Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt .......... Jordan

[ShallowsNole]

It's like dominoes!

Egypt is getting the most press, but protests and government changes are happening all over.

Who will be next? And what is the end result of all this going to be?

Hopefully, not another dictatorship.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Lots of chatter online about a protest planned in Iran on Monday. Wonder what it will bring?

Most likely bloodshed...

"By announcing that they will not allow opposition protests, the Iranian government has declared illegal for Iranians what it claimed was noble for Egyptians," National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said in a statement released by the White House on Saturday.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Most likely bloodshed...

I was afraid of that, but I don't think it will stop them this time.

 

[GoodWitch58]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/opinion/13kristof.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

It?s a new day in the Arab world ? and, let?s hope, in American relations to the Arab world.

The truth is that the United States has been behind the curve not only in Tunisia and Egypt for the last few weeks, but in the entire Middle East for decades. We supported corrupt autocrats as long as they kept oil flowing and weren?t too aggressive toward Israel. Even in the last month, we sometimes seemed as out of touch with the region?s youth as a Ben Ali or a Mubarak.

Kristof and his wife are experts in this area--and I think he makes some good points here.
I am puzzled why the conservative folks--especially the neo-conservative ones who supported the Iraq war, seem not to be supportive of the call for democracy in Egypt....

 

[BeachSiO2]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/opinion/13kristof.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

Kristof and his wife are experts in this area--and I think he makes some good points here.
I am puzzled why the conservative folks--especially the neo-conservative ones who supported the Iraq war, seem not to be supportive of the call for democracy in Egypt....

Not all are. When I think of neocons, Bill Kristol is one of the first ones who pop to mind,

Stand for Freedom | The Weekly Standard

 

[Lynnie]

If 2012 is the Apocalypse, I most definitely won't be doing anything practical and productive this year.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Not all are. When I think of neocons, Bill Kristol is one of the first ones who pop to mind,

Stand for Freedom | The Weekly Standard

Thanks. I had not read that, but I did hear him saying pretty much the same thing in an interview...I guess I tend to view him as conservative, but not irrational...so, I was thinking of the more "outrageous" voices. (guess I answered my own question).

Thanks for posting this.

So, I wonder do the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions demonstrate w/out doubt, the "hearts and minds" argument...wonder what would happen if instead of sending our military to Afghanistan, we instead, took half the money that costs and gave it to Greg Mortenson (www.ikat.org) for his schools--and the other half to some American company to go in and install Internet Service in the country...perhaps the Afghan young people would behave much the same way as the Egyptians and the Tunisian youth...wonder if anyone in our diplomatic and defense arenas are giving any thought to that idea...it would be good for world peace; good for Afghanis and good for U. S. economy....

 

[DuneAHH]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/opinion/13kristof.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

Kristof and his wife are experts in this area--and I think he makes some good points here.
I am puzzled why the conservative folks--especially the neo-conservative ones who supported the Iraq war, seem not to be supportive of the call for democracy in Egypt....

I like the below excerpt from the article (highlights mine). I would add that a transformation of intelligence analyses from the Cold War Era "gotcha/we win" power mentality to an honest, openly engaged, understanding of "what the people are really saying" approach could go a long ways towards actualization of a new paradigm in Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness... even in our own country.

2.) We need better intelligence, the kind that is derived not from intercepting a president?s phone calls to his mistress but from hanging out with the powerless. After the 1979 Iranian revolution, there was a painful post-mortem about why the intelligence community missed so many signals, and I think we need the same today.

Glenda, for consideration re: your puzzlement...

I have found that what my father (a very vocal & politically involved conservative) DOES NOT VOCALIZE is as meaningfully important to hear & understand as what he does vocalize.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Commentary: Time to shut up | McClatchy

But this is the 21st Century and they know all about us. They listen to the BBC in Arabic and the somewhat exaggerated version of Western life in Al Jazeera. What they unfortunately lack in the Middle East today is the Arabic version of the Voice of America.

Guess what folks ? in the middle of the greatest crisis in the Arab-Western relations following 9/11, the U.S. government stopped funding VOA in Arabic. Instead, the State Department decided to fund a Western pop music station ? Radio Sawa ? which gave a few news bulletins on the hour.

So we added cultural imperialism to the disrespect of eliminating one of the Arab world?s most trusted media ? VOA in Arabic.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/13/108505/commentary-time-to-shut-up.html#ixzz1DtHxTbKY

It is time to reduce the American footprint and mouth print in the wide world. We can do more for developing countries with authoritarian rulers by opening our country to trade, commerce, student exchanges and media without the hectoring tone of official diplomacy.

The most damaging phrase I recall in more than 20 years covering the State Department for a variety of newspapers is: ?they know what they have to do.? As if we have given them an assignment in school and we aren?t even going to explain it ? it is so obvious.

There is nothing wrong with voicing support and admiration to the brave, spirited and decent people demonstrating for democracy in Tahrir Square. Nor is there anything wrong with counseling Egyptian military and civilian leaders to take the high path of non-violence and to at least listen to the voices calling for change.

But we must stop threatening to cut off assistance unless they do what we tell them to do. If these countries are worthy of our trust and capable of operating a democracy ? with all its inflamed passions, threats, tensions, confrontations and struggles ? then we must step back and let them craft a bond between society and its power points that is suitable for them.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/13/108505/commentary-time-to-shut-up.html#ixzz1DtIYeCtW

another interesting point of view from one who has years of experience in the area...

 

[GoodWitch58]

Not all are. When I think of neocons, Bill Kristol is one of the first ones who pop to mind,

Stand for Freedom | The Weekly Standard

and there is also this: Boehner breaks with most in GOP, praises Obama over Egypt | McClatchy

House Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday he thinks the Obama administration handled "a very difficult situation" in Egypt about as well as possible, undercutting potential Republican presidential candidates who have charged that President Barack Obama botched the U.S. response to a popular revolt against a key ally.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/13/108659/boehner-breaks-with-most-in-gop.html#ixzz1Dw5qTNsg