Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Feb 1, 2011 at 11:00am
As soon as Judith finishes putting her kids to bed, we're going to record another podcast. We're taking questions. I'll answer the obvious one right now to get it out of the way:
Question: Hey, how are you two ladies staying so calm and composed in the midst of all of this Mideast chaos?
Answer: We're not! We're freaking out completely.
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Sep '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
1st Serious Question:
We have heard speculation on what will happen to Egyptian Copts if the Muslim Brotherhood ascends to power, but do we have any reliable reaction from Egyptian Copts themselves?
2nd Frivolous Question:
Given that the domesticated cat originated in Egypt, how are Claire's pets reacting to the crisis? We all assume the correct answer is "They're freaking out completely!"
May '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
I worry that no matter what happens, the new Egypt will once again soon be at war with Israel. Is there a path (other than the status quo returns) that leaves Egypt honoring its treaty?
Jun '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Mubarak according to news bulletins is set to announce his resignation. Now that this is a fait accompli, it will be interesting to see if the majority of Egyptians accept his choice for a successor, Suleiman or whether there will be more disruption on the streets fueled by the MB.
May '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
What is Saudi Arabia's role in this? If Iran's Shiite government has long been at odds with mostly Sunni Saudi Arabia for dominance in the region, does the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood (which I believe is Sunni) and continued instability in the region mean they'll go to war? From what I understand, the monarchies of Jordan and Kuwait were put in place by Saudi Arabia. If Jordan falls, would Saudi Arabia intervene in some way? Does Saudi Arabia have a capable military? What do Iran and Saudi Arabia stand to lose/gain if Egypt falls to the Muslim Brotherhood?
Jun '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Jordan also seems to be reacting to the uprising bug, with King Abdullah (preemptively?) dissolving his government to try to get ahead of the wave. Between Egypt and Jordan, which represents the greater concern - to both U.S. and Israel's national interests?
My gut says both. Jordan because of the borders it shares with Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Egypt because of the Suez Canal. All of the geographics are of highly strategic interest.
Sep '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
This question may be too airy-fairy for this podcast, but I see the MB and like groups as expressing the last gasp of male supremacy. Do either of you see any historical value in that view?
Jan '11
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
So, my question. Do we even WANT democracy in Egypt right now? The poverty and disenfranchishment (so to speak) is endemic, and not easily amenable by electing a bunch of people with no foundation or experience in matters of freedom and markets.
Is it better to have a Islamic theocracy that fails (hopefully the Copts are not harmed), so that the people can see that's not the solution either? :-/
This gets back to RL's (Republican Lite, ie Rob Long) comment on a recent podcast that we need to "have it out", rather than paper things over yet again.
May '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
I'd appreciate some discussion of the Suez Canal. You already responded to my question, but there have been some rebuttals that seem reasonable.
If Egypt attacks Israel, the United States will be involved in that war indirectly. We might even be involved directly if someone foolishly decides to attack one of our naval vessels in the area (people are just as capable of foolish decisions in wartime as in peacetime). The Suez Canal seems like another way in which the U.S. could be drawn into war.
And how would Egypt's neighbors respond to the canal closing?
Also, what is Israel's military doing right now? Egypt might be the main threat, but things aren't so stable on their other borders either. Is there a danger of the IDF being spread thin?
Jul '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Does El Baradei have the religious gravitas to garner support from the more fervent Muslims for his own aims, or does he rely on the Brotherhood entirely to deliver that bloc?
From what you folks have written it seems to me that the Brotherhood has a rep for long term strategic planning. If El Baradei decides not to be a puppet, does he get targeted for assassination? Or do they play it more cautiously?
Jun '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Over on Katie's thread "Reaching the Muslim world" we've been discussing whether or not religious pluralism and liberal democracy can work in Muslim societies. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, in particular: is Turkey a good example of a working Muslim democracy? Or a cautionary tale? Could a Turkish model democracy work in Egypt?
Sep '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
I know what you're getting at, but could you flesh it out a bit? The way you're phrasing it I got a bit of a chuckle because I'm visualizing an all women's tank brigade rolling into Cairo and taking them down. I know you were asking a serious question, its just my neurotransmitters after 48 fluid ounces of ground and burnt legume.
Jun '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
A significant number of Egyptians, mostly from the middle class, understand that democracy and classical liberalism will bring Egypt the fruits of modernity. I don't know what the percentage might be vis-a-vis the Muslim Brotherhood, but they do exist. This is the faction, assuming they are organized, that the US should be backing.
Dec '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Is democracy required for capitalism? China's economy is growing without it.
May '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Exactly how important has twitter been to this revolution? There was talk about giving Obama power to shut down the internet in case of a crisis. Is this the government trying to not let this crisis go to waste?
Thanks again for all your coverage over the past week or so. Don't hold back I love every post that goes up.
Sep '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Pseudodionysius
I know what you're getting at, but could you flesh it out a bit? The way you're phrasing it I got a bit of a chuckle because I'm visualizing an all women's tank brigade rolling into Cairo and taking them down. I know you were asking a serious question, its just my neurotransmitters after 48 fluid ounces of ground and burnt legume. · Feb 1 at 11:39am
Yeah, the question's not sharp. What I mean is, since the Enlightenment there's been this progression in the West (bolstered by a belief in the sanctity of the individual) toward human rights, especially for women. For many, the results have been more unsettling than positive. The fixation that many male Islamists have on women as the cause of all inappropriate desire make me think that this urge for Sharia is a form of push-back to stop equality from reaching their culture.
Sep '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Leslie Watkins
Yeah, the question's not sharp. What I mean is, since the Enlightenment there's been this progression in the West (bolstered by a belief in the sanctity of the individual) toward human rights, especially for women. For many, the results have been more unsettling than positive. The fixation that many male Islamists have on women as the cause of all inappropriate desire make me think that this urge for Sharia is a form of push-back to stop equality from reaching their culture. · Feb 1 at 12:25pm
Excellent. That was crystal clear.
Jan '11
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
Sorry, maybe there's a one question limit - but - How scared is the House of Saud?
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
How long can Israel stand on its own against Hamas in Gaza, Hamas in Lebanon, Fatah in the West Bank, and a newly aggressive Egypt? I ask because it appears to me that the United States will not intervene militarily to aid Israel under the current administration, and I'm really worried about that and the signal it sends around the world.
Thanks for the extra podcasts.
Oct '10
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
It appears that there are two contenders for power in Egypt, Mubarak/military and MB/ElBaradei. Is there a third viable option? Is there a third player strong enough to tip the balance one way or the other?
Feb '11
Re: Middle East Podcast: Time to Freak Out Completely Edition
We have read that China has been filtering and limiting their citizens' access to information about the massive Egyptian protest. So has China an interest in the Egyptian outcome and would it attempt to influence the political process with offers of money/aid?