by Jim » Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:59 pm
Regardless of the situations that obtain in other Middle East countries vis-à-vis governmental change, this country had better hope Mubarak stays in place until September, the time for elections. El Baradei, who lives in Vienna, didn’t just show up conveniently to try to take over the government. His outfit, the Muslim Brotherhood, may or may not have sent for him, but when that group gets its hooks into the government, the stage will be set for genuine catastrophe. The Suez Canal could be closed to any U.S. shipping or warships, just for starters. In fact, it could be blown away. Mubarak (paid off with $1.7 billion per year of U.S. tax money) keeps it open to this country. The Israelis could immediately arm all their nukes because the Muslim Brotherhood does not recognize Israel as a nation, while the official government does. Most of the people in this forum care nothing for Israel but this country would be drawn into a terrible conflict if the Israelis come under serious attack. Pakistan also has nukes, so the sky’s the limit. It ain’t just about Israel…it’s about all of us.
Secretary Clinton (“warm personal friendship” with Mubarak and his wife [NY Times]) last week said the administration considered Mubarak’s government stable. Two days later, Biden said the administration didn’t consider Mubarak a dictator. Then, everything happened. Since then, Obama and his other dimwits, instead of keeping their mouths shut as they should have done, have encouraged the violence. They have no clue and every head of state knows this. It’s no accident that many of the protestors’ signs are in English. If Mubarak leaves now, the bloodbaths begin as the Muslim Brotherhood and other Muslim outfits go after current bureaucrats, police, etc., then after killing them, go after each other until the Muslim Brotherhood wins. Nobody knows what the sizeable and well-armed military would do, though the top general may declare himself in charge, with martial law in place indefinitely. In the meantime, there’s no government and no government services, such as they are…every man for himself. Anarchy!
In a broad swath of Muslim-controlled nations from Morocco, across North Africa, and down west Saudi Arabia to Yemen, the median age of the population is 24.4 years, compared to 36.8 in this country. There’s little work, a high birth rate, inferior education. The literacy rate in Egypt is only 72%, in Yemen, 58.9%. The Muslim Brotherhood would make women into even more pronounced chattel than they are now. They are perhaps better off in Egypt now than in any other Middle East country. They can’t even drive cars in Saudi Arabia. Mubarak will not run in September but in the intervening time there needs to be some sort of peace and leeway while an order of some kind can be attempted.