Showing posts with label Egypt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Egypt. Show all posts
Monday, December 3, 2012
If Only If Only If Only...
'...the Left and its comrades in the press would express even twenty percent of the outrage about the dictatorship now forming in Egypt as they did about Todd Akins ill-informed view of gynecology, Mitt Romney's wealth, and NFL referees--we might have a chance of the entire Middle east not blowing up just now.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Daniel Eisenbud On Why Israel Survives As The World Around Burns
OS has always marveled at the Israelis. He's never been there, but has encountered a few along the way, survivors or children of survivors of the worst the twentieth century could conjure up against them, and yet here they are. They create artists like Perlman, orchestras like Israel Philharmonic, they develop the technology that make cell phones possible, they make the desert bloom, they have a free press, and democratic elections, and it all looks chaotic. Yet compared to Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Libya--need we continue?
On the way to somewhere else entirely, OS ran across this essay by Daniel Eisenbud at the Jerusalem Post. It's an unusual piece, actually, detailing the difference between those Israelis who will not give in to the hatred that assails them, and those who do. And, in thinking about it, OS has met a few of both Eisenbud describes.
While Israelis – the vast majority of whom have served in the military – are acutely aware of the murderous hatred that tries to permeate our borders day after day, second after second, they also know from experience that giving in to the hate is a fool’s errand.
CONVERSELY, THE most jarring hatred I have encountered since moving to this country a year and half ago – apart, of course, from that of terrorists – may also surprise you.
On the way to somewhere else entirely, OS ran across this essay by Daniel Eisenbud at the Jerusalem Post. It's an unusual piece, actually, detailing the difference between those Israelis who will not give in to the hatred that assails them, and those who do. And, in thinking about it, OS has met a few of both Eisenbud describes.
While Israelis – the vast majority of whom have served in the military – are acutely aware of the murderous hatred that tries to permeate our borders day after day, second after second, they also know from experience that giving in to the hate is a fool’s errand.
Indeed, I have found that the common denominator among Sabras is their majestic ability to rise above the odium that surrounds them and attempts to consume them.
It’s beautiful, and humbling, to behold.
CONVERSELY, THE most jarring hatred I have encountered since moving to this country a year and half ago – apart, of course, from that of terrorists – may also surprise you.
It comes from the nefarious breed of Jewish immigrant who comes already filled with rage, and the mistaken belief that Israel is somehow an acceptable venue for their hate because of the copious amounts surrounding it.
To which OS must regretfully add--yes, you do have that correct as well. OS knows a family like that, preparing to move to Israel. The mother of the family quite seriously believes, for instance, that it would be a good thing for every Iranian to be wiped from the face of the earth.
Seriously. Not making this up. It would not surprise the reader to hear that this family is seriously non-functional, would it? Rather like the Arab societies that surround Israel, consumed by their own rage at Israel, history, one another, themselves. Eisenbud is urging them to stay home, because Israel already has enough problems without them.
OS will stop now, because Eisenbud knows how to write, and you should read what he has to say.
In these perilous days, he offers wisdom.
Friday, September 9, 2011
While The World Chatters About Obama And Greece, Israel's Credit Rating Goes UP
It's too good not to mention on a Friday.
The news is full of Greece's meltdown--how'd you like to have to borrow money at 80% interest for one year, just to keep the lights on?
Lots of chatter about Himself, including this bit from Doug Mataconis, who is no fire-breathing conservative.
The mosques in Syria will conclude services in a few minutes, and the bloodshed will pick up where it left off last Friday after prayers and wing-nut sermons, and more mothers will bury more of their children on Sunday. Nothing new here.
Libya is now being divided up amongst its various tribal warlords, including some very interesting-looking jihadist types. Are we surprised? Egypt is choatic, no news here. Gold is spiking, as is silver, but OS has decided to get out of the way of all the oncoming freight trains proceeding through the tunnel in his direction.
The world is so busy chattering about the turmoil, that they will barely notice this nugget of good news. The logical question is, of course, 'What are the Israelis doing right that we aren't?' it's a dangerous question, but it is the logical question.
The weather is lovely. The migration of mourning doves from points north has begun, and OS is cheerily leaving them cracked corn in abundance, to welcome them back. There is a very nice roosting area on an abandoned farm property behind OS's house, and ponds, and gravel roads for craw.
OS played a fun round with an old friend at an unfamiliar course yesterday. Luckily, his order of new golf balls was in his mailbox when he returned home. It's the weekend. OS has time, Mrs. OS, a few things to get done, and an immense sense of gratitude for his life. He will be looking for Israeli bond funds during the day, though.
International credit rating agency Standard & Poor's announced on Friday that it has raised Israel's credit rating from A to A+. The company said that the decision reflects the government's responsible economic policy. Company officials said they do not believe the national budget will explode despite the mass social justice protests demanding reformed economic policies. Standard & Poor's is the same company which, in August, lowered the credit rating of the United States.
The news is full of Greece's meltdown--how'd you like to have to borrow money at 80% interest for one year, just to keep the lights on?
Lots of chatter about Himself, including this bit from Doug Mataconis, who is no fire-breathing conservative.
The mosques in Syria will conclude services in a few minutes, and the bloodshed will pick up where it left off last Friday after prayers and wing-nut sermons, and more mothers will bury more of their children on Sunday. Nothing new here.
Libya is now being divided up amongst its various tribal warlords, including some very interesting-looking jihadist types. Are we surprised? Egypt is choatic, no news here. Gold is spiking, as is silver, but OS has decided to get out of the way of all the oncoming freight trains proceeding through the tunnel in his direction.
The world is so busy chattering about the turmoil, that they will barely notice this nugget of good news. The logical question is, of course, 'What are the Israelis doing right that we aren't?' it's a dangerous question, but it is the logical question.
The weather is lovely. The migration of mourning doves from points north has begun, and OS is cheerily leaving them cracked corn in abundance, to welcome them back. There is a very nice roosting area on an abandoned farm property behind OS's house, and ponds, and gravel roads for craw.
OS played a fun round with an old friend at an unfamiliar course yesterday. Luckily, his order of new golf balls was in his mailbox when he returned home. It's the weekend. OS has time, Mrs. OS, a few things to get done, and an immense sense of gratitude for his life. He will be looking for Israeli bond funds during the day, though.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Why Our Refusal To Drill And Refine Our Own Oil, Mine Our Own Coal, Build Our Nuclear Plants, Etc. Will Come To Haunt Us...
...sooner, rather than later.
Bloomberg on oil futures overnight...
The US made a cultural decision to not develop its own resources.
This will have economic consequences.
OS's masthead idea holds true. When we begin to make better choices as a culture, we will do better as an economy.
Not until then.
Bloomberg on oil futures overnight...
The US made a cultural decision to not develop its own resources.
This will have economic consequences.
OS's masthead idea holds true. When we begin to make better choices as a culture, we will do better as an economy.
Not until then.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ron Paul On Egypt: Our Thirty-Year Mistake
OS is not a total Ron Paul fan, but does get the newsletter his office emails.
Today, Ron Paul cut through the confusion on Egypt with this brief essay.
The US government has sent more than $60 billion to the Egyptian regime since the Camp David Accords in 1978 to purchase stability, including more security for the state of Israel. We see now the folly of our interventionist foreign policy: not only has that stability fallen to pieces with the current unrest, but the years of propping up the corrupt regime in Egypt has led the people to increase their resentment of both America and Israel! We are both worse off for decades of intervention into Egypt’s internal affairs. I wish I could say that we have learned our lesson and will no longer attempt to purchase – or rent – friends in the Middle East, but I am afraid that is being too optimistic. Already we see evidence that while the US historically propped up the Egyptian regime, we also provided assistance to groups opposed to the regime.
So we have lost the credibility to claim today that we support the self-determination of the Egyptian people. Our double dealing has not endeared us to Egyptians who now seek to reclaim their independence and national dignity.
It is distressing to see the reports of the secret police brutalizing and killing any and all who in any manner may shed light on the regime.
It is maddening to know we paid for it to happen, and that the folks in the streets know we paid for it.
What they don't know is that most of that money was spent out of our sight, because our Congress was asleep at the wheel.
Today, Ron Paul cut through the confusion on Egypt with this brief essay.
The US government has sent more than $60 billion to the Egyptian regime since the Camp David Accords in 1978 to purchase stability, including more security for the state of Israel. We see now the folly of our interventionist foreign policy: not only has that stability fallen to pieces with the current unrest, but the years of propping up the corrupt regime in Egypt has led the people to increase their resentment of both America and Israel! We are both worse off for decades of intervention into Egypt’s internal affairs. I wish I could say that we have learned our lesson and will no longer attempt to purchase – or rent – friends in the Middle East, but I am afraid that is being too optimistic. Already we see evidence that while the US historically propped up the Egyptian regime, we also provided assistance to groups opposed to the regime.
So we have lost the credibility to claim today that we support the self-determination of the Egyptian people. Our double dealing has not endeared us to Egyptians who now seek to reclaim their independence and national dignity.
It is distressing to see the reports of the secret police brutalizing and killing any and all who in any manner may shed light on the regime.
It is maddening to know we paid for it to happen, and that the folks in the streets know we paid for it.
What they don't know is that most of that money was spent out of our sight, because our Congress was asleep at the wheel.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Mubarak's Thugs: Thugz-Iz-Thugz, Wherever You Go
Funny, how common it is for dictators of all stripes, from Castro to Mubarak, to empty the jails and pay thugs to thug on their behalf, when push comes to shove.
This from France24.
Mohamed Abd Elatty is a freelance journalist and blogger in Cairo. He filmed this man's confession.
During the clashes on Wednesday, when anti-government demonstrators managed to catch Mubarak supporters, they disarmed them and handed them over to soldiers Late in the evening, I approached a group of protesters that had detained several baltgia militiamen, and asked the pro-Mubarak men if they would agree to be filmed explaining what their motivations were, because there are a lot of rumours going around on the subject. This young man was the only one who accepted.
He told me that he came from Alexandria and had been arrested – wrongfully, according to him – for drug trafficking. While he was in jail awaiting trial, a policeman reportedly came to see him and around 30 other prisoners and offered them each 5,000 Egyptian pounds if they accepted to participate in pro-Mubarak protests in Cairo. Unlike the other men he was with when protesters captured him on Wednesday, he didn’t have an ID card on him, which makes sense if he was a prisoner.
Another interesting point is that he claims to be from Alexandria. Right now, transportation between Egyptian cities is so bad that he can only have been brought by a government vehicle. In fact, most of the pro-Mubarak protesters that were arrested were unemployed men from outside Cairo: how did they all make it to Tahrir square?
A good question, indeed.
BTW, OS's Friend-of-Friend journalist made it safely out of Egypt and back to Europe.
Away from the thugs.
This from France24.
Mohamed Abd Elatty is a freelance journalist and blogger in Cairo. He filmed this man's confession.
During the clashes on Wednesday, when anti-government demonstrators managed to catch Mubarak supporters, they disarmed them and handed them over to soldiers Late in the evening, I approached a group of protesters that had detained several baltgia militiamen, and asked the pro-Mubarak men if they would agree to be filmed explaining what their motivations were, because there are a lot of rumours going around on the subject. This young man was the only one who accepted.
He told me that he came from Alexandria and had been arrested – wrongfully, according to him – for drug trafficking. While he was in jail awaiting trial, a policeman reportedly came to see him and around 30 other prisoners and offered them each 5,000 Egyptian pounds if they accepted to participate in pro-Mubarak protests in Cairo. Unlike the other men he was with when protesters captured him on Wednesday, he didn’t have an ID card on him, which makes sense if he was a prisoner.
Another interesting point is that he claims to be from Alexandria. Right now, transportation between Egyptian cities is so bad that he can only have been brought by a government vehicle. In fact, most of the pro-Mubarak protesters that were arrested were unemployed men from outside Cairo: how did they all make it to Tahrir square?
A good question, indeed.
BTW, OS's Friend-of-Friend journalist made it safely out of Egypt and back to Europe.
Away from the thugs.
The GulfStream Moment Approaches
It's not a matter of if, just when.
From this evening's New York Times:
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military, administration officials and Arab diplomats said Thursday.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall and overhear the conversations...
From this evening's New York Times:
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military, administration officials and Arab diplomats said Thursday.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall and overhear the conversations...
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Mubarak And Barack O'Reagan Obama Prepare For The GulfStreamMoment
Robert Gibbs, after another testy press briefing, in which he imparts no real information: Uh, Mr. President, The Press, who helped elect you 'cuz you kept preaching about 'transparency', they're, well-uh...pretty pissed that you won't talk to them yourself. You still need them, sir, if you want to keep this gig for another four years. Remember, I'm outta here soon, and can't fend them off for you.
Barry, impatiently: Screw 'em. I'm all they've got. Remember, I'm channeling Reagan now, Time Magazine sez so, 'cuz that's what we told them to say. That was a great shot with the football, wasn't it? Staged to mirror image The Gipper and everything. Damn, I'm good!
Gibbs: Mr. President, the embassy's on the phone from Cairo. They've worn out all the paper shredders, and those incinerators they ordered never arrived. Is it ok to let the local contractor haul all those cables and docs away? They promise to burn them, honest. It's a reputable firm the State Department has used a lot lately, Assange and Associates. Besides the crowd's growing out there, and they're really pissed. The ambassador wants to know where the helicopters are, and can the Marines load their weapons, please. Things went really sour in Tehran when they weren't allowed to shoot back, Mr. President. That's how Carter lost his reelection to Reagan. That and the general ineptitude...
Barry: No, the Marines can't load their weapons, 'cuz they might hurt somebody if they defend the embassy, and how would that make me look? Borrow some shredders from the Brits and the French, and rent a herd of goats to eat the papers. Do I have to think of everything? Tell the ambassador to cool his jets, that Hilary lent the choppers to Bill for one of his weekend socials with Berlusconi, and once they get them cleaned out and the pilots sobered up, they'll be around to fetch him. What's the hurry? Our boy Hosni's in firm control of the situation. Man, didjou see them camels charging the crowd? That'll make the highlight reels fer sure. Our homeboyz even gotta sense of humor! We gotta remember that one for the next time Glenn Beck and his teabaggers show up. Damn!
Gibbs: Uh, Mr. President, Hosni's on the phone. He sez he needs three GulfStreams now: One for him and the fam, one for the harem, and one for the gold reserves and antiquities he's had his boyz loot from the banks and museums during the camel attack. Sez he'll turn truckloads of really interesting docs over to that Assange guy if you don't get him what he wants.
Barry: Call Hilary, tell her to work it out. Hell, call Jimmy Carter! He put Hosni in power--it's his fault, and he keeps bugging me, wanting a 'do-over'.
I'm the next Reagan, and he never got his hands dirty on little stuff! Hell, after Jimmy Carter, all he needed to do was exchange oxygen to look like a hero. Breathe in, breathe out, tilt your head, smile and say 'Well...?'--how come he gets all the love?
Gibbs: Mr. President, HomeboyHosni has another question. Where's his plane gonna land, and Tel-Aviv is not an option. The French don't want him. You can't pay off anybody in the Emirates, they're all rich. Jordan, Yemen, Syria and Tunisia got their own sets of problems, and Riyadh's getting crowded--they've already taken their quota of disgraced Muslim dictators, they said.
Barry: Call Scotland. They like Arab mass-murderers. Yes, it's cold, but they're broke. Hell, call Iceland! They're even broker and colder. That's what a harem is for. He can even learn to like haggis and haddock. Beats being lynched in public. Tell him to stop whining. Anything else, Gibbs?
Gibbs: No, nothing comes to mind. You've got it all under control. The world sure is lucky to have you at the helm, Mr. President.
Barry: Well...?
Barry, impatiently: Screw 'em. I'm all they've got. Remember, I'm channeling Reagan now, Time Magazine sez so, 'cuz that's what we told them to say. That was a great shot with the football, wasn't it? Staged to mirror image The Gipper and everything. Damn, I'm good!
Gibbs: Mr. President, the embassy's on the phone from Cairo. They've worn out all the paper shredders, and those incinerators they ordered never arrived. Is it ok to let the local contractor haul all those cables and docs away? They promise to burn them, honest. It's a reputable firm the State Department has used a lot lately, Assange and Associates. Besides the crowd's growing out there, and they're really pissed. The ambassador wants to know where the helicopters are, and can the Marines load their weapons, please. Things went really sour in Tehran when they weren't allowed to shoot back, Mr. President. That's how Carter lost his reelection to Reagan. That and the general ineptitude...
Barry: No, the Marines can't load their weapons, 'cuz they might hurt somebody if they defend the embassy, and how would that make me look? Borrow some shredders from the Brits and the French, and rent a herd of goats to eat the papers. Do I have to think of everything? Tell the ambassador to cool his jets, that Hilary lent the choppers to Bill for one of his weekend socials with Berlusconi, and once they get them cleaned out and the pilots sobered up, they'll be around to fetch him. What's the hurry? Our boy Hosni's in firm control of the situation. Man, didjou see them camels charging the crowd? That'll make the highlight reels fer sure. Our homeboyz even gotta sense of humor! We gotta remember that one for the next time Glenn Beck and his teabaggers show up. Damn!
Gibbs: Uh, Mr. President, Hosni's on the phone. He sez he needs three GulfStreams now: One for him and the fam, one for the harem, and one for the gold reserves and antiquities he's had his boyz loot from the banks and museums during the camel attack. Sez he'll turn truckloads of really interesting docs over to that Assange guy if you don't get him what he wants.
Barry: Call Hilary, tell her to work it out. Hell, call Jimmy Carter! He put Hosni in power--it's his fault, and he keeps bugging me, wanting a 'do-over'.
I'm the next Reagan, and he never got his hands dirty on little stuff! Hell, after Jimmy Carter, all he needed to do was exchange oxygen to look like a hero. Breathe in, breathe out, tilt your head, smile and say 'Well...?'--how come he gets all the love?
Gibbs: Mr. President, HomeboyHosni has another question. Where's his plane gonna land, and Tel-Aviv is not an option. The French don't want him. You can't pay off anybody in the Emirates, they're all rich. Jordan, Yemen, Syria and Tunisia got their own sets of problems, and Riyadh's getting crowded--they've already taken their quota of disgraced Muslim dictators, they said.
Barry: Call Scotland. They like Arab mass-murderers. Yes, it's cold, but they're broke. Hell, call Iceland! They're even broker and colder. That's what a harem is for. He can even learn to like haggis and haddock. Beats being lynched in public. Tell him to stop whining. Anything else, Gibbs?
Gibbs: No, nothing comes to mind. You've got it all under control. The world sure is lucky to have you at the helm, Mr. President.
Barry: Well...?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cairo: All Video Links Shut Down, And Mubarak's Supporters Hit The Streets
This just announced by Neil Cavuto at 17:50 CST US (01:50 AM in Egypt):
All video links from Egypt have gone dark, simultaneously. There are reports of Mubarak's supporters hitting the streets to go after the protesters in the square in Cairo.
Perhaps, last night's speech was delivered to create confusion and buy time for the internal security types to reorganize?
Could be, he's also buying time in order to get the GulfStream loaded up with the bullion, the helo to the airport warmed up, the numbered bank accounts stuffed with the final few billion.
Blood has already spilled, scenes of chaos all day.
Here we go.
Remember, we're still in good hands. All will be well, and all manner of things will be well, but it will be pretty ugly short-term, in OS's humble opinion.
All video links from Egypt have gone dark, simultaneously. There are reports of Mubarak's supporters hitting the streets to go after the protesters in the square in Cairo.
Perhaps, last night's speech was delivered to create confusion and buy time for the internal security types to reorganize?
Could be, he's also buying time in order to get the GulfStream loaded up with the bullion, the helo to the airport warmed up, the numbered bank accounts stuffed with the final few billion.
Blood has already spilled, scenes of chaos all day.
Here we go.
Remember, we're still in good hands. All will be well, and all manner of things will be well, but it will be pretty ugly short-term, in OS's humble opinion.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Well, That Went Over Well... Mubarak's Speech Tuesday Night
Not!
If ya wanna get the crowd of aggrieved citizenry on your side, at least long enough to get them to listen to you for a few minutes, don't begin by calling them hoodlums and vandals. It just irritates them more, bubbah.
OS watched the Al-Jazeera feed. The crowd just went ballistic after Hosni spoke, promising to leave office in September, vowing to die on Egyptian soil, etc. etc.
He may get his wish. Time to head for the airport, Hosni. Your Gulfstream awaits.
Time to send the helicopters to the embassy, Barry. No need to sacrifice any Marines to the mob.
You just can't make this stuff up. Wonder how Hilary's doing just now?
If ya wanna get the crowd of aggrieved citizenry on your side, at least long enough to get them to listen to you for a few minutes, don't begin by calling them hoodlums and vandals. It just irritates them more, bubbah.
OS watched the Al-Jazeera feed. The crowd just went ballistic after Hosni spoke, promising to leave office in September, vowing to die on Egyptian soil, etc. etc.
He may get his wish. Time to head for the airport, Hosni. Your Gulfstream awaits.
Time to send the helicopters to the embassy, Barry. No need to sacrifice any Marines to the mob.
You just can't make this stuff up. Wonder how Hilary's doing just now?
Egypt From Tennessee, Tuesday Noon: Mubarak's GulfstreamMoment
Link TV is carrying the Al-Jazeera feed on our satellite TV, and the announcement just came from the State Department that the US ambassador to Egypt has met with opposition leader ElBaradei.
So, it's Mubarak's GulfstreamMoment. As in, load up the State Department Gulfstream with as much of Egypt's bullion as it can safely hold, load up yet another discredited dictator and his suitcase full of antiquities, and find a friendly place to deposit his 82-year-old discredited ass.
The Enterprise carrier group is steaming through the Med toward Egypt, preparing for our ChinookMoment. As in, the helicopters extracting our people from the US Embassy before the angry mobs overwhelm the reinforced Marine guards (who of course, won't be allowed to defend themselves), so that we can avoid a repeat of the Tehran1979Moment, or the Saigon1974Moment. (Anybody else notice how much Obama hates the Marines, until he needs them to save his ass?)
The US, UK and Europe are pulling their people out as quickly as possible. The term is known as 'bugging out'. It's not going smoothly.
It's all like a John LeCarre novel, played out on live TV, except that it's too bizarre even for a gifted novelist to create. A true JeffFoxworthyMoment, whose favorite quote is 'I can't make this stuff up, ya'll!'
And, for today's little RuhRohMoment, these greetings from the Muslim Brotherhood. Waiting in the wings, so they can push the country over the cliff into mass bloodshed. Sweeeeet....
But, the Suez Canal is still open, so all is well with the world. The Dow is up 146 points at noon US Central time.
The Al-Jazeera live stream is here.
So, it's Mubarak's GulfstreamMoment. As in, load up the State Department Gulfstream with as much of Egypt's bullion as it can safely hold, load up yet another discredited dictator and his suitcase full of antiquities, and find a friendly place to deposit his 82-year-old discredited ass.
The Enterprise carrier group is steaming through the Med toward Egypt, preparing for our ChinookMoment. As in, the helicopters extracting our people from the US Embassy before the angry mobs overwhelm the reinforced Marine guards (who of course, won't be allowed to defend themselves), so that we can avoid a repeat of the Tehran1979Moment, or the Saigon1974Moment. (Anybody else notice how much Obama hates the Marines, until he needs them to save his ass?)
The US, UK and Europe are pulling their people out as quickly as possible. The term is known as 'bugging out'. It's not going smoothly.
It's all like a John LeCarre novel, played out on live TV, except that it's too bizarre even for a gifted novelist to create. A true JeffFoxworthyMoment, whose favorite quote is 'I can't make this stuff up, ya'll!'
And, for today's little RuhRohMoment, these greetings from the Muslim Brotherhood. Waiting in the wings, so they can push the country over the cliff into mass bloodshed. Sweeeeet....
But, the Suez Canal is still open, so all is well with the world. The Dow is up 146 points at noon US Central time.
The Al-Jazeera live stream is here.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Egypt, From Tennessee
OS has a huge week ahead of him, so will be very sporadic in his ruminations for his legions of readers...
What Egypt looks like from here, through the glimpses seen via Al-Jazeera, CNN, the papers, etc., is:
These kids in the street don't look like Islamic fundies. They look like really frustrated young people with educations, ambitions, and nowhere to use them. All they've known is this old horse's ass in charge their entire lives, propped up by the US, the UK, and Europe, corrupt to the core, with his boot on the neck of the culture.
They also have access to the outside world and one another via satellite TV, internet, mobile devices, Twitter, etc. etc., and they don't for a minute buy the official line from anybody. They know there's a better life out there, and that freedom is the cure to the problem. They just don't know how to get from where they are to where they want to be. But in the meantime, burning down the offices of the official state party looks like a good place to begin.
They hate the United States, the UK, and Europe for propping up the old horse's ass, 'cuz they know that each barrel of oil transiting the Suez Canal means infinitely more to those places that the quality of any normal person's life in Egypt. OS thinks his country has failed the morality test by refusing to develop its own reserves of oil, coal, gas, and nuclear, thus ending the dependence on oil coming through that canal. Our self-righteous insistence on pristine wilderness above the Arctic Circle is paid for by the young unemployed in places like Cairo and Alexandria.
Shame on us. We know better, and refuse to act on what we know. It is unsurprising to see the Stars and Stripes set ablaze in the streets of Cairo.
Upsetting, yes. Surprising, no.
Religious crazies can appeal to such people, by creating a sense of communal persecution, the prospect of participating in the delivery of divine righteous wrath upon the guilty, and offering the hope of some sort of KingdomOfGodOnEarth with which to replace the current situation. Sane people know that these three items are lies by which unhappy people are seduced, but it looks like a lot of these young people have run out of patience, and think the insane people are the ones running the government, especially the 82-year-old horse's ass.
Here's hoping, here's hoping, here's hoping that they will not listen to the siren song of Islamic fundamentalism, and will insist instead on a government that allows them to live their lives, pursue their dreams for themselves and their families, knows how to hand over power peacefully, and otherwise leaves them the hell alone.
Here's hoping, from Tennessee.
What Egypt looks like from here, through the glimpses seen via Al-Jazeera, CNN, the papers, etc., is:
These kids in the street don't look like Islamic fundies. They look like really frustrated young people with educations, ambitions, and nowhere to use them. All they've known is this old horse's ass in charge their entire lives, propped up by the US, the UK, and Europe, corrupt to the core, with his boot on the neck of the culture.
They also have access to the outside world and one another via satellite TV, internet, mobile devices, Twitter, etc. etc., and they don't for a minute buy the official line from anybody. They know there's a better life out there, and that freedom is the cure to the problem. They just don't know how to get from where they are to where they want to be. But in the meantime, burning down the offices of the official state party looks like a good place to begin.
They hate the United States, the UK, and Europe for propping up the old horse's ass, 'cuz they know that each barrel of oil transiting the Suez Canal means infinitely more to those places that the quality of any normal person's life in Egypt. OS thinks his country has failed the morality test by refusing to develop its own reserves of oil, coal, gas, and nuclear, thus ending the dependence on oil coming through that canal. Our self-righteous insistence on pristine wilderness above the Arctic Circle is paid for by the young unemployed in places like Cairo and Alexandria.
Shame on us. We know better, and refuse to act on what we know. It is unsurprising to see the Stars and Stripes set ablaze in the streets of Cairo.
Upsetting, yes. Surprising, no.
Religious crazies can appeal to such people, by creating a sense of communal persecution, the prospect of participating in the delivery of divine righteous wrath upon the guilty, and offering the hope of some sort of KingdomOfGodOnEarth with which to replace the current situation. Sane people know that these three items are lies by which unhappy people are seduced, but it looks like a lot of these young people have run out of patience, and think the insane people are the ones running the government, especially the 82-year-old horse's ass.
Here's hoping, here's hoping, here's hoping that they will not listen to the siren song of Islamic fundamentalism, and will insist instead on a government that allows them to live their lives, pursue their dreams for themselves and their families, knows how to hand over power peacefully, and otherwise leaves them the hell alone.
Here's hoping, from Tennessee.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Keeping An Eye On Egypt This Weekend
OS never thought he'd be doing this, but here is the Al Jazeera Live Stream.
It's 5:30 (17:30) CT US time, 1:30 am in Egypt.
Pres. HopeyChangey is expected to make remarks tonight.
Just now, Sen. John Kerry is bloviating from Davos, calling for Mubarak to suddenly stop being the person he has been for the last thirty years. And to think, we could have had this clown for President... He's saying that people's wishes and rights should be respected.
Egypt has turned off the internet internally, and is jamming mobile phone service. Hasn't deterred the mob too much. They're even attempting to block AlJazeera, unsuccessfully.
Obama is on now:
Calling upon the authorities to refrain from violence against peaceful protests--sez the US will stand for them everywhere. (Like Iran, Mr. President?)
'We've been clear that there must be reform. In the absence of reforms, grievances have built up over time. (You think?)'
He is trying to say anything he can to keep the proverbial lid on, maybe talk over the head of the Egyptian government to the street? Mainly platitudes. What can he say at a time like this? The US is inextricably identified as the party that has propped up an odious regime for over three decades. Obama just got around to calling Mubarak tonight. Days after the chaos began. What a leader.
And, the protests have spread to Jordan...
And, in Lebanon...
This is going to get interesting.
It's 5:30 (17:30) CT US time, 1:30 am in Egypt.
Pres. HopeyChangey is expected to make remarks tonight.
Just now, Sen. John Kerry is bloviating from Davos, calling for Mubarak to suddenly stop being the person he has been for the last thirty years. And to think, we could have had this clown for President... He's saying that people's wishes and rights should be respected.
Egypt has turned off the internet internally, and is jamming mobile phone service. Hasn't deterred the mob too much. They're even attempting to block AlJazeera, unsuccessfully.
Obama is on now:
Calling upon the authorities to refrain from violence against peaceful protests--sez the US will stand for them everywhere. (Like Iran, Mr. President?)
'We've been clear that there must be reform. In the absence of reforms, grievances have built up over time. (You think?)'
He is trying to say anything he can to keep the proverbial lid on, maybe talk over the head of the Egyptian government to the street? Mainly platitudes. What can he say at a time like this? The US is inextricably identified as the party that has propped up an odious regime for over three decades. Obama just got around to calling Mubarak tonight. Days after the chaos began. What a leader.
And, the protests have spread to Jordan...
And, in Lebanon...
This is going to get interesting.
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