Egypt

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2011/January/US-Set-to-Fly-Americans-from-Egypt-/

They are sending Americans home, the British are not in the same rush to do so.

Is this a chance for democracy in Egypt?

These are troubling times for stability in the middle east

They are indeed. I heard that a lot of tourists from all countries were trying to get out because of the expanding violence.

I heard today that they looted the Cairo Museum. I honestly cannot believe that, it is so horrible. Egyptians have always had such a rich appreciation of there history, to defile the museum that showcases it seem to me to be the worst possible atrocity!

I'm exactly sure what alls going on in Egypt, because I don't follow the news, but all I heard was that some resistance groups or something are trying establish a democracy or something.

They probably have a chance at democracy, as every one should. All I know is that if there is some kind of revolution or something, America needs to stay out of it right now. We don't need any more problems than we already have.

pi0x : Please read my full rant in Totts other thread about Egypt. Or better yet, actually research what is going on. It is your world, care about it.

So the situation has grown more dire I feel.

Mubarak announced that he had "no intention of running for re-election in September" (yeah, right... I was listening through a translator and I still heard the falsity in your voice). He says he wants to finish his term. The protesters and leaders of other countries, the US included, say it needs to be now. Now, before the Obama-haters go off, let me point out that it is not only Western nations saying he needs to step down... other Arab leaders are saying it too, in fact only the king of Saudi Arabia is siding with Mubarak last I checked.

Following his speech, there were "pro-Mubarak" groups that began attacking the protesters, barricading them in Liberation Square and provoking them to violence in order to defend themselves. There is a lot of speculation that these are more of the hired gangs of Mubaraks (the same that looted the Museum and did all the previous rioting) that are trying to cause enough violence so that the military will be ordered to open fire on the gatherings. So far they have fired only warning shots to break up fights, but who knows what will happen.

This is having dramatic effects in other Arab nations as well. Much like the uprisings in Tunisa caused this Egyptian rebellion, sentiment is spreading. Lebanon's leader sacked his entire cabinet the other day. Syria's leader is afraid as well as Libya's. China has blocked the ability to search the word "Egypt" on their internet for fear of similar protest movements springing up.

And amidst it all the Western world sits on the edge of their seats and watches it all unfold. They are worried, and with good reason. Egypt controls the Suez Canal, one of the major trade shortcuts in the world. Without it, ships would have to sail all the way around Africa to get to from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and vice versa. It was the reason that the United Kingdom held Egypt as a territory for so long, and losing access to it would cripple the economies of several nations. Also involved is the precarious peace between the Arab world and Israel. Jimmy Carter negotiated a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in the 1970s, and Egypt has influenced the other Arab nations for decades. Part of the reason that the public is so pissed at Mubarak is because they feel that he has presided over Egypt's decline and loss of prestige, as they can now not even influence events going on in Gaza right next door.

Honestly, this whole thing is a powder keg ready to explode, and if it does then this could easily turn into the next world war.

To be honest I haven't been following it much. But reading up on it today... I'm worried. Things are flying rapidly towards the breaking point, and I'm not sure how well we can hold it back.

I agree. This whole situation has layer upon layer of complexity and it is really like a house of cards threatening to collapse.

Egypt's president has stepped down now, and now the Military has taken over the position, but as we've seen in the past Militant governments tend to lead to more violence, How will Egypt handle this? Hopefully much better and that they can move on past this whole dilemma. And by Militant Government I mean Government's run by the Military. Although Egypt's President did hand the leadership reigns to a military council we could still see hostilities in the area.

Actually this is a really good thing. Normally Military coups do have that stigma, but the Egyptian military has the respect of the people and they stood against Mubarak and told him that he needed to go. Watching this on television is like seeing footage after the Wall fell in '89. I posted the article from the Associated Press in the other article so I won't post it here.

Instead, Al Jazeera Article

The Military leaders have already declared they they are ending the emergency state rule that has been in effect for most of Mubarak's rule and they are pledging that the Egyptian people are to have free and fair elections to institute a civilian-chosen government.

Now, a lot of the news analysts are also pointing out that we have given a lot of economic and military aid to Egypt over the years... only Israel gets more, and that means that if they start to walk down a dark path that we can always use that as leverage... but I don't think it will come to that. I would hope that they ask our advice on how to organize elections, but I hope they take care of most of it themselves. I mean, the Egyptian people are rather skeptical of the U.S. because we supported and essentially bankrolled Mubarak's regime for nearly 30 years, it would be good to be seen giving support but I don't think we should have major involvement in the process lest it be seen as more of the same control that Egypt has had to suffer since the times of Alexander the Great. This is their moment, they have earned it and they did it without violence, we should step back and be there to lend a hand when needed, that is all.

What is amazing is that the entire Arab world is celebrating the bloodless revolution in Cairo right now. Reports are coming in from Tunisia to Beirut, all congratulating the Egyptian people. Arab news reporters that we have been interviewing say that they understand that this was a secular social movement and they respect the Egyptians for standing up like they did

i think its time for the nuke bombs to be set to all middle eastern country's before something very bad happens

Mattu197 : Really? ... You would kill millions of people? :P

I'm not going to rant on you, but I suggest you actually say things that have backup. Otherwise those types of posts are not tolerated.

septembern : yes i would kill millions of people to stop them from killing us how many more years befor another attack and who know what types of nuclear weapons they have. half the people over there are terrorist any ways that is all i have to say

I think that arab country is so stupid it can't do Democracy.