Further to my post of Friday, 16 November 2012 7:25:48 AM

This piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer sums up the situation well:

While Gaza roils, Egypt has issues at home

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20121118_Worldview__While_Gaza_roils__Egypt_has_issues_at_home.html

>>...new fighting in Gaza, as Israel retaliates for a wave of Hamas rocket attacks on its cities and towns, reveals the constraints on any efforts to radically change Egypt. It also shows why Egypt's peace treaty with Israel is likely to last.

In interviews with Brotherhood members, more orthodox Salafis, and opposition leaders during the week before the Gaza fighting began, it quickly became clear that the most pressing issue in Egypt is the economy....

"Ninety-nine percent of the people don't care about this discussion of the constitution," which is bogged down in a debate over sharia, said Mohamed ElBaradei, a key opposition leader and a former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The people want work and health care, because the economy is stagnant."

ElBaradei said that when he recently visited Aswan, a major tourist destination, its top tourist hotel was only 1 to 2 percent occupied. "People were only talking about jobs, jobs, jobs," he said.

Egypt's new elected president, longtime Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi, understands this huge economic challenge, as does the Brotherhood's political front, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). Morsi knows he and his party will be judged by whether they can provide jobs and improve ordinary Egyptians' standard of living.

To do that, they desperately need help from global agencies as well as direct foreign investment. Morsi knows Egypt can't afford to scare off investors and tourists, and it most certainly can't afford to fight another war.

That's why, although Morsi recalled his ambassador to Israel over its air strikes on Gaza and sent his prime minister to Gaza City, he has not threatened to provide military aid to Hamas or take direct action against Israel.>>

Many Palestinian groupies are counting on Egyptian support for Hamas. They are likely to be disappointed. If anything Morsi seems desperate to pressure Hamas into a ceasefire.

Imajulianutter:

It sounds like you are claiming that, following the Arab Spring (which does seem to be turning into winter), Arab countries now have a democracy, where elected representatives govern for the good of all citizens. This is native in the extreme. Do you think there is a democracy in Egypt? Maybe you should tell that to the Christian Copts. Do you think there is a democracy in Gaza? Tell that to the persecuted ex-members of the PA. Is there a democracy in Lebanon? What happens if Assad or Hezbollah don't like the prime minister? Democracy in the Palestinian West Bank? When was the last election there? Democracy in Syria? Jordan? Iran? Sudan? How are women treated in Muslim countries in the Middle East? How about homosexuals? Or any non-Muslims?

Even in countries recently “liberated” from their autocratic rulers, such as Tunisia, Libya, Iraq or Afghanistan, are you claiming the ‘democracy’ they are experiencing is equivalent to that of Australia, the US or Israel? If you are, then you are delusional. You seem to be blinded by left-wing liberal ideology and have no real understanding of Middle East, or any politics whatsoever.

imajulianutter,

Let's be specific here. I am going to answer the questions you have asked.

1, Q: "How does being a muslim blind one's judgement and cause an inability to see reality?"

A: how about: "blow yourself up and enter paradise immediately and live with 72 WHITE eternal virgins forever!"

2, "After all you do seem to think Israel is a democracy."

A: well, do tell! You must know what we don't. Please tell us what Israel is.

3, "You're indulging in hate speech."

A: mate, have you ever read a hate speech before?

4, "That you call me a liar says more about you..."

A: have you read my post with due intelligence? go back and read it again.

I am no psychiatrist, but I do feel you need help from professionals. I give up on you.

Dearest Peng,

It is truely sad you give up. It is only a sign of an inability on your part to oipen up your mind and see past the propaganda with which you have been brainwashed.

none of your statements go to the issues you initially raised.

'how do you see how my beliefs impact in the forming of my opinions? How are they causing delusions?

How does being a muslim blind one's judgement and cause an inability to see reality?'

Your answers only show your continual vilification of those who don't share your vengful nature and beliefs.

Most cultures and especially religions share a belief in rewards for martyrdoom.

Christians believe also it is an 'inside run' to Paradise... where they will bask in the glory of their Christian God. Indeed the Hebrews, who reflect your belief in vengence, believed their martyrdom would be rewarded by the vengence of a greater power. Why don't you vilify those beliefs ... equally?

Israel is an Apartheid type regime which has a constitution and laws that discriminates against it's minorities.

Your expressed views here constitute hate speech under our laws. Fortunately for you I don't believe in censorship and prefer to rely on reasoned argument and ridicule to overcome your sort of hateful nonsense.

Oh I recall your slimey description of me as a liar. It's manner was just annother example your usual cowardly way of doing things.

You really are a prime example of the results of Israeli indoctrination, a really great piece of work.

lol

Have any of you watched the dead children being pulled from the rubble of their Gaza homes? The limbs of dead children just flop everywhere as if they were puppets without strings.

It is a terrible sight but the Israelis skite instead about carrying out more than 1,000 attacks on Gaza which have killed 75, at least half of them civilians and kids. Israel has lost 3.

Meanwhile, folk on this forum argue and bicker and exchange insults.

Where is your humanity? Why is no one speaking out against Israeli genocide?

One family lost 12 people including 4 women and 4 kids!

@DavidG I agree with you. Some of us do try to raise a voice of reason. As you noted, the response from the Zionist corner is a barrage of insults and misinformation. It is also extraordinarily difficult to get our politicians to express their outrage at the carnage being wrought by the Israeli military. Our sorry apology for a human being that is the current PM just parrots the propaganda out of Tel Aviv. I cannot decide whether she is willfully blind, stupid or so in hock to the Zionists that she is incapable of expressing the humanity and concern you seek.