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Egyptian Protesters Did in 2 1/2 Weeks What the American Military Could Not Do in 9 Years of War ... Bring Democracy to the Middle East

George Washington's picture




 

Washington’s Blog

I've previously noted that the Egyptian revolution shows that the us-versus-them narrative of the war on terror is false.

The events in Egypt also prove that democracy does not come from the barrel of a gun.

The
fact that the Egyptian protesters have made more strides away from
tyranny and towards democracy in 2 and 1/2 weeks than the American
military has been able to do in 9 years if Afghanistan and 7 years in
Iraq proves it.

Obviously, there is a long way to go.  The military has to hand over power
and let elections take place. But Egyptian people have taken a giant
step in the right direction, while America's offensive military 
campaigns have caused more harm than good,  destabilized the region and created new terrorists.

 

 

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Sun, 02/13/2011 - 07:04 | 957338 Just Observing
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"The events in Egypt also prove that democracy does not come from the barrel of a gun."

 

No....all it proves is the gun doesn't have to be fired.

The reason Mubarak is gone is because the Army, holding the GUNS, told him it was time to go.  Had the Army choosen to side with him, you would likely have seen a very different, and more violent outcome.

 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 07:42 | 957334 falak pema
falak pema's picture

The race that killed the most was white and wore the red cross until they got thrown out from so called Holy land where they were deep into ethnic cleansing as 'God willed it'. Then they polluted the Americas with their 'god with us' rant after Columbus took the bus to the Indies. So its good to see how the shoe changes foot as the pendulum swings. Remember Constantinople 1204? Couldn't take Jerusalem so we (Crusaders and crafty Wall street Bansktas of that age, the Venetians) took Constantinople from the Greeks, those 'apostate orthodox freaks', and paved the way to Constantinople becoming Stamboul, staging station for Orient express to Vienna. So now the wheel may turn again. All guys in the great big land of the free, home of the brave,  get ready to end up as ...janissaries...! Or to declare WW3 on seven billion third world 'democrats' singing brave new world.

Bad dreams in black rock café... where greed, guns n god...reign supreme. 

Or am I imagining things?

 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:00 | 957603 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Did you forget how Islam spread from the Arabian Peninsula to the Middle East, half of Africa and a huge swath of Asia and parts of Europe. Oh yeah it must have been through peace or am I imagining things?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 04:29 | 957288 TDoS
TDoS's picture

GW, it's a good, albeit obvious, point.  I like your posts.  Just ignore the large swath of Zerohedgers who found their way here from links on infowars.com

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:55 | 957596 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Yes cover up your ears anytime someone disagrees with you. They are simply crazy if they refuse to mindlessly goose-step behind you

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 05:57 | 957323 Bringin It
Bringin It's picture

I like GW's posts and I like Infowars.com.  Obviously, the US of A and others will try to steer events of this magnitude.  That's what they get paid to do.  We can guess about their motives and plans.  Will they be successful?  We shall see. 

In the meantime, Congratulations to the Egyptian people! 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 04:15 | 957284 Sad Sufi
Sad Sufi's picture

Yes GW, it is a start toward Democracy. 

Note also, it was done against the wishes of the US.  Ironic, heh?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:53 | 957595 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

I don't know what news you've been reading but Obama was calling for Mubarak to step down the past few weeks.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 03:10 | 957245 palmereldritch
palmereldritch's picture

Dude, your headline puts the mock in democracy.

You forgot the sarc tags.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 03:09 | 957244 savagegoose
savagegoose's picture

maybe a rummor started if they didnt get their own democracy america would " come and help em "

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:44 | 957224 Audacity17
Audacity17's picture

Goodness, the more I thought about this drivel, the more incredulous I became.

 

Ever heard of the "shot heard round the world", moron?  A little thing called the American Revolution? In fact, MOST, democracies spring from the gun.....because tyrants don't generally give up power.  That is why we have a 2nd amendment.  Do us all a favor.  Stop posting here.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:08 | 957194 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

GW, military coup, well greased, with a facade of 'democracy'? 

No constitutional change, no 'rule of law'.  You don't see any difficulties with this?  Don't iquire wrt any other links that this/these series of events might have?

Amazing.

- Ned

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 05:49 | 957318 Bringin It
Bringin It's picture

Ned - in support of your argument, when it was pointed out that the general's first act of business is flying to Washington, it was then pointed out that the visit had been scheduled months ago.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 10:30 | 957481 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

but it was only 18 or so days.  Is that like a 2-minute drill ftw?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:03 | 957189 Glaringly Oblivious
Glaringly Oblivious's picture

So, I asked the Tahrir Square Bears about this thing you call democracy: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11126801/

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:00 | 957185 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

Invading other countries to force on them your own version of society based on your own version of morality does not generally work. Japan was different because we occupied them after the war was over, did not try to carry on some type violent police action, and truly treated them with benevolence. The flip side of that coin is a deal I spent a few years in the late sixties playing around with called "pacification." All we did was embolden the enemy, and piss off our "allies".

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:51 | 957170 Audacity17
Audacity17's picture

"The events in Egypt also prove that democracy does not come from the barrel of a gun."

 

Ever heard of Japan 1945?

 

Now that I've falsified your bullshit statement, lets move on to something real funny.  Neo liberals like Bill Kristol, curmudgeons like Karl Deninger and brain dead liberals like yourself are all on board this revolution gaga.  Are you gonna finally shut your mouths when this descends into Iran 2, a la 1979?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 08:46 | 957386 Bob
Bob's picture

"Neo-Liberals like Bill Kristol."  It's tough making sense of reality, I see. 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 05:45 | 957313 Bringin It
Bringin It's picture

Japan was a parliamentary democracy prior to WWII.

The Japanese Diet was oppenned in 1890.

So No - we did not intruduce democracy into Japan.

Now that I've falsified your bullshit statement ... are you going to grow-up and stop your anti-Islam hysteria?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 16:54 | 958089 Audacity17
Audacity17's picture

This from wiki:

The Emperor of Japan had the right to exercise executive authority, and to appoint and dismiss all government officials. The Emperor also had the sole rights to make war, make peace, conclude treaties, dissolve the lower house of Diet, and issue Imperial ordinances in place of laws when the Diet was not in session. Most importantly, command over the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy was directly held by the Emperor, and not the Diet. The Meiji Constitution provided for a cabinet consisting of Ministers of State who answered to the Emperor rather than the Diet, and to the establishment of the Privy Council. Not mentioned in the Constitution were the genr?, an inner circle of advisors to the Emperor, who wielded considerable influence.

Under the Meiji Constitution, a legislature was established with two Houses. The Upper House, or House of Peers consisted of members of the Imperial Family, hereditary peerage and members appointed by the Emperor. The Lower House, or House of Representatives was elected by direct male suffrage (with property qualifications).

 

Ya, there's your democracy.  A "divine" king that gets to appoint the ministers from within his family, half the legislature, makes laws at will, disband them at will etc. 

 

Now that I've falsified YOUR bullshit, please stfu.

 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:50 | 957588 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

You forgot to play the race card too. That would have given you a royal flush

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:05 | 957525 Everybodys All ...
Everybodys All American's picture

anti Islam hysteria?  The anti democracy hysteria is clearly being fed by Islam. The two rarely co-exist for very long. Would you not agree?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:47 | 957165 ThePhysicist
ThePhysicist's picture

Democracy in Egypt? The military is running the country and "promising" democratic elections.

The Egyptian military may or may not allow the Muslim Brotherhood to win an election and take power.

And if the Muslim Brotherhood does seize power, then sharia will be the law of the land and democracy will fleeting.

I wouldn't count those democracy chickens before they hatch...

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 11:48 | 957587 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

You're lying. GW says it's a democracy. Elections were held and they have a new president and constitution similar to ours. We just haven't heard about it yet, but GW and a few ZH'ers know the troof.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:46 | 957161 wesa
wesa's picture

I am not sure democracy has been achieved.  There has been some sort of a change of government.  It is way too early to know how this will play out.

The Egyptian military has put all the previous Presidents (for the past 50-years or so) in office.  Why would this current upheval suddenly result in any change in this pattern?

Given the problems Egypt faces (demographics, declining oil revenue, inability to grow enough food, etc) what difference does it make whether there is a democracy or a dictatorship?

A democratic government would look good and feel good for a while but I can't see what they would do that would change anything other than maybe not stealing as much of the country's gold.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:45 | 957160 Hang The Fed
Hang The Fed's picture

Given how poorly things have turned out every time we've meddled in another country's domestic affairs, often to our own enormous detriment, I think we should just back the fuck off and let these people have what they want for themselves.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 03:32 | 957260 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

That "Non-interference directive" is looking better all the time...

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:40 | 957148 roymunnson
roymunnson's picture

Mission Accomplished

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:49 | 957087 fragrantdingleberry
fragrantdingleberry's picture

"Drop the Bomb, Annihilate them all!"

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:45 | 957067 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

"The fact that the Egyptian protesters have made more strides away from tyranny and towards democracy in 2 and 1/2 weeks than the American military has been able to do in 9 years if Afghanistan and 7 years in Iraq proves it."

More pie-in-the-sky BS ranting from GW, apparently now ZH's resident ranter.

All they've accomplished in 2-1/2 weeks is convice a dictator to step down, and it isn't their accomplishment, it's OUR CIA's accomplishment. 

They're NO closer to "democracy", another dictator has stepped in, that's it.

And please tell me you don't really believe us invading Iraq and Afganistan is about "spreading democracy".   What absolute bullshit.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:02 | 957103 Pez
Pez's picture

More like 30 years and 2 1/2 weeks. I'm sure he'll get a nice gold watch from the CIA as they take his 70 billion dollar pension fund away.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 02:02 | 957188 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

And I guess Mossad gives him a golden Menorah?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 05:39 | 957312 Bringin It
Bringin It's picture

.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:42 | 957066 enginr1
enginr1's picture

And to think that it was done by waving shoes.

Hope the Pentagon is on the phone with NIKE.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 01:52 | 957172 Aristarchan
Aristarchan's picture

The Chinese already have them well on-foot.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:41 | 957062 Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

As others have pointed out: there is no democracy in Egypt yet.  There is a military dictatorship promising that it will step down and allow a democracy in the near future.  How is this so different from Iraq?  Is it better?  Time will tell.  I sincerely hope that Egypt gets a fair, transparent and clean system of government, but it's far too early to say they have it.

GW, I like most of your articles, but this one is "Dewey Defeats Truman" at best.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 08:38 | 957379 johnQpublic
johnQpublic's picture

 I sincerely hope that Egypt gets a fair, transparent and clean system of government,

 

 

when do we get one?

 

and lets keep in mind that democracy is really nothing more than mob rule

it subjugates the rights of the individual at every turn

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:39 | 957659 Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

John Q - I also hope we'll get such a government here.  We pretty nearly had one from 1789 through 1859.  Since then it's been getting worse, in fits and starts.

We could discuss the whole republic vs. democracy thing, but I think anyone who cares, knows, and the rest will not be able to get the distinction.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 09:21 | 957418 Maddeafandblind
Maddeafandblind's picture

and lets keep in mind that democracy is really nothing more than mob rule

it subjugates the rights of the individual at every turn


theocracy, totalitarianism and pointyheadedism are presumably preferable.

if I were a betting man, I'd wager that you watch a lot of vigilante videos.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:38 | 957656 Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

Aristotle figured it out more than 2300 years ago, and has been proven right time and time again.

Your retort is a false dichotomy.  Are you too ignorant to know of other forms of government than the few you list?

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:44 | 957666 Maddeafandblind
Maddeafandblind's picture

sorry - I forgot to include Wankerism

Apologies for making you feel left out.

 

 

 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 14:21 | 957822 Mad Max
Mad Max's picture

Don't forget to get your homework done before returning to 9th grade tomorrow.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:45 | 957075 George Washington
George Washington's picture

this one is "Dewey Defeats Truman" at best.

Thanks, that's funny!

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:36 | 957057 dick cheneys ghost
dick cheneys ghost's picture

the west is facing its moment of truth.... are we for democracy or against it? lots of contradictions and skeletons.

 

http://nakedempire.wordpress.com/

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 07:52 | 957369 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

are we for democracy or against it?

 

This question has come very early after the installation of democracy in the modern era.

The answer is always the same: it is 'no'.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:55 | 957097 Kayman
Kayman's picture

Let's hope WMD aren't trotted out on Fox or CNN. Because if WMD can be concocted we would have to save the Eyptian people from themselves.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:18 | 957024 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

GW, can you tell us what the election results were?  

Did Jimmy Carter's group certify they were free and fair?   

Who were the candidates?  

For what offices and terms of office?

Please get back with us.   We're dying to wave this in the US military' faces.

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 10:09 | 957456 AN0NYM0US
AN0NYM0US's picture

+1

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:28 | 957044 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

The military leader elected himself as ruler of Egypt. That is the latest democrazy in the Middle East after Hamas was elected to rule Gaza. 

Sun, 02/13/2011 - 00:16 | 957021 gookempucky
gookempucky's picture

And I am no Ghandi- but know this, there is nothing that really limits man and keeps him in a state of uncertainty and inefficiency but his own thoughts. The actions in Egypt were a reflex of the impressions recieved from the dictatorship and they have freed themselves from ignorant hypnotism. Now is the time for the Egyptians to refine their lives by protecting all around them, not from bodily injury but from the ignorance of others.

Free yourself and others from the corporate elitest hypnotism and you will see yourself and those around you as free men.

Thanks for all your work GW

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