Middle East Meltdown ...
 

Anyone following what's happening in Egypt? Things starting to look a little shakey. Problem with Egypt is that it has, for a while anyhow, been an ally of the US, and kind of ok with Israel. And amid all the smoke, and tear gas, I can't figure out what will come of it.:confused: Another powerful Islamist state could really screw things up for Western interests ... I think it might be time to invest in gold ... What happened in Tunisia, I could understand; but this Egypt thing seems to have caught a bunch of people off guard.

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Considering there is major sea trade highway next to Egypt people should be worried. There seems to be a lot of discord in North Africa at the moment and that is a worry as well.

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Forget Velvet Revolutions, this is the age of Facebook/Twitter/mobile phone insurgencies.

Not planning any holidays to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, this year.

:rolleyes:

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Think we can be sure of one thing, the Saud family must be feeling a bit "uncomfortable" during all this , seems there are also anti-govt. riots in Muslim Albania , and a bit of un-rest in Turkey .

be interesting to see how soon the price of Gas/Petrol goes up at the pump

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Right-on on the social networking thing; this is one aspect of the new technology I hadn't considered .... not surprising, considering I can remember a house without tv .... I guess our unruly neighbours to the south of us are concerned ... and there's $1.5 billion of military aid going there every year. I wonder if the Israeli Air Force are warming up their engines.

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That's one good news story.

It might delay, or hopefully prevent, Turkey's planned entry into the welcoming arms of the E.U.

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Wasn't it part of the Bush/Blair theory/policy that the Iraqi invasion was the first step in bringing Democracy to the mid-east ....:eek:

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As a long shot, it could be Iran that goes next ... I'm wondering if there is going to be a rash of mass unrest all over the region.

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Not sure if you get FOX (Faux) News in Canada , a Murdoch owned mouthpiece for the Republicans , just had a couple of "pundits" on who are blaming Iran for stirring things up , seems a bit odd to me since the Iranians are Shia and most Egyptians are Sunni .

Be interesting if we could find out how many tons of gold are being moved to safer locations in Europe from the mid-east, happen Boeing guy will have heard a rumour or two

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The last thing that the US and their client state in the region want is democracy in Egypt. The "strong man" type of govt. best suits their interests. I bet there are a few nervous folks in DC and Tel Aviv with their fingers crossed hoping that the army comes out on top. The Islamic Brotherhood would be a disaster. Democracy wouldn't be as bad ... as long as the democratically elected leaders would be prepared to kiss US ass big time.

I think the whole region could go into turmoil. If I had spare cash, I would be buying shares in Athabaska tar sands development.

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Personally, I blame 13 years of Labour government. ;)

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I think it goes back further than that.

I blame that woman Cleopatra, the asses' milk snatcha.

:D

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Aye, keeping a passing eye on it. When all's said & done there's always been a bit of unease in that part of the World due to the majority being beaten down by the moneyed minority.

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Cue post about some Biblical revelation, prophesying Armageddon, started by a mobile phone, in a neighbouring kingdom to Canaan.

:rolleyes:

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You mean the Coservative/Lib-Dems are in power there too:eek:

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Shoot. And the loonie will probably gain a few points:rolleyes: Maybe time for some cross-border shopping .... It's an ill wind:D

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Let's see,they're smug, self important, have some rather strange ways & beating up on the less fortunate, yeah pretty much fits the bill so I suppose you could class them as that !

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Ooooh. Just wait till Jay wakes up and reads this. All you bad people calling his beloved tories... :hidewall::hidewall::hidewall::D:D:D:hidewall::hid ewall:

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It's interesting, first Tunisia, now Egypt... I wonder if Algeria then Morocco will follow.
The feeling I got in Morocco, I was there last week, was not one of violence or overthrow. But it could always change.

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seems to me,this has only kicked off since Less visited?:D:D:D:D

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Don't give a flying Alan;)

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Now you come to mention it, although Less of Arabia doesn't have the same ring to it really:D:D:D

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I looks like Jordan will be the next to revolt
AFP: Thousands of Jordanians march to press for reform

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I tried to get Aljazeera TV on freeview channel 89 but it showed 'closedown'.
I have found it on the web - a live broadcast
Al Jazeera English: Live Stream - Watch Now - Al Jazeera English

It is best to see more than the diluted versions that our media supplies.
Even on Aljazeera you have to wait for sports 'news' to end, but at least there is a 'stop press' news ribbon at the bottom of the screen.
(To me sports aren't news).

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and are ya of the opinion Al-Jazeera show no propaganda? that they are the only True News channel.:eek:

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I do not form opinions - I just observe - more 'versions' available the better.
There are two sides to every argument - best to view both if you want to form an opinion.

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Hell thats sad Andy Gray and Richard Keys are reported as being lined up to do footy coverage for um:D

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thats correct, in fact summat i usually do anyway.

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The 'natives are restless' - 'trouble at t'mill' big style.
It seems that any dictator is under threat
YouTube - Revolt Fever: Libya joins protest club as wave of wrath sweeps Arab world

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jordan is already revolting :)

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Even Berlasconi is on his way out :D
The 'colour' being used there is purple.
Many revolutionaries adopt colours as rallying symbols.

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Aye I don't know about that Margaret, he's made more comebacks than Frank Sinatra:D

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The arabs have always been revolting!

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Be interesting to see how much help/support (if any) the British Govt. give to the Jordainian Govt. considering the British created the country as they did with Iraq as a payoff to his Gt.Grandfather for his support in the Arab revolt against the Turks , later stabbing his family in the back with their support fo the Saud family.
It should also be noted that King Abdullah ( a direct descendant in the male line of he Prophet) also has an English mother. ;) :D

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I blame it on the Harrison Ford nicking their treasures

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Now the revolts have spread to Bahrain.

Is nowhere safe?

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It should really be the raven black revolution.

In honour of Berlusconi's rather unnatural teasy-weasy hair.

:D

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Hope everyone is now feeling all warm and cuddley (sp?) now that the Tunisians/Eygptians/ Libyains are now free and are now able to vote in free 'democratic' elections and decide their own fate :rofl38:
Guess its no problem for those who have a daily commute ( the folks who have jobs and actually pay taxes) that petrol prices are going thru the roof , at least now you know the North Africans are now free so that off sets the decline in your living standards.
Hope you are ready for intenet sponsered "day of rage" planned for Friday in Saudi Arabia , plan on adding another couple of £s per gallon to your fuel bill . ;)

Just wondering , can anyone tell me of any country with an Islamic majority population that even comes close to what we can call a multi party 'Democratic' parliamentary system

another question why the "eff" is Tony Blair still drawing money as a 'special envoy' for Middle East peace ... paid for by the UK , US , Russia, and the UN. ........There is less sleaze in a John Waters movie than this guy.


OK, late night rant over ;) :D

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From what I've read on here most seemed concerned about what might happen, post-revolution, and fear it could be a case of out of the frying pan...

Cuddly?

Nah.

We leave that to the Tory Lites, who like to do it to the feral youths, known as hoodies.

Sleep well.

Don't have nightmares.

;)

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Well not this Tory lite as you put it, I think they should get a firkin;)

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I am not confident that any of the countries in question will become bastions of democratic liberty. Even those young Facebook loving Egyptians who demonstrated in Tahrir Square and Alexandria may well be in the minority. Looking at data compiled as recently as 2010, the majority of Egyptians surveyed expressed a desire for more Islam in government, along with Sharia law and the draconian punishments that go along with it. Twenty percent support Al-Qaeda. Couple this with the return from exile of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, "spiritual guide" of the Muslim Brotherhood - a man akin to Iran's late Ayatollah Khomeini, and things begin to take on a rather ominous tone. To my mind, the tenets of Islam are simply incompatible with western civilization and the sooner we acknowledge that, the better.

I shall be visiting Turkey and Israel next month and hope to get some unfiltered local opinion.

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Once told by a UK educated Saudi, Uni & Cranwell, that all Arab countries need a "chair" - one person in complete control. Really an extension of the Sheikdoms of old.

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Just who does Cameron think he is , a news headline 'quotes' him as telling Gaddafi 'his time is up'
Gaddafi told 'Your time is up' as British jets prepare to lead UN force against Libyan dictator | Mail Online

Sorry but IMHO it's none of his or anyones elses damn business , it's up to the Libyans to decide their own future , just who do we ... the US and Europe think we are ? we are encouraging and supporting turmoil through out the middle east with no thought to the consequences and its going to come back and bite us on our ass , two entities profit from all this turmoil the arms manufacturers (the UK and US Govts. being two of the biggest) the multi national oil companies looking to exploit an indgigenous (sp?) populations natural resources , suppose it's bes not to mention there is also a third entity who also profits most from all this turmoil , but we are not allowed to name them , since they control the media and most financial institutions ....;) ;)

Question for Graham Jones .. just who is pulling the puppet strings of western foreign policy , maybe you should ask your leader :eek:

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the french got there first i wonder why, ohh thats right we have no aircraft carriers:rolleyes:

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The Americans I believe beat them to it, the "Charles de Gaul" is at present in Toulon with possible deployment thought to be Sunday. Nice try though. :rolleyes:

Crisis of Libya: Two United States Warships Enter Mediterranean Sea

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The CdG is now making steam.

Just a dam shame we no longer have a Fleet Air Arm.

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...and Canadian F-18 Hornets came through Scotland this afternoon, on route to Libya. I wonder if they would have flown over Accy?

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Just checked up on the headlines & it was displaying this & so it begins.

BBC News - Libya: Coalition launches attacks

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nope the french were first this morning official on fox news:) this is another war and you cant blame labour this time:eek:

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No Fly Zone?.. seems more like a no holds barred attack.. if I where a "Libyan revolutionary rebel" ;).. I'd be more worried about "freindly fire" from the Yanks rather than Gaddafi! :rolleyes:

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Lets make spending cuts of billions and put more people in this country in poverty while we spend all the savings poking our noses in to another countries affairs. Aren't politicians great :mad:

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prestwick airport which i can see from a distance across irvine bay i thought i heard thunder during the night:confused: i missed them

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Seems it's a tried and tested road for any government..nowt much has changed.

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Just seen some video on BBC of badly injured "rebels" at some hospital in Libya.. lying in bed with dozens of reporters and photo bods .. glad to say although these injured bods were not drinking cups of tea they seemed to have all arms a legs intact .. I've seen worse on most soaps in this country.. looks like the media are in full flow reporting non events...but I'm sure that "we" cameron overcome all this by killing and maiming people .. then we willget some good pics and vids.

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Hopefully Cameron's project for next week is to get shut of Mugabe :rolleyes:

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Don't worry ... just heard on the news that we are sending a bunch more. Lots of folks not too happy about it.

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Who are these Libyan Rebels? Could be terrorists for all the UN know?!

YouTube - Masquerade - The Solution to the Problem (DeFinitive Mix)

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One mans Terrorist is another mans Freedom fighter.

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Got to hand it to the old public school boys who used to run the Foriegn Office during the 50s and 60s they knew the best ways to gain friends and influence/protect British interests overseas.
When you consider that the Mother of the King of Jordan is British (Toni Gardner), the wife of the Syrian President Assad has just moved back to the country of her birth (UK) till the troubles back home subside, and now it turns out the wife of ex Egyptian President has a Welsh (British) mother. Seem to remember there were also one or two British 'gals' who married overseas Presidents, Seretse Karma in Botswana (Ruth Williams) and Hastings Kamazu Banda had his 'Scottish' houskeeper, and this doesen't include the whores like Churchills ex daughter-in-law Pamela Churchill Hariman :eek: :eek: :D :D ;)


interesting snippet on the BBC news web-site

BBC News - Egypt: Suzanne Mubarak 'recovering' from sudden illness