Egypt’s military backs democratic civilian rule

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story/Reuters

Egypt’s military backs democratic civilian rule

By Reuters
Saturday, February 12th, 2011 -- 1:36 pm

– Egypt's new military rulers told the nation on Saturday they were committed to civilian rule and democracy after Hosni Mubarak's overthrow and said they would respect all treaties, a move to reassure Israel and Washington.

Pro-democracy activists in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the epicenter of an earthquake of popular protest that unseated Mubarak, have vowed to stay there until the Higher Military Council accepts their agenda for democratic reform.

Throughout the Middle East, autocratic rulers were calculating their chances of survival after Mubarak was forced from power in a dramatic 18-day uprising that changed the course of Egypt's history, unsettling the United States and its allies.

"The Arab Republic of Egypt is committed to all regional and international obligations and treaties," a senior army officer said in a statement on state television, outlining the armed forces' broad strategies at home and abroad.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/egypts-military-backs-democratic-civilian-rule/

[totodeinhere]

1. Actually, I would love to see them back out of their treaty with Israel and open the

border with Gaza. There is very little that Israel could do about it unless they wanted to start a war. But if that doesn't happen now, I think that a democratically elected government in Egypt will eventually do it. Egypt's relations with Israel are not very popular on the Egyptian street.

[ananda]

6. Yes, it's the military and foreign policy that is so far unchanged...

... and that is , essentially, the real problem behind the internal Egyptian problem.

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Could Keep the Treaty and Still Open the Border With Gaza

The Egyptian people may not like Israel very much, but they don't want another war with them.

Keeping Gaza sealed off and starving is indefensible.

[BeFree]

2. well

Our pentagon knows their military better than they do, most likely.

They can be, maybe should be, maybe are, puppets on our string, meaning Obama's.

Obama's bestest friends in DC, as far as I can tell, is the pentagon. I sure hope they at least continue to play well together except for ending the wars. But remember, if Obama ended the wars, the friendship would go kapoot, eh?

Anyway, the Egyptian military seems to be pretty much under control. And that makes for one less worry...

[uppityperson]

3. Good for them. It is interesting how different countries have different types of military

who they are, what they are for, what they do, etc etc etc.

[tahrir]

4. the military are trained to take orders from the elite, a universal trait

around the world, and throughout history.

[L. Coyote]

11. Not true. In some States, the military has overthrown the elites

and that is a danger whenever the officers are not the children of the elites.

[jwirr]

5. I hope they are serious about this. A democracy does not threaten

their position as the Army. Egypt will still need that army. I think the real problem is going to be the same one we have - corporations who want to run the show. I am hoping Egypt is going to be smarter on this than we are.

[DCKit]

7. +1 The interference from "interested parties" is going to be epic. nt

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kicked and recommended for vigilance and commitment.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[marasinghe]

10. sure. and the wolf pack shall eat grass with the sheep. and similar fairy tales. (n/t)