Egypt, Again

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Until we start nuking there goats and donkeys   8)

If their goats develop VD they will be too busy scratching to mount coordinated attacks.

[GDS_Starfury]

now thats a very interesting strategy there.

[Boggit]

This, and Syria, have been getting a lot of air time lately.

I'm not being smart here- can somebody explain to me why we are so interested in what happens in Egypt and Syria?

I've heard talk of the U.S. "getting involved" in Syria.  Why would we even consider that?

Because they are political players in an economically important part of the world, with large populations in a sectarian flux. The ripples of what happens can ultimately affect you and yours.

I've heard talk of the U.S. "getting involved" in Syria.  Why would we even consider that?

A very good question. When it's thought through, I also wonder why the US would want to help Al Quada to overthrow the regime, and enable AQ to fill the political void? I'd have thought it was in the US interest to exterminate the AQ threat wherever it appears, rather than provide practical help to them. But what do I know...

The US seems to be happy to ignore the genocide of Christians in the Sudanese Nuba Mountains by Pres. Al Bashir of Sudan, but for some reason is outraged when muslims get killed in Syria, and feel the need to take the side heavily supported by AQ. Weird? I feel for the innocent civilians caught up in both wars, but the double standards are disturbing. I don't suppose that AQ will have any qualms about using any weapons acquired from US sources in the West or against US nationals at a later stage, so like you I just don't get why the US wants to intervene and by implication help these people achieve their goals.

[Boggit]

Will "we" side with democracy, or side with those battling Islamic extremism?

Another rat's nest mess.

its clear we don't like democratically elected Muslim govts.

Really Windi? You think it's as simple as that?

I guess droll gets lost....

what's the f'ing point of have a democracy in an Arab country if the first damn thing the bumblefug electorate do is vote in a population suppressing fundamentalist party that promptly starts to strip away freedoms??

they think they want it, but really?

Fug'em.... walk away

To be fair, they were given the choice between two candidates - Morsi, and Mubarak's man. The moderates didn't like Morsi, but certainly didn't want Mubarak's regime returned. So they gave Morsi the benefit of the doubt. He abused his position, and was forced out.

Morsi's supporters are a substantial minority, but still a minority. The demographics of Morsi support are overwhelmingly from the poor and uneducated, who are easier to manipulate with islamist propaganda. The Egyptian middle classes, and aspirational young have much more to gain from a secular state. Those are the people who need the support of the West to stop the growth of islamofascism.