I worry that these countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt) are both our allies. Also in both countries Christians are persecuted.

I would like to think that democracy would improve the lives of the Christians and minorities but I think more likely extremist Islamic groups will sieze control. Religious freedom will go even further down the toilet, both countries will because Theorocracies like Iran.

I don't see any good coming from the overthrowing of either of these countries. From a western standpoint both of their Governments are currently allies. Two allies gone is not good for any of us (Nato) and for Russia etc...etc... the more Islamic extremist groups in power the more finances fall into terrorist hands and the more bombings and wars will ensue!

I worry that these countries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt) are both our allies. Also in both countries Christians are persecuted.

I would like to think that democracy would improve the lives of the Christians and minorities but I think more likely extremist Islamic groups will sieze control. Religious freedom will go even further down the toilet, both countries will because Theorocracies like Iran.

I don't see any good coming from the overthrowing of either of these countries. From a western standpoint both of their Governments are currently allies. Two allies gone is not good for any of us (Nato) and for Russia etc...etc... the more Islamic extremist groups in power the more finances fall into terrorist hands and the more bombings and wars will ensue!

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/protests-spread-saudi-arabia

I pray this one goes well. They control a bit more resources than Egypt does. The analysis I've read over at MP.net make it look a lot grimmer, as they may have far more radical elements. Nevertheless, I hope it goes well, and we're seeing Democratization of the Middle East, akin to what we saw in Eastern Europe ~20 years ago which led to peace and more prosperity for the formerly-communist nations.

Why I'm still surprised how blindfolded and ill-informed some people are? Nothing that happened in North Africa has anything to do with 'democratization'.

Countries, where demonstrations and riots happened recently, have a similar economic characteristic - they are all major importers of grain. In such a situation the economy of the importing countries is very sensitive to changes in the global grain market, so this problem goes beyond the economy and is a matter of national security and social stability. Note that over the past six months quotes on many commodities exchanges were at multi-year highs thanks to cheap dollars, which FRS is issuing at a growing rate. Banks and other financial institutions have choosed to pour these money into stock and commodities exchanges instead of crediting Americans that en masse have lost their credibility for the last few years. As a result, under the excuse of inflationary fears and loss of confidence in the dollar, speculators of all kinds and sizes inflated prices of most assets, including contracts for agricultural products. Residents of Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and probably some other countries of the region have at least doubled their spendings on food. I'm pretty sure that some secret services contribute one's mite into this mess, likely Israel is the most interested party here. Here we go, an easy recipe for revolution.

BTW visit Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia someday so you may check 'peace' and 'prosperity' by your own as well.

sapphi_snake said:

I can understand the "prosperity" part, but what's up with the "peace" part? What major conflicts are going on in that region?

There's no war per se and never has been since WW2 (so it's up to topic starter, I don't know exactly what he meant), but apartheid regimes are present in Latvia and Estonia, which is hardly a 'civil peace'.

sapphi_snake said:

Definition of that term:

An official policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa, involving political, legal, and economic discrimination against nonwhites.

Oh, really do not bother me with this semantics. Call it whatever you want, a national segregation if you will.

sapphi_snake said:

I don't get the national segregation bit. What populations are segregated? Are there any significant minorities in that region, that are discriminated against?