With Libya now moving to a Sharia-based system that will impose religious values on the population, Egypt is also rapidly moving toward an extreme Sharia based system. Indeed, Hesham al Ashry (the leader of the Salafists) announced this week that “I am the enemy of democracy.”
Businessman Naguib Sawiris now calls Egypt’s future “dim … bad.”
Al Ashry put the reality into perspective: “This is a big opportunity and it’s not going to go back. This was mentioned by the Prophet Mohammed. Peace be upon him. He said this was going to happen.” Thus, the freedom that led to the overthrow of Mubarak regime will now be extinguished to embrace a new form of oppression — just faith-based rather than tyrant-based repression.
One of the objections made to the intervention of the United States in Libya was that, in addition to the absence of any declaration from Congress, President Obama could bring bring about a more radical regime. Even at the time, Libyan rebels were known to have extremist elements, including some linked to Al Qaeda. Some of the same concerns were heard in our Egyptian policies. I am less critical of the Obama policy on Libya. Indeed, I thought the Administration struck the right tone — without military intervention. However, there is a general misconception that the “Arab Spring” necessarily means a triumph of democracy and human rights. Movements in both Libya and Egypt show the powerful pull of theocratic oppression. The denial of the separation of mosque and state (as well as religious freedom) undermines a host of other rights from free speech to free association. The Obama Administration undermined those rights further with its shocking support of a United Nation’s resolution that embraced the concept of blasphemy prosecutions.
With the move to Sharia law, Egypt is showing other signs of extremism. Sectarian violence, particularly against Christians, has increased with little intervention from the military.
The loss of Egypt to religious extremism would be extremely destabilizing for the regime. It will also raise a question of our continued massive support for the country. Even though we have cities and states breaking under economic pressures, we are still pouring billions in aid to both Israel and Egypt.
What if I am dirt poor and homeless and want to make a speech. Do I have to pay for a permit. Over my dead body.
You are talking singular. The protest consist of a group.
The funny part is they probably all believe in AGW
Wall Street protesters around the country who are vowing to stand their ground against the police and politicians are also digging in against a different kind of adversary: cold weather.
In Denver, two protesters were hospitalized with hypothermia this week during a storm that brought several inches of snow.
The activists also know full well that the number of demonstrators is likely to drop as the weather gets colder.
Boston’s Occupy movement, which has roughly 300 overnight participants and could face some of the most brutal weather of any city with a major encampment, has set up a winterization committee that will try to obtain super-insulated sleeping bags and other winter survival gear.
They are also trying to rethink operations after authorities on Friday hauled away gasoline cans and six generators being used for the kitchen, emergency lights and media equipment. Mayor Michael Bloomberg called them a safety hazard.
In Providence, where city officials are threatening to go to court to evict hundreds of campers from a park across from City Hall, a core group said it will remain through the winter months
You know, soldiers do it when they occupy a place. I’m sure the mountains of Afghanistan get pretty cold.”
But after the first snowfall, he admitted: “It’s getting tough.”
Chris Goldstein of Riverside, N.J., owns one of the tents, though he sometimes sleeps at home. He learned the hard way during the first rainfall that the site has poor drainage: “I occupied a puddle.”
The trick will be keeping morale up, Phelan said, “and not letting the climate get to us.”
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OCCUPY_WINTER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-28-07-15-07
Bdaman, I know the city “required” it. IMHO, those requirements are worth less than the paper they are written on. If I want to go to a public space and make a political speech, that is what I am going to do. Now if there is space I have to pay a rental fee for, such as renting the Gazebo in the park, that MAY be a different story if the rental fee is for maintenance. But such fees are still a form of stifling speech. What if I am dirt poor and homeless and want to make a speech. Do I have to pay for a permit. Over my dead body.
Otteray Scribe,
Thanks for the link … these politicians are completely clueless
What did she think was going to happen when she turned that police department lose on a bunch of unarmed civilians … same thing that always happens … of course this time a marine went down and then was figuratively kicked by her police thugs …
All the politicians across the country thought Wong was going to teach OWS a thing or two … now every mayor of every city in which OWS has a campsite is rethinking their approach.
My point was they have no grounds for whining since applying for a permit was their idea.
No the City required it.
Owens told CBS Washington that the protesters have been given special treatment and free reign of the park and have not had to comply with the strict liability and security provisions that the city required of a Tea Party Tax Day in 2009.
Owens said Richmond officials dictated the number of police and emergency personnel they were required to have on site and required a $1 million liability policy to protect the city.
Blouise sez, “….this OWS thing will only respond well to actual and real intelligence that brings about actual and real change.”
******************************************
Funny you should mention that. Mayor Quan came to speak to the Oakland OWS crowd late Thursday. When Quan attempted to speak she was booed off the stage. That ended her speech and she left rather quickly.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19214461?source=most_viewed
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/279640/democratic-party-going-all-occupy-wall-street-jonah-goldberg Here’s what your buddy has to say, Elaine.
Elaine,
Agreed. Those in positions of authority are going to have to give up on their easy, old methods and smarten up. They are going to have to find a few people with some real brains for this OWS thing will only respond well to actual and real intelligence that brings about actual and real change.
Bda,
I disagree with many of your political views but that disagreement is with respect … that was my between the lines meaning.
Now, I agree with Gene 99% of the time. The only time I disagree with him is over Pelosi and when he dismisses your arguments … but he tolerates my ignorance on those two matters. 🙂
Blouise,
“OWS is quite an amazing phenomena and one the authorities not only can’t nail down but can’t even get their hands around … it just slips through their fingers.”
The authorities and the political pundits are clueless. Most of them only know how to spout talking points. Too many members of the media aren’t much better.
Otteray Scribe,
The Jean Shepherd prank was a wonderful example and thanks for reminding me of it.
Also … your jello imagery is right on the mark and to take it one step further … jello molds into all different shapes and around a huge variety of “fold-ins” which is why each OWS group is different from city to city.
OWS is quite an amazing phenomena and one the authorities not only can’t nail down but can’t even get their hands around … it just slips through their fingers.
Bdaman,
“I have won a few personality contest over the years so I’m satisfied with that.”
Were they multiple personality contests?
😉
Elaine,
And with that last vid you topped yourself! As my 3 year old grandchild would say … “Great job Gannma!
(love your wit 🙂 )
Bdaman, nope, you either misread or misunderstood what I was saying. The teaparty people are claiming they were discriminated against because they applied for a permit and the OWS folks did not . That was their choice. They had the absolute right to meet with or without permission of the authorities. That is what that pesky First Amendment says. They should not have to ask the city for permission to have a political gathering for the expression of political ideas. My point was they have no grounds for whining since applying for a permit was their idea.
Now, in the case of the Nazis, KKK or the Westboro folks, they really should let the police know ahead of time so protection can be afforded them, otherwise their speech–and everything else–might be cut short.
Bdaman, I am not concerned about the whining of the teaparty folks
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
So I guess the above only applies when it’s a cause you support.
Blouise,
Not only do I enjoy reading Marx–I also love watching his old movies.
🙂
Bdaman, I am not concerned about the whining of the teaparty folks. If they wanted to do the permit thing, they were welcome to do so.
The OWS folks are a loosely knit group who have no centralized leader. This is what is driving the authorities nuts. There is literally no one to hand a court order or to send a bill for trash collection. Think of it as an unusually crowded day at the park. A few dozen or a few hundred souls decide to go to the park that day and hang out.
Many years ago, iconoclastic radio host Jean Shepherd suggested that listeners go to a specific street corner and hang out. They did. When the police came to disperse the crowd it was like trying to nail Jello to the wall. They complied with the officers orders to leave, wandered across the street and milled about on the opposite corner.
Something like the Jean Shepherd prank is how the OWS folks are operating. If no one is in charge, who applies for a permit, and if a permit was to be obtained, who would it apply to since each protester is on his or her own ‘leader’ with no central leader?
Ever try to nail Jello to the wall?
BTW, I agree with Blouise that no way that Bron/Roco could be your socks. You could not pull it off to dumb down that much, even as a joke.
Oh thank you Blouise. I have in the past but haven’t in a very long time. When I did it was to basically mock Buddha. He use to call me Bdaloser or Bdapuppet etc etc and I would sometimes post as those. Or someone would get mad at me for hi jacking a thread with AGW stuff so I would post as Jacker of Threads or Thread Jacker you get the idea.
Slarti disclosed a list not to long ago. But I can tell you about 25% on that list was not me. I will take credit where credit is due. If I where to put a percentage on my post I would say 95% has been as Bdaman for the entire time (3 plus years) I’ve posted here and 99.999999% in the last year. I have nothing to hide and I am not ashamed of my past or who I am. I promise there will be a coming out party one day and all will be shocked to see I’ve been very truthful. I have dropped hints in my post from time to time on who/what I am. Anyways whether people like me or don’t like me it doesn’t matter. I have won a few personality contest over the years so I’m satisfied with that. I guess that all started in High School as I was crowned Homecoming King my Senior year. I’ve always been told I’m very photogenic and a good public speaker. I have been on the news before on a local level. I’ve had a few retired judges I know that have jokingly said if they ever ran for office they would hire me as their spoke persons.
Anyways sorry to ramble. I really don’t know what you where referring to, to be honest but thanks for the kind words anyway. 🙂 muaww
“of course it doesnt, bad actors should be punished.”
And you do this without regulations and laws how exactly? (Pst! You don’t. You can’t if you believe in the rule of law.)
“You cant go around screwing people willy nilly, that is what government does.”
You mean like the investment bankers that paid off Congress to get Glass-Steagall repealed than then promptly set about screwing each other and the entire economy in the process of selling their CDO shell game? The solution to having a government that doesn’t “screw people willy nilly” is to make sure government works for We the People, not We the Corporate. You know. That whole democracy thing.
“Business should be better than government and hold itself to a higher ethical standard, which is why there should be a separation between business and state.”
What a delusional load of horseshit that reveals your religious devotion to profits without restraint despite your protestations to the contrary.
“Government corrupts business by passing laws protecting one business from another or by passing laws requiring favors from government for business to make a profit.”
More lame apologetics. I’ve told you that graft is a crime that requires a minimum of two parties. If you think otherwise, you’re simply wrong. Business is just as culpable for the corruption problem as the pols are that enable them. Your myth that businessmen are somehow ethically superior to others is simply that: a myth. Business has one and only one guiding principle and it isn’t the public good. It’s quarterly profits. Money doesn’t and people who worship it don’t have a conscience.
Gene H:
“Again, “free market” doesn’t mean free to do whatever the Hell you want as long as it makes a profit.”
of course it doesnt, bad actors should be punished. You cant go around screwing people willy nilly, that is what government does. Business should be better than government and hold itself to a higher ethical standard, which is why there should be a separation between business and state. Government corrupts business by passing laws protecting one business from another or by passing laws requiring favors from government for business to make a profit.
TJ Rogers of Cypress Semi-Conductors says a lot of CEOs are not free market capitalists. Jeffrey Immelt is a classic example, he has his nose so far up Obama’s ass he can see his epiglottis.