Backing the non-Islamists in Arab elections
From an article by Ryan Mauro urging Western governments to back non-Islamists in elections in countries that have experienced upheaval during the 'Arab spring':It is a mistake to dismiss the Islamist elements within the Arab Spring. It is also a mistake, though, to assume the Islamists are unrivaled. In Egypt, the polls show that the Muslim Brotherhood is in second place behind the secular Wafd Party, despite the Brotherhood’s huge organizational advantages. Amr Moussa, an enemy of Iran, has a wide lead for the presidency. The protests on May 27 against the military regime were boycotted by the Brotherhood, but the liberals still had a strong showing. And if all else fails, there’s hope in the declaration by the military rulers that they won’t allow “another Khomeini” or “extremist factions” to come to power.Let there be no mistake about it: Moussa is no friend of Israel. But there is little doubt that we are better of with secular governments in Arab countries than with Islamist governments that will wage a holy war against us.
In Bahrain, the royal family is hard at work trying to make the Shiite opposition look like an Iranian puppet. The hardline Haq group has hinted at requesting Iranian intervention to help evict Saudi forces propping up the royal family, but the largest Shiite party and others have publicly demanded that Iran stay out. A spokesman for al-Wefaq flatly says, “We don’t want the Velayat-e-Faqih in Bahrain,” and even goes so far as to say, “Let the Palestinians solve their own problems.” The chairman of the Bahrain Transparency Society says, “We want genuine democracy, not clerical.” A recent poll found that only 25 percent of the Shiites want Sharia law and almost 75 percent want parliamentary democracy where non-Islamist parties participate. Nearly half of the Sunnis oppose Sharia law.
Read the whole thing.
Labels: Arab spring, Bahrain, Egyptian democracy
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:36 PM
2 Comments:
But there is little doubt that we are better of with secular governments in Arab countries than with Islamist governments that will wage a holy war against us.
Saddam Hussein's Iraq was Baathist secular, he himself was said to be an atheist and practicing Muslims were persecuted, yet he was was an awowed enemy of Israel. The scud missiles raining down on Israel during the Gulf war were not inspired by "holy war".
Syria is similar if not the same. The ruling Alawites, are not considered Muslims but apostates, and the secular populace including the Sunni majority could be said to share a similar hatred towards Israel.
Lebanon is secular.
Why is a holy war more of a threat, when any of the secular armies of above countries have threatened Israel?
Blackwater and the US military, was comprised of holy warriors (Christian Evangelicals) who went in thinking their salvation was nigh, and "Israel would be redeemed", yet they lost the war in Iraq !
That was in 2003. Seven years later, they left after bankrupting their country.
If that is an example of "holy warriors" one need not fear.
On second thoughts...
Blackwater, and the US "holy warriors" were Christians :)
Post a Comment
<< Home