EU on side of democracy protesters in Egypt?
I am glad to wake up this morning to find a more positive moving European Union for the democratic revolution in Egypt. Let's hope that the EU does the right thing, thinks on its own and not for Israel and the US interests. Yes - it's time for the EU to step up for European values and advocate democracy in Egypt - as the Community did in 1989 for East Europe. The EU can bring democracy and stability for all people in Egypt - as especially the experience from the end of the Cold War demonstrated...
Categories: Democracy and Middle East, ESDP/CSFP, European Union, European values, Freedom and Liberty, Middle East Tags:
Egypt, European indifference and the Bearded Boogieman
We watch the indifference with which European nations are reacting to the cries for democracy and freedom in Egypt. This can even be taken as tacit resistance to Egypt's drive for freedom and democracy. The problem could be that European nations, including the US, fear that a "bearded boogieman," cast in the image of a radical Islamist, could arise from a democratic election in an Arab-Muslim nation, like Egypt.Well - the reality is that European nations are not without the risks that a radical, perhaps with violent bigotries, could take power of a European government and cause trouble for international security. We have seen the gains made by the radical and extremist right in recent European elections, and the threat in especially the Netherlands is far from over. Through democratic elections in a European nation, another violent dictator could rise. The fear of a radical, religious fanatic in charge of a nation like Egypt pales in comparison to a radical like Geert Wilders and the PVV in charge of a European nation the Netherlands.
Categories: Democracy and Middle East, EU Member States, Freedom and Liberty, Geert Wilders, Human Rights, Ignored security threats, Netherlands Tags:
Muslims opposed to democracy! Really? Tunisia, Egypt…yea right!
Some of us knew that surveys of "the Arab Street" have shown the most Muslims view Islam as compatible with democracy, and support freedom of speech especially.The apparent "democratic revolutions" sweeping parts of "the Arab Street" are not only predictable by surveys - but born out of human frustrations of unemployment, poverty, abuse from an autocratic elite - and little related to Islam. These revolutions appear to be social democratic and against US supported tyrants of the "war on terrorism." Let's hope they succeed in a better social democratic future for the people who chose to undertake them!These democratic revolutions fly against the insane, hateful myths that "Islam is incompatible with democracy" and "Muslims are all out to destroy democracy" created mainly in the Netherlands by crackpot hate-mongers like Fortuyn and Wilders.
Categories: "War on terrorism" abuses, Freedom and Liberty, Human Rights, Islamophobia, Middle East Tags:
Attack on Rep. Giffords and radicalization of American society
The outrageous attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords by an obviously mentally disturbed man should be viewed as a tread in American society, which is still reeling from unemployment, a stagnate economy and perceptions that the pain could go on for years to come. Jared Lee Loughner may be a bit mentally unstable, but his outrageous and unacceptable act shows that dangerous and violent right-wing pumping anti-government, hate propaganda is a threat to our society more so than the handful of "Islamists" and "jihadists" in far off places. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik reflects my sentiments exactly [from Washington Post]:"There's reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol. People tend to pooh-pooh this business about all the vitriol we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that. That may be free speech, but it's not without consequences."Yes- and tell that to Geert Wilders!
Categories: American politics, Ignored security threats, Right-wing radicalism, Security, Terrorism Tags:
“No Fly”list abuse again: US citizen detained, tortured in Kuwait
Gulet Mohamed is the latest victim of the abuses of America's "no fly list" - and further advances this Author's argument that we must work to abolish the "no fly list" and the abuses it brings. We must focus on WHAT is on an airplane, not WHO is riding on an airplane.The "no fly list" is being used to place American citizens in involuntary exile and we can believe that suspected purposes of this draconian practice are to interrogate without council and/or facilitate torture of the victim in a country, like Kuwait, where such abuses are known. It is a type of rendition program without the actually abduction. Anyhow - I told you so about the dubious "no fly list" and that it has absolutely nothing to do with "keeping airplanes safe from terrorists."And - I told you so before...
