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[Blank Expression]

acording to Ali J the US have 'close relations' with the Egyptian military

Their officer corps is almost entirely trained in the United States. Yeah, there's a close relationship there.

[GamerKnight]

The USA will not intefere. Even they know the consequences of that.

[PTTG??]

This can only end well for the US if we strongly, but equitably, support the new government. I suspect that we will try to make it look like the protests were the straw that broke the- ahem- camel's back, with the decades of US urgings for civil rights being the main thing that caused the former Egyptian president to accept defeat.

This may even work, to a degree.

Here's a question; The United States has been critisized by a great many people (myself included,) for attempting to police the world. And we know how well Liberation works, if the number of Iraqis and Afgans who have been liberated from their mortal coils indicates anything. What, I put forward in all seriousness, should the US do if it may neither attack nor ignore tyrants*? I am sure that that is not exactly the problem here- the US has been providing material support to the former Egyptian government, not simply ignoring it- but the question stands.

*Even those put in place by the previous generation of Americans?

[Max White]

Well I have to applaude the integrity of the Egyptian population.
When looters hit the national museum, they formed a blockade to halter these criminals. When the police left the population to do as they like, people took to the streets to direct traffic and stop accedents.

Sometimes political turmoil happens, but it speeks praise of the Egyptian people how they conduct themselves.

[SalmonGod]

Sometimes political turmoil happens, but it speeks praise of the Egyptian people how they conduct themselves.

The anarchist in me will bite its tongue and merely agree

[Max White]

I know, i know. Being unlawful good myself, I'm drawn between watching an evil govenment being overthrown in the most fitting and entertaining of ways, and seeing people suffer through streets so thick in tear gas it forms a powder on the road.

[SalmonGod]

I know, i know. Being unlawful good myself, I'm drawn between watching an evil govenment being overthrown in the most fitting and entertaining of ways, and seeing people suffer through streets so thick in tear gas it forms a powder on the road.

My sympathy for those who face those hardships and anger at those who invoke them is overwhelmed by my pride in people for fighting through them.  I hope one day I can be proud of people who aren't on the other side of the world.

[Bouchart]

We'll see what happens.  It's encouraging to see this at first, but political Islam is a far more organized and cohesive force in the middle east than democratic liberalism.  I believe we'll see a democratic transitional government set up, and a few months later overthrown.

[Virex]

We'll see what happens.  It's encouraging to see this at first, but political Islam is a far more organized and cohesive force in the middle east than democratic liberalism.  I believe we'll see a democratic transitional government set up, and a few months later overthrown.

Considering that a few polls conducted last year showed that at least a significant part of the Egyptians favors a more religion-oriented country, that may not be necessary. Last elections, the Muslim Brotherhood managed to gain IIRC 20% of the votes (trough independent candidates because they themselves were illegal). Overthrowing an Islamic democracy is going to bring significantly more problems then overthrowing a secular democracy not in the least place because nobody is waiting for another civil war in the region.

[alway]

Update on Sudan:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/2011131173810198363.html
99.57% voted in favor of splitting, north seems to accept the decision.

[Bouchart]

Update on Sudan:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/01/2011131173810198363.html
99.57% voted in favor of splitting, north seems to accept the decision.

Is it legitimate?  You can't get 99.57% of people to agree on the simplest and most trivial of things.

[nenjin]

The problem with a democratic Islamic nation isn't the rest of the world; it's the hardliners and Al Qaeda. They'll target any Muslim nation that isn't toeing the line according to their interpretation of Islam. And since the US would throw aide at any democratic Muslim nation....they'd be guilty of the two majors sins according to Al Qaeda. And then we'd be forced to deploy troops to protect a nascent democracy.... it'd be Jihad in Egypt because we're there in force. And then Israel would flip shit because Egypt is just across the pond, and the Mid-East peace process grinds to a complete and total halt.

[alway]

Yeah, it's legitimate; they have more than enough reasons to want separation. After the hundreds of thousands dead from the Darfur conflict, they don't particularly care to be part of the same country any more. It's been pretty obvious this would happen for months now; and with UN enforcement/backing and the go-ahead from the north, I have a hard time seeing how there could be anything but a peaceful separation at this point.

And last I checked, Al Qaeda hates pretty much everyone but a state like Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. Whether its a mildly Islamic one or secular makes no difference.

[Max White]

The problem with a democratic Islamic nation isn't the rest of the world; it's the hardliners and Al Qaeda. They'll target any Muslim nation that isn't toeing the line according to their interpretation of Islam. And since the US would throw aide at any democratic Muslim nation....they'd be guilty of the two majors sins according to Al Qaeda. And then we'd be forced to deploy troops to protect a nascent democracy.... it'd be Jihad in Egypt because we're there in force. And then Israel would flip shit because Egypt is just across the pond, and the Mid-East peace process grinds to a complete and total halt.

So I take it things arn't going well for the middle east, but atleast the chances of catching terrorists is higher then the chance of finding Weapons of mass destruciton.

[nenjin]

I'm sure catching terrorists will be of great comfort to the Egyptians when their country is a conflict zone akin to Iraq.

Seriously, I've been waiting for Al Qaeda to break on to the scene in Egypt. The fact that Egypt is pretty moderate by comparison to some Muslim countries I think is the reason they haven't been able to operate. If they started blowing up Shiites in Egypt, the people would start putting their militias to work and the military would act.

I think all they're waiting on is for the situation to destabilize more so they can start getting situated amongst the chaos. The minute the political situation goes in a direction that isn't good for radical Islam, they'll act. That's why they're so fucking devious. Al Qaeda cells involved in conflicts they have little to do with, and make a bad situation get worse.