The Next Tunisias

Five Arab states that are ripe for revolution.

JANUARY 19, 2011

EGYPT

Who's in charge:  President Hosni Mubarak has ruled in Cairo for three decades, where an emergency law, which has been in effect for the duration of his tenure, gives him free rein to manipulate the political system. But at 82 years old, it appears pharaoh's power may be slipping. Persistent rumors of Mubarak's ill health have spurred political jockeying -- most notably between his son, Gamal, and the powerful intelligence director Omar Suleiman -- over who will fill his considerable shoes.

Warning signs: Egypt has witnessed a wave of self-immolations in recent days, as outraged citizens attempt to duplicate the popular protests caused by the suicide of Mohamed Bouazizi. The third immolation came when a 25-year-old man set himself on fire on the top floor of his building in Alexandria on Jan. 18. He died from his wounds.

Earlier that same day, a 40-year-old lawyer attempted to immolate himself in Cairo after reportedly chanting slogans about rising food prices in the country. And the day before, a man lit himself on fire outside parliament while protesting against the government. Both are expected to survive. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, however, angrily dismissed suggestions that the Tunisian unrest could spread as "nonsense," complaining that those drawing the comparison were "promoting fantasies and trying to ignite the situation" -- perhaps a poor choice of words.  

Other Egyptian political players sounded a different note. Presidential contender and former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said that change in Egypt was "inevitable" following the events in Tunisia.

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images

 
Facebook|Twitter|Reddit

OLIVER CHETTLE

9:36 PM ET

January 18, 2011

Foreign Policy is getting far

Foreign Policy is getting far too excited. There is precious little evidence that things are going to get better in Tunisia so far, and the idea of revolution in most of these other countries is frankly alarming. Americans assume all too easily that other revolution will turn out like theirs did. Gradual evolution is usually preferable.

 

RKAAR

9:55 PM ET

January 24, 2011

Revolution

When dealing with a revolution to assume that it will go the way of the French Revolution is a safe bet.

 

PLEAB

2:38 AM ET

January 19, 2011

Egypt is a concern

Dictatorial regimes rarely face revolutions so long as they keep their repressive boots planted firmly on the necks of the citizenry.

It is when a dictator panics in response to some crisis and offers up concessions from a position of weakness that trouble begins to spiral out of control. When the opposition smells blood, the revolution is on.

I would look for three or four things: the first is in Egypt. Mubarak is old and his death will lead to a power struggle. I think anything can happened from there.

Another concern is an explosion of food and fuel prices following some worldwide economic collapse. When people are hungry they have a lot less to lose.

Of course there's always Israel and that special 'Will to Power' that drives their behaviour. An attack on Iran (less likely now) could cause major headaches for several Gulf states, especially those with large Shi'a minorities or in some cases, majorities.

Another war with Lebanon could also cause big problems for regimes thought to be too friendly to Israel.

Israel wants to retain its freedom of action. Their short history has demonstrated an unparalelled mastery of the tools of modern war but that must be measured against growing arrogance of leaders and the fact that conventional wars seem to be losing their utility as a means of accomplishing political goals. I think the humiliation of 2006 still weighs heavily upon the Israeli psyche and many are girding for another crack at Hezbollah. Will Israel be able to pull another rabbit out of the hat? I don't know. One consideration is the possibility of an extended struggle that somehow draws in other players. Israeli leaders are prone to overreaction and if things spin out of control, anything can happened. Even a nuclear strike is possible and that is should frighten everyone.

As always, not all crisis are forseeable. Something could come out of nowhere and change everything in an instant. There are some mighty powerful forces engaged in a struggle for control of the non Chinese world. Think of it as a power struggle at the top of the food chain. The players are ruthless and may have an interest in triggering some kind of massive upheaval. In that case, anything is possible.

 

NICOLAS19

3:44 AM ET

January 19, 2011

wishful thinking

One doesn't have to go back to the French Revolution to see that revolutions rarely produce real change, they usually just substitute one no-so-stong-anymore man with a strong-enough-yet man. Democratic change is usually the fruit of an evolution-like series of minor changes. Why? Because that gradual change creates the institutions, customs, the very shell every democracy needs. Tunisia (or the others) doesn't have that kind of establishment, therefore the new leaders can only use the one available to them - best suited for dictatorship.

 

SARAHLACY

5:31 PM ET

January 22, 2011

i'm a Tunisian and i assume

i'm a Tunisian and i assume that such a revolution will produce difference , i'm not saying total democracy but the situation will be much better than before , we can now start the minor changes you mentioned in your post .
the real problem now in tunisia is everybody want to take a profit from this revolution and erase all people who participated in the last government.
sarah
cafetiere expresso

 

MIKALYE

11:56 AM ET

January 19, 2011

Head of State

Describing Col. Muammar Qaddafi as "the world's longest-serving head of state" is a bit rich. Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953. Having the head of state and the head of government in one person is rare in the world, though true in the US.

 

INEDALO

4:09 PM ET

January 19, 2011

pundit overoptimism- wishful thinking?

what is with these optimistic pundits who think overthrow of tunisian tyrant will result in democracy in tunisia and lead to new democracies in other arab states? history shows that usually when one dictator is overthrown by mobs, he is replaced not by democracy, but another autocratic ruler.
look at Iraq- one dictator was kicked out about 40 yrs ago, and what came next? not democracy, but Saddam Hussein.
the same is true for most of those arab states.

so wake up, pundits, and get real. there ain't gonna be no arab democracies after tunisia, just more autocratic rule. that's life on that part of the planet.

 

NICOLAS19

10:17 AM ET

January 21, 2011

spot on

I might add that after the Americans finally get their tails between their legs and leave, another autocrat will take charge immediately and give his thanks to the US for leaving such a mess behind.

 

BINTWARRAQ

4:51 PM ET

January 19, 2011

Premature Simplification

There is no way anyone could possibly have predicted that an economically disenfranchised merchant would spark a widespread popular reaction by setting himself alight. I strongly believe that the merchant himself was neither expecting nor intending to cause such a sequence of events.

This "list" over-simplifies the state of affairs in Tunisia by suggesting some sort of positive causal relationship between the protests and demonstrations over the last week, the escape of Ben Ali and the subsequent formation of a "government of national unity" which has proven to be anything but, with numerous opposition party members resigning in protest to the continued dominance of the ruling party. And thus, the status quo is preserved by the legacy Ben Ali has left behind.

What many fail to realize is that the systemic problems inherent in the regimes throughout the region are so entrenched that the fall of a ruler, monarch or political or religious leader does not equate to a step forward. Substituting one form of authoritarianism for another is hardly something to be desired by the countries on this list.

 

JUAN67

7:56 PM ET

January 19, 2011

About Libya

I dont know about the others but I lived in Libya for a while, and I dont think Tunisia uprising could happen in Libya. Libya has very strong tribal system and this system what supports the regime because Qaddafi keeps a balance of power between the major tribes, the change can happen only if Qaddafi died or one of the major tribes is not happy with its share anymore, also any change would be very violent. Libyans ppl in general are very kind and generous and I hope they have a better future.

 

SARFRAZ HUSSAIN NAQVI

1:44 AM ET

January 20, 2011

Another Tunisia

Present Day (whole) so called Muslim World [MW] is ripe to be another Tunisia. I am a Muslim but of the firm belief that what all is happening to the present day MW is for its GOOD. Present chain of events is the only way to bring some sanity amongst the RULERS of present MW.
West (though inflaming it with ulterior motives) is creating more and more instability in the MW is actually doing a wonderful job to help bring the masses back to real ISLAM. In this process West too will embrace real Islam.
SEE HOW ALMIGHTY ALLAH OPERATES ???????
AMERICA is requested to help making the entire MW another Tunisia but SooooooooooooooooN.

 

ADRIANRAF

8:09 PM ET

January 20, 2011

Five Arab states that are ripe

That's the right question to be asked, as mentioned above Who's in charge: Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been president of Algeria since 1999. In 2009, he amended the constitution to allow himself to run for a third term and was overwhelmingly reelected in a contest that was boycotted by the opposition. Concerns have recently been raised about the 73-year-old president's health -- the state of which is a carefully guarded state secret -- and there are rumors that his brother is looking to succeed him. special day gifts. Bouteflika oversaw the end of the decade-long Algerian civil war and has worked to improve relations with European and African powers, but he has also been criticized for his failure to contain an Islamist insurgency associated with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the steady erosion of Algeria's democratic institutions under his rule.

 

ADRIANRAF

8:10 PM ET

January 20, 2011

Five Arab states that are ripe

That's the right question to be asked, as mentioned above Who's in charge: Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been president of Algeria since 1999. In 2009, he amended the constitution to allow himself to run for a third term and was overwhelmingly reelected in a contest that was boycotted by the opposition. Concerns have recently been raised about the 73-year-old president's health -- the state of which is a carefully guarded state secret -- and there are rumors that his brother is looking to succeed him. Bouteflika oversaw the end of the decade-long Algerian civil war and has worked to improve relations with European and African powers, but he has also been criticized for his failure to contain an Islamist insurgency associated with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the steady erosion of Algeria's democratic institutions under his rule.

 

USAMA2

1:42 PM ET

January 21, 2011

the biggest joke of these

the biggest joke of these comments is that so many think "democracy" is the panacea and the best way. Take a good look around folks: America is the world's global empire. It claims democracy at home but enforces oppression and tyranny abroad to serve America's interests.

France was a 'democratic republic' for liberty and fraternity at home, but a ruthless empire abroad. In fact fraternity and liberty were only for people of French heritage while Africans and Asians and Muslims were forced to serve the 'republic'.

American democracy and its agenda of spreading democracy is really about spreading the interests of America worldwide and having others cater to them, by hook or by crook. You liars ignore that America has used the entire Western hemisphere as its American empire for over 200 years where rich powerful Americans and their companies have been 'masters' and 'imperial overlords' throughout Latin America. Most American corporations over 100 years old have been close friends to tyrants and 'slave masters' in Latin America long after the abolition of slavery (Dole, Goodyear Tire, etc). Now they are friendly household names.

Muslim people are being ruled by authoritarian regimes who's primary job it is to repress them on behalf of America and the West. Its the continuation of the colonial era. One needs only to survey the trade relations of North African countries and one will find that all the North African nations trade primary with Europe, followed by America. None of them trade with any notable degree with each other. Imagine if all the American states on the Eastern shore traded only with other nations but not with each other? You would have NO development and foreign powers would find ways to pit them against each other. In fact its funny that no foreign power chose to arm and support the American Confederacy for it truly would have been successful. America has armed and supported rebellious factions in south Sudan precisely for its own interests.

 

USAMA2

2:12 PM ET

January 21, 2011

BTW, this sophmoric reporting

BTW, this sophmoric reporting of Muslim countries ignores the enormous reality of which the Muslim people are growing aware: that Western imperial power created, continues to advise, support, and in many instances prop up these regimes.

Qaddafi was trained in a British military academy was brought to power through a coup designed by the British MI6 at a time when the British were adversaries of America in the Arab and Muslim world.

FLN were supported by socialists with America's blessing in order to oust French imperial control. This was part of America's anti European colonial empire strategy post WWII. America sided with the USSR against European empires. FLN have since been cohorts with both America and France and its military got the American green light to repress the 1991 elections which sparked the civil war. the FLN led military also got the green light to use any means necessary to repress Algerian liberation, including massacring its own people in false flag operations.

France was forced to give Tunisia its 'freedom', but it was always created as a mirror image of France. Its form of republicanism was always more French than France's.

Morocco has served the West for centuries, being an agent of Western imperial designs going back to the colonial era. It was a colony of Spain until America forced Spain to give it up. Its previous monarch was called the 'butcher' for how he killed 100s of 1000s of his own people to repress Muslim uprisings for America and the West.

And the most famous of America's CIA accomplishments was bringing into power through coup the Free Officers Movement in Egypt and Nasser. Nasser knew that he came to power through American and Soviet efforts to oust colonial imperialism and he incited Arab nationalist secular republicanism throughout the region, defying the European colonists.

Thanks for sharing the truth with your knowledge starved readers, Foreign Policy.

 

USAMA2

3:51 PM ET

January 21, 2011

BTW, its being reported in a

BTW, its being reported in a recent 'Islamic conference" in the Arab region that more efforts will go towards 'unifying' and cohesion.

This is because Muslim people know that all the potential of the Arab and Muslim world resides in unified and cohesive work.

Already the manpower of Egypt serves many countries in the Gulf. The mineral resource of various nations could be shared with resource deprived nations like Jordan and Morocco, if they had common leadership, like America's 50 states.

But we Muslims know that the West don't want a unified Muslim world working to develop itself on its own. We know that the West relies on us be divided and repressed by ruthless tyrants.

North Africa has had a union called the Maghreb Union started in 2000 by America which has very little to 'unite'.

Since then, the most unified North Africa has been in serving America in its Pan Sahel Initiative (or whatever its new nomenclature is). The PSI granted American JSOC free range over all its territory and access to their elite squads to gain assets and 'train' them how to hunt terrorists.

 

NSC LOS ANGELES

7:45 PM ET

January 24, 2011

I actually agree with most of what you've written

But I guess the key difference is that with or without Atlanticist meddling, in my view there is little to no hope for the Muslim world simply due to the fundamental tenets of the religion (and therefore the civilization) itself. If someone were to wave a magic wand and suddenly remove all of the barriers caused by western imperialism would we see some magical resurgence of Islamic thinking? Or would we just see more of the same "if god wills it" superstitious nonsense, oppression of women, Jew/gay-hating silly, primitive behavior we've seen to date?

 

SAMMYBOY8408

1:00 AM ET

January 25, 2011

Islamic society was fine

Islamic society was fine before the west started meddling. Up until a few hundred years ago, the western world was behind Islam. They used colonization and war to make sure that current world order doesnt flip. Iraq was a very modern developed nation before the first gulf war, now they cant manage electricity. Islam is progressive. You are a fool for speaking about a faith you know nothing about. The west is anti-women not Islam. Theres a reason your men dont want to marry western women, their just used and disposed of, you dont hear women in muslim countries complaining about lack of commitment. Western women are pretty much men, they curse, have tats, drink, and have lots of sexual partners, some even have it filmed. If thats pro female you can keep it. Gays destroy society by creating male/female imbalances, the west is going extinct because of dwindling birthrates caused by gays and feminism (choosing career over kids). Christianity holds the same views. Gays are also many times more likely to catch and spread aids then heteros. Gays only seem normal in the west because european males are naturally very effeminate. And the thing about jews.....you guys have massacred and holocausted them how many times? The west has a long long history of banishing and killing jews. So I suggest you keep your mouth shut.We hate them because they stole muslim lands and oppress muslims, thats justified hatred. The jews hate nazis for the same reason.

 

NSC LOS ANGELES

6:21 PM ET

January 25, 2011

More of the same from your ilk

I know a tremendous amount about Islam, and what you’ve written is typical Muslim apologist nonsense – a curious mix of pseudo education, homophobia, aggression and total falsehood.

A few quick rebuttals:

“Islamic society was fine before the west started meddling.” Oh really? Are you pointing to the “golden age,” control of trade routes, etc? Yeah, you guys were good at running ships and camels back then, but that’s about it.

“Islam is progressive.” Ah yes, the religion that advocates beating wives, taking slaves and subjugating other religions. Please boy, you have no credibility whatsoever with that nonsense. Islam’s actions and its writings are plain for everyone to see.

“You don’t hear Muslim women complaining about lack of commitment.” Yeah, you hear them complaining about lack of education, lack of legal representation, lack of the right to show their faces in many Muslim countries and quite often lack of the sexual organs god gave them by right.

“Gays destroy society.” That’s so stupid it doesn’t even warrant a response. Your entire civilization is nothing but a backwards slum and you blame a handful of gays for “destroying society.” You make me laugh child.

“The west is going extinct.” We may not view the western womb as a weapon like you guys do, but we’re far from extinct. We also have a life expectancy way beyond 45. Also, the number one cause of death in our civilization isn’t being murdered by other westerners, can’t really say the same for Islam can you? Nope.

“European males are effeminate.” Really? Then why is it so easy for them to kill Muslim men by the dozens in Iraq and AF? You guys may have beards but your kill ratios are so low. Maybe you should call the Vietnamese, they knew what they were doing.

“You guys have massacred [the Jews].” Yep, we’ve massacred a lot of people - you guys are top of that list right now (sucks eh?). Difference is our holy book doesn’t command us to do so. Are you following me?

So, I suggest you get back to stuffing kebabs and quit blaming “the west” for your backwards mess of a pretend civilization. Call us when you’ve figured out to launch a space shuttle. Or just call us when you get running water. We won’t wait by the phone.

 

SAMMYBOY8408

5:38 PM ET

January 26, 2011

"Yeah, you guys were good at

"Yeah, you guys were good at running ships and camels back then, but that’s about it. "

LOL Try cutting edge science and math, cataracks surgeries when europeans were in the dark ages lying in their own filth. The west was enlightened by Islam, this is fact, brought out the dark ages. Running camels? Thats a pathetic stereotype. Even the ships the west used to conquer the new world were of muslim design.

"Yeah, you hear them complaining about lack of education, lack of legal representation, lack of the right to show their faces in many Muslim countries and quite often lack of the sexual organs god gave them by right"

this is also a stereotype and even then has nothing to do with Islam. Women can be educated in islam.

I wont argue with you about gays, since you are probably yourself an effeminate white male, I know how hostile you get when your scant masculinity is threatened (oppression of blacks and even removal of their penises out of jealousy) But gays are bad. They are 3% of the popuation and are 50% of Aids cases. Unless spreading AIDS is good.If you think a man boinking another man in the a$$ is normal then you have mental issues.

The west is going extinct, your women dont want to have children with you, plain and simple. You will be a minority in your own nation soon enough, same for europe. Musim countries have low murder rates, find a more believable stereotype. America has more murders than all of europe and im guessing asia if i look into it.

"Really? Then why is it so easy for them to kill Muslim men by the dozens in Iraq and AF? You guys may have beards but your kill ratios are so low."

Using superior weapons doesnt prove manhood. If they had the technology to fight back, you wouldnt have started a war with them in the first place. Iraq, Afghanistan, somalia. All really weak countries. If it was evenly matched you wouldnt stand a chance as your boys wouldnt fight without massive air support. You are all extremely effeminate and you know it. Getting PTSD from killing your enemy from 1000 yards, while 13 year old afghani kids fight you in the day, and play with their friends in the evening. Take a testosterone shoot instead of attacking or hating everything under the sun. It explains your anger at a patriarchal society.

"Yep, we’ve massacred a lot of people - you guys are top of that list right now (sucks eh?). Difference is our holy book doesn’t command us to do so. Are you following me?"

Nope. Doesnt say to attack anyone in Islam. The whole "attack the infidels quote in the quran is a quote that is cookie cutted out. Before it it says get a peace treaty with your enemy but if they break it and attack, kill them. All you do is point out the kill them part.You're massacres werent because of religion they were from the sick mental insecurities most european males are born with. Couple hundred jews took over a nation of millionS? kill them. The asians are gonna rise and dominate us, kill them.

"So, I suggest you get back to stuffing kebabs and quit blaming “the west” for your backwards mess of a pretend civilization. Call us when you’ve figured out to launch a space shuttle. Or just call us when you get running water. We won’t wait by the phone."

Wow that is pathetic propaganda. Want to see the evils of the west in muslim land? Look at Iraq 1990 and iraq now. Dont you guys threaten to "send to the stone age" your enemies all the time? A space launch? Have you ever gone to a RnD Dept of boeing or nasa. There are very few westerners, its mostly asians. You'll be bragging about space shuttles like im bragging about 1500s scientific advances in the future. Asia is currently rising because the west can no longer oppress it. When muslims countries no longer have brutal US puppets they will pass you up, just like the rest of the world. Your kind wont even exist in 150 yrs because of "enlightened thought" like feminism and homosexuality. Go on an anti_obama diatribe because he makes you feel like a 9 year old boy. Hope your alive to see a mexican majority, it will be fun, cause believe me they are planning pay back

 

NSC LOS ANGELES

8:14 PM ET

January 26, 2011

Durka durka!

Don’t go overboard on the golden age, the one thing you people did right was to have the good sense to save the Greek writings from destruction. Was it Averroes who wrote that his treatise on physics was so influenced by Aristotle as to be written by him? I can’t recall, but such is the story of Islam – very little authentic innovation, but some degree of development of pre-existing concepts, and for that you deserve credit. Limited credit, but credit.

Oh, ok. Any evidence of the oppression of women in Islam is “just a stereotype.” God you people are stupid. Do you honestly expect the rest of the world to just go along with this ridiculous nonsense when the facts are plainly evident for all to see? Female circumcision? The burka? Legal representation of women in Sharia? The filth about women in the Koran? You’re so stupid, you people deserve to suffer. Did you know I used to very anti war? I used to view you as human like anyone else. That was until I lived among your kind.

I love how obsessed you are, like so many Muzzo males, with proving your masculinity. No wonder your nations are obsessed with rape and are bringing this epidemic to Europe (not so much to the US, we’ll just shoot you and you know that, keeps you lads in line). Truly primitive, pathetic and driven by the lowest common denominator – your sexual ego identity. I’ve found Muslim men, unlike virtually all other men, can only define their sexual identity in relation to something else – the weakness of women, the hatred of gays, etc. It is as if you people have no internal sense of who you are or what manhood is about so you have to express masculinity through brutality. Fortunately, you’re also notoriously feeble minded so you don’t get very far. I asked a rabbi once about the Muzzo threat and he said, “They’re nothing compared to the Nazis. One million Nazis is 100 times the threat of one billion Muslims, because they’re not very bright and they’re too focused on honor and women to do much.”

The Mexicans are planning payback? For what? The tremendous opportunity they have realized in America because unlike your kind they work hard and are intelligent? Praise be to Allah you’re a stupid specimen, even for one of your kind.

As for your claims about the religion of “peace” yes, it does say you should attack your enemies until Islam is the law of the land. It’s a fact, it’s in there and as much as you scum try to pass it off on “out of context” or “it reads a bit different in literary Arabic” we all know it’s in there, very plain to see. And your actions support it. Ask the Kurds. Ask the Sikhs (speaking of real men, they’ve claimed more Muzzo heads than anyone and are still a kind and wonderful people). Ask the black Sudanese that Islam enslaves (slavery is another wonderful benefit of Islam, how peaceful).

As for Asia rising, that’s very true and the success of China and India is well deserved, I’m glad to see non-western nations like these succeed in the free market because their civilizations re built on high ideals – but by Asia we mean SE ASIA, not the filthy middle east. As for Muslim countries “surpassing” the US, half of your people are illiterate and inbred. Illiteracy in “modern moderate” Turkey is enormously high. Who do you think you’re kidding? You’re so far behind the civilized world it’s pathetic. As for your love of Obama, I love him too – he’s got the Muzzo world eating out of the palm of his hand with a few kind words while he continues to bomb the sh*t out of the dust bowls you call countries. He’s played you quite well in fact, and on that front I do like him very much. Glad to see you do too : )

 

SAMMYBOY8408

10:02 PM ET

January 26, 2011

Never said i liked obama. I

Never said i liked obama. I didnt try to play up my masculinity and neither do muslims. genital mutilation is about as muslim as trailer trash incest is Christian. On the Contrary it is europeans that are obsessed with their lack of masculinity, why else would they have put so much effort into destroying blacks and Africa? Wasnt even that long ago youd hang blacks for looking at white women, you were afraid their masculinity would cheat you out of all your women, Not a surprise africans in america are way better off than black americans are.

Also you first mention that caravans and trade routes is all muslims ever had, and now you recognize otherwise.
Hospitals, wind powered pumps, gas masks, fountain pen, antiseptics, chess, scientific method, pharmacology, human autopsy, discovery of infectious disease and the immune system, dental restoration, pharmacies, process of visual perception, general anaesthesia, modern soap, toothpaste, algebra. Just to list a few. All original ideas, not greek. Ive met Iranian muslims(persian empire), turkish muslims(ottoman empire), nigerian muslims(timbuktu, where greeks came to learn), they all have higher education and income levels than americans do. Even the arabs do. Your just an angry white boy, you want to belittle and dehumanize others and their capabilities and accomplishments, while playing yours up. I guess thats a decent way to fix your broken ego. If your so pro female, go and save your own women, their all stuck in mentally disturbed whore mode.

“If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is
also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the
Islamic World. It is a failure, which stems, I think from the straight jacket of history,
which we have inherited. The medieval Islamic world, from Central Asia to the
shores of the Atlantic, was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished.
But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien
culture, society and system of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great
relevance to our own history.”
Prince Charles in a speech “Islam and the West”, Oxford, 27th October 1993

If Islam was backwards they would have never been able to accomplish what they have and you know it, your anger and hatred is obviously dripping in hatred. If you want me to explain how a kurd feels about Islam because of his oppression, SHould I then ask how the Irish felt about christianity after the treatment they got from the Brits?

 

SAMMYBOY8408

10:06 PM ET

January 26, 2011

Did you just say mexicans are

Did you just say mexicans are intelligent?? Your off your rocker, they get out of high school at lower levels than blacks do. And blacks dont care at all for school. Your obviously an idiot. 70% of mexican women are at some point physically beaten by their husbands. But to you they are intelligent and hardworking? Pure propaganda to suit your retarded point of view

 

SAMMYBOY8408

10:40 PM ET

January 27, 2011

I'm not an arab. Im not

I'm not an arab. Im not talking about non muslims as effeminate just westerners (whites), Biologically you know its true, you avoid topics that you cant refute. To this day your blacks are kept in complete poverty and thrown in jail with sentences 8 times longer than whites(worse than apartheid south africa).You get 100x the punishment for crack than coke(white drug). You didnt even attempt to disassemble my argument about Islamic civilization and how its advances lifted the west out of the dark ages. The west has simply lost its ways and you know it. It wasnt that long ago women in america dressed modestly, stayed at home, and saved themselves for marriage. You guys werent attacking Islam back then but you are now. Your women have jobs handed to them thru affirmative action, its mostly for women not minorities. Orgasms? Yea basic stastics show that most dont get them, unless they use toys look it up.Nice spin though. Your used up, diseased, masculine sluts. Have fun with some other dudes leftovers. Men ruled over women in the US as recently as the 50s, ironically the golden years of america. Now you are riddled with single mother households than crank out whores and future criminals at 5x the rate of two parent homes. If you think ending up with a woman who has been banged and sprayed by dozens of dudes is enlightened, well ill pass. I'm supposed to explain or apologize for what a couple in Af or US have done? Can you explain the austrian guy who fathered 6 kids with his daughter? Or the Americans who dragged a black man from a pick up not that long ago? The women who drowned her 5 kids? THe numerous men that have killed their own kids? Theres nothing oppressive about a woman covering her body. You guys used to do that. They even do so in CHRISTIANITY and JUDAISM(look at an orthodox womans dress). Christians just dont follow their religion. Why do nuns dress very similar to muslim women. You cant lash out at Islamic dress for women for both other major religions require the same, most just dont follow. Do you think they are backwards and woman hating as well? I know for a fact most men in america have very low views of american women. American women are considered good only for sport f#cking, this is the view of alot of men. There are even websites devouted to using western women and marrying for a patriarchal country. You can try and use selective reports to explain your propaganda all you want. My point was blacks and mexicans have low test scores and low graduation rates, and are both heavily demonized in the US. But you play them off as proud, great, hard working, and so on. Along with India, were untouchables arent allowed to walk near your home without a preist cleansing the accursed area. They also have monkey prisons in India, and sh1t on the side of the street. But their awesome like you say, because that would help paint the world as rational and legitimate while Islam as evil and backwards. In both other major religions, they have the EXACT same view of women and gays, yet you have nothing to say about them.

 

SHAMS ZAMAN

8:19 AM ET

January 24, 2011

The Phenomenon May not Remain Limited to Arab States Only

Most of the Muslim countries are either ruled by monarchs or "so called" democratic elites aloof of popular sentiments and proxies of the west. This has led them to economic malpractices and corruption resulting in deprivation of masses even from basic amenities. The Tunis phenomenon, therefor might not only remain restricted to these five countries only and other state might also provide the ripe conditions to repeat the events happened there. Pakistan also falls under the same category. Although fully ripe for the showdown, it might not be precisely possible to predict that when this might happen. The problem with the west is its myopic vision of Islam, prejudices against Muslims and its racial supremacy. Western model of liberal democracy considered as to be ideal model of governance might not be considered so by other nations or civilizations. They must have the free choice to adopt other systems considered as sacred or best by them. Muslims consider Islam as a divine form of governance which must be adopted by all Muslims and west must respect these sentiments rather than trying to impose Liberal imperialism universally. A peaceful co-existence is only possible if we respect each other's right to live according to own choice otherwise such revolutions and turmoils would keep rocking the foundations of the global economy resulting in the eventual demise of global capitalism.
Shams Zaman Pakistan smszmn72@yahoo.com

 

RKAAR

10:07 PM ET

January 24, 2011

The West

The problem with the West is arrogant stupidity, shameless greed and ignorant idealism. The problem with Islamic countries is that they were advanced 600 years ago and forgot to keep on going. China was once all-powerful compared with the European barbarians. Then it fell asleep. It is awake now but the Islamic countries still refuse to change.

But they can possibly wake up. The West will probably insist in its arrogant stupidity until they bury it. But it will be China at the shovel, not the Islamic nations.

And nobody will respect anybody's right to ANYTHING. Capitalism as is will fall only when the US collapses.

 

STAVKAR

11:47 AM ET

February 16, 2011

some ways

Tunisia is in some ways the most European country of North Africa. It boasts a relatively large middle class, liberal social norms, broad gender stavkovanie equality and welcoming Mediterranean beaches. United States officials have given it high marks for its aggressive prosecution of terrorism suspects.