EU on side of democracy protesters in Egypt?

The revolution in Egypt has nothing to do with Islam – and everything to do with democracy. There is a wide representation of interests groups involved in the Egyptian revolution, with democracy-minded Mohamed ElBaradei as the movement’s leader. Here in the US, there is the Islamophobic and knee-jerk reaction that “Islamists” and the Bearded Boogieman are driving this democratic revolution.Given that Egyptians have lived under Mubarak regime tyranny, which includes brutal police forces – it’s would be hard for another autocrat, including a religious radical – to win a free election in Egypt. The Egyptians are fed up with autocrats!There is simply not a reason to not support freedom and democracy in Egypt and Arab-Muslim countries other than Islamophobia and hypocrisy.  The naysayers will be those in the “counter-terrorism expert” (nuthouse) community – who will indulge in their usual obsessive, compulsive Islampohobia disorder. When you watch American news channels – you see the usual crackpot nonsense centered around the disorder of Islamophobia.I don’t want to watch craziness on American TV- but Al Jazeera – where the democracy protests are quite awesome to watch….it’s like East Europe 1989 all over again.Yes – it is time for Europe to lead the calling for democracy in Egypt. We now see statements from European Union and European countries advocating “reforms” and free elections. According to Al Jazeera, France and Germany are calling on free and fair elections for Egyptians. For Europeans, the mass protests in Egypt are reminiscent of those in East Europe in 1989 and recently in Ukraine against communism. Yes – it’s time for the EU to step up and advocate free elections – which are consistent with European values – beyond just calls to refrain from violence and demands to turn the Internet back on…From Germany:

The German government stands by those who are calling for democracy and civil and human rights … Nothing can return to the order of the day; nothing will be as it once was. 

This is a good start from an EU Member State, but Mr. van Rompuy issued a much better statement in favor of a democratic Egypt:

I am deeply troubled by the spiral of violence leading to a situation which makes dialogue even more difficult. The respect for fundamental human rights, such as the freedom of expression, the right to communicate, and the right of free assembly, as well as social inclusion are constituent elements of democracy which the Egyptian people, and in particular the young, are striving for. 

On Monday (today) the Council intends to put Egypt on the top of of its agenda.  The impasse between the protesters and the Mubarak’s regime can be solved by EU patience – and that is what is needed to topple this stubborn dictator.  EU foreign policy can be advanced for European interests though advocating democracy – and shepherding it – in the Middle East. Let’s see if the EU can leave behind that Islamophobia craziness of the “counter-terrorism” madhouse and advocate freedom, democracy and collective prosperity for Egyptians.