I'll ask... Why are all of these middle eastern countries going nuts?

[DON SVO]

What the hell has happened where they all the sudden decided that their rulers are corrupt and need to just "step down and give up power"? One after another. I understand that there's a lot of oppression over there, but what the fuck happened to make them all do it one country after another? What is the real goal? Who do these people want power turned over to?

Someone with more insight into what these morons are really trying to accomplish in what appears to be damn near the entire middle east?

[mstng86]

Facebook happened. best believe that.

[juiceweezl]

What the hell has happened where they all the sudden decided that their rulers are corrupt and need to just "step down and give up power"? One after another. I understand that there's a lot of oppression over there, but what the fuck happened to make them all do it one country after another? What is the real goal? Who do these people want power turned over to?

Someone with more insight into what these morons are really trying to accomplish in what appears to be damn near the entire middle east?

Black, muslim POTUS. Expect Hell to freeze over next week.

[Vertnut]

Shit like this happens every time a Dem is in office. Their foreign policy sucks, becasue they concentrate on things like sticking health-care up our asses here at home. Consequently, events abroad just go to shit. The last time Ghaddafi farted, Ronnie sent two F-111's over the royal palace. That was 25 years ago. Barry is doing nothing, which means the UN will do nothing, since they follow the POTUS lead on these issues.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

Don, this shit's been going on for a long time. A lot of our current problems really stem all the way back to British involvement during their empirical era where they subjugated middle eastern and African countries. My opinion is that US involvement in subsidizing and propping up many authoritarian governments amenable to our foreign policies over the last 60+ years has held the region together up until recently.

What's changed? Really, it could be social networking tools - facebook. The people can organize their protests better - whereas they weren't able to do that in the past. It's harder for the government to spread misinformation and deceit to control the population now. That's why Egypt shut down the internet.

These protests are nothing new, but since Tunisia succeeded, and through the interwebs, other countries are now challenging their governments - again, in mass, and with greater effect. Look at how long most of these guys have been in power, and then look at the history of how they got there, and what they've done to retain the power. It's usually the same story over and over. Most have had to put down at least one rebellion in the past.

[mustangguy289]

Facebook did it.

[BP]

Facebook did it.

All Mubarrak needed was Websense and he'd still have a job.

[Broncojohnny]

These people need dictators to keep their asses in line. Once the dictators are gone, they will elect or force radical muslim theocracies just like Iran. The idiots in power will then attack Israel and their countries will become Havens for terrorists. Mark my words, we'll be invading some of these places in the future and cleaning up the mess left by Hussein Obama.

[Denny]

This region of the world is still ran by dictatorships (even the ones that claim democracy). The money these countries take in (most cases a lot of money) is mismanaged, laundered, hoarded, etc. The people are severely neglected and left to fend for themselves. The level of poverty is unreal. Most of these families' incomes are so low, even for their cost of living, that 50-60% of their income goes to food. Now take our global markets and the commodity rise as of late. any increase in obtaining that food for their family will greatly impact their pocket book. They're finally directing their anger to the proper locations.

I'd rather fight an angrier man, a stronger man, a smarter man... than fight a hungry man.

[jw33]

IMO if we go poking around picking sides right now we're liable to back a losing horse. And besides, that's the last thing we need right now. Let them shed their own blood and maybe, just maybe, they'll come out with something better than who they have right now telling them what to think/wear/eat/do/ect. After the dust settles we'll decide if it's cheaper to pay them or break a stick off in their ass. So far it's all small potatoes, but if Saudi Arabia even smells like trouble is brewing the shit will have hit the fan. Fuel prices will go through the roof and then the US would just about have to do something. Too much money spent on that place to sit and watch it go up in flames so to speak.

[Denny]

Iraq is supposed to do theirs today (Friday here)... oh joy.

[slow99]

Iraq is supposed to do theirs today (Friday here)... oh joy.

Fuck

[JP135]

What is the real goal? Who do these people want power turned over to?

...what these morons are really trying to accomplish...

That's the big question. They say they want freedom, democracy, etc. But I'd agree with Broncojohnny that what they really want is a muslim-flavored theocracy.

[Cooter]

That's the big question. They say they want freedom, democracy, etc. But I'd agree with Broncojohnny that what they really want is a muslim-flavored theocracy.

I don't think that's what most of them want... but that's what they'll get

[Denny]

That's the big question. They say they want freedom, democracy, etc. But I'd agree with Broncojohnny that what they really want is a muslim-flavored theocracy.

The driving force that is instigating it might want this, but the people as a whole couldn't care less. They're tired of being abused and neglected at the hands of these dictators.