Pyramid Scheme
By Amit Singh | Saturday, February 12th, 2011 | International, PolicyThe Egyptian people used 18 days of civil disobedience to accomplish what the US spent 41 days to do in Iraq. The US has spent almost a trillion dollars and lost over 4,000 lives since the liberation of Iraq. Now with protests brewing in Algeria and Yemen, I’m sure there are many in policy circles trying to figure out what the US should do to spread democracy throughout the Middle East. The best policy the US could adopt at this moment is to keep their hands off.
We spent about $0 on getting Mubarak to step down from power and that is the same amount we should spend in other uprisings. Any perception (true or not) that the US is assisting anti-govt groups will immediately be used to crush the protests. Anyone who rises to power with US assistance will (likely rightfully so) be viewed as a puppet and will continue to deny Egypt the stability it needs.
America’s ability to change the world has always been by example. Providing our people with freedoms and the rule of law is much more respected than a barrel of a gun. America’s success is a direct result of its foundation of civil liberties and free markets. Countries around the world, including the US, should follow America’s example to spread peace and prosperity.
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27 Responses to "Pyramid Scheme"
I agree. Great article. Thank you.
Amit,
I’m not sure you really wanted to provide what is happening in Egypt as an example of what could happen in Algeria and Yemen.
We do have some history of Algeria to examine don’t we?
@LittleDavid, we are in a historic time where emotions are high and people are far more empowered than ever before with information literally at their fingertips. no one can predict what will happen but we can hope.
Shah II
I think you mean Pharaoh II
Thank god the Egyptian military is in control
better than the US military!
Nice article, Amit.
OK Amit, then move into Yemen or Algeria and throw in with the anti-government forces and live with what you end up with. I doubt you would still be allowed to have information at your fingertips anymore.
There is a definite difference between hope and reality. Be careful what you wish for.
@LittleDavid, so you believe the status quo is acceptable? Tell the Egyptian and Tunisian people what the difference between hope and reality is.
Amit,
Apparently, the Muslim Brotherhood feels the problem isn’t with President Mubarak’s but his regime and the military coup.
It appears that the Muslim Brotherhood will play a major role in the new regime and the direction of the Egyptian people.
I believe its a little soon to be throwing up the victory flag just yet.
@John Jackson, at the end of the day, if the Muslim Brotherhood or anyone else who takes power doesn’t deliver an economy that improves the high unemployment rate and wages, then the citizens will take to the streets again.
that being said, the Muslim Brotherhood is largely a non-violent group that condemns terrorism and has been criticized by Osama Bin Laden and other violent groups for betraying jihad.
I’m not saying the Egyptian people have won the Superbowl, I’m just saying they finally made it to the playoffs.
It might not be too soon to throw up a danger flag. Protesters are clashing with police both in Algeria and Yemen. Talk of new protests in Iran and Syria. Even reading about problems in Bahrain.
And if this starts in the Kingdom, I shudder to think of what price gasoline may skyrocket to.
What is your take on this Amit? You have an excellent sense on these things.
@Hawkins, if protests breakout in the Kingdom, I’m sure there will be an immediate spike for gas prices as people panic and speculate, but since oil is such a fungible commodity, I believe other countries (i.e. Iraq, Venezuela) will boost production to meet the demand. Of course that will trigger a whole set of separate debates about drilling and alternative energies, which should be a good thing longer term.
Where do you get that the Muslim Brotherhood is a non-violent? After Clapper made his comments, even the left is mocking the statement that they are non-secular and non-violent.
According to Politico, the Brotherhood’s slogan is “Islam is the answer”. They advocate government in accordance to Islamic principles, assuming Shiria Law. Not exactly a practice I would wish for people who don’t toe the line of the Islamic faith.
Maybe the betrayal rant by Bin Laden and other groups was to get the Brotherhood back in line. Seems like a group needs to practice a jihad before they can betray it.
Amit,
You answered my examples of Algeria and Yemen with your asking about Egypt and Tunisia.
So with a side-step I will answer your question. The status quo in Algeria is preferable to what has happened in the past there. They had their chance at Democracy and we can consult history to see where it got them.
Perhaps you think we should give them a second chance after they failed so miserably the first time around?
@Jackson, of course the Muslim Brotherhood has had violent episodes in the past which is why I would not say they are completely non-violent. Being completely non-violent is likely impossible when you’re in opposition to several dictators in the world. But in general when they are condemning terrorist acts, want to maintain peace treaties with Israel, and do not want to force women to wear hijabs, I don’t think that is the worst of all the alternatives. Are they perfect? No. But neither are Republicans or Democrats.
@LittleDavid, I think you’re confusing a revolt against a foreign power (i.e. Algeria against France) versus a revolt against your own leader. Perhaps too nuanced but I think the govt should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. Why should the Algerians and Yemenis not learn from the example of others? Do you think they are protesting because they want to be more like Saudi Arabia or more like Turkey?
Yes, and 9/11 terrorists wanted to be airline pilots.
@Jackson, like I said before, I’m not denying that the Muslim Brotherhood has violent members but there is a huge difference between being a terrorist versus a statesman, just ask Yasser Arafat. if the MB doesn’t deliver on running the country better than Mubarak, I don’t think the Egyptian people are going to wait 30 years to overthrow their govt.
the alternative, which I’m not sure if you are advocating, is for the US to select the future leaders of Egypt, which in my opinion would be disastrous.
No! I am definitely not advocating US involvement. It may not sound like it but I agree with your article.
I’m just saying that its a little too soon to put up the “Mission Accomplished” banner.
ha, its always too soon to put up the “Mission Accomplished” banner!
The Muslim Botherhood unless I am terribly mistaken upholds that Islamist hard core Muslims are superior to others including non-Muslims and considers it unnatural for Muslims to be ruled by non-muslims. Egyptians know that in the world outside of todays muslim controlled lands that theirs are not a dominant culture. Would you Amit consider this a source of deep discontent and frustration for moderate peace loving muslims who see the world as upside down and consider this modern reality an affront to their dignity as well as a source of global humiliation?
Amit,
With Algeria I am not thinking of the revolt against France as an example, I am more thinking of the government Algeria ended up with after the last real democratic elections there. You are familiar with that government aren’t you?
JJ: I agree with you that, to this point, a lot of the celebration here of what happened in Egypt is premature.
Let’s see what happens next. Does the military relinquish power? Do we get real free and fair election in Egypt? If we do, do the Egyptians show the good sense not to vote in a Jihadist regime?
Democracy for everyone is great in theory. Doesn’t always work out to be in our best interest in practice.
Everyone was excited about the peaceful revolution in Russian too, back in the day. It’s a thugocracy now.
At the risk of invoking Godwin, let’s remember that Hitler won an election too.
@turbo, I’m hardly advocating that the MB is the ideal political party to take control of Egypt from an American perspective. what I am saying is that self-rule is a universal right and sometimes in a democracy the people choose poorly (i.e. Hamas). but at least in a democracy they can remove bad leaders in a peaceful way unlike a dictatorship.
@LittleDavid, not sure what you’re getting at. The military ousted the last elections in Algeria and has been ruling them for the last 20 years. is military rule what you want for the Algerian people?
Amit,
I think the military rule in Algeria has been better for many minorities there then the tyranny of the majority under Democracy.
From what I have been hearing about the demonstrations in Algeria, those demonstrating better be careful, they might just get what they wish for and live to regret it. Do they really want a return of that which came before?
I’m just beginning to wrap my head around these issues — I find myself “projecting” what I assumed to be universal concepts of freedom and democracy, self-determination and capitalism, onto populations which may very well abhor those values.
This doesn’t seem like a clash of democratic values with authoritarian rule, as much as it seems like the opening volley (or perhaps a culminating moment) of a war between secular government and a spreading theocracy movement which would be at odds with Western civilization and values.
I too would caution victory dances for quite some time. IMO, this is big-picture, “clash of civilizations” stuff that will play out over decades.
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