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Determined to become irrelevant in all cultures, noted social critic and military strategist Richard Cohen has decided to critique political movements overseas.
The dream of a democratic Egypt is sure to produce a nightmare.
Egypt’s problems are immense. It has a population it cannot support, a standard of living that is stagnant and a self-image as leader of the (Sunni) Arab world that does not, really, correspond to reality. It also lacks the civic and political institutions that are necessary for democracy. The next Egyptian government – or the one after – might well be composed of Islamists. In that case, the peace with Israel will be abrogated and the mob currently in the streets will roar its approval.
My take on all this is relentlessly gloomy. I care about Israel. I care about Egypt, too, but its survival is hardly at stake.
Screw Egypt’s people, it will still be a place on the map! If you can’t bomb ‘em, what’s the point?
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How much money did the WaPoS lose last year? Apparently not enough.
I want one of those: that priceless Shepard Fairey poster version of Mr. Concerned!!1!
As to the content of this post, let me say that Mr. Cohen’s capacity for outlooking leaves me relentlessly gloomy.
It sounds like Rich got up on the wrong side of the bed.
Don’t worry. Tomorrow he’ll be his old self again and ready to invade.
The Wreck of The Democrat
Prick. Some of us care about Egypt, Palestine and the part of Israel that belongs to Israel. I care not one whit about propped up, war mongering, apartheid government of Israel nor do I give one sweet pidoody about the puppet master enablers of violence and perpetuators of terrorism.
Who created the conditions for Islamic radicalism? Just fucking look at post-war US cold war policy. Jeebus. If we hadn’t interfered, many of these Arab nations would have been more democratic, and possibly socialistic. But because the Pentagon is mortally scared of socialism, we have a mess now.
And who says a new gov’t will automatically turn Islamist? Does this guy have a crystal ball?
Power to the Egyptian people!
Religion is always fear and ignorance. The flavor doesn’t matter. Intelligence based on love and compassion are the only things that ever save a society.
The chickens are coming home to roost.
What a bunch of clueless gas bags in the lamestream media and “government.”
It’s really stunning how they just can’t see reality.
It is the vast pile of money that is blocking their view, well that and some nutfuck ideology.
The empire is crumbling.
He truly is a man for the ages.
Good morning, pups. It’s Brooks and Kristof today. Bobo addresses “The Quest for Dignity” and says what we are seeing in Egypt broadly mirrors other uprisings in the most recent democratic wave. A few consistent themes are worth noting. Mr. Kristof is “Exhilarated by the Hope in Cairo,” and says the White House should be more active in supporting the protesters in Egypt.
Here they are.
The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got a selection of bagels with cream cheese. Al Jazeera is saying that there are more than a million protesters around Tahrir Square, and the Army is “maintaining a strict position of neutrality.” Now I’ve got to feed kittehs. Have a great day.
The “Pentagon” is merely an instrument of the ruling elites, it is they who are afraid of “socialism.” The Pentagon merely follows orders.
Not automatic. No crystal ball required.
“Don’t worry. Tomorrow he’ll be his old self again and ready to invade.”
Someone’s personal space?
To sum up: Democracy in Egypt is just great as long as it does not disturb Israel’s imperialists. Cohen seems to believe that “the right side of history” includes Israel’s apartheid system!
How sad it is that this vanguard of civilization must resort to the horrible methods it uses in order to reppress its neighbors, who clearly belong to a lesser civilization.
Cohen would have concerned MLK and the Civil Rights movement, exactly the same way.
That’s right Dick! America should invade Egypt to protect Israel’s interest because we know Israel would do exactly the same thing for America.
when the whole middle east starts chanting death to america in unison you fucking dirty hippies might not be so cocky and confident, just saying. Devil’s advocate and all.
He’s not writing for this audience. What audience is he writing for?
I’d like the enemy clearly identified.
Is chanting “death to america” worse than actually delivering ,for years, to uncounted thousands death and disregard for their humanity via bombs, cruse missiles and drones ?
And let’s not skip over our embrace and encouragement of torturing to death, by our actions not just chanting some slogans.
run along.
I have some different concerns than Mr. Cohen’s which I’d like to mention.
I am concerned that the Mubarak regime is going to try to wait out the uprising. They have shut down the trains and the banks/ATMs, as well as major components of communications infrastructure. Mubarak and his cronies have plenty of food, but what about the people in the street? What happens when the food, fuel, and cash all run out? Is there any movement afoot to bring supplies into the country? From where? How will it get transported?
I am concerned that the regime still in power may attempt to crush the rebellion through simple starvation. If that makes me a troll, I’m sorry.
It’s a jenga stack with the Egypt block pulled out…
…the law of un-intended consequences is in full effect.
He only gets a nickel for every troll post, but a quarter for every response.
Well, he unintentionally gets one part right. Population IS the problem. Too many people, not enough to sustain them. But it isn’t just Egypt, it’s global. Earth can only sustain healthy and happy, so many people. We are overpopulated.
Yes, Kristof’s oped this morning is, for the most part, surprisingly good. The one sentence that made me gag however was this:
Boy, does that speak volumes concerning US foreign policy.
Poor fragile and helpless Israel, always on the verge of being wiped out by something or other that America must not let continue.
Why is that Dick? Are only Jews and Christians capable of self-governance?
of course not, there is a possibility though that this will end very badly for us,and for them….. Ideally the regime should have transitioned to a more enlightened government
These are just the birth pangs of a new democracy.
I think this passage really sums up the beltway idiocy:
“The Brotherhood remains the only well-organized institution in Egypt other than the military. It has been underground for generations – jailed, tortured, infiltrated, but still, somehow, flourishing.”
They just don’t/won’t/can’t understand why people insist on fighting back against violence, repression and torture.
Mr Cohen, they are not flourishing in spite of repression but because of it
“…a standard of living that is stagnant and a self-image as leader of the …. world that does not, really, correspond to reality…”
Who’s that remind you of?
Mr. Cohen’s contempt for actual democracy illuminates the bankruptcy of American foreign policy for the last 50 years. Elect a leader who puts his own citizens ahead of American interests; BAD. Support a dictator who kowtows to American interests at the expense of his own people; Good.
Disgusting!
That’s what I was thinking. Projection, perhaps?
“[The US's] problems are immense. It has a population it cannot support, a standard of living that is stagnant and a self-image as leader of the [Free] world that does not, really, correspond to reality. It also lacks the civic and political institutions that are necessary for democracy. The next [US] government – or the one after – might well be composed of [Christian Fundamentalists]. In that case, the peace with [the world] will be abrogated and the mob currently in the streets will roar its approval.”
Not according to Joel Cohen, who does a pretty good job of deconstructing the projections. It’s not overpopulation, it’s the distribution of wealth and income that’s the problem. The binding world popopulation constraint is somewhere north of 25 billion (not that we would want to see anything close to that). I did my part No kids.
Jordan? Potentate Abdullah Dismisses cabinet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02jordan.html
Whether the U.S. or people like Cohen like it or not, the die is cast. There will be regime change in Egypt. Far be it from me to pretend to have any expertise in the Middle East situation, but this might be a wakeup call for Israel. If there is any chance to make a deal now with the Palenstinians, do it now.
It is time to embrace the hopes and dreams. Democracy has to start somewhere.
The time for caution is past. Embrace the revolution now or forever be branded as an enemy of the Egyptian people. I would not have said that a few days ago but the train has left the station and we can only run after it at this point.
Absolutely. We have a completely dysfunctional Senate which cannot address the needs of democracy. It is time for a revolution.
@ 8 SanderO
Must you use the Palinism ‘lamestream’? It’s not as if the media has prostate issues; they are usually eager to piss on the heads of the progressive left. In copious measure.
Maybe it’s time for Israel to make a deal and withdraw from the West Bank. It is not like we can stop this change, anyway. So embrace it.
Failure to embrace the revolution will ensure chants of Death to America. Besides, we are used to it.
hopefully it all works out, unlike 1917 russia
Wow. How many utter [edited by mod] can the media of a single country produce? Go USA!
It’s stunning that the more they say, the less the people take them seriously too; and they don’t seem to realize it.
CNN finally stopped lying on Saturday
That should be taken care of pretty soon. Either the overlords will do something directly or the overlords will pollute the planet so badly nothing will be able to reproduce.
Take your pick.
Ummm, Egypt is a dictatorship. It, by definition, has already ended badly for the majority of Egyptians.
Naturally, the Egyptian dictatorship was and is not the worst of all possible worlds. But, why should the majority of Egyptians molly-coddle dictators and imperialists which never showed a jot of concern for their well-being?
Or 1789, America.