Metal Reviews

For the last sixteen days the eyes of the world have been affixed on the situations of Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and various other protests in the Middle east. While issues of Islam, the war in Iraq, and other topics have been the regular hubbub of the area, the protests in Egypt offer a new dialogue of what's going on behind the scenes. If anything what do you believe will change, do you see democratic reforms in any of the aforementioned areas, the deposition of the dictator Mubarak whom we pay 1.5 billion a year in various military aid? On another subject does anyone find it rather ironic that the modern Republican party is so appalled indeed scared of a genuine populist movement such as the protests? Or how Obama is so frightened to condemn and say anything more about the situation, other than the doublespeak about keeping Mubarak in power while at the same time wishing the situation to quell?

People taking to the streets is a "virus", that is, unless it's the tea party opposing Obama.

Especially when it's a pseudo-populist group that was astroturfed by multi-billionaires like the tea-party, though in contrast the Republicorps only sanctify and approve a bit of their beliefs. Such as the corporate tax break nonsense, less regulation, and de facto supporting the outsourcing of American jobs, they don't like the aspect of smaller government however. Great stuff, and I know where that quote came from, John Mccwar

Aren't the Republicans actually scared of the possibility of a new Islamist government, which much as I'm optimistic that it won't be (see recent postings in Gen. Politics) is still a real possibility? Western governments should have no say in truly free Egyptian elections, is my view. Still, Republicans and Democrats AND our Tories and Labour have been propping Mubarak and worse arseholes up for years - that they don't all spontaneously combust with joy when said arseholes' positions are threatened is hardly surprising.

As for the Tea Party, from an outside perspective it seems to have both genuine grassroots support and a hefty amount of corporate support. Not that the latter is automatically a bad thing... Interesting to think about. Back in the day, a group of libertarians over here tried to infiltrate and take over the Young Conservative organisation, and nearly managed it - Thatcher's ministers had to shut the whole thing down. I'm sure there are plenty of genuine libertarians trying to take the Republican party over, and good luck to them - think that there are too many anti-immigrant corporatist law-and-order types on the right for a real liberal movement there to succeed. Be interesting to see what happens... I think, once the tea party types like Rand Paul have started making compromises in office, they'll lose a big chunk of support from the purist Sons Of Liberty types.

Either corporatist neo-liberals, Christian right demagogic nutjobs, pseudo-Libertarian corporatists like Rand Paul, or the absurd anarchist types would be a disaster for this country. Though through a near victory the Republicorps achieve office, this seems a diametric curse, even with a handful of nominal "Tea party" candidates who at least on paper are contrary to the GOP machine. It seems the populace either needs to get their collective minds straightened, or there is no hope for this country when the average Joe believes hacks like Boehner, Mcconell, Steve King and others genuinely share their interests.

More onto the topic of Egypt however, and echoing yet in some ways disagreeing with one of Trapt's earlier posts. How can the US be any different, when we are funding the dictators such as Mubarak to the tune of 1.5 billion a year, yet claim nation building in other Islamic states with similar oppressive sects/regimes/beliefs. In theory, the US should support the Egyptians in seeking a genuinely democratic government, yet Obama remains silent as to genuine solidarity with the Egyptians in deposing the dictator. These demonstrations give me some degree of optimism of the situation in the Middle east, as the politicization of Islam and indeed the very religion itself coupled with the inherent corruption of the regions leaders, will inevitably lead to more modern values.

Such a valid point. Egyptians are doing what we haven't been able to do with trillions of dollars and two wars. Why should we be surprised when several million Muslims elect a Muslim government? We might elect Palin because she's a conservative religious housewife. I can't see it as being anything but hypocritical. Democracy is only super when it is propping up the West; if democracy challenges the mold of liberal democracy set forth by the West then fuck it, which is what happened in Iran in the 70s and we got stuck with what how it is run now via US intervention.

The people who orchestrated this uprising in Egypt want the Sharia law. That is exactly the opposite of what democracy stands for. Don't be fooled to think that these riots have anything to do with democracy. Using a democratic way to overthrow a dictatorship to replace it with a bigger theocratic dictatorship. Yeah. Hooray for democracy.

Actually, there's evidence that the orchestrators were secular, the Muslim Brohood jumped on the bandwagon later. Haven't you heard stories of Christians protecting Muslims from the police whilst they prayed, heard the calls from websites for Christians, Muslims and Atheists to come together and fight for their country? It's the most heart-warming and optimistic thing I've seen in ages, and I really hope they succeed in turfing that twat Mubarak out and instituting a genuine democracy.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been around for like 80 years. It is not something that happened overnight. They have their own agenda. When the average people throwing eggs a the police have gone home, the secular ones I mean, the Bros will be the ones who remain.

Bit unfair to dub them 'people throwing eggs at the police' as if they're having a lark and not being run over by police vans. What's the general Turkish view of the protests? Pro-, anti?

The good news is, according to the recent talk I went to held by a US State Dept. crony, that the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al Qaeda have an oppositional relationship.

Well, the response was generally positive, as it was seen as a secular and democratic movement to destroy a dictatorship, until the involvement of the Islamic organisations were found out. Now the pro-Islam part of the country, including the government, looks favorably to it. The remaining part however looks at it a bit more suspiciously like me. Since us democrats have been fucked over many times by leaders promising more democracy only to take it away after gaining power, in the name of Islam by this government for example.

Yes. Al Queda wants jihad and is using violence to achieve it but the Bros are against violence. I'll give them that. Still does not make them a better candidate to rule a country, because they are after all an extremely conservative Islamist organisation.

Islamic democracy does not work. Trust me. I live in one. The latter is way too easily sacrificed for the former.

Any time a relgion is tied with the government it leads to no good. I believe it was Hitchens who said that fundamentalism is the logical conclusion of all religion, and I'm inclined to agree, especially when that religion is an integral part of the government.

bush's plan to spread democracy in the middle east is working

I was always want to agree with this point. The facts seem there but the cynic in me always pushes me towards Kath's point.

Not that I'm not as cynical as you guys, but I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping here.

CNN kept going back and forth while I was eating lunch. Stepping down to will not be stepping down to most likely will be stepping down and I guess he just came out and said not stepping down motherfuckers.

I watched his speech for what seemed to be 3 hours long and he managed to say absolutely nothing of value. Experts here predicted he would fake a step down by giving his power to one of his lapdogs, and he did. So now it seems there will be some more negotiating. He is trying to calm the people down and survive until the next elections. Seems impossible to me. The people aren't backing down and neither is he. I hope this does not get violent.