Saturday 30 July 2011

Islamist Show of Strength In Tahrir Square

Islamist parties had largely boycotted recent demonstrations. But leaders said the time had come to speak out against what they see as attempts by Egypt’s interim military rulers, and by liberal politicians, to quietly enact constitutional changes that would enshrine Egypt as a secular state. We have said on this site consistently that the Arab Spring has to be rooted in something more concrete and substantial than an Obamaesque 'freedom' concept. The only grouping who are manifesting this, perhaps the only one who can, is the wide range of Islamic factions showing a united front for once. This is not only becoming manifest in in Egypt but also in Libya where Islamists are the only coherent group which can be identified among the rebels. The Arab Spring could yet metamorphose into an Islamic Summer. Watch the western paranoia go off the scale. Norway is a case in point. Don't take my word. Read the ramblings of the perpetrator, Breivik. 

2 comments:

  1. Personally I am not expecting an Islamic Summer (or Fall). The Brotherhood is an ancient party and rightfully deserves its power base and Libya has its own AQ seeds, but I don't think they will start a broader trend. Pro-democracy, pseudo-sectarian movements have aquired hard power through their numbers and grassroots organization. They do need time to run at full speed, however I think the popular movements will check the pure Islamic elements. Look at Yemen's revolution, peaceful and relatively free of calls for Sharia and AQ rule.

    Now if the U.S. continues to oppose certain revolutions, this scenario naturally becomes more probable.

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  2. I hope your prognosis proves correct, James. My worry is that the nice peaceful populations with their kids on their shoulders don't move the military or political furniture around much in any society. The guys who will bring change(for better or worse) need some clout behind them.It's one thing to remove corrupt and venal dictators who were rotten to their foundations. To form a government is another. The Muslim Brotherhood will have a few RPG's hidden away somewhere and might bring them out if they feel the time is right. I can't argue about Yemen and bow to your expertise on that, but there are Islamists there who have yet to be heard and seen imho.

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