That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
I got up to make a cup of coffee, came back to find the King of Jordan has just dismissed his entire government.
Meanwhile Erdoğan gave quite a canny speech. There's a reason he's a successful politician. Note that he did not actually call for anything, although it's immediately being understood as "taking the side of the Arab people." He managed not to really do that, but to sound as if he truly cares about them. In fact, he appealed to Mubarak "lend an ear to the people's cries and extremely human demands," and to prevent "exploiters, groups with dirty aims, [and] those sections that have dark designs over Egypt to take the initiative." What does that mean? Whatever you want it to, really. Think of it as a Middle East Rorschach test. Although the words are in fact meaningless, they sound as if they're on the side of the Arab people. This is in marked contrast to our leadership: I'm not sure whose side they're on, but they've certainly managed to sound as if they truly don't care about the Arab people.
Speaking of which, the Israelis have handled this with unbelievable stupidity. Now is not the time for them to be running around telling the world that they can't believe the United States has sold poor Mubarak down the river. One thing to say this behind the scenes, another basically to announce--after it's already crystal-clear that Mubarak is doomed--that in your view, the United States should have encouraged him to shoot his people like dogs. I reckon the Israelis who are leaking this are thinking, "Well, it doesn't matter what we say, they'll hate us anyway." Possibly, but why guarantee it?
What they should be saying is that they urge Mubarak to "lend an ear to the people's cries and extremely human demands," and to prevent "exploiters, groups with dirty aims, [and] those sections that have dark designs over Egypt to take the initiative." You can't go too wrong with that.
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Jul '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Claire, you haven't given Smart Diplomacy enough time to work. A deep bow from the presidential waist when it comes will work the customary magic and the Arab street will fall silent.
Jul '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Perhaps Erdogan should have reminded the naive young Egyptians in the streets of his earlier observation that,"... democracy is like a tram...once you get where you're going, you step off."
War on Israel Express. Next stop Islamic dictatorship. Watch the closing doors....
Jun '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
The problem is that the Brits installed a Hashemite king to rule over a population which even in 1947-48 was largely Palestinian. Oops.
Nov '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Ok, Claire, now it's personal. I have very little understanding of the politics of Egypt and Jordan. But I have friends living in Jordan, and I'm worried for them. As all of this unfolded in the back of my mind was "This won't happen in Jordan." I had that incorrect notion because while I was there, everybody expressed deep love for their King. It makes sense now that love for the king and love for the government are two different things. I'm waiting anxiously for a reply from my brother in Amman.
As far as Egypt goes, I have a short story that may be of interest ("Captain Aubrey, may we press you for an anecdote?"). While in Jordan I spent the day with an Egyptian pastor. He lead a flock that was truly first century. What I mean by that is that there is no church building, and he simply goes house to house caring for those in his charge. That's what we did with him. What an amazing way to see a people. He was in Jordan for one reason: he was not able to thrive in Egypt because he was Christian.
Nov '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
(continued) Anyway, I asked him if it was illegal to be Christian in Egypt. He told me that it was not illegal, but that the people in Egypt discriminate against Christians. His wife for example was a trained bookkeeper, who had a job until her boss discovered she was a Christian. He fired her and replaced her with a Muslim. Through it all, all this fellow wanted to do was return to Egypt and serve his fellow Egyptians. He eventually did do that, and I've lost track of him since he left Jordan.
I tell this story just because when I think of Egypt and what's going on there its hard to separate in my mind an oppressive government and an oppressive people. I don't know if I'm making my point clearly. Is there some connection between the oppressed, and their oppression of others? Does one cause the other? I don't know the answer, or even if it is an appropriate question to ask. But at least you got a good story out of it.
Jun '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Granted, I was very busy yesterday...out and about...but I don't recall seeing any video coverage on street protests in Jordan. None.
Are reporters getting into the country or being turned back? Has the king instituted martial law? Are there tanks on the streets? Are tires being burned? Storefronts being smashed in? General mayhem? Or is the king's move to sack his cabinet more of a pre-emptive measure before things in Jordan get really out hand?
Jul '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Brian, there have been protests on the streets in Jordan for a week now. It's just that our lazy media have been concentrating solely upon Egypt, where the protests have been more telegenic.
Oct '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
It appears to be a chicken and egg issue. Do oppressive rulers lead to a people who themselves oppress others, or do they simply suppress the peoples evil tendencies?
But, enter the issue of Islam, and it becomes another matter entirely. Dhimmitude is the Koranic imperative to treat all non-Muslims as inferiors. This is especially true for Christians. They are the infidel "People of the Book". That is, they have the revelation of the Old Testament God, Muslims claim that He is Allah, but they reject His Prophet, Muhammad. What you see isn't intolerant bigotry, it is the will of Allah, revealed by His Prophet, Muhammad.
Edited on Feb 1, 2011 at 7:07amJews are another matter.
Jun '10
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
Kenneth
Brian, there have been protests on the streets in Jordan for a week now. It's just that our lazy media have been concentrating solely upon Egypt, where the protests have been more telegenic. · Feb 1 at 6:53am
Yes, I was aware that there have been demonstrations just not the scale of them. Even Al Jazeera's english site is sadly lacking on this. So, not just the American media.
Re: That's It, I Can't Leave the Internet Ever Again
They aren't any too keen on Druze, either, and the Member of Knesset who did most of the talking is a Druze politician (Ayoub Kara).