Into The Fire

Just a few months ago there were vast riots and protests in the streets of Cairo, Egypt.  Tahrir Square was filled with anti-government demonstrators for weeks.  The crowds called for the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, the long-time premier of Egypt who had brutalized the people for years.  He and his family had lived in luxury and opulence for years, plundering and enjoying a billion dollars in U.S. aid each year while the people starved.

The uprising was successful, but not before hundreds of Egyptians were killed by pro-government forces tasked with quelling the insurrection.  I watched in amazement as military vehicles raced through the crowded streets, literally mowing down defenseless pedestrian protesters.  When Mubarak finally stepped down and ceded power, the military stepped in and assumed control.  This was a time of great celebration.  The people had brought about the change they thought they wanted, and everyone hoped for a brighter future.

The military transitional regime promised to give way to democratic, civil elections within six months.  The goal was to change Egyptian society into a free democracy as soon as possible.

Yesterday, as I drove into work, I heard the following on NPR news radio:
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THE MILITARY HAS DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS TILL LATE 2013

HUNDREDS OF BLOGGERS AND JOURNALISTS ARE BEING ROUNDED UP AND TRIED IN MILITARY TRIBUNALS (MOSTLY FOR EXPRESSING THEIR OPINIONS)

THE MILITARY IS DEMANDING THAT, AFTER THE TRANSITION TO A CIVIL GOVERNMENT, THERE BE NO CIVIL OVERSIGHT OR OPEN CRITICISM OF THE MILITARY

THE MILITARY IS WRITING LANGUAGE INTO THE PROPOSED NEW CONSTITUTION REQUIRING THAT THE MILITARY BUDGET BE UTTERLY SECRET

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So, where do the Egyptian people stand after their spectacular freedom revolution?

I remember the hoopla surrounding the liberals' push for Obamacare.  The chant was "WE NEED HEALTHCARE - VOTE FOR HEALTHCARE !!!"  Of course, this was stupid - a manipulation.  We already had "HEALTHCARE".  What the socialists were howling for was a CHANGE in the way healthcare would be provided and funded in America.  They got the approval (by fraudulent means) and now we have a mess.

Speaking of change, Greece's opposition leader is now calling for the resignation of prime minster Papandreou.  In Rome, thousands of demonstrators are crying for the departure of Italy's President, Silvio Berlusconi - why? - because, like Papandreou, he is the messenger for the IMF, delivering its demands for deep austerity measures to address the nations' crushing debt and bankrupt social entitlement programs.

What these protesters (along with the OCCUPY WALL STREET louts) need to realize is that the "change" they are clamoring for is not necessarily what they want, or what is good for the country.  Sinister political and financial forces behind the scenes are simply exploiting these young, passionate revolutionaries and using them to usher in a new leadership arrangement.  If the bankers can convince you to hate the king who borrowed all the money, then they can convince you to commit regicide and replace the king with a new and more tyrannical ruler (see Bolshevik Revolution).  The vast global power of the banks and the devil to upset entire nations is breathtaking.

The Egyptian protesters did not like the frying pan, so now they have left it and gone into the fire.  Soon we will be next.