Playing Dead

The sainted revolution over, it’s difficult to understand why protesters are still in Tahrir Square (which is really a circle). Reminds of when Obamacare was passed and the next day people started showing up at clinics and hospitals, demanding medical services.

Today, Egyptians are protesting low wages and high food prices. Anyone to venture a guess when this will change?

Conditions are liable to get worse for Egyptians - not better. For one thing, the army is now in charge. They control streets, not markets. Nefarious elements will begin to disrupt things even more in hopes of positioning themselves just behind the tip of the spear.

After WWII , after Germany had been decisively defeated, there was the U.S. to step in to help. I’m not saying Europe couldn’t have pulled itself out of the muck. I’m just saying, it would have taken them a lot longer without the Marshall Plan and good old American know-how.

Nobody to turn to now if you happen to crash your economy, have a revolution, or lose a war. America has given up on that gig. We’ve become green, taking nothing from the earth and subsisting entirely like Kobo Abe’s fictional, self-contained bug (eupcaccia) which he describes in the opening lines of his novel, “The Ark Sakura”, as subsisting entirely by eating its own feces.

And there is Obama, trying to take credit for what happened. In six months, Egyptians may well take him up on that. Meanwhile, unrest is said to be spreading throughout the Middle East. In his message to the Egyptian people, Obama voiced once again his commitment to stand by them, perhaps not yet realizing that, to the average Egyptian, any interference by America is like the kiss of death. Maybe his message was really directed at us? Oh, I don’t mean the Tea Parties. He can do without them - much too civilized; much too informed; stable. No, he means all the rabble that supports him. He’s been spoiling for a good fight. Republicans, it seems, aren’t really up to it. Much too eager to roll over and play dead.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

What If...

What if Mubarak were to ride this one out? The thought came to mind when pro-Mubarak supporters stormed into Tahrir Square, attacking western news crews and shouting anti-American slogans. Could Israel do the same?

It seems that a display of anti-Americanism is quite in vogue in the Middle East. Heck, it even works in America.

What if it turns out that Egyptians have had enough. It is my understanding that the grocery shelves stand empty. Not a cigarette to be had. Who is responsible? Who is in a position to do anything about it? ElBaradei? The rabble in the streets?

What about those whose houses and properties remain at risk from criminals and looters? Who will they turn to for relief? It looks like they’re prepared to look after themselves. Neighborhood posses have been formed to drive hooligans away.

This is similar to the 1967 Newark riots. While the city burned, residents of the Ironbound set up armed sentries to keep the lawless out and they succeeded in protecting their holdings. While Newark is still clawing its way out of the abyss, the Ironbound has been thriving.

How would Obama react if Mubarak holds on - by popular support, even. How would the American media spin it?

Maybe Israel should do the same: Send masses of people out into the streets with signs (in English) condemning America. Now they’d all be brothers. Who needs the West?

http://peterkoelliker.blogspot.com/
http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/