A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
The Dutch have cut off their ties to Iran over the hanging of a Dutch-Iranian woman:
Bengt van Loosdrecht, the Dutch foreign ministry spokesman, said Uri Rosenthal, the foreign minister, was "shocked, shattered by this act by a barbaric regime.''
I am surely not saying that Egypt is inevitably headed down this trajectory, but I am saying--confidently--that I don't know what's going to happen and neither does anyone else. I don't know if the parallels between the Egyptian situation and revolutionary Iran's are ones from which we should be drawing lessons. One of the lessons we should draw from history is to beware of drawing too many lessons from history. But surely the fact that there are any parallels at all should make everyone nervous.
Michael Rubin is urging confidence: The US Should Not Fear Egypt Regime Change, he says. I don't disagree with his arguments, but I disagree with that headline. Anyone who's not nervous now is really not thinking.
Meanwhile, Barry Rubin is nervous. "I am deeply worried and one of the things I'm worried about is that others don't seem to be worried."
Me too.
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Jul '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
No fear. We are blessed with the greatest leader the world has ever known and that famous combat hero Hillary. Professionals on duty.
So, the whole point of spreading democracy is really so that the opposition will be just as hamstrung, isn't it.
Uri Rosenthal is hereby declared an honorary friend of the Sisyphus household, entitled to cookies and adult beverages on nights with no scout events. Some notice may be required.
Edited on Jan 30, 2011 at 2:38amSep '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
I'm pessimistic. As Kenneth and James Lileks commented in another post, the history of revolutionary change of governments is not encouraging, especially in the Arab world.
I'd bet the Muslim Brotherhood has been preparing for this moment for years.
Sep '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
sorry, posted on wrong thread.
Edited on Jan 30, 2011 at 4:09amSep '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
I think its time for all concerned citizens in the Middle East to take refuge in the trunks of Mexican BMW's lined up at the US border.
May '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
Japanese aren't worried. The evening news top 3.
1. The man who fell to his death from an amusement park car.
2. The snow in western Japan.
3. Egypt: the plight of Japanese tourists stranded at Cairo airport. Oh, and there is some political stuff going on in Egypt too.
Sep '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
While there certainly are differences there are some striking similarities to Iran 1979.
A long-held dictatorship backed by the USA, that ruthlessly suppressed Muslim fundamentalists . A dithering and naive US president who is unsympathetic to Israel. Control of an economically strategic location (Suez Canal - Straits of Hormuz) A regime at peace with Israel. Both countries have quite large populations. The USA has virtually no leverage or power to influence in any way.
As Barry Rubin says the Islamists didn't start to take control in Iran until about 6 months passed. They need only to make plans while chaos reigns and move in as saviors.
May '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
Sisyphus: No fear. We are blessed with the greatest leader the world has ever known and that famous combat hero Hillary. Professionals on duty.
... · Jan 30 at 2:29am
Edited on Jan 30 at 02:38 am
Hillary is heading for Haiti. Haiti! That's really priority #1.
Jul '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
Claire,
What's to say?
We took it on the chin for saying it in 2008 and now all that is happening is we're being proven right.
Worried?
You're darn straight I'm worried. But the die is cast and there is nothing I can say or do that will change the fact that North Africia is in flames and it's Amateur Night At The White House. He hasn't even decided where he stands on this situation for crying out loud.
Those of us on the right warned people that you cannot vote Present when international crisis hits and our reward was to be called racists.
So tell me Claire, what can I say now?
May '10
Re: A Lot of People Don't Seem Quite Worried Enough to Me
I'm plenty worried. These are interesting times.