The Duty of the US Government Regarding the Events in Egypt, and When the Dying Begins
It is the purpose and duty of the United States government, with regard to foreign affairs, to attempt to "influence" foreign governments, organizations and individuals in a manner consistent with the interests and welfare of the people of the United States of America. Period.
This may be to the benefit of the people of said foreign countries: in fact, due to the nature of Enlightened Self-Interest, it usually is to their benefit, for instance when we keep the shipping lanes open for commerce or participate in international alliances against criminal organizations such as the Mafia. On the other hand, sometimes it is not to the benefit of the people of said foreign countries, most notably when we make war upon such countries in defense of American interests and welfare.
Our job regarding the Muslim countries is to ensure that they neither attack Americans nor shelter or otherwise support organizations or individuals which attack Americans. In cases where the peoples of such countries really, really wantIranian lives, and over a quarter of a million Iraqi lives. The Iranian regime has subsequently attacked Iraq and the United States following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003-04; developed ballistic missiles, and is close to developing nuclear weapons.
Oh, and the Iranian democracy which Carter accepted the fall of a US ally to allow? It was overcome by the radical regime within months of its inception, with political and social leaders unacceptable to the theocrats being murdered by the thousands.
If someone can explain to me just why they think things won't go this way in Egypt today, I might reconsider my position, but right now I believe that Mubarak's fall is likely to lead to the rise of a radical Islamist regime in Egypt: one bordering Israel and controlling the Suez Canal, and consequently one likely to become embroiled in destructive foreign wars in very short order.
The Egyptian people you cheer today will die in droves: under the lashes of the Muslim Brotherhood, and under the bombs and shells and bullets of Israel, America, and possibly the European Union. Possibly, if the new Islamic Republic of Egypt arouses enough wrath, the last thing they will see will be a titanic wall of water rushing downstream from the shattered Aswan Dam.
Will you still cheer Egypt's Islamic Revolution, when the dying really begins? Will you still believe that not opposing this revolution was really in the interests of the Egyptian people?
This may be to the benefit of the people of said foreign countries: in fact, due to the nature of Enlightened Self-Interest, it usually is to their benefit, for instance when we keep the shipping lanes open for commerce or participate in international alliances against criminal organizations such as the Mafia. On the other hand, sometimes it is not to the benefit of the people of said foreign countries, most notably when we make war upon such countries in defense of American interests and welfare.
Our job regarding the Muslim countries is to ensure that they neither attack Americans nor shelter or otherwise support organizations or individuals which attack Americans. In cases where the peoples of such countries really, really wantIranian lives, and over a quarter of a million Iraqi lives. The Iranian regime has subsequently attacked Iraq and the United States following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003-04; developed ballistic missiles, and is close to developing nuclear weapons.
Oh, and the Iranian democracy which Carter accepted the fall of a US ally to allow? It was overcome by the radical regime within months of its inception, with political and social leaders unacceptable to the theocrats being murdered by the thousands.
If someone can explain to me just why they think things won't go this way in Egypt today, I might reconsider my position, but right now I believe that Mubarak's fall is likely to lead to the rise of a radical Islamist regime in Egypt: one bordering Israel and controlling the Suez Canal, and consequently one likely to become embroiled in destructive foreign wars in very short order.
The Egyptian people you cheer today will die in droves: under the lashes of the Muslim Brotherhood, and under the bombs and shells and bullets of Israel, America, and possibly the European Union. Possibly, if the new Islamic Republic of Egypt arouses enough wrath, the last thing they will see will be a titanic wall of water rushing downstream from the shattered Aswan Dam.
Will you still cheer Egypt's Islamic Revolution, when the dying really begins? Will you still believe that not opposing this revolution was really in the interests of the Egyptian people?