I was happy to read this report--insight that wouldn't have come my
way otherwise.
Like Owen, I think it may be, it can be, different. In the first
place, unlike China in Tiananmen Square, the military did not fire on
its own people. Right there is a tremendous difference. That other
Middle Eastern governments are scrambling to respond, whether through
small, though genuine change, or through window-dressing, tells you
that this one matters.
Pamela
On Feb 12, 2011, at 11:19 PM, Owen Densmore wrote:
Yes indeed, the world *is* getting better.
Also, the universe is homogeneous.
It just takes the right perspective!
In this case, the nay sayers point out the centuries of Egyptian
strong-men and conclude the future will hold more of the same. The
soviet experience is a sad example.
But I really do sense a difference here. The military is
fascinatingly different. It is a universal conscription military,
thus much more diverse and democratic.
And it is oddly "commercial", having faced, after their defeat by
Israel, the decision to cut their size in half or somehow modify
themselves. They decided on the latter, branching out into economic
and civic services. I believe they are unique in this regard, being
roughly 10% of GDP.
God, I wish them the best, they certainly are a model for us all.
-- Owen
"A hero is someone who can keep his mouth shut when he is right."
Yiddish proverb
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