with that?

Add Yemen to that list where democracy challenges - status quo oppression.

[ In Reply To ..]
Fueled by the youth, emboldend by the courage of their Arab neighbors.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/30/us-sudan-referendum-idUSTRE70T0G820110130

Correction: Sudan as well as Yemen. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Similar Messages:

Feb 16, 2011
Go Wisconsin! What is happening in your state? Apparently, the MSM does not seem to be covering much of this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUlZe8nQUA0 ...

Jan 19, 2013
Hostages reportedly killed as Algerian desert standoff ends View Photo Gallery — Freed hostages from Algeria crisis: Survivors of one of the largest hostage crises in recent memory began recounting their ordeal, which began Wednesday when Islamist militants took over a natural gas facility in Algeria. Text Size Print E-mail Reprints By Anthony Faiola and Michael Birnbaum, Updated: Saturday, January 19, ...

May 19, 2011
What exactly is he trying to do here? Is he embracing the Arab countries? Does he want to rule the world? Why should we be so involved with the rest of the Arab world since they hate us so much? Why doesn't he worry about THIS country first? You tell me. At the US State Department in Washington, DC, President Obama delivered what the White House billed as a major address on what role the US should play in the post-“Arab Spring” world, in which he pledg ...

Dec 31, 2009
I don't know how many people see the news at night but this is a very interesting video. I think the US is in for a very bad time in 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9447123 ...

Nov 29, 2009
ADEN, YEMEN -- Two years ago, Mohsin al-Askari was released from his prison cell at Guantanamo Bay, but he has found neither freedom nor a new life in his homeland. Potential employers are afraid to hire him. At 28, he depends on his father for financial support, charities for medical care. With each rejection, his frustration grows, as does the temptation to return to his old life of jihad. "The government hasn't done anything to help me," said Askari, his voice filled with bitterness. ...

Mar 26, 2015
Houthi warn of "wide war". Warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies struck Shi'ite Muslim rebels fighting to oust Yemen's president on Thursday, a gamble by the world's top oil exporter to check Iranian influence in its backyard without direct military backing from Washington. Riyadh's rival Iran denounced the assault on the Houthi militia group, which it backs, and made clear the kingdom's deployment of a Sunni coalition against Shi'ite enemies would complica ...

Dec 01, 2012
The Associated Press Published Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 10:26AM EST SANAA, Yemen -- Yemen's Interior Ministry says police have arrested an al Qaeda leader who is one of the country's most wanted fugitives. The ministry, in a statement late Friday, said Suleiman Hassan Mohammed Murshed Awad was arrested in Zinjibar, the capital of southern Abyan province, once an al Qaeda hotbed. It did not say when he was arrested. Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/yemen-claim ...

Dec 28, 2009
(I personally think this is crazy talk. Al Qaeda is in a LOT of countries, probably including the USA. Does that mean we should launch a "preemptive attack" on ourselves? War mongers cry poor when it comes to healthcare for Americans, but they always seem to have enough money for wars. I have to wonder if any of this has to do with Lieberman having dual citizenship with Israel, and I wonder where his loyalty truly lies.) By Stephen C. WebsterSunday, December 27th, 2009 -- 8:24 pm Speaking on F ...

Dec 29, 2009
This is old news and if it was posted before, forgive me. It does prove that those released from Gitmo went right back to their terrorist organization. Yemen arrests al Qaeda member once held at Gitmo * Yemen authorities have arrested and extradited a Saudi man who rejoined al Qaeda after he was released from the U.S. military’s detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Yemen’s embassy in the United States announced the arrest of Mohamma ...

Mar 18, 2015
The ongoing unrest that forced the United States to close its embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, last month also has caused Pentagon officials to admit that they’ve lost track of $500 million in military equipment, including helicopters, Humvees and ammunition, that it donated to the country, The Washington Post reports. U.S. officials told the newspaper that they fear the “small arms, ammunition, night-vision goggles, patrol boats, vehicles and other supplies” may have s ...

Jun 21, 2017
. ...

Aug 06, 2013
nm ...

Apr 07, 2015
. ...

Jan 31, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/30/egypt-revolution-2011_n_816026.html I don't know a whole lot about the issues in this case. This seems to be a good link for getting an overall picture of the situation. ...

Jul 03, 2013
Morsi is no longer president. I can't type fast enough to give military's statement so you'll just have to wait and see what the news states.Wonder how Obama feels about this. After all, he backed Morsi during the elections. ...

Jul 03, 2013
Look at this link. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-02/guest-post-egyptians-love-us-our-freedom Please see these photos. Warning from Egypt. ...

Jan 23, 2014
...

Apr 08, 2015
Intervention by the U.S. and Iran in Yemen is raising the prospect of a proxy war even as the Obama administration tries to reach a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic – with Iran sending two ships to waters near Yemen, as the U.S. speeds up military aid to the Saudi-led coalition striking Tehran-backed rebels there. Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV quoted Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari as saying the ships, dispatched for the Gulf of Aden, would be part of an ...

Mar 02, 2011
Is Democracy Viable? By Thomas Sowell Those who see hope in the Middle East uprisings seem to assume that they will lead in the direction of freedom or democracy. There is already talk about the "liberation" of Egypt, even though the biggest change there has been that a one-man dictatorship has been replaced by a military dictatorship that has suspended the constitution. Perhaps the military dictatorship will be temporary, as its leaders say, but we have heard that song before. What ...

Jan 30, 2011
x ...

Sep 12, 2012
"might be planning to attack free speech in the U.S. by using international “justice” against us. He has reportedly asked the U.S. to go after the filmmakers of the inconsequential anti-Mohammed film trailer, The Prophet.* Moreover, he has allegedly said he plans to sue us under international law." Um...why are we still giving money to these A-holes? I do not understand why we continue to give financial support to people who obviously dislike us!! We helped get rid ...

Sep 14, 2012
What an idiot. ...

Sep 19, 2012
Egypt's general prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant for eight Americans in relation to the anti-Muslim film that has sparked worldwide protests. While it's not entirely clear who made the The Innocence of Muslims, a Coptic Christian from California named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula has admitted having a role in the film's making. Still, reports the BBC, Egypt has issued an arrest warrant against Nakoula, six other American-based Coptic Christians and the Quran-bu ...

Mar 05, 2013
In part: The Obama administration is facing criticism for giving $250 million in aid to Egypt while saying the recent sequester has forced drastic cutbacks elsewhere in the budget -- including forcing the release of "low-priority" illegal immigrants from jail. "With sequestration forcing our nation to face billions of dollars in cuts across the government, it is unfathomable that the administration would send funds unconditionally to the Muslim Brotherhood-led government," Republican Rep. ...

Apr 13, 2017
I doubt you'll hear about this from the mad cow or the goons at FNN. May God bless Egypt and all her people. ...

May 26, 2017
CAIRO - Masked gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians south of the Egyptian capital on Friday, killing at least 26 people, including children, and wounding 25, officials said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which came on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The assault happened while the bus was traveling on the road to Saint Samuel the Confessor Monastery in Maghagha, in the Minya governorate, about 220 kilometers (140 miles) south of ...

Dec 28, 2016
Prior to the UN Security Council vote on anti-Israeli settlement resolution 2334, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with a Palestinian delegation in early December in Washington to discuss the draft, agreeing to cooperate, according to transcripts released by Egyptian daily Al-Youm Al-Saba'a. According to the report, Kerry along with US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, met with Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erkat and Majed Faraj, head of the Palestinian Au ...

Apr 05, 2015
Schiff says Al Qaeda having 'resurgence' amid Yemen chaos http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/05/schiff-questions-white-house-policy-on-yemen-say-al-qaeda-have-resurgence/ Schiff says Al Qaeda having 'resurgence' amid Yemen chaos http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/05/schiff-questions-white-house-policy-on-yemen-say-al-qaeda-have-resurgence/ ...