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The time for revolution has come. And we rejoice we throw our hands up with extreme ecstasy and feel that we the people have a chance to take back what is ours. But with all this euphoria we seem to be forgetting the reality of this revolution. We haven’t really learnt from history. During one of the most critical revolutions of all time our beloved French, yes I know I laughed a little too, we forget that there were leaders who had a clear reason for this uprising or leaders and philosophers who would take advantage of what is happening. They had been writing and spreading a new way of thinking and doctrines and talking of future days of enlightenment. This was a time where the masses rebelled against the ruling Monarchy for lack of basic necessities which are now slowly becoming painfully obvious and shown throughout the world today. The vision and goal of this revolution was to eradicate both the Monarchy and the Church for they had 2/3 majority ruling while the 1/3 left over was roughly 75% of the population. Now what we have to see of key difference is that they were viciously attacking two sides of the coin. Here in the Middle-East the revolt is not necessarily as we see it. The actual reactions vary where the people are attacking the ruling authorities but are not necessarily clearly requiring freedom from Religious rule or rule by Monarchy. It is not as clearly defined as such. What we are seeing is an uprising that started due to a lack of basic necessities but may be quickly hijacked by a different revolution; one where a religious sect is not accurately represented and feels that since they are the majority they should rule. They are not calling for separation of Mosque and state and they are not really asking for free Democratic elections. There is a small group that have been demanding for such but this was not a widespread notion throughout the region. There were no intellectuals pushing the movement forward it was a group of people who didn’t like the existing power due simply to lack of basic needs. No matter what we see on Western Television we need to play Devil’s advocate. We need to look at the areas that are being hidden. How come the people of the Arab world are asking for Democracy all of a sudden during the worst time in US internal and global history? Did anyone really ask if Democracy is a widespread accepted notion in the Middle-East? Can Democracy exist under religious rule? Where are the leaders of the Democratic uprising? Who are they? Where are their writings? Where are their philosophical articles which moved the masses to revolt? All the masses are really saying is you are neglecting us, and we want to change. But change to what? What path are you asking to truly follow? Here in essence lies the problem. Put very simply we are replacing one ruling force by another. To take a further standpoint here the only people speaking of Democracy are reported specifically by Western backed news agencies and specific professors at universities in the region who now are speaking up. Do they really want Democracy in the Arab world? We haven’t solved the problem we gave it a different colour (yes the old famous Lebanese stab at Democracy) Let’s take a quick look at the current situation within the Middle-East as whole, but only on the surface as it is too complicated and lengthy to dive into deeply here. As an example, for over 30 years of Egyptian rule the person formerly in charge (everyone is celebrating his end and we are waiting to see how Egypt will proceed) hugely and widely supported by both Israel and America has ensured that the liberal left who may be largely incorporated of the middle-class educated are eradicated. The upper rich echelons are in the pocket of the ruler and the masses bow to the will as they are a mixture of educated and largely uneducated forced into poverty, taught to believe and follow what is said. Even if you may disagree with the structure or find it hard to believe this is what was used and pushed in order to keep the West and existing powers in control. As we have seen in most Arab countries this then becomes where the extreme right has the most successful breeding grounds. Now if you tip the balance you do risk allowing the only people with power to take over which are the radical right who over the past 4 years have enjoyed an incredible insurgence of support, weapons and vision. The key example is Iraq. Though you may not like Saddam, and I’m not saying I do, he was a secular ruler who would periodically wipe out terrorist and prevent any form of extreme religious unity. Now they freely unite meet and train in Iraq. What will happen when the US completely leaves? What moderate left will have any desire to live there with the constant threat of violence and attacks? The only people with an army and financial infrastructure to quickly run the country are the extremists. A very similar reaction is happening today and the traditional friends of the West are being wiped out. Why? Well the US has no one’s respect anymore not because Bush handled the situation completely incorrectly, the whole system was flawed and the left who think that everybody does or should think like them will follow suit and lose ground. Well let me tell you people are more afraid of Bush than Obama because Obama turned out to be nothing more than a nice slogan. Could the plan be that if there is so much unrest there they will beg the US to stay and have a deeply active hand in helping run the region? Or will the new puppet regime be more pro-American? And their followers who now have power will say they love the US? One would ask where? and how can we find the majority of the moderate Arab left? The simple answer: they are in Europe and the US and those who returned settled in places like Dubai or in small expat havens. The key point is what army will protect them? I mean as an example, as it was recent but not in the Middle-East, in Pakistan a liberal minister who wanted to change Islamic law allowing individuals to speak with more freedom and essentially criticize Islam was killed by his own bodyguards and the rest of his guards knew about it and made sure not to kill the man who did it. He actually asked them “please do not kill me when I do this.” He is still alive. Does this not exist in the Arab world? I believe in revolution and fighting for what is right. I am ready to wave the flag but I shudder to think of the consequences. This may be a great success over the short term but in the long run we may suffer significant consequences. Foreign powers may have an even more devastating hand in the region or the Islamic right may take over and then what? This is a revolution, but it may not be one of true freedoms. It could drastically turn into one of tribalism and religious sects’ grabbing power. The Middle-East may not yet be ready for democracy as education and spreading of free thought and knowledge is not yet there and these are not easily and freely accessible and the majority of the people in the region still believe that religion is far more important than the country. The easiest example for most Westerners to see is places like Lebanon. I remember being in Dubai and everyone is like congratulations we are done with Mubarak “wooo yeah amazing” Obama and Clinton are supporting and spurring this on, but we forgot that their predecessors were the regime that put him there supporting US initiatives and now all of a sudden are happy out of the blue? The question is what are their true motives? What are they trying to do? Is no one shocked that all of a sudden out of nowhere we have revolutions sprouting up one after the other throughout the Middle-East? All of a sudden we have people protesting and screaming for rights and freedoms? There is a deep cry now for Democratic freedoms? When was this ever on the agenda of any one of the countries in the Middle-East? The majority are only primarily interested in food, work and then majority rule. But not necessarily under the Democratic terms you may think. We are hearing the voices of the educated minorities and those that are backed by Western agencies. What about all the female reporters attacked and assaulted during these riots? What about all the women attacked and raped post the step down of the ruler? (Another huge topic for another discussion but had to throw it in there.) You could say during a revolution things happen and leave it at that but maybe something else is happening? Everyone all of a sudden is providing information through facebook and twitter etc. Companies controlled and backed by the West and all of a sudden in countries where internet is badly maintained banned and blocked we now have a wealth of this information floating everywhere? How did everyone all of a sudden have means and access to this monitored technology? They all went to the universities and started freely blogging with no interruption? Yes there are groups who do have it at home and have the ability and means to do it but this is a specific youth minority group supporting freedom, the Middle-East has some of the heaviest internet security measures on the planet where everything is practically monitored and they were able to send the feeds across? Did they provide the full picture? Was it really an internet revolution? Interesting how Al Jazeera was the first there and started to push forwards a particular view point and by the way they are supported by the British. In addition, everyone from the BBC has a rotation in Al Jazeera and then returns from their exotic foreign correspondence tour. What about in Lebanon? They were told to leave. Why? Think about it. Also I don’t ever remember anyone from any of these revolting countries, apart from Bahrain in some form for equal rights, talking or screaming for Democracy. In my travels and friendships no one spoke out against anyone maybe out of fear. They were afraid to I guess at the time and now all this fear and anger boiled over and spread into the revolution, but interestingly I met in my travels people who were genuinely saddened by someone like Mubarak stepping down. They were in fear. They said our country will now be in ruins. Could they fear that only the religious right can take power? Forget that they are rich or poor, they were all from different social standings, they were realising that as bad as it was it will get worse. I guess before things get better they have to get worse but where is the free thinking army? Is this Democratic revolution truly home grown? Were the objectives truly for Democracy? Example for our wonderful free thinking Western friends who really created this disaster in the first place Iran for the first time since the 70s is sending two warships down the Suez. Now tell me really what do you think is happening? There are two sides to this coin. The first: the Iranian backed parties are openly saying “look at what we can do now.” “You gave us carte blanche to run this place.” The second: (which I feel is what is happening) is that the Israelis and Americans told Egypt allow the Iranians through so we can take a look at what they have. Let us study and find out what our enemy is hiding. Now seriously a country that is pro-American and NOW has a Democratic revolution is allowing an anti-American military force to go through its territory? What the news is telling us is that it seems like a statement to Israel and America “your time is coming and this is heavily backed not only by Iran and Shia groups!” This is a general statement for religious extremists. Now do not make the fatal mistake to think that Shi’ism is the only home of religious extremism and anti Western sentiment. You would be grossly and extremely incorrect. I am not going to discuss this issue please read the history and you can start from the time of the Crusades for that matter. What I am saying is two things seem almost to happen: 1) whoever is the most extreme will take power and 2) one tribe or sect whatever they will be will take power of existing rulers. The entire Middle-East fragile balance will be rocked and significant repercussions will be felt that if tipped too far in the wrong direction and I don’t mean only under religious rule are too extreme to fathom. All I know is if it keeps getting bigger our friends in Saudi will have a problem. If we note the recent revolt in Yemen brings to light the tension on the border with Saudi-Arabia where the Shia group the Hosiyeen in Yemen would continuously have clashes with the Saudi military. Do you think that’s what the Americans and British want? Is that the game they are playing to cause this radical change to become more popular? And to regain more control of the resources? Do these morons think it will really work? Maybe money can corrupt all. Maybe they are really willing to gamble and they could win again. What we have seen is Saudi-Arabia are playing it well and a generally good King has publicly told Obama to stop his open support to the current uprisings, which he quietly has, and the Saudi has turned to provide support to his own people and also lend a hand in Bahrain. Does religious sect have any play here with that move? Do you think the US really wants a Democratic Middle-East? If this does happen will they be able to take advantage and control the region as they please? Whatever the situation is or the outcome is, it is not a time to rejoice and egg people on and jump on the band wagon like every idiot does to be cool and have liberals say right on. It’s the time to really focus and pay attention and understand what is happening. This could be a revolution with good intentions which can only be supported by extremists as they are the ones with the most power to mobilise in the aftermath as the outcome to all of this is one of fear. During this revolution the people attacked each other and looted homes and so on. Who is behind this? And why did this turn from a revolution for Democracy to an attack on each other? It has even begun occurring in Bahrain and people are leaving or returning to protect their homes and families. We do not know who really is behind it but you could say this is part of any revolution or this could also be a powder keg of built up tension over several years of neglect from a ruling power of a particular sect to that of another. What is happening goes beyond what the Western Media is claiming and portraying the revolution is about. You never know America might like the new change of power. Either way they could win and like the extremists more than you think. This Enemy could be their greatest ally. Recently someone said to me, and I take this one tongue in cheek (as I know also of the anti-Christ coming out of the Levant) that there is a saying in Islam, or Nostradamus may have alluded to this but we only realize his sayings are true after the fact so again this bit is for fun, that the person who will bring the Apocalypse and the end of the World will come out of Africa. I laughed and said to her well we have Obama and all of North Africa is rioting. Who knows? Who cares? I just want to have a good time and rock out but just because we have a revolution doesn’t mean it’s always good or the right one. What I am saying is that it just happened all of a sudden out of nowhere like when the Iraqis came out against Saddam with the Americans. They were a small group from a specific sect who were basically encouraged by the Americans to show their happiness for the American invasion. Now Iraq is so unstable it is one of the most dangerous places to visit and the Iraqis are neither prospering nor embracing Democracy. Yes it will take time but this toppling did not occur because of a growing sentiment for a change for Democracy. One may think that the revolutions happening are for Democracy but are we truly to believe that all of a sudden people living under this rule with no underground rumblings for Democratic revolutions suddenly revolted? It would be great but it has failed for so long in the past, and the jury is still out on Egypt though we cross our fingers they are moving in the right direction, as too many people were getting involved in too many areas of the decisions and thinking of any other alternative was illegal and sometimes punishable by death. Furthermore, the ones who have a true open hatred and act upon it towards the ruling powers are the extreme right. In Egypt it was the Muslim Brotherhood. It is highly possible that extremists will be taking power and taking over as they are the only people capable of quickly taking over a government. The liberal middle class where wiped out by those in power as they were the real threat to dominance and they never accumulated weapons or donated significant amounts of money to build a liberal group of followers. If there was such a strong belief in this why did they not fund such movements like the religious fanatics do? Education was not freely provided to all. For the majority of the population it was not easy to enjoy this luxury while being concerned about food and bringing in enough money to survive. Though the moderate liberal might have jumped in and hijacked the meaning behind the revolution for the cameras the reality is that the extremists where the ones who pushed and instigated the revolution and the liberals just talk. A revolution is fought by one who believes fanatically in the message. Remember these revolutions started because a man set himself on fire in Tunisia as he did not have enough money to eat. This was a statement about basic necessities. The modern day liberals are not the type to build armies and revolutionise, but it is the extremists, those who believe deeply and are willing to die for a greater cause who use and take power. Liberal thinking has become a great fashion statement but not a great cause. Are we so blind by the fake illusion of Democracy? Do we really believe this to be a new dawn? Is this now the time for a new age of greatness? Will the West take their hands out and let it be? Are they behind it all? How can we have any form of Democracy if it is all lead by religion and religious fervour. We are not looking at it as Tunisians, Egyptians, Libyans, Bahrainis, or Lebanese etc. We are now seeing that it is a religious faction of that region against the other. Bahrain is in deep turmoil over this and though I agree it should be a fair ruling based on majority and Democratic principles but is this really the outcome they are all looking for? Prior to the televised uprising the Shia population wanted to be recognised as a people with the right to be equal to Sunnis and essentially be recognised as Bahraini. They were for many years not treated fairly as they claim but note that part of the issue here is that if they are a part of the society the next King could be Shia if the masses willed it so. They did not specifically call out for Democratic elections. Why now all over the news and selected Youtube clips and twitter and facebook pages this is all we hear? They have always stood as Shia who are Bahraini and deserve a valid voice. They never sided with Iran but now with current actions by the religious groups within the region will they be forced to? Is an internal religious battle being forced? Can one sect accept to be ruled by another? Just the other day, on a separate yet similar topic, Hasan Nasrallahs’ (the leader of Hezbollah) public address was scrambled on all the networks to prevent his message from being heard. Is this a revolution for freedom and Democratic rights? Or will Democracy only be accepted under one groups rule and existence? Recently in Egypt the clashes were based on religious groups, Muslims and Copts, now that Mubarak is out. Have we forgotten the previous attacks on tourist? and the various extreme actions against the Christian minority? Now this will be forgotten and all will be well? We are led to believe that the first honest unrigged vote will happen in 60 years in Egypt. We wait to see what the outcome will be but it will show either deeper foreign involvement or a direct stand against the West. More fighting will happen internally until they reach a solution which is the natural order of things but will this solution be the one the news agencies are promoting to show what America did by entering Iraq and Afghanistan is what the people truly want and need? They want the US model of life we are led to believe. Did we forget the only reason Afghanis allowed the US in originally, apart from weaponry and training, was because of the promise of building hospitals and schools and homes with no expectation in return? The US left them in turmoil when Russia was kicked out and the hatred grew from there. The lack of trust became apparent and clear within the region. I am all for liberalism and freedoms and so on if the people believe it. I am all for it if the people are ready for it and open to it and trust it. But look at Lebanon a country I am embarrassed to love; but I do love it. When push comes to shove it is your religion that is far more superior to your nationalism. These are not nationalistic movements these are movements of religious and tribal power. If it was pure nationalism would it matter what religion your ruler truly was? Or how they would rule would not be in favour of a particular religious group? There is a fundamental lack of trust in any of their rulers because they are focused on which tribe will support them and provide for their needs and which country pays them the highest to keep this view point alive. Think of this for a minute, prior to 2005 Sunnis were behind Hezbollah and had no issue with the fact they had weapons and a militia as they were indeed since 1982 protecting Lebanon from Israel. Now all of a sudden they are being asked by Hariri and the Sunni backed side, to get rid of their weapons? But this only came after they blamed Syria for the death of Hariri, which got them kicked out as they were convinced it was their fault. Now after being so convinced it was Syria it’s Hezbollah’s turn to take the blame? Notice though throughout all this America was involved and did the investigations and now because of stronger US-Syrian ties, Hariri is good close friends with them and it’s time to shift the blame. Why do they fear their weapons? They cannot get rid of this group if they have weapons. This was further proven during the clash in Beirut between Hezbollah and the Lebanese military over the cutting of Hezbollah communication lines. Was this act a move to allow foreign involvement? I understand an army within an army is wrong but in reality the ultimate goal is to get rid of a group of Lebanese, and a group of Lebanese that allowed the rest of Lebanon freedom from a foreign power. Why didn’t the Lebanese army protect its own people and not rely on a militia? I am not siding with anyone I am trying to say they should be Lebanese first. During elections they buy your vote and fly people in from around the world to vote. Why? They don’t live there? How could they make any informed decisions about the fate of those living there? They need to round up enough support for their side to keep power. They are not concerned with the true well being of the people there. What is even more ludicrous is that these leaders would steal the money of the people and pretend they were there for you. Weapons dealers who are Christian selling to Muslim militia fighters and vice versa and these same weapons dealers would eat lunch together and have a laugh at the expense of the dead. Democracy? Are you sure we are going to get this? Do the people want this? If they did would they allow this to go on? Maybe we should get rid of those in power who have kept this fear and tension since the beginning like we are doing now, but who would replace them? And who would the people trust to replace them and take care of their needs? Do the people think like that? Did we get rid of tribal mentality? Did we put aside the belief and conviction in religion before all? What the world now fears, think tanks and news agencies claim, are global riots and these actions in the Middle-East would trigger greater revolutions over food and commodity prices throughout Europe which I think would be awesome. At least it is Democratic right? We hope? But I don’t see it happening because there is no real fanaticism in Europe at the moment. Maybe Neo-Nazis are on the rise again but other than that, they are not sure who to revolt against. Who do you blame? Who do you go after? Should we blame the agricultural committee? How about a shot at the big financers and Bankers? The US President apparently went after them. They still got their bonuses, they are still in the top spots investing in the same scams and nothing has changed. Shall we just take up arms and kill them in the street? Yeah but then what do we do next? No one has gained enough support to put forward an agenda for real change. Not the Obama campaign slogan hogwash I mean really change the way we see the world and live within it. The riots over food will happen on the farmlands in Africa and the Middle-East and we know how these will be dealt with. The true revolution should be against Capitalisms failure. I’m not trying to prove Marx theory nor support it I’m saying Capitalism is great but we veered grossly off course and the model that now exists is a speck of what it was meant to be. That’s the only true revolution but no one is ready for that as we are now in the generation where we all feel like we have too much to lose. Even if we hate the situation we are in we still want to protect what we already have for fear of loss and the chance to live under the illusion of the greatness we can achieve. We have bought in fully to the American Dream on their own terms in countries that were not founded on this philosophy. No one is to blame but our leaders and us. We are too quick to point the finger without first taking a good hard look at ourselves. As Confucius says there can never be any peace in the world if there is no peace at home. Well I tell you openly we are all in turmoil and we need to realise it is our own fault. We chose to be on this path. No one is forcing us to do it; we think we have to do it because we like being sheep. It’s safer. We really think there is a big bad wolf out there. The revolutions are moving along with some clashes and some slowing down. Yemen, Tunis, Saudi-Arabia are all quieter now. How come in Libya the revolution is not working? It seems like Kaddafi violently took back his power, so did the US plans not work there? Well now they and Europe are talking of invading and deposing him. Is it because they are concerned for the well-being of the Libyans? Or are they concerned with the fact that a natural resource being supplied to Europe and the US is at stake? Do they want to be closer to Egypt to monitor and prepare for when they might move in? If they replace him like Saddam how long will they stay in Libya? Who will they get to replace him like in Afghanistan? Has this anything to do with Democracy? Or economics, as it always has been, is the true culprit? Do we really believe in the benevolence of the US and Europe? Who said that their philosophy was right in the first place? Who gave them the right to invade foreign countries and determine how they should live? Why don’t we blame the Arabs for allowing these rulers to be in power for so long? Who wouldn’t let them fight back? Do we really believe it was the rulers of these countries? Or do we not see it was the ones who supported them? According to historians the French killed roughly 800 people each month to push the agenda of fear and terror which is the only way to move forward the Revolution for Liberty. Even they were extremists and believed in controlling the population. They had spies everywhere and no one was allowed to speak ill of the Revolution. We have that in spades in the Middle-East but the extremists in the Middle-East are fighting for a different cause. All I am saying is I am happy we are fighting back but I hope it’s for our benefit in the long run. I hope the people who have suffered and had little to eat for so long have a chance. I hope that those people treated like animals will have a chance to live as humans as they deserve to because that is what they are! I hope it is under the watchful eyes of true Democracy and not an extremist. I hope those who claim to push Democracy will leave it be to grow into what it should be an enlightened era again for the Middle-East and not just another ruse to control it all and because Americans just don’t like the fact that other people hate them.