Hey guys, first off, I would like to say that the general population on the gamrconnect forums are a thousand times more mature than those found at IGN. And I like that interesting and relevant non-gaming topics are opened for discussion here.

Anyway, to share my thoughts on this, and I didnt read all 19 or so pages worth of comments as there is only so much time I can slack off at work. But we all know now that Hosni Mubarak has stepped down. Those of you who fear that a fundamentalist group will step in his place should not worry, as the Egyptian people have a HUGE highly educated sector of their population that do not want that to happen. Also, the Muslim Brotherhood is not a fundamentalist regime of any sort, and have never been in ties with Iran. These fears should be set aside. There will most likely be some sort of democratic vote over the popular parties. Yes, the Muslim Brotherhood will be one of them, and they will probably have a strong backing from the lower class and less educated part of the population, but I highly doubt they they can get the majority to vote for them. 

Also, those who don't think that the US had anything to do with Mubarak's stay in power there are naive. There is a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, and the US wants to maintain that as they would do anything to protect Israel. Keeping Mubarak in place is one method. Now once Mubarak gets replaced, that certainly does not mean that the next person is going to rip that peace treaty apart and start shooting rockets into Israel. No. That is not to Egypt's advantage. However, unlike Mubarak who let Israel get away with breaking international law and UN resolutions, the next person who takes over MIGHT, MIIIGHT be brave enough to place necessary political pressures on Israel to play a fairer game towards the peace process that they are not interested in.

At the end of the day, those Egyptians were EXTREMELY brave for wat they did, and it is their persistence that led them to this success. On day 10 and 11 of the protests, many thought it was over and that they would have to wait until September for Mubarak to step down, but their persistence led to this. Now it would also be naive for us to think that it was purely this persistence that led to Mubarak stepping down. There was obvious foreign pressure at play, but this foreign pressure would not have increased without the people standing their ground. 

Now we just have to hope this ends up turning into the greater good.

And in the case of Lebanon (reading some earlier posts), there are 2 main factions that oppose one another. The pro-syrians (including Hezbollah) and the anti-syrians. What started off as a government having majority in the anti-syrian sector, now ended up with Hezbollah having majority. But that was done by way of force and violence. Whereas the anti-syrians did not want to start another civil war, have more people killed and bring the country back down again, Hezbollah were ready to do so as their interest is not that of the country but of themselves. Shit, when these people march and protest, they do not hold the flag of Lebanon, no, they hold the flag of their faction and posters of their leader Hassan Nasrallah. That simple imagery shows that they dont have the country's well-being in mind. And the fact that they have now literally stolen the power through violence and threats worries me greatly. I do not know what will happen to Lebanon. And quite frankly, I dont see these no-good people stepping down unless they get violently crushed and thrown out. Which is a shame, cause that would mean another civil war needs to take place in that country. And things like that please countries like Israel as having their neighbour get destroyed internally once again means that this neighbour will be a broken, useless husk of a country that would not be able to contend Israel with anything it does.

Its a cruel world in many parts of the Middle East, and some areas NEED a revolution for betterment.

I dont intend on offending anyone, I realize there are posters here from Israel, Syria and all round the world. A fact is a fact though, a government is clearly in the wrong or right, although in most cases a government does not speak for all its people. So when I point out that Israel isn't going about the right way with the peace process, I am in no way concluding that its people agree with its actions.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent post. Well researched.

we have suez canal, tourism, gas, oil so no it was his issue we are now in debt of 880 billion us dollars. when he first came to power it was only 12 billion. live poor what you don't know how hard it is to live in egypt some people work 3 jobs and can barely find money for bread to survive thats not his fualt. graduates of all faculties can't find jobs so this isn't his fualt nothing is right. he give gas to israel for shit prices, almost for free when he sells it to his own poeple for full price that isn't his fualt. 30 years is a heck of a longtime to make economic reforms, what he did in it was increase egyptains debt by 868 billion dolars that nothing dam i get that in one day of work. Please you don't live in egypt so don't speack about life in egypt. All he did all these years was working for the good of israel, US rather than the good of his people. heck he stole 70 billion dollars from us and his associates stole just as much if not more.  

What a pathetic argument you've put forward. It is not up to you to decide whether Mubarak stays or goes. It's up to the Egyptian people and you should be supporting democratic forces. He's an oppressive dictator and a lackey of the US so the Egyptian people can blame the US who provide over $1 billion in mostly military aid annually for the past 30 odd years.  The Mubarek family may have an estimated value of $70 billion and I doubt they acquired this vast wealth through transparent means. But hey he's our guy so as long as he controls his population it's ok (even though a lot of them live in poverty).

And don't forget our some of our major allies are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan both hot beds of Islamic extremsim especally during the 80's when we turned a blind eye to their spreading of Islamic fundamentalism (and in the process Pakistan was acquiring the knowledge to build nukes). So your argument about Islamic extremists gaining power and how it's a problem just doesn't hold water. All we care about is controlling the region whether the Governemnt is secular or a theocracy it doesn't matter. Egypt under Nasser was secular, Syria is secular etc and both deemed enemies of the US.

As for the economy...maybe if the people had a say they would be better off. As it stands it was a one party dictatorship so Mubarek has to take the blame. And I really don't get your argument about pig culls are you saying it made Cairo a worse place to live?!

Now we're gonna see something interesting. Hopefully the military runs this more like the Turkish military and not like the Iraqi military

Yep....

Indeed. That hope is the reason I'm happy that the military got ahold of the country.

Oh for sure.  I look at it like making it into the second round of a contest.  Reason to be happy... but I'm not going to throw a celebration until I know the final result.

Neither am I, Egypt is just south from the border for me...

I believe the military already made clear that they intend to work in a interim government until a peoples government can be established. They also made clear they do not intend to form a military government at all.