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Mirage of DemocracyReader comment on item: Reflections a Year after Hosni Mubarak's Resignation Submitted by cindy' (United States), Feb 12, 2012 at 00:07 Addressing point no. 1, I would say that those who hailed the so-called "Arab Spring" were not only dewy-eyed optimists but rather blind as a bat in failing to comprehend the true nature and impact of the overthrow of autocratic regimes, including especially that of Mubarak of Egypt. How could anyone have believed that the Egyptian people were really aiming for democracy. What they really were aiming at was a a government that was not corrupt and would not throw people into prison and torture them arbitrarily. Unfortunately, the Mubarak regime was guilty of the latter policies. However, the US should have worked with Mubarak to curb his dictatorial tendencies and perhaps we would still have Egypt as an ally, which is hardly the case today. For anyone with just a smattering of knowledge of the history of Islam it is clear that it will take decades if not centuries (I hope not) before the Arab countries adopt some form of democratic government in their respective countries. This is not good for the West nor for the world. .But we must strive to encourage it wherever possible. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". Reader comments (21) on this item
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All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes (The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998. For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.) |