Michael Totten on Egypt
Michael Totten interviewed Eric Trager, an expert on Egypt, shortly before the recent violence erupted there. Trager said:
The military believes it not only has to remove Morsi, it has to decapitate the entire organization. Otherwise, the Brotherhood will re-emerge and perhaps kill the generals who removed it from power.
That’s what’s in Egypt’s future right now””–persistent civil strife between the military and its supporters on one side and the Brotherhood and its supporters on the other…
There’s likely to be a steady flow of violence, but it probably won’t be ubiquitous. It will consist in pockets around demonstration sites. It will be bad enough to disrupt life, and it will likely undermine a transition moving forward, but it probably won’t be as ugly as in Syria or Algeria…
When I was standing in Tahrir Square after Morsi was removed, a felt a certain amount of sadness because I knew that violence would be an inevitable and significant consequence. People in the square were very happy, but people in another square a few miles away people were mourning. They believe something has been stolen from them, and they intend to fight to get it back.
I think the Brotherhood won’t get it back. It’s highly unlikely that Morsi will see the light of day outside a courtroom. But it’s a fight that’s going to continue for a while, and it’s a fight that many of those celebrating in the square that evening didn’t think about.
Prescient.
“People in the square were very happy, but people in another square a few miles away people were mourning. They believe something has been stolen from them, and they intend to fight to get it back.”
Yes; very willing.
I suspect the Egyptian generals were worried about the MB purging their ranks in a matter similar to the Iranian revolution. They acted in their own perceived best interests when they decided to support the anti-Morsi protestors. I’ll take a junta content with US military handouts over a MB hellhole stirring up jihad in the arab country with the largest population.
“The military believes it not only has to remove Morsi, it has to decapitate the entire organization. Otherwise, the Brotherhood will re-emerge and perhaps kill the generals who removed it from power.”
I’m doubtful that the military can permanently decapitate the Brotherhood. If not, the Brotherhood certainly will re-emerge and use suicide bombings and assassinations to kill the generals, which will lead to a counter jihadist coup.
The Saudi’s are the last remaining ‘strongman bulwark’ against the completion of the Arab Spring’s transformation of the M.E. into jihadist regimes.
Iran’s coming acquisition of nuclear weapons capability will precipitate nuclear proliferation throughout the region.
Within perhaps as little as 5 years, we will be facing multiple nuclear armed jihadist States controlled by religious fanatics. That is Obama’s foreign policy legacy.
“That is Obama’s foreign policy legacy.”
Finally, he is truly laser focused on something.
“That is Obama’s foreign policy legacy.”
“Finally, he is truly laser focused on something.”
That is a fundamental underestimation of Obama. Forgive the sacrilege but in one regard Obama reminds me of Reagan. Whom he reportedly respects if not admires.
Obama, like Reagan, knows how to delegate. Obama knows that he has a loyal stable of assistants, who fully understand his goals and have been given the flexibility to accomplish Obama’s goals in whatever manner they deem best. Neither Holder, nor any of Obama’s cabinet need their master to look over their shoulders for Obama to know they’re doing their job as he desires. As example, the EPA is proceeding full speed ahead.
With the exception of the current hiccup in Egypt, the jihadization of the ME is proceeding exactly as Obama desires. The Iranian nuclear program is on pace to achieve its objective. Israel is being pressured to accept conditions that will ensure its collapse.
Comprehensive Amnesty for 11-33 million undocumented democrats is on track to passage, ensuring one party rule in America. The threat of Obamacare’s provisions actualizing before the 2014 elections has been averted. The scandals are gradually fading in the LIV minds with the cooperation of a Republican Establishment that has been brought to heel. SCOTUS has been gelded. How many divisions do they have, indeed.
Obama has repeatedly demonstrated that he is answerable to no one. It’s really quite an accomplished record, judged from the left’s desired goals. All while vacationing and golfing up a storm! What wonders will he accomplish in the next three years?
“Forgive the sacrilege but in one regard Obama reminds me of Reagan. Whom he reportedly respects if not admires.”
The (tremendous) difference is RR admired and longed for the dream of the shining city on the hill. RR had deep roots in the soil. BHO’s foundation is smoking joints in Hawaii and Frank Davis stroking BHO’s resentment. The boychild does not respect or admire RR, he just wants to slaughter everything RR stood for.
parker,
I assure you that I am cognizant of the differences between Reagan, whom I’ve learned to deeply respect and Obama, whom I abhor. I thought I restricted the comparison to a shared ability to delegate. He certainly does wish to slaughter everything Reagan stood for but even an enemy can be respected as a worthy opponent.
“even an enemy can be respected as a worthy opponent.”
I know you are cognizant, in fact I know you are a very intelligent and well informed person. However, an enemy is simply an enemy. So while one should understand and acknowledge the ability of an enemy, the enemy remains an enemy. When it all comes down to dust an enemy as to be put down asap; no quarter, no mercy, and no remorse.
Well an enemy is an enemy. I like Reagan’s take on enemies. The story may be apocryphal but as I heard it, supposedly during Reagan’s first official briefing on the Soviet Union, his briefer became concerned that he wasn’t paying enough attention and asked Reagan if he had a strategy for dealing with the Soviets. Reagan replied, “yes, we win, they lose” 🙂
While some enemies can be respected, Obama isn’t one of them. Neither is the Left.