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.
Tempest in a chamber pot? Sounds like some people are worried that the OWS movement is gaining traction.
Bron, isn’t it time for you to go home? I think I hear your mommie calling you. Now if you will excuse us, some grownups are having a discussion.
Blouse, yes, a black man named Crispus Attucks was, arguably, the first casualty of the American Revolution. A contemporary portrait of him actually exists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispus_Attucks
This is a subject about which I have strong feelings. My ggg-grandfather, and his father, my gggg-grandfather fought at Kings Mountain, Beattie’s Creek, Cowan’s Ford, Cowpens and Yorktown. They fought to help guarantee the freedoms embodied in the Constitution. My blood pressure goes up at the notion of what is happening in the name of “freedom” and “security.”
bDAMAN:
a guy I know and trust lives in New York, he went down to the park and was less than impressed.
He said their signs were no where near as good as the Tea Party signs.
And he has a PhD in Philosophy so he would know.
OWS is a tempest in a chamber pot.
Just remembered this where was these peoples right to free assembly.
With as many as 20,000 people in attendance, the Atlanta Tea Party on April 15 was one of the largest and most successful Tea Parties in the country. The Atlanta Tea Party on July 4, 2009 had been expected to be just as large. Unfortunately, plans have changed. Simon Property Group has forced the cancellation of the Atlanta Tea Party.
The Atlanta Tea Party was forced to cancel its Independence Day celebration in Gwinnett, after losing its location due to the objection of Gwinnett Place Mall (a Simon company.) The Tea Party had been scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the old Macy’s building at Gwinnett Place since March.
Following the money, connecting the dots:
Gwinnett Place Mall shut down the Atlanta Tea Party.
Simon Property Group owns Gwinnett Place Mall.
Melvin Simon (a Forbes 400 billionaire) is Co-chairman of Simon Property Group, Inc.
Melvin Simon has provided large political contributions to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, John Edwards, the DNC and many other Democrats and Democrat organizations.
Melvin Simon was a major contributor to Barack Obama inaugural committee and has given at least $1 million to the William J. Clinton foundation.
Melvin’s wife, Bren, personally donated almost $100,000 to various political candidates, was a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, and contributed to President Obama’s inaugural committee.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/06/july_4_atlanta_tea_party_cance.html
OK, I guess time will tell who’s right and who’s wrong.
C-ya tomorrow
Otteray Scribe,
And the first man shot was a freed slave.
OS,
I grew up in Skokie and I was working with some survivors and it was a tough sell that the Nazi’s had the right to march. If the Nazi’s had that right, so do the OWS marchers.
Those from Massachusetts will have a better historical grip on this than me, but I seem to remember a little incident in Boston down in front of the Custom House on March 5, 1770. The English won the skirmish against the crowd, but lost the war and the country.
Bda,
Darlin’, you’re in denial … and in that state you’re rather like the Oakland Police Department who thinks they aren’t going to have keep lookin’ over their shoulders for the next few months … maybe even years. The Marines are comin’ … it’s going to be a Chesty duty.
This OWS thing is far bigger than you want to admit and it isn’t going away. It all got started back in 2007 with the “Yes we can” stuff. Obama let ’em all down and now they are back bigger than ever and they’ve given up on politicians. It’s moved outside anyone’s ability to control.
Bdaman, what you propose is not very neighborly, but under the Constitution, your parade would be legal. The Nazi’s won their First Amendment case in Skokie, Illinois, if you remember. They had their miserable little rally.
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.
you forgot the addendum unless on city property without the required permitting.
No OS it was not snark. OS I want to have a parade and I want the parade to go right through downtown. Got fifty cars lined up and one person in each car with a bull horn screaming freedom of speech. Are you saying that I don’t have to inform the city of my intent. I don’t have to apply for permits.
Or was that snark and I missed it?
Bdaman, yes they can freely gather.. There are no weasel words in the First Amendment. Says so right here:
http://www.randirhodes.com/pages/videovault/videoplayer.html?uri=channels/345198/1514871
OS people cant just freely gather. Their are rules and regulations set forth by government. There are permits in which need application that have to be paid and those papers have to be filed in order to hold a gathering. It’s plain and simple. In order to hold a rally the officials must be notified of the intent. If not Klans Man would gather freely and violence would probably break out.
Scary news OS.
Worst fears realized. My friend John Hobbs in Nashville reports they met with state officials and people from the Department of Homeland Security today. The officials from DHS and the State seemed to have a hard time wrapping their collective heads around concepts of freedom of speech and assembly. John is recovering from surgery and cannot be there, but has his finger on the pulse of what is going on in Nashville.
John Hobbs writes about the confrontation here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/27/1030775/-Occupy-Nashville-Deadline-8pm-tonight?detail=hide&via=blog_595621
I REPEAT: THEY MET WITH HOMELAND SECURITY IN NASHVILLE ABOUT A PROTEST IN LEGISLATIVE PLAZA NEAR THE CAPITOL!!!!!
O.S. in the video above Chase. Those people did not go in and close their accounts. Again starts as 1:36. They ransacked the bank.