Thursday, November 14, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, July 12, 2013
Why Does Egypt’s Turmoil Matter to Us?
By Heritage Foundation @ 10:52 AM :: 6224 Views :: World News, Military

Morning Bell: Why Does Egypt’s Turmoil Matter to Us?

by Amy Payne, Heritage Foundation, July 12, 2013

Egypt has been rocked by protests that some say are the largest in history and has unseated its second leader in three years. It’s a bit difficult for us to imagine ousting a president in such a way—so what do the events in Egypt mean to Americans?

The Obama Administration has bungled the entire Egyptian revolution, Heritage experts say, and that will have lasting consequences.

President Obama backed the administration of Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was just ousted by the protesters and the military. As Heritage expert James Phillips noted, “Egyptian protesters have been carrying signs denouncing President Obama for supporting terrorism, because they are disappointed by Obama’s uncritical support for Morsi, whom they consider to be a terrorist.”

Heritage Distinguished Fellow Kim Holmes says there are two reasons why Obama has gone wrong in Egypt:

The first is he sincerely believes that too much American influence is a bad thing. Believing deeply that American power is a problem, he seems to think remaining aloof will prove that America is not an inveterate enemy of political Islam.

… The other reason? Obama is confused about what constitutes democracy. Even though he himself said democracy is “more than elections,” that is not the way he’s acted. He watched as the election process chose the worst of the political lot in Egypt, all the while claiming that the U.S. should not “interfere” with the democratic rights of the people. He talked a good game, but his passivity only legitimized the claims that the Brotherhood is a “true” democratic force in Egypt (which they decidedly are not).

>>> 4 Steps the U.S. Should Take to Address the Egypt Crisis

The “Arab Spring” is a messy thing. Democracy is a goal, yes, but Egyptians desperately need economic freedom. As Heritage’s Charlotte Florance explains:

Egyptians need to see results, which they have been waiting for since 2011, when the army ousted Mubarak. The events of the Arab Spring in Egypt were triggered by legitimate economic grievances that, two years later, remain unanswered.

To bring back their economy, the Egyptian people will need a stable rule of law. The military has control of the country now, but it will have to hold elections soon to establish a government. Meanwhile, the U.S. is waiting—or should be waiting—to see how it goes before promising further aid to the country.

LEARN MORE:

Get the facts about U.S. aid to Egypt

Read the Morning Bell and more en español every day at Heritage Libertad.

Quick Hits:

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii