"Mob rule is not a democracy, " said Ambassador John Bolton, speaking moments ago to Meg Kelly of Fox News as changes unfold in Egypt.
As far as what role the U.S. should have, Bolton warns, "The dice are being rolled now, "and , "we must recognize that there are limits to what we can do". Bolton says that if the situation becomes more unstable, there's a lot at stake for America.
"The best thing we could hope for is that the demonstrators take 'yes' for an answer and will go home." explained Bolton, adding that Egypt must "get egypt's economy up and running. You cannot run a democracy with hundreds of demonstrations in the street. That's not democacy, that's mob rule."
A statement made by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence to House Intelligent Committee, James Clapper, transcribed below, which seems to characterize the Muslim Brotherhood as a benign group, also was addressed by Bolton. That statement was:
"The term 'Muslim Brotherhood'...is an umbrella term for a variety of movements, in the case of Egypt, a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has decried Al Qaeda as a perversion of Islam...They have pursued social ends, a betterment of the political order in Egypt..."
When speaking of Egypt, "President Obama said 'history is being made' and indeed history is already being made," said an incredulous Bolton, outraged at what he considered perhaps the stupidest statement made by any administration in U.S. international history. He went on to say that,"The idea that the idea that Muslim Brotherhood, if it got power in Egypt, would behave any different that Hamas is absurd. "
In defense of Clapper, it was earlier theorized that perhaps this was just an example of how thin the line was that the Obama administration was trying to walk, knowing that if the Muslim Brotherhood takes control in Egypt, any relationship that America has previously enjoyed with Egypt will no longer exist. Perhaps the mischaracterization is merely a desperate policy reach to keep the lines of communication open.
Comments
Bolton has given the best analysis and explaination of the events in Egypt since the demonstrations began.
Last week Bolton recommended an article written by his mentor, Jeane Kirkpatick called "Dictatorships and Double Standards."
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/dictatorships--double-standards-6189
Kirkpatrick refers to John Stuart Mill's 1861 Treatise "Representative Government"
Clearly Egypt is no where near creating a democracy. Those in the Obama adminstration who say that it is are either stupid or corrupt and want to encourage unrest.
Its about saying get out to the current government, it may have absolutely nothing to do with democracy, it has everything to do with the people have had enough, and whatever comes next will be much better than the worst. Anything is better than living under a puppet dictator who tortures their own people, gets massive amounts of foreign aid while the people live in poverty, and cowtows to foreign governments. They dont want to be slaves to the IMF either.
Democracy IS mob rule, that is why we have a republic!
Just like in this country or any other, the people have every right to get rid of their government, these protests arent mob rule, it is the people saying get out to their oppressive and torturous dictator supported by the US and Israel. They dont want a puppet, they want say in their own destiny. Rioting is a last resort and so is revolution...was the first american revolution mob rule when they tossed the king to the curb too?
When peaceful revolution is impossible, violent revolution is inevitable.
The you have Oblama decrying the shut down of Egypt's internet, while at the same time creating legislation here at home as well to do the very same thing...the hypocracy stinks to high heaven.
This is all the western governments declaring war on their own people, the US included.
"Anything is better than living under a puppet dictator who tortures their own people"
There is no guarantee that what follows will be better and there is plenty of history to suggest it could be far, far worse.
Read "Dictatorships and Double Standards."
As long as Egypt refuses to let the US and Israel influence it, they will all be way better off.
" ... Mob rule is not democracy ... "
That is exactly what I said ... last week.
"As proven in the demonstrations in Egypt, democracy is simply mob rule. Democracy is certainly no better than a dictatorship, just a different type of oppression.
That is why the United States are part of a Republic."
"That is why the United States are part of a Republic."
Correction: That is why the United States IS a Republic. Not part of one. Democracy is nowhere to be found in the founding documents, we share democratic principals and by no means are we a democracy.
To me Bolton is a scary person who never met a war that he didn't love (except when he didn't serve his country in Vietnam). THese guys want to take us back to the days when the US waged wars against countries without reason, earning America the contempt of the world. American wars make us less safe, not more safe, because they create so many people who hate America---and with ample reason. Let the Egyptians decide what happens in Egypt---who appointed the USA the ruler of the universe? We've done a lousy job and consistently seem to pick the wrong side to support.
Bolton is a NWO whore. He hates the USA, he is working to destroy our sovereignty.
@RSBL "As long as Egypt refuses to let the US and Israel influence it, they will all be way better off."
It depends on the definition of "influence" in this case.
If "influence" means stablity in the region and no war between Egypt and Israel, that is a good thing for us, the world...for the Egyptian people, too.
John Bolton and George Friedman of Stratfor have had the best analysis of this that I have seen.
It ain't over. This is just Day One.
It won't lead to democracy, but perhaps it will lead to more economic opportunity for the Egyptian people, which is all they really want, anyway.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!