Dutch, be careful that when you speak of America, you speak of its government, and not of its people.
In defense of our government, I would ask you: what role would you have them play in the Egyptian revolution? In the Middle East, a region where American credibility is a troubled thing at best, would you have America send in soldiers to oust the Egyptian president and overthrow the government there? That is not feasible -- our military is otherwise occupied. That is not wise -- the people of Egypt will replace Mubarak. American intervention is not necessary. In the event of American intervention, there are many powers in the region who would call a new government illegitimate, and it would result in a government that would be dangerously fragile. Is that what you would like to see for the people of Egypt?
Now, I was personally extremely disappointed in Obama's response the other day. (Was it only yesterday? This is all moving along so quickly.) I was upset that he did not come out on the side of the people, who are demanding freedom, equity, and quite possibly real democracy. I found his bet-hedging to be almost anti-human and robotically political. And yet I understood that it had to be that way, because of Egypt's positive relationship with Israel and the United States in a region where we need every friend we can find.
I'm rabid with anger at our American news sources, which are frankly, flat-out just not good enough.
I know there's a legion of people out there who hear the conservative commentators framing this revolution as a kind of punchline, and believe, because they are not exposed to better sources of information, that the Egyptians have taken to the streets because their dictator is not Muslim enough. Thousands or millions of Americans are worrying today over the potential for a new extreme Muslim regime to emerge out of this situation and further destabilize the world.
****ing hogwash.
So I, too, am displeased with America this week -- but the difference between you and me is that at least I can articulate why. This is not a moment to gloat over the evils of America in some half-assed gloat-speak. Where's America? Pffff. We didn't cause this. We couldn't have prevented this. And now that it's happening, we can't fix this.
This is in the hands of our Egyptian brothers and sisters.
How about the Royal Netherlands army swoops into Egypt and saves the day and feeds these people and ousts the despot and creates an Egyptian economy where every person can have a job and live with the dignity that they deserve? How'd that be? Where's the ****ing Dutch in all of this?
) marines. i mean it could be just moral support. and if the people request it military support, doubt they will request it.