>>>>>>>>>>If not he has certainly signaled his willingness to do so.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29diplo.html?hp
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>IMO this is the way an American President should act in a crisis. Egypt is an ally, or as close as we have to one in the Arab world, but Obama is saying there are some things we will not turn a blind eye to. Good for him. I know there are some who will never give him a break, but I don't think Teddy Roosevelt could have done this any better. And we don't even know what private talks went on before it reached this point.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Sure we do:
>>>>>>>>>Message #1497755
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>You are waaaayyyyyy behind. Get your head out of the NYTimes for a few minutes and you'd be amazed at what goes on in the world and right in your own backyard... :o)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>The same thing is happening in other countries and has been all week (Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia where it all started, Albania, small restrictions and protests in Syria, etc although on a much smaller scale than Egypt). I'm waiting for Saudi Arabia to blow up..
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Egypt is the end of the line.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>There is no chance of this happening in Syria or Saudi. You are being amusing however.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Syria took steps immediately: It limited media of Tunisia riots, blocked online chat access, and increased heating oil subsidies to pacify the populace.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Saudi: You may be right there since the population benefits from the oil rich spoils.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Jordan: Protesting has already occurred, and then there was a multi-million-pound food and fuel subsidy package followed by the King making more promises of reform. He even met with the Muslim Brotherhood but that group still called for additional demonstrations.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Yemen: Thousands demonstrated last week but not much wide-spread media attention after Eqypt exploded.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Algeria: Thousands protested there as well but we'll have to wait and see how that develops.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Lebanon: Still in a state of flux.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Albania: Thousands protested, but after the 3 deaths earlier in the week in protests, on Friday the demonstrations were mostly violence-free.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I am surprised that you find all of this amusing. It may not amount to much change in the end, but it is certainly not amusing...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Lets discuss this in say 4 weeks.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Two weeks to go :o) Already we've seen changes made towards at least a limited democracy or greater freedoms and rights and better economic conditions in the other countries trying to avoid the same situation as just occurred in Egypt...
>>>>
>>>>Really
>>>>
>>>>Saudi Arabia
>>>>Syria
>>>>Lebanon
>>>>Jordan
>>>>
>>>>I would say any movements have more to do with preserving the status quo with some cosmetic changes to do so.
>>>>
>>>>Ans isn't limited democracy an oxymoron. You've either go it or you haven't.
>>>
>>>My point was that the demonstrations were serious for Egypt especially and would have serious effects in Egypt and far reaching effects in the Arab world and you called it all amusing. It has only been 18 days and look at the change (hopefully it will evolve into real elections in September but only time will tell if the military will refuse to step down then) That's after 29 years. That doesn't mean that democracy will spread across the Arab world, but it does mean the the governments in other nations will make concessions to appease the public (some already have made concessions in order to appease the public somewhat and avoid major demonstrations) in order to avoid the same situation as just happened in Egypt. We haven't seen the end of the demonstrations in all repressed countries yet. Albania, Yemen, or Algeria might have the most upheaval internally if it builds after Egypt (down the road). Now we'll have to wait and see what if anything happens elsewhere as well as in Egypt. There were a few times over the past 18 days when things could have gone horribly wrong for the people of Egypt -- especially around the time they were hassling journalists....that worried me all along from the beginning....
>>>
>>>I think we had a disconnect somewhere....
>>>
>>>Wow, are there a lot of typos in there or what? :o) My screen keeps flashing back to the old version and only saves parts of my text. Either I have something wrong with firefox or my keyboard or mouse... it's very frustrating. Plus I just can't type. :o) Sorry about that :o)
>>
>>The egyptian army has behaved very well up to now but its really uncharted territory from here on in and armies track record of giving up power is rather sparse. My feeling watching all those happy smiling cheering faces is "You probably haven't thought this thing through"
>
>I agree. The older generations allowed a loss of freedom for stability. The youth, who do not remember the troubles, want change and have succeeded in forcing it through. Historically, military regimes don't let go easy too so this is really uncharted territory for them. I agree that the youth who organized this and saw it through really don't know what they are in for. So much depends on too many possibilities that could happen from here on out -- not just internally in Egypt. I bet the older folks in Egypt are both rejoicing and terrified.
>
>Ok, looks like my mouse is the culprit. It starts scrolling on its own.... sheesh. I go through mice so quickly!

Its a conundrum.
Now the military have power.
If they give it up the incoming government will look a the top military and think "Can we trust them. I think no"
So the military will be worried about giving up power. In a few months they will start being held responsible for more and more problems. they will lock some people up. There will be protests and they'll be handled badly because thats what armies do. I think that military coups only end when the initial coup leaders have died (violently or by old age) and new army chiefs who where not responsible for taking power have moved into place.
Anyway after a bad day of Visual Studio howlers its time for bed zebedee.

Have a good weekend. Weathers meant to be good here tomorrow so my usual Sunday cycle is going to happen on Saturday.