Egyptian Government Officials Meddle in Cartoon Crisis
Egyptian Ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attia, met with the controversial Danish Imams several times before their trips to the Middle East. She is preaching freedom of expression to the west on behalf of a country (Egypt) that has no freedom.Egyptian Press published the Danish Cartoons four months ago without admitting or apologizing for the cartoons. The story did not lead to any protests or riots anywhere. At that time, there was no need to play the cartoons politically as the case now.
Gateway Pundit has a very interesting eye opening timeline story incorporated with some other fishy statements made by the Egyptian Ambassador to Denmark Mona Omar Attia said after a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. She said "she will urge diplomatic protests against the Scandinavian country to continue." May I ask what is the nature of those protests? Burning flags and torching building? Those were the protests we saw so far. She said also "Fogh Rasmussen's response to the Muhammad drawings controversy has been inadequate, and that the country should do more to 'appease the whole Muslim world."And what has been happening in Egypt to appease the Muslim world? More Sheikhs during prayers flaring up poor people. The government is not doing its best to stop the impact of informal and formal worshipping places. In a country like Egypt with almost 40% illiteracy, many people do not know whether Denmark is a country or a company.
Egypt's ambassador in Copenhagen, Mona Omar Attia, highlighted the stalemate in comments after she heard Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen say his government could not apologize for anything that Danish newspapers had printed. Egypt has no freedom of expression. The Egyptian diplomat did not acquire any taste for freedom. She said "This means that the whole story will continue and that we are back to square one again. The government of Denmark has to do something to appease the Muslim world.” Gateway has the full story and the timeline....
In related statements, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, who is an Egyptian national and served as Egypt's foreign minister said on Jan 31 in a two-day meeting in Tunis to strengthen co-operation against terrorism:"Why do they talk about democracy and freedom of expression just when the issue concerns Islam?". He asked "If it concerns other religions the facts will change." That was one day after the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten's apology to Muslims. Apparently, appeasment statements are not intended at any level. But why?
A joint blog post by
Gateway Pundit
Freedom for Egyptians
Previously:
Egyptian Newspaper Pictures that Published Cartoons 5 months ago
Cartoons were Published Five Months ago in Egypt
Denmark, Do Not Apologize
Boycott the Boycott
Danish Cartoons are not the End As Long As Undemocratic ...
Denmark Cartoons Expose Core Values of Radical Muslims
Syria’s Jihad against Denmark
Denmark Cartoons absent Real Democracy Battle in Egypt
posted by Freedom For Egyptians @ 1:06 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Dear FFE
Two questions jumps to mind. 1. When have a stategy of appeasment ever worked? 2. The danish primeminister delivered a harsh critisism of the danish appeasmentpolicy towards Nazigermany in the thirties in a speech a couple of years ago. Wouldn't an ambassador in Denmark know such a thing? His critisism were discussed in the danish media for several weeks after, several months even. I thougth she read the danish newspapers?
p.s. Congratulations on winning the Africas Cup
Odin,
But don't you think that when government officials find riots escalate to torching buildings and terrorizing other nations that there is a reposnibility to calm down the people to open up for a peaceful settlement for the crisis??
FFE
You didn't answer my first question. Have an appeasement strategy ever worked? And no. I don't think the danish government has a responsibility to calm things down. They didn't publish the cartoons. If the danish government tried appease the muslims it would only show to the world that they could be blackmailed. Besides i don't the protests would stop if we did what the egyptian ambassador suggests. We, the danes would only face more demands.
I am not talking about appeasment on part of the Danish government. It did not publish the cartoons. But I am talking about Arab and muslim governments who found their nations so outraged. Their reaction was not up to responsibility, given the fact how everything is under the control of the regimes in such countries.
FFE
None of the countries in the ME are democracies. The governments in the ME don't have to be responsibel. Why should they?
Because it is not like Europe or the US where state is separate from religion. It is because they rule the countries with a fist of iron through huge relgious and security apparatus. Press is not free, parties are not, parliaments are not, these regimes play their people very well, more than anyone would think.
I thought the arabs could see through the regimes. But you're saying that they cannot. That they are content with them?
odin, those regimes are very adept at playing religion card when they want to manipulate the masses. That's what happened here... and no, I don't think "the masses" mind being manipulated in cases like this... it seems like they feel very rightsous in their indignation.
The whole thing makes me wonder why these same regimes that are "allies" of the US in the war on terror cannot whip up the same kind of furor when terrorists murder the innocent in the name of islam. Isn't that at LEAST as offensive towards Islam as these cartoons are? That's rhetorical question, by the way. I'm just wondering why more moslems don't see a contradiction.
Craig, I don't think "hurting Islams image is the real issue here inspite of what many muslims claim. I think its really a "powerstruggle". What really pisses the muslims of is the fact that a couple of cartoonist wasn't scared of the so-called religion of peace and clearly showed their contempt for it. Muslim terrorism directed at non-muslims is a show of muslim power. That's why it is never condemned, often justified and sometimes celebrated.That's how i see it.
And no the arab regimes aren't american allies. The arabs hate your guts. The sooner you cut the ties to them(especially the saudis) the better.
I know freedom needs to come from within; but all this (right) critisim aside of the lack of freedoms in Egypt and for that matter in the ME ... what do you see as the way out? How can there be change? What will it take? Could we non-middle easterns do anything? If the US cuts ties with the Saudies and let's say the western countries starts putting conditions on aid and trade with ME countries would that be something of positive leverage that could help?
As a voter, it would be nice to hear what you as someone living in that mess, would like to see happen; and maybe we could use OUR abilities in the "free" western world to elect leaders that will help you guys win your justly freedom?
Bitman,
I do not have an immediate answer to all your questions but I am sure the US and Europe can do alot to push Egypt into full democracy. Not by punishing or starving the people but may be with showing firm stands towards rulers who want to stay forever.
But i ll thoroughly think about your answers and I ll come back to you.
Thanks for showing readiness for help. I think we need it badly!
Did you read my post on Egypt's Judges? Those are the people who need help and support. Those people can change a lot in Egypt's future.
The government is trying to clamp down on their efforts for a free democractic Egypt.
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