Arab spring, is this what it will become?

[billc]

http://bigpeace.com/wphares/2011/10/10/arab-spring-christians-massacred-in-cairo/

The credibility of the Arab Spring took a bloody hit today (Sunday October 9[SUP]th[/SUP]) when Egyptian Army forces shot dead more than thirty Christian Copts and wounded scores of them. In addition, the action by the Army was paralleled by armed men, described as Salafi Jihadists by Coptic sources, seen also shooting and hitting demonstrators with knives. At a few weeks from the legislative elections in Egypt, this violence impacts the debate about the Spring of Egypt but also challenges US and European policies towards the current and perhaps the forthcoming Government. Can the West support – and fund – a regime that kills members of the weakest community in Egypt, months after the fall of Mubarak?

 

[Sukerkin]

Be aware that the Muslim Brotherhood, whilst rooted in extremism in the past, are actually the moderates of the piece when it comes to politics in Egypt. Somewhat like many terrorist groups before them, they have over time determined that their chance for influence does not flow from the barrel of a gun but from political authority, legitimately gained.

 

[Sukerkin]

If you have access to the BBC's podcasts for the Analysis programme {http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/analysis} I'd recommend a listen to:

Egypt's New Islamists 13 Jun 11
Hague's Middle East 20 Jun 11
Libya's Islamic Capitalists 26 Sep 11

 

[CanuckMA]

Government forces kill innocent civilians. Whre is the world protest, outrage? Where are the UN resolutions condemning the action?

Oh, wait, the perpetrators were not Israelis. Move on, nothing to see here.