Unrest In Egypt, Is It Any Of Our Business?

by

Egypt Map

There are protesters in Egypt, but do we really have any right to voice our opinion?

As far as I can tell the protests are about corruption, poverty and other issues?  It took me a few days after the protest began to learn the causes, along with many journalists.

So now that the president said that he wouldn’t rerun (after 30 years as president) and that changes would be made to the process, why are people still out in the streets protesting, disrupting their fragile economy basically making themselves weaker?

Watching TV, I’ve seen a few hundred protesters at certain location, but I know that there are thousands from what the journalist say.

But why continue?  It seems like they won, the looting should stop and the businesses and employment that feed families should be able to re-start trying to get life back on track again…

Since the protests are still continuing, kids aren’t getting feed, and families are suffering!  So this has now enabled a backlash from the people against the protesters.  This backlash group called “Mubarak supporters” are said to be larger that the protest groups, and they aren’t happy.  So now the groups are battling each other.

To me, it seems like the protest created change and that enough is enough… unless they don’t really want a democracy and are being fueled by religious zealots?  Perhaps this is an attempt to overthrow the entire democratic process, perhaps setting up a government that is more similar to the Iranian government?

I admit, I don’t know who the backers of what is really going on over there are, but I don’t think our government shouldn’t be voicing our opinion, and telling the egyptian authorities what to do.  It’s their country and based on the rise of the “Mubarak supporters”, maybe we should measure twice and cut once before making demands of an ally?

Afterall, I don’t hear the French or German governments telling the Egyptians how to think and what to do.  Perhaps this is the reason that we Americans are often viewed as being arrogant?  I think we need to butt out and realize that what is happening is really none of our business, and that by our stepping in, both side will hate us in the end.

I find it ironic, that when Iran had demonstrators and protesters, we sat back and clammed up, but for an Ally, we had to put our two cents in…

I don’t know what going to happen, and I wish the Egyptian people the very best!  The thing is they are going to come to a conclusion without us putting demands on the egyptian government or people.

What do you think?  If you were an ally would you appreciate that the US is on the other side?  Wouldn’t that make you upset?

-MR

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25 thoughts on “Unrest In Egypt, Is It Any Of Our Business?”

  1. Interesting post, and actually it’s one that brings out a bigger topic of how active we should be in the business of other countries. There are probably varied viewpoints on this, and some polarizing ones in there I’m sure.

    First off, I also wish the people in Egypt all the best. That’s first and foremost.

    Beyond that, honestly I don’t have a problem with our country flexing our muscles or influence when needed.

    As I mentioned, the welfare of the people in Egypt (or insert country here) is most important in my view, This is especially important when there are humanitarian type needs occurring. Having said this, I think that we concurrently need to think about what’s best for the U.S.

    Yes, I agree that French and Germans don’t mess around actively with the business of aonther country. But frankly we’re a superpower and they aren’t.

    We Americans seem to be rather unique in our active role and interest in inserting our influence in situations. Yet, I’m ok with that if it helps us out and support peace and stability in the world. If we have the economic, political, and military muscle to back it up – and are ethical in how we handle things – I’m cool with it. Really, the bottom line to me, after what’s best for the locals, is what’s best for us here at home. And I do think that the U.S. is generally a great influence for stability around the world.

    I enjoy being a citizen in this superpower democracy, so clearly my opinions are a bit biased:)

    • But I think that’s exactly why other countries hate us! What makes us the gods/masters that determine what is best for a foreign country?

      In some way we maybe seen as bullies. After all, we wouldn’t want another country to muscle in on our politics… What makes us think that other countries want us to do the same?

      Heck, with Egypt, nobody even knew why they were protesting at first… I don’t know, I guess I’m just getting old and I don’t want to be the world’s police anymore.

      • You make some good points. I agree that this type of arrogance causes many people to dislike us. I admit that it’s arrogance, though I’m not against it, per se.

        On a personal level, this type of behavior by a stonger person – a “bully, if you will – would be unacceptable. But maybe it operates a bit differently when it comes to nations? Who knows…..

        It doesn’t seem fair, and it probably isn’t on many levels. On the other hand, if we don’t take care of our own interests, nobody else will. History shows that there are strong nations and weaker nations at any point in time. I want us to make sure we stay on the strong side of the equation now and in the future.

        As for being the world’s police….yeah, I’m with you there. I guess to me it’s more about us making sure that our interests are taken care of, and use our strength to make that happen without being unfair to anybody.

        • Yeah, I don’t think I mind helping a country if they ask for the help.

          Heck, we wouldn’t be independent if it wasn’t for the help of France way back when… But they didn’t come to use, we had to send Franklin over to help gain their support….

      • I totally agree, we need to butt out. But, let’s face it, this whole “Spreading democracy” is a farce. The only reason the US wants stability in Egypt is because of the Suez canal (the canal all the oil tankers pass to get to us). We’re just protecting access to our oil supply!

        If the US was really interested in spreading democracy and human rights, why aren’t we all over Southern Africa? They have little to no impact on our economy so why should we care about all the atrocities there, right?

        I would respect our foreign policy a lot more if we just did away with this whole “spreading freedom” BS and just be honest and say, “We just want to make sure nothing happens to our oil supply.”

        • Good point!

          I think you hit the nail on the head. I’m sure it’s a mix but 80% is protecting world stability which serves us well.

          That said I’m willing to bet that at least 20% is our hopes for the egyptian people.

  2. It is definitely a fine line. I never understand how we decide to get involved with what we do. (For instance, I thought we would have been more ‘in the face’ of the North Koreans over their nuclear capability given how we reacted over the nuclear ‘capability’ of some other countries.)

    I really don’t care if other countries hate us. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else and I love America. At least we have the intent of protecting other people instead of spreading tyranny.

    I guess I think of the US as the kid on the playground that wants people to play fair, and will stick up for the kid being bullied. Not saying we do it perfectly, but I think it is a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation.

    • I don’t know, but I think if all of the US ally’s fall, democracy (even if it’s more like a dictatorship) is apparently not a model of government that works well in the middle east. I bet if the changes are drastic, either a dictatorship or a religious based government will exist.. That’s just a feeling though…

    • Yes, sometimes change isn’t good especially for women over there. It’s a sad day for Egypt. We hope for the best and wish the best, but sometime change isn’t always good or not the way we would like things to develop. I don’ think anybody over there (or here) realizes that it could be worse. I hope it’s not a religious coup…
      I hope I’m wrong about the protests. We’ll see…

    • Nicole, with the French influence, Tunisian women seem more liberated and enjoy more rights (at least in urban ares) than countries such as Egypt. Whatever happens in Egypt, I don’t think that conditions for women won’t improve much. Maybe I’m pessimistic (btw, I wasn’t able to read the article without a subscription).

  4. Good questions, MR. These days, I tend to defer to Thomas Jefferson’s phrase “”peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” The US can’t afford to have all these overseas adventures, to the tune of hundreds of billions (trillions?) of dollars a year.
    I’ve lived a fair number of years in the Middle East (although not in Egypt), and can confirm, that no, the US government is not very well liked at all, nor are its actions viewed favorably. On a person to person basis however, you won’t find more friendly, generous and hospitable persons as Arabs in general, and Egyptians in particular. I wish them well, but I fear it won’t end so.

    • Yeah, I wish them the best too! I wish we would just let them handle their own affairs. But then again, we gave some strong talk, but what can we really do?

      I don’t Prez. Obama is really a war monger, and besides it’s an internal affair of that country. Why jump in before we are asked to do so…

  5. You raise some very interesting questions. The outcome of this conflict certainly could affect us, so I can understand the motivation to interfere. However, the more pertinent question is should we be interfering.

    • I really don’t think we can do much… What can we really do other than talk big? I think empty threats undermine our government.

    • I think we try to hard to establish a governmental system like we have over here. But for whatever reasons, that just doesn’t seem to work over there.

      Over the years, it looks more and more like a lose-lose deal… But what options does the US government really have?

  7. I was wondering the exact same thing. Why are we always involved in every single international conflict while other countries sit on the sideline? Maybe it has to do with American imperialism.

    • lol, yeah, and as for being a world power… that’s slowly seeping away.

      I think we should focus on wage rate imbalances between the country. That is where we are losing the most.

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  10. It would be better in some ways if the U.S. butt less into the affairs of other nations, but they are looking out for their interests, after all.

    It’s hard to say where Egypt is going to go. I’m not well-enough informed of the situation over there; maybe someone like Forest who has spent years over there could give us a better accounting. So long as the direction they move in leads to more balanced rights and opportunities then it’s good. Democracy can be better than autocracy, but if a democracy is a sham then what’s the point?

    In the end, I hope this serves as a wakeup call to politicians and governments everywhere, that they have no inherent right to “rule” and that their power ultimately rests on the consent of the governed.

    • I agree, I hope Forest is okay over there! Based on his post best places to live, It didn’t sound too bad…

      I hope he’s okay! Hopefully things get better over there soon!

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