Correct again, Joe. However, I truly believe that the act of the 'coup' could ONLY have taken place after the millions of Egyptians came out on the street to demand Morsi's ouster. However much the military may have wished to combat the 'democratically legitimate assault on democracy', it would not have been possible without the people.
The military's involvement stems, in my opinion, from their understanding of ssues of national security as much as from any concern over democracy (that in itself may not have moved them sufficiently). It was (still is) a matter of national security concerns, plus Morsi's dangerous last adddress to the nation (effectively a declaration of war on what are presumably his own people), plus the issue of people disappointed in his Mubarak-like blatantly undemocratic performance.
As things stand right now, Joe, there should be constitutional legitimacy in about 9 months. And maybe THIS TIME the result will also be a democratic political leadership. That is what Egyptians are hoping for. And I don't think they will accept anything less.
At the very least, there will be an Egypt - not a place that is nothing more than a safe haven for fundamentalist Islamist (whatever they are called) terrorists to gather in. I cannot fathom how US citizens like McCain and Graham can be so supportive of these groups (all allowed back into the country and released from its prisons by Morsi and his MB).
Good point, Joe. What you need to understand is that the legitimately elected political leadership that Egypt had for the past year was completely unable to keep its base of support satisfied. Quite the contrary. Morsi's 'base of support' were the people who voted him into power (he could never have become president based ONLY on MB votes), many of whom he promptly jailed. And the United States was somehow able to talk to the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces)for about a year and a half directly after Mubarak was removed from power. Those Egyptians looking for US support are asking it to 'talk to' and 'operate through' an interim government for a period of 9 months.
But your point about statecraft and parties that can sit down and act is an excellent one. Egypt has to prove whether it is as yet capable of this ...
It's not the US's job to apply the 'fundamental rules of democracy in the middle east'. It's the job of the inhabitants ot the middle east.
As a woman, I don't understand why we need US military aid anyway. We certainly are not going to war (except against the terrorists blowing everything up in the Sinai)...
You are right about the "inclusion of Muslim Brotherhood in Egyptian politics". The Brotherhood has a political party (F & J Party) and they were invited to take part in the new transitional process, from day one. They refused.
The coup, of course, is a coup - but it only happened because there was no other way to stop the MB from destroying this country's identity, economy and, above all, democratic aspirations.
Point is, the elected government was not overthrown by a 'clique of officers'. But you won't ever believe that, will you? Doesn't really matter though, what you believe.
The Egyptian military is not free to make decisions. At the moment, they represent millions of Egyptians and any decisions they make have to be acceptable to these millions. So, even if Al Sissi had wanted to, he could not have agreed to McCain and Graham's outrageous demands. Ditto for anything that could come out of mediation between State and MB. The same millions (not the MB) would have to accept ...
EXCELLENT, very , very sensible comment. You are perfectly right, the truth is that the Muslim Brotherhood haven't had anything good to say about the US since - or even before - they were voted into power (such glaring differences between what they say in Arabic for internal consumption and what they say in English). I think we Egyptians should work our issues out for ourselves as you say, and stop this eternal looking for 'foreign approval'.
Correct again, Joe. However, I truly believe that the act of the 'coup' could ONLY have taken place after the millions of Egyptians came out on the street to demand Morsi's ouster. However much the military may have wished to combat the 'democratically legitimate assault on democracy', it would not have been possible without the people.
The military's involvement stems, in my opinion, from their understanding of ssues of national security as much as from any concern over democracy (that in itself may not have moved them sufficiently). It was (still is) a matter of national security concerns, plus Morsi's dangerous last adddress to the nation (effectively a declaration of war on what are presumably his own people), plus the issue of people disappointed in his Mubarak-like blatantly undemocratic performance.
As things stand right now, Joe, there should be constitutional legitimacy in about 9 months. And maybe THIS TIME the result will also be a democratic political leadership. That is what Egyptians are hoping for. And I don't think they will accept anything less.
At the very least, there will be an Egypt - not a place that is nothing more than a safe haven for fundamentalist Islamist (whatever they are called) terrorists to gather in. I cannot fathom how US citizens like McCain and Graham can be so supportive of these groups (all allowed back into the country and released from its prisons by Morsi and his MB).
Good point, Joe. What you need to understand is that the legitimately elected political leadership that Egypt had for the past year was completely unable to keep its base of support satisfied. Quite the contrary. Morsi's 'base of support' were the people who voted him into power (he could never have become president based ONLY on MB votes), many of whom he promptly jailed. And the United States was somehow able to talk to the SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces)for about a year and a half directly after Mubarak was removed from power. Those Egyptians looking for US support are asking it to 'talk to' and 'operate through' an interim government for a period of 9 months.
But your point about statecraft and parties that can sit down and act is an excellent one. Egypt has to prove whether it is as yet capable of this ...
So, we have the 'wolves' (military) and the poor little 'sheep' (MB). Where did everyone else go? I mean the majority of the Egyptian people ..
Yes, Amir. So was I. But they won't ever admit it, don't waste your breath. And it does not matter, really. We are too obsessed with what others think
It's not the US's job to apply the 'fundamental rules of democracy in the middle east'. It's the job of the inhabitants ot the middle east.
As a woman, I don't understand why we need US military aid anyway. We certainly are not going to war (except against the terrorists blowing everything up in the Sinai)...
You are right about the "inclusion of Muslim Brotherhood in Egyptian politics". The Brotherhood has a political party (F & J Party) and they were invited to take part in the new transitional process, from day one. They refused.
The coup, of course, is a coup - but it only happened because there was no other way to stop the MB from destroying this country's identity, economy and, above all, democratic aspirations.
Point is, the elected government was not overthrown by a 'clique of officers'. But you won't ever believe that, will you? Doesn't really matter though, what you believe.
The Egyptian military is not free to make decisions. At the moment, they represent millions of Egyptians and any decisions they make have to be acceptable to these millions. So, even if Al Sissi had wanted to, he could not have agreed to McCain and Graham's outrageous demands. Ditto for anything that could come out of mediation between State and MB. The same millions (not the MB) would have to accept ...
EXCELLENT, very , very sensible comment. You are perfectly right, the truth is that the Muslim Brotherhood haven't had anything good to say about the US since - or even before - they were voted into power (such glaring differences between what they say in Arabic for internal consumption and what they say in English). I think we Egyptians should work our issues out for ourselves as you say, and stop this eternal looking for 'foreign approval'.