Political victory, that is victory through the ballot box, would embolden the Brotherhood to seek the overthrow of monarchies, that is dictatorships, in other Middle Eastern countries.
On which side of history is Ms Bishop standing?

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer stated at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne this week that only a tiny fraction of the population in Egypt are Islamists whereas the majority of the population are Muslims who are demanding change and power through democratic elections.

Hence, we need to make a strong distinction between Islamists and peaceful Muslims that want democratic change. At the same event, Gareth Evans stated that the West should not make the same mistake it did by rejecting the democratically elected party in the Gaza.

Australia can make a positive contribution to peace and development in the Middle East and beyond by engaging with democratically elected representatives and governments and helping them to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions. We also need to remind these governments and parliaments that they must respect cultural and religious diversity of all its citizens whether they are Jews, Christians or other faiths. The Coptic Christians in Egypt have paid a heavy price for being Christians in a Muslim country and this must stop.

We simply have to get over this irrational fear of all things Islam. Sure there are small groups of fanatical fundamentalists, with averaged IQ's barely above ambient temperatures and highly flawed medieval belief systems that are at complete odds with the teachings of the original unedited un-revised Koran.
Moreover, we live with two near Islamic neighbours, who provide us with economic benefit and forward posture defence arrangements, one neighbour, is the largest Muslim nation in the world.
We are in a 800 billion dollar hole regarding infrastructure provision; and now is not the time to start denigrating or putting all things Islam in the same box, particularly when we are just now looking to Islam for PP infrastructure funding arrangements.
The way to avoid an Egyptian winter, is to ensure that the change over to representational democracy is followed by diplomacy, trade and generous aid, that then allows/promotes serious economic growth and high value employment opportunities.
After all, the principle reason for the Arab spring had its roots in endemic poverty and lack of opportunity for the tertiary educated demographic!
N.B. Corruption and "extremely arrogant autocrats" the lynch pin.
We cannot must not try to once again, to impose our view of democracy on any other nation. We lost the war in Vietnam by doing just that; and, with our usual ignorance imposing a corrupt dictator; and, confusing Buddhism with Communism; and the subsequent loss of any local popular support!
And not just in Vietnam, but near Buddhist neighbours as well.
Gone are the days when we are able to say, yes he is a butchering bastard, but he's our butchering bastard?
The only lessons from history, we in the so-called west or developed nations learned, is that nobody learns the lessons of history! Rhrosty.

we better build more detention centres as Islamic rule creates many more assylum seekers. Muslims don't want to live under Islamic rule until they get to the West. Once accepted as refugees many then want to impose their laws here.

"We simply have to get over this irrational fear of all things Islam"

What about our 'rational' fears of Islam?

I mean Islam has the runs on the board in terms of the throat-slitting and in the West the 'discussion' is still at the stage of most moslems are moderate and just want to fit in.

That is unmitigated self-delusion; look at what is happening in Turkey.

As for Indonesia and Malaysia; there is no religious freedom in these supposed shining examples of Islam being tolerant.

Let's face it, for Islam, there is one way, Islam.

Cohenite: Show me in any post that I've ever posted, where I've held up either Indonesia or Malaysia as shining examples of religious tolerance? Don't go the verbal on me mate! One would argue that they are by no means perfect; but, currently secular and their version of Islam is both comparatively moderate and tolerant; and, comparatively safe travel destinations.
My many ultra tolerant Malaysian friends will confirm this; and most now see us also, as just another former outpost of British colonial rule.
The Brits gave us cricket, the Westminster system, the rule of law and an independent judiciary amongst a whole host of essential reform? They say that travel is the second part of our education, and your post, clear evidence you need to get out more. It's clearly is not just Islamic radicals who are hostile or do all their thinking with moribund minds. Rhrosty.

Very amusing Rhosty; you say:

"where I've held up either Indonesia or Malaysia as shining examples of religious tolerance?"

And then say:

"One would argue that they are by no means perfect; but, currently secular and their version of Islam is both comparatively moderate and tolerant; and, comparatively safe travel destinations."

I suppose that puts them ahead of Bankstown and downtown Lakemba.

As for your "ultra tolerant Malaysian friends", I don't give a rats how they see us; in this respect the only "ultra tolerant" nation in the neighbourhood had better start being more defensive of its real secular society or its burqa-ville for us and you won't have to travel to see how Islam works, you arrogant twit

Hi Julie,

I am encouraged by your attitude. It is good to see you allow the possibility the Muslim Brotherhood might be a moderating influence throughout the region by ousting dictatorships..

It must be remembered the brotherhood were initially outlawed by the dictator Nasser and their demonisation and suppression was continued by Mubarack ... and that was a source of support from both the East European Communists and the west. It might just be they actually exert a moderating influence throughout the region and impose the will of the people.
While 62% of Egyptions voted for radical Islamists and the Brotherhood ... one assumes the other 38% voted for non islam based parties. Is it impossible the Brotherhood might reject extremism and form a coalition with those non Islamic parties?

I think it right and wiser to sit back and wait to see whether summer follows spring or a regression to winter results.

@ imajulianutter
Nice touch. But will she get it? Subtlety does not seem to be much in play down in Canberra these days.

The Western Banking Military Industrial Complex has got to learn to leave other countries alone.Egypt,Iran, Pakistan,China and Russia are no threat to us.These threats and terror contrivances are designed to subjugate us and expand their empires.

War is often used as a distraction because of economic woes at home.Let the Egyptians work it out for themselves.The USA has 700 military bases around the planet and no country is a threat to them.

Julie,why doesn't the Coalition mount a class action against all the Wall St criminals who stole $ billions of our super and savings.Now that would be a contructive endeavour instead of these non issues.

None of the present parties serve the people.

"Egypt,Iran, Pakistan,China and Russia are no threat to us."

I thought all the luvies were at the abc; just because the reds aren't under the beds doesn't mean the mullahs aren't in the cupboards.

It seems to me that those in the West who live in generally Christian democracies are very keen on the idea of democracy, except in those countries where the balance of power swings to the Muslim parties.

David

Cohenite is typical of the left right paradigm conflict which the elites use to subjugate us.It is not a left/right issue.It is about a banking cartel that creates from nothing all the money to equal your productivity and then has the audacity to loan it back to you as debt.

You are their debt slaves and when China in 2008 refused to let this system over power their country,China became the new terrorist to be conquered and enslaved.

The ABC plays the left/right game really well,but they are slaves to this imperial Banking,Military Industrial Complex too.

I like you Arjay; being able to see through the "left right paradigm conflict" makes you a very interesting person.

Cohenite,I'm no genius.see http://www.globalresearch.ca/ There is in Zibigniew Brezezinski's words," A global political awakening" and it is happening on the internet and all over the planet.Zibig was once a NWO high priest,but now sees disaster by these war mongering lunatics.

Google also these influential people whom I've met,Luke Rudowski of We are Change, Richard Gage of http://www.ae911truth.org/ Prof Steven Jones,Prof Niels Harritt, Dr Frank Legge the Aust who did the peer reviewed paper on Nano Thermite proving the existance of explosives used in 911.

The Western Elites are in a real dilemma.They have their own people wanting freedom / justice and now the Union of Russia,China,Iran Pakistan and possibly India + Japan as an alliance to stop these lunatics from taking us all to WW3 and financial meltdown.

Cohenite: I thought singling particular ethnic or religious communities out for "special attention," ended with the Nazi regime. You would not look out of place in a Pakistani madras, I believe, where very young men, with an average IQ's roughly equal to ambient temperatures, are regularly and routinely brainwashed into mindless hate!
Of all the people in the world threatened by fundamental fanatical Islamic radicals, moderate Muslims have the most to lose! I believe you and your promulgated attitude are part of the problem and simply provide those with little left to lose, compelling reasons to become radical activists.
And yes, some of our newer citizens have a lot of learning to do, with regard to Australia, Australians, Australian attitudes, gender equality and human rights!
Yes mate, people who want to call Australia home need to adopt our much less formal attitudes and basic tolerance toward perceived cultural difference. Anything else is unaustralian! And yes, we need to be able to say to a few radicalising extremists, who have, it would seem, infiltrated with genuine migrants? If it was so much better where you came from, feel free to return! We'll even pass the hat around to raise the necessary one way ticket. That women are not meat and bikinis are and have been standard beach wear in Australia for decades. Our view of a decent dress code is very different. Get over it or go back.
That said, let me say this, I grew up in very impoverished circumstances, but no matter how desperate or poor our circumstances, I was brought up to believe that common courtesy costs nothing. We can always agree to disagree agreeably and suggest you save the invective or very juvenile put downs, for those who actually deserve it. Like say, cyber bullies or racial bigots. Rhrosty.

Ok Rhrosty; I won't insult you as long as you don't say stupid things like this:

"I believe you and your promulgated attitude are part of the problem and simply provide those with little left to lose, compelling reasons to become radical activists."

I refuse to take the blame for Bin Laden and the rest of the murderous Islamist terrorists which infest this world. This canard, which is the default position of those who excuse Islam, is that if the West were not oppressing Islam they would not be retaliating in their murderous fashion.

This is wrong initially because the West is not 'oppressing' Islam.

Apart from that Islam is a self-starter; it is the ultimate of proselytising religions; the idea that if we are nice to them they will be nice to us has been insidious and reduced the West's capacity to respond intellectually to Islam.

It is Islam's declared intention to 'convert' the West and make the planet, "Planet Islam". I don't know how many times leading Islamists have to say that before it sinks in.

Given that, you either oppose Islam or you convert; or you die.

The West, on the other hand, does offer Islam a choice; adapt to the West's secularity [why don't people understand that concept, and why don't they appreciate it] or, what I would like to see, wrack off. If that makes the little darlings feel unwanted, too bad.

If that is their "compelling reason for becoming radical activists/murderers" then the pathology is their's not mine.

Rhrosty,

There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim. By definition, Muslims follow the Quran - a book full of hate and violence toward non-Muslims - and consider Mohammad - a man that attacked, plundered, murdered and enslaved non-Muslims - to be a great moral example. Where is the moderation there? Islamic radicals kill, the moderates make excuses and blame others for what Islam does.

Or put it this way, if there are so many moderate Muslims, why are apostasy laws, blasphemy laws and discrimination against non-Muslim minorities almost universal in Islamic societies? Why are human right abuses a basic characteristic of Muslim countries? Why is freedom of speech so rare in lands where the Quran is the basis for law?

As to Malaysia, perhaps you should ask your friends about the officialized discrimination against non-Muslims, particularly certain ethic groups and Christians of all varieties.

I remember very well talking to some old Chinese gents in Singapore about Malaysia and Islam - and to put it mildly - they don't trust Muslims. Period.

Muslims cannot come to Australia, accept its "less formal attitudes and basic tolerance" and still be Muslims. They can be name-only Muslims, but when it comes down to choosing basic values, too often they will follow Mohammed -- and that means they will reject our freedoms, our traditions, our notions of equality and democracy.

Muslims will bring, they are bringing, those values that caused so much trouble in their homelands to Australia to cause division and strife among us. Aren't we lucky!! Worse yet, our Multiculturalist policy actually encourages this rejection of common values. Aren't we smart!

Rhrosty,

Nifty little line, this: << Of all the people in the world threatened by fundamental fanatical Islamic radicals, moderate Muslims have the most to lose!>>

But I couldn’t fail to notice that during the recent Mumbai massacre the Muslim fundamentalists killed Hindus, Christians and Jews but singled out and spared moderate Muslims –and it’s not the only instance of this happening I might add.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN9beys00_4
http://www.asianreporter.com/film/2009/45-mumbaimassacre.htm