⁂Asterism - astral thinking...
Have to disagree with this one, Salaam.
The situation in the Arab world now is akin to the time of the Crusades - before salahdin - when a Christian kingdom ruled in Jerusalem and some Arab princes ruled as proxies.
We certainly have an efficient proxy system at work in the Arab World.
Furthermore, if you look at events in Egypt in the past few weeks, you will notice that the government has secured its position and effectively dismantled the opposition.
Mubarak's son, Gamal, has been doing all the usual hospital openings and cutting of ribbons. Translation: Grooming.
In Jordan, you have the Jordan First motto. In Lebanon, well, pretty much cut off the umbilical cord to the rest of the Arab world and bowed to US and French influence. The US ambassador is the authority in Lebanon. Watch his speeches and you will know.
The Gulf states? Happy as pie. The UAE is enjoying its economic status and understands fully well how that came about. Same for Qatar, fast chasing Dubai and competing for Israeli influence.
Kuwait, Bush called it US greatest ally outside Nato. Saudi Arabia, same ol, same ol.
The Mashriq, they're slowly developing at their own pace. Morocco has the Polisario problem, Algeria still dealing with remnants of the FIS, Tunisia and its repression of the media and Libya spitting on the rest of the Arabs in favor of Africa (rightly so).
In all areas where Bush has called for democratic reform, we see dangers of civil war.
Palestine, armed factions battle it out everyday. Maybe they forgot about the Israeli occupation.
Lebanon, the major families want more power. Hariri vs Jumblatt vs Assad vs Hezbollah vs Emile Lahoud vs Hezbollah .. one hodge podge of crap vying for more power pushing Lebanon ever closer.
And in Iraq, we have a civil war lite.
What Arab revolution? The term Arab is itself defunct.
People want economic prosperity to put food on the table. Not some idealistic crusade.
Iraq is unique in this scenario. It took an invasion against someone who stood against US and Israeli interests to create the upheaval you mention.
Arab revolution, no. Islamist revolution, maybe, but likely no as well.
Mubarak does his ballerina flip and backtracks on his Shia commentary:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/wor...5-
mubarak_x.htm
If it weren't for the fact that it is so destructive across the board, it would be pretty interesting to watch it all unfold. Unfortunately given the greed and lust for powerof most men, be they Arab or western, it's too much to hope for in some good coming out of any of it.
6:47 AM Indiana Time
Good Morning Salam,
It is interesting you say this: ~ What America did in Iraq has started the Great Arab Revolution. The old social classes that used to control the power in Iraq have gone and a new class is taking its place. The same will start to happen across the Arab world and the old classes are scared witless.
The Bush Regime is ALSO "scared witless" (although I use the phrase Scared Sh*tless) that Iraq will adopt Democracy ~ having a Shi-ite Majority Rule. Anyone can easily predict The Mubarak Regime being overthrown as the Egyptian masses walk over him ~ on their way to assist Iran ~ once The Great War starts.
You really have a feel for explaining things; an understanding, a way of unraveling the bull from the truth. Once you understand that the American Corporately Owned Government only came to Iraq FOR THE OIL and that The Bush Regime never expected "real" Democracy to arrive; I think you'll understand what "Corporate (Money) Rule" is all about.
Maybe not; since Iraq may actually become a Democracy.
Ron
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