Iran's Khamenei calls for Islamic regime in Egypt

[oberliner]

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called for an Islamic regime to be installed in Egypt, saying the wave of Arab revolts is an "earthquake" triggered by the 1979 Iranian revolution.

The all-powerful Khamenei said the Arab uprisings, if successful, would lead to failure of US policies in the region and that the revolts were the most worrying for the Islamic republic's arch-foe Israel as its alliance with Egypt could be broken.

"Do not back down until the implementation of a popular regime based on religion," said Khamenei, Iran's commander-in-chief, who switched from Persian to Arabic during his Friday sermon directed at Egyptians.

"The clergy should play a role. For example, when people come out of mosques and chant slogans, they should support. Inshallah part of the Egyptian army will join the people. The main enemy of the Egyptian army is the Zionist regime and not the people," he said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356968

[tabatha]

1. STFU Khamenei

Iranians do not have the freedom that Egyptians want.

[Barack_America]

2. Oh yeah, I'm sure the protesting Egyptians are highly envious of Iran's govt.

Shining beacon of democracy it is.

:eyes:

[ananda]

3. Khamanei is horrible...

... but I bet he doesn't represent the thinking of the average Iranian on the street.

[Barack_America]

4. No more so than Bibi represents the thinking of the average Israeli.

Which is a compliment to Israelis.

[Turbineguy]

5. Misery loves company.

The Pope probably wants the Catholics to be in charge.

[whosinpower]

6. All the eygptian populace needs to do

Is to see how successful the Iranian regime is for its people. its own human rights record. If it wants to replace a dictator with another repressive regime then Khamenei is their man. However, I do not think that is their intent.

The pickle is that the populace is caught in a vice - between a possible dictatorship/puppet regime that kowtows to whatever the west wants, and a possible repressive regime that is does not have their best interests at heart.

The main enemy of the egyptian army is not the zionist regime. That is a poor excuse, a distraction of the woes that face the people. I seriously hope that the egyptian military and people recognize that this is an attempt to take over the army to do Khamenei's bidding - not what is best for Egypt.

And also, just thinking about this - Khamenei coming out with this statement is a gift....for the west. He is too stupid to realize it. Why? Because it would give far greater impetus for the west to step in regardless of the wishes of the people of Egypt. It is good fodder to sell arms. That is what he is about - selling Egypt arms and incite a war. BUT, the americans are still there and if push comes to shove, the West WILL push back.

[shira]

7. George Soros disagrees with you and says the main stumbling block is Israel...

The main stumbling block is Israel. In reality, Israel has as much to gain from the spread of democracy in the Middle East as the United States has. But Israel is unlikely to recognize its own best interests because the change is too sudden and carries too many risks. And some U.S. supporters of Israel are more rigid and ideological than Israelis themselves. Fortunately, Obama is not beholden to the religious right, which has carried on a veritable vendetta against him. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is no longer monolithic or the sole representative of the Jewish community. The main danger is that the Obama administration will not adjust its policies quickly enough to the suddenly changed reality.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020205041.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

It's always Israel's fault, AIPAC, etc., so get with the program!

:eyes:

[whosinpower]

8. I read the article

Your stretching again. Look, Netanyahu came out early in the protest scent (Jan 31) and said that the west and foriegn leaders should quell thair criticism of Mubarek - fearing that the uprising would lead to the downfall of Mubarek. Israel fears the obrogation of its peace treaty with Egypt. That is understandable - but this is a popular uprising and the people are making legitimate demands - and guess what Shira.....Israel is NOT the reason why the people protest.

For Obama to fully embrace the anti-Mubarek protestors and their desire for democracy.....the main stumbling block IS Israel - because the risk and messiness that the transition to a real democracy would entail puts Israel in a tenous position.

Netanyahu has since altered his message somewhat from the clumsy start. Mubarek is done. Anyone with half a brain realizes this.

[shira]

9. It is a popular uprising and the people should elect their own leaders...

Unfortunately, anyone with half a brain realizes the next dictator elected to succeed Mubarak will not allow himself to be elected OUT of office anytime soon. In fact, the only way there will be elections the next time around is if the next tyrant in charge of Egypt knows in advance he will win. If that's what the people want, so be it, or do you disagree?

Do you really think there's a chance in hell Egypt is transitioning into something resembling a genuine liberal democracy?

[whosinpower]

10. Shira.....

Israel did it.

Should the Egyptian people stay united and focused - then their collective will cannot be denied.
You know - Mubarek has an estimated worth of over 40 billion dollars....and over 40 percent of Egyptianx earns 2 dollars per day. Over 2 million live in cemetaries.

They have a right to protest. Do not disregard their legitimate grievances.

I didn't think they had a hells chance in extending the protest as long as they have. I didn't think they had a hells chance once the thugs began beating on them. I didn't think they had a hells chance once the military showed up.

The keystone to it all remains in the hands of the military. The lesson of the Iranian revolution is not lost on them. They saw the generals executed once the Ayatollah came to power. Do you honestly think they would allow this to occur?

[shira]

12. "Israel did it". Did what, exactly?

If you mean a genuinely liberal democracy, the institutions for that were in place well before 1948.

There is zero evidence of any such thing WRT Egypt. You may hope and wish that Egypt becomes a genuinely liberal democracy but there's no reason to believe there's a chance in hell of that happening in Egypt. In Tunisia, there's a strong middle class that at least has a chance at bringing about a secular democracy. That's not happening in Egypt, as there's no widespread support for secular liberalism there. In fact, the numbers show most Egyptians are anti-American, anti-Israel, and therefore anti-liberal democracy. Anyone pining for such a thing would be considered "Zionist" and suicidal.

Put another way, there's a 99.99999% chance things will only get worse with the next tyrant in charge of Egypt. But you're cheering on this "revolution" anyway?

[whosinpower]

13. I mean

Israel maintained its democratic principles in spite of an inherantly undemocratic neighborhood.

I would add, that it did so against all odds.

Look, the great repressive regime of the USSR fell. It did not fall because the people loved America or Israel. It fell because the people shrugged off communism and wanted something better for themselves. They wanted freedom and choice.

It appears that you would rather keep the tyrant in place and preserve the status quo in regards to the peace treaty and to hell with what the Egyptian people want. You would deny them their own freedom along with its hardships, uncertainties, worries and leave them to their misery just because that tyrant preserves the peace treaty. You would deny them the chance at developing and growing a middle class. Who is the tyrant now?

[shira]

14. What evidence do u have that with new leadership Egypt will come closer to being a liberal democracy

[whosinpower]

15. Because, Shira - the people are demanding free and fair elections

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=206960

snip - SINCE PROTESTS began on 25 January, I have been following events very closely. In fact, for an expatriate Egyptian who has long dreamed of democracy in his homeland, the demonstrations have made compulsive viewing, and have filled me with the urge to fly back to Egypt. In all the endless hours of footage I’ve watched, I have not seen any protesters chanting Islamist slogans, burning American or Israeli flags, or chanting death to Israel.

Instead, protesters – mostly ordinary people from across Egypt and from all walks of life and from the country’s two main religious groups – are out to protest economic inequality and demand their political freedom.

They have been making very clear and precise demands: the immediate removal of President Hosni Mubarak and his entire regime, the appointment of a transitional “national salvation” government and the holding of free and fair democratic elections as soon as possible.


The writer goes on to make a significant point. Israel must now, instead of making friends with one dictator - must now choose to make friends with 80 million. If Israel disregards the wishes of those 80 million for the sake of its own selfish reasons (peace treaty), they do so at their peril.

[shira]

16. The PA had free and fair elections in 2005 but how'd that turn out?

Do you see ANY signs at all of Egyptian secular liberalism? To be clear...

Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Equal rights for minorities
Basic civil liberties (speech, assembly...)
Ensuring that those who lose elections will not be persecuted

Which prominent Egyptian figures are calling for any of this?

[whosinpower]

17. Did they? nt

[shira]

18. Yeah, Jimmy Carter presided and said they were free/fair and democratic, a neocon's dream.

What's interesting here is that Israel is really pissing off the neocons these days by being against these free/fair elections of tyrants.

So much for the claim most Israelis or Likudniks are neocons.

:eyes:

[Jmaxfie1]

19. Civil liberities is the key

That's the problem democracy and the protection of civil liberties are too different things. As you said the majority of protesters aren't calling for a liberal bill of rights that protects the minority from the will of the majority.

[bemildred]

11. Opportunistic babble. nt