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Post by austinset on Feb 2, 2011 20:12:23 GMT -5
plus that establishes unfriendly relations...and thats JUST what we need eh? best thing to do is think of the new government AND the old as different governments
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Post by Cantiliahantan on Feb 2, 2011 20:17:40 GMT -5
ok i guess
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Post by Teutonic on Feb 5, 2011 3:43:14 GMT -5
I've actually been following this avidly, considering I've done several studies on the Arab world, especially around this time (though I claim to be no expert), and personally I think this should be left to run its course. This protest shows parallels to eastern European uprisings, and it'll be interesting to see if it has a similar effect, however three things concern me: 1: US meddling! This has happened twice now, in Iraq and Afghan-The glory boys have swooped in, ousted the leader, and then watched as nobody steps up to the podium. America goes from liberator to occupier in a few days. If the USA wants to remain friendly with the Arabs and Israelis, they should stay silent on the sidelines and leave this to the Egyptian people. 2: The Muslim brotherhood. This bunch are supposedly pacifists, however I personally don't quite buy it, considering they sprang a bunch of their muhjahadeen-esq friends from Egyptian prisons as soon as the army refused to side with either side. If these guys take power we could well see the most developed Arab nation backslide into Saudi barbarity. 3:Israel.The Israelis have a nasty habit of seeing absolutely anything as a threat, and it's understandable. They’ve been invaded three times, and literally built a wall around their country. If they feel threatened by a new, anti Israeli regime, and let's face it, almost all the Arab people dislike Israel, then they may start a new era of defensive aggression. Add this to the fact that these people literally have an apocalypse clock near midnight. The Iranians have nearly acquired nuclear weapons, and have missiles capable of reaching Israel, as they are keen to demonstrate. Though the Iranians are by no means Arab, they are very anti Israel, and if Israel starts lashing out again, Iran may decide to pull it's weight, and become a new Middle eastern leader as a result. Not a nice outcome, I hope you'd all agree. Hopefully we'll see a democratic solution, and if we do, it may herald the dawn of a new Middle East, that can actually pull it's own weight instead of having to rely on "the oil weapon", and maybe one day come to resemble Europe and America in development. I'm not actually sure what to predict though. This could swing in any direction. So there you have my essay on the Egyptian people’s struggle >.<
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Post by Cantiliahantan on Feb 5, 2011 4:57:30 GMT -5
I think the whole Middle east is going to Shit anyways i mean mostly all they know how to do is fight (wich is why they cant develope very far because there is always some war or revolution going on) So it would be good if we step in and correct that trend and introduce stability to the middle east (i know how this sounds but if we did peace very well could follow)
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Post by seattile on Feb 5, 2011 16:17:48 GMT -5
@ Cantiliahantan: I agree with what you say, but if the U.S did do somthing like that then the world would say that we are a bunch war mongers, and imperalist.
But we can't sit around and do nothing ether, if the Muslim Brotherhood (a terrorist group in Egypt) takes control than they might do somthing like Iran and no U.S ship would be able to use the Suez Canal and gas prices would go up and then so would other stuff people rely on. So it might be like a lose-lose stitution for the United States. But in these cases I say go for the one that is less of a loss.
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Post by Teutonic on Feb 5, 2011 17:15:04 GMT -5
I don't think the USA can aford to lose any more press with the world. You may claim to be the only surviving superpower, but China is set to overtake your GDP, and the EU already exceeds it. If America were to intervene in what is essentially a peaceful demonstration, you'd risk alienating a huge number of your allies (almost all in the middle east) and such an intervention would'nt help your fuel prices at all-The Saudis may just refuse to sell to you, they did it in the Yom Kippur war. I'll stop myself here, as I'm somewhat biased against the american government, for a variety of reasons . Basically, intervening would be the worst possible thing in Egypt. Also I'm not actually sure The Muslim Brotherhood are terrorists. They claim to be pacifist, but certainly some among their number are militant.
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Post by Skooby Snaks on Feb 8, 2011 1:42:18 GMT -5
I read somewhere that the US has like 18 times more oil than the Middle East but we cant use it because we might harm the poor cacti in the desert.
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Post by Cantiliahantan on Feb 8, 2011 7:14:09 GMT -5
@ Skooby aw poor stupid plants we should buldoze them and set up drilling
And dude half the world already thinks we are war monger an imperialist and the other half still sont like us that much
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Post by Teutonic on Feb 8, 2011 12:48:25 GMT -5
Doesn't the USA claim to hold an anti imperialist stance though? If you were to intervene in egypt, Mubarack would close the suez canal to the united states, and the saudis would stop selling. And what would be gained? you'd likely end up with a fully anti-NATO Arabia, and instant UN condemnation. Nothing would be gained whatsoever. As for oil, that might be true, though it may be that it's too deep to drill at teh present. I doubt that anyone apart from the most bizzare eco-fundemantalist would oppose drilling in a desert.
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Post by Kardas on Feb 12, 2011 16:45:15 GMT -5
Well, Mubarak's stepping down! Except power's now in the hands of the armed forces. Doubt that that's a good thing.
There have also been protests in Algiers...
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Post by Cantiliahantan on Feb 12, 2011 17:07:36 GMT -5
Stupid idiot he says "I WILL NOT STEP DOWN!" and then steps down man what spineless cowards we have for leaders sometimes
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NPLXIV
Skin Crafter
The Motherland of Chinchillawater Founder
Posts: 196
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Post by NPLXIV on Feb 12, 2011 17:25:28 GMT -5
Im not following this too much, i dont have much interest in the middle east.
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Post by gonzdara on Feb 12, 2011 20:33:11 GMT -5
Right, because nothing that happens in the middle east ever affects us I mean that in the nicest way NPLXIV.
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Post by Cantiliahantan on Feb 12, 2011 21:24:00 GMT -5
HA! funny ;D
But really this is out of hand something must be done about all this revolution What if it spreads west?
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Post by Teutonic on Feb 13, 2011 10:36:56 GMT -5
I'm not sure how this will go. Hopefully the military will act in the interest of the people, or we might just see another military dictatorship... And Cantiliahantan, surely you can't be serious? A revolution is the incarnation of the will of a people. You're suggesting we should stop them becuase they might inspire others to think about freedom and liberty? The west won't experiance such upheavasls becuase the western system, and certainly European socialism allows for free elections. Personally, I say good for those who are trying to gain freedom. Even if they are unsuccesful, it shows that not all societies are dead to the idea of freedom.
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