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The World Reacts To Egypt's Coup
As the mainstream media shows endless scenes of celebration in Tahrir Square following last night's military ouster of democratically-elected President Morsi, the tensions with his supporters grows more widespread. Perhaps, what is more worrisome for the future of Egypt, which we noted last night was definitely on a path on instability, is the reaction of world governments - from "deeply concerned" America to Turkey's "unacceptable" perspective to Saudi Arabia's "congratulations" and Russia's "democracy is not a panacea"- it seems not everyone is behind the second coup in 3 years (but everyone is calling for calm as the middle-eastern turmoil ripples into their markets) but is a "setback for democracy."
Via Al Arabiya,
United Nations
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday appealed for calm and restraint in Egypt. "Many Egyptians in their protests have voiced deep frustrations and legitimate concerns," he said in a statement, reported by Reuters,that did not condemn the Egyptian armed forces' ouster of Mursi. "At the same time, military interference in the affairs of any state is of concern," he said. "Therefore, it will be crucial to quickly reinforce civilian rule in accordance with principles of democracy."
Saudi Arabia
In the Arab world, Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz congratulated the newly-appointed Egyptian interim President, Adly Mansour, on Wednesday. “In my own name and on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I congratulate you on assuming the leadership of Egypt at this critical point of its history,” said the king in a cable carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). “By doing so, I appeal to Allah Almighty to help you to shoulder the responsibility laid on your shoulder to achieve the hopes of our sisterly people of the Arab Republic of Egypt.”
Russia
Meanwhile, in controversial remarks, a top lawmaker close to Russian President Vladimir Putin said Mursi’s ouster proves that democracy does not work in non-Western states. "The events in Egypt show that there is no quick and peaceful transition from authoritarian regimes to democratic politics," said Alexei Puskov, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee. "This means that democracy does not work as a panacea, especially in countries that are not part of the Western world," he told the Interfax news agency.
European Union I
EU officials said they had no plans to reconsider foreign aid to Egypt. "I am not aware of any urgent plans to rethink our aid programs at the moment," Michael Mann, a spokesman for foreign policy chief Ashton, told reporters. "But the dust is still settling on what happened last night."
European Union II
European Union's chief diplomat, Catherine Ashton, urged all sides to return to the democratic process, "including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections and the approval of a constitution, to be done in a fully inclusive manner, so as to permit the country to resume and complete its democratic transition." She added, "I hope that the new administration will be fully inclusive and reiterate the importance of ensuring full respect for fundamental rights, freedoms and the rule of law."
Poland
"Recalling our democratic transformation, accomplished without bloodshed, we appeal to the sides of the conflict in Egypt to continue the process of the country's democratization through negotiations and without resorting to acts of violence and military intervention,"
USA
President Obama said Washington "is deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian Armed Forces to remove President Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution." The president called "on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters."
Turkey
The response from Turkey, where mass protests have targeted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was even stronger, not least because Morsi had been a very close ally of Ankara. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the military coup as "unacceptable." He said: "You can only be removed from duty through elections, that is, the will of the people. It is unacceptable for a government, which has come to power through democratic elections, to be toppled through illicit means and even more, a military coup," he told reporters.
France
The government in France said it has great hopes for the election that Egyptian military leaders have promised, "so that the Egyptian people can freely choose their leaders and their future." However, the statement from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius did not directly address Morsi's toppling.
UK
Prime Minister David Cameron called on all parties to end the violence in Egypt, where nearly 50 people have been killed in clashes between Morsi supporters and opponents since Sunday. "It is not for this country to support any single group or party," he said in a statement. "What we should support is proper democratic processes and proper government by consent."
Foreign Secretary William Hague also told the BBC: "We don't support military intervention as a way to resolve disputes in a democratic system." "It's of course a dangerous precedent to do that, if one president can be deposed by the military, then of course another one can be in the future -- that's a dangerous thing."
Germany
[the coup] has been described as a "serious setback for democracy" by Germany.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the country must return to constitutional order as quickly as possible. "I call on all those responsible in Egypt , to act calmly, to meet each other halfway and to seek ways out of this serious crisis of state together."
and The Telegraph's Peter Osborne notes six interesting points many should ponder...
Here are six points that strike me as indisputable about today’s events in Egypt.
1. Mohammed Morsi is in custody this morning, yet the only crime he has committed is being elected president of his country.
2. If you don't like a democratic government, you stick with it until the next election when you have a chance to throw it out. That is how democracy works.
3. There is no doubt this was a military coup. Attempts to claim otherwise are absurd.
4. Mohammed el Baradei (and the Coptic Church) have done himself great damage by backing the military intervention. Whatever form of government comes next will lack legitimacy because of the methods used today.
5. William Hague failure to condemn outright and wholeheartedly the military coup on the Today Programme today was a terrible mistake.
6. This is another democratically elected Islamist regime, like that of Algeria in 1991, which has not been given a chance. Today's events are disastrous for the relationship between the West and the Muslim world.
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Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
--H. L. Mencken
Democracy is overrated. What we need is competent people in charge, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHO'S INCHARGE (unlike the present day hidden government of the banksters), so we can fire them when needed. Much like the relationship b/w the CEO and shareholders. But there should SOMEBODY IN CHARGE (NO, the POTUS is NOT in charge but a mere minion of the hidden cartel government).
People can choose whatever religious belief system they want. The same should apply to the belief system called government.
Panarchism, so you only have yourself to blame for making shitty choices in life .
The character/talent of the leaders matter as you say, but power corrupts. There must be a system of checks and balances.
All governments are now shitless (they already made their pants) as Egyptian people (not sure who backed them up) have shown to the whole world how to topple governments they do not like and how real republic suppose to be.
The next Egyptian president will be thinking twice if he wants to be "a president who will be overthrown in 6 months".
For over 2000 years "democracy" meant "unlimited majority rule."
The will of the majority has given the world Hitler, Mussolini, several terrorist regimes in the ME, Chavez in Venezueal, the Kirchners in Argentina, and slavery here, among other things.
The Founders here despised the idea of democracy and said so. We are a Constitutional republic founded on the idea of individual rights.
The MB was in the process of creating another terrorist theocracy and had no right to exist. The fact that they were elected makes it worse, not acceptable.
We were a Constitutional Republic.
The 16th and 17th amendments transformed the states united into a "progressive democracy". And not for the bettter.
"progressive democracy"
there you go with those trigger words again.
silly boy.
Very true. Democratic liberal states tend to be more aggressive with looting & wars. Democratic society has lead to total wars (WW1, WW2, name a few). Long gone are the day's of regional wars between feuding King's where the public were largely uneffected. The King treated his citizens like a asset, not subject to be destroyed in it's tax paying abilities. In democratic wars, citizenry become absorbed in the politics of war, and become a part of it. It's probably no wonder why Muslims have no quams about killing american civilians. In their view, "we rule ourselves" democracy is votes to kill people around the planet, and trying to dominate world geopolitical power.
Hitler, Mussolini were indeed pretty democratic people. They adhered to nationalism, and played on society's desire to be coddled by the state, so what is so special about democracy? Nothing just legalized loot and plunder as the wars, which gets the public involved. Hence the war propaganda to convince citizens war is justified.
Democratic & liberal states tend to be much more imperialistic, because liberal states allow their economies to produce wealth, which they steal via taxes to fund the war machine, imperialism (British, French, American imperialism etc) and other unproductive activities. Less liberal states tend to be economically poorer thus weaker military power. Same reason why the Chinese military actually raised military spending faster than before thanks to liberal economic policies that raise economic growth much more quickly.
I agree democracy is moronic populism, that's how you get infamous leaders like Adolf Hitler a foot in the door to totalitarianism. Even intolerant laws that are subject of racism. Even genocide. Democratic society is neither inherently more peaceful, tolerant, or whatever, but government, and everybody brainwashed actually believe democratic way is somehow superior.
Medieval serfs actually paid far less taxes around 7-15% typically. Democratic society taxes are much higher, around 40 to 50%. From this you can gather democracy is just soft version of communism. Medieval serfs were more individualistic than democracy's collectivism which can include democratic collective beligerence (wars & imperialism).
People naively pretend that democratic government which is inherently monopoly of the majority in pure form is still is fundamentally different from any other state. The process of how leaders are appointed may be different, but being a state entity, it still pretty much the same thing just include the ignorance of the majority in influencing the politics. American foreign policy has it's posse of gangs or allies, as well the attempt to control the world. Note that US supports a democracy only if the democratic state follows the US. Hamas being democratically elected does not count. Japan's military is under control of the US government. You see the pattern here of imperialism, or one power, in this case a super power chosing what is good, what is bad, and virtuous americans who believe democracy is good, so the country wages perpetual war to shape the world according to American morality & vision. History shows that democracy doesn't create anything inherently moral from a classical liberal point of view. Democracy could very well be far worse than monarchical rule. Hmm? The truth hurts to a proud national who has a proud outlook about his country.
Well, no worry about all that anymore since we already have the high taxes, audience participation and have all but arrived at the New Versailles.
Rejoice, peasantry!
Medieval serfs would pity todays working poor. IMO. Now instead of serfdom we have debt slavery.
I think the wealth inequality is greater today than ANY other period in human history.
At least in the states, the democrat party seeks to attempt to reinforce the notion of legitimacy for elected dictatorships. A "tyranny of the ignorant", so to speak; legitimate for no other reason than being "elected".
A very, very primitive set of superstitions.
To begin a small narrative like this takes some bit of perspective and self realization. Ones' life, his experiences, those around him and of course those who he cannot see and can only imagine through what MSM sources he has and what he can believe from those. In the process of world growth there has been much debate about a New World Order (NWO) and how it may affect us. In my opinion it is an inevitable fact that NWO will come about. As a species we must not just let any wayward force of nationalism, government or religion be the deciding factor for all the billions living or attempting to live on this planet. Architects of a direction that NWO might take may be in for a suprise as the perspective and self realization of the individual on a global basis expands beyond what the hierarchy themselves can design for the good of their few at the loss of the global many. In an information and technically educated society, where 50% of the population stands today, news travels fast whether one likes it or not. We are all standing at a precipace where we, as a world population, start to make the decisions or let those who seemingly know a way, make them for us. The time is ripe for the true independence of a free global man, woman and child. It will be independence of thought that will help populations globally reduce the slaughter of what has been our sacrificial lamb; our planet, our ship across the eons; its resources, its human productivity for the sake of profit, and the continued survival of the human species. This isn't and will never be“Obamaphones” or “Cash for Clunkers”. That behavior is childish placation, giving away candy to babies. Reality is food, water, shelter and freedom to exist globally under new worldwide constitutional law, written not by governments, not by a United Nations, but by and for the people of the world in conjunction with the respect for a tenet we hold dear to our hearts, that certain inalienable rights come from a creator who sought to make us examine our free will and determine for ourselves what is right and wrong, what is good and just, what is fair and honorable for each and every living human on the planet. Man cannot judge man, he can only direct. We all can see what direction we have been, can we see the direction we need to go?
We failed again.
With Egypt.
They can think for themselves.
What a wonderfull concept.
Is this the straw that breaks the camels back?
+1 for your thoughts
Not sure if it's feasible or if it will remain utopia.
Some individuals and families have more wealth than they need / can handle. Their excessive wealth is a danger to the common good. I'm not arguing communism but the wealth gap and disparity between people is mind numbing.
Billions are struggling to survive while a few are juggling billions around and living lavishly. Last time in history the discrepancies were so apparent, the people of France demanded the King lower the price of bread. He failed and subsequently lost not only his head but his entire family and cronies were eradicated. Simple process really. I think we're close to reaching that point again but this time in a global context rather than limited to one or two nations.
I believe you are correct. Parity here at this point is going to be a long term adjustment. Certain rules and laws governing inheritance and maximum levels of income will have to be changed. Freedom isn't free. But the just use of that revenue is also a concern and should have limit laws in place. Parity in the simplest of forms is if you have a bicycle you operate on the streets, where cars are licenced and insured to be, why don't you have a licence and insurance to operate there as well? Or, if I wear a seat belt, by law, why does the guy on the suicide bike not have to wear a helmet and proper protective clothing. It starts with the equality of responsibility on all levels. Of being a responsible human being, not just for the person involved, but out of respect for the society at large. Clearly, there are too many injustices that most of the population has to pay for with lower paying jobs and meager prospects for better. The system is geared to take advantage rather than roll/spring forward an economic surge. Everything that hurts an economy, by any one person, any government or any economic idealism should be banned and punished by constitutional law. And for all you free market downers out there, who I respect entirely, we have to start putting limits on this ongoing banking fiasco. I understand that to be a Shark you have to swim in the blood, but hey, at some point you go beyond the squidd and become real vampires. That sucking sound comes from them. Not us.
There is a lot of wealth in the world. Just look at a satellite image some time, and begin to ponder the time and effort that went into plowing those fields, laying those roads, constructing those buildings. The economy's problem, IMO, is that the wealth has become too concentrated. It is now in the hands of people (billionaires etc) who wield it purely for power's sake, and seek to become wealthier purely for more power (not greed, as many people think).
They have more money than they could ever spend. So its not spent.
Lose lose for those poor bastards. They get accused of harboring terrorists, but when they kick the bums out, they are accused of toppling democracy. WTF!!??
The quote from British PM Cameron would be hilarious if it wasn't so hypocritical:
"It is not for this country to support any single group or party," he [Cameron] said in a statement."
He didn't take that view on the many times he has publicly called for Assad in Syria to resign. And given that he won't resign is now preparing to arm the savage rebels fighting him.
And he didn't take that view when he, Sarkozy and Obama decided to get rid of Ghaddafi in order to bring jihadists to power in Libya. Just demonstrates what an absolute liar the man is, but since he is a politician that's no surprise.
smacker = savage ////// Qater/US paid for mercenaries fighting him
All the recent events point to Obama losing control over America’s deep state apparatus, Starting with the Snowden circus, following with the Gezi park protests in Turkey which caused Erdoghan to pull out of the Syrian war coalition, the ousting of Qatar’s elder Emir who used to run the Al-Jazeera propaganda channel on behalf of Langley and the subsequent deportation of the radical preacher Qardawi from Qatar (suggesting Qatar is parting ways with the CIA’s Muslim brotherhood) – and now these breaking news in Egypt. The Muslim brotherhood is clearly on the run both in Egypt and in Syria. Obama’s Impeachment may be around the corner,although only time will tell what is the bottom line of these events. Details here: http://osnetdaily.com/2013/07/egypt-sacks-obamas-muslim-brotherhood/
The Egyptian military with its crony network of businesses controlling 40% of Egypt's GDP, and their annual $1billion+ benefit cheque from America, is the real power and has been for years. Mubarak and Morsi were allowed to hold power only until the military had enough of them. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss - if the protestors think the "people" are calling the shots, or will be any time soon, they're delusional.
Edrogan put 330 of the top Turkish nilitary in prison. Edrogan and Morsi were blood brothers. Egyptian top ranks feared the same outcome. Being pushed to go offensive in Syria was the last straw.
Give the word to the secular opposition - who also were horrified about developments in Syria - then go back to the barracks and wait it out.
I will go along with democracy is not a panacea but, this was a quick and dirty lesson of what can go wrong in a democratically elected govt. without a constitution effectively limiting government power and guaranteeing individual rights. No one is going to mention that the majority religion without a huge natural resource subsidy may be a burden too heavy for any form of govt. Without oil, Saudi Arabia might envy the economy of Yemen. The Bedouins of the Sinai might be an example. Our descent into intensely corrupt govt. took longer and it may be harder to redeem liberty here.