• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Mohamed ElBaradei hits out at west's support for repressive regimes

Red_Dave

Libertarian socialist
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 23, 2005
Messages
6,923
Reaction score
1,738
Location
Staffs, England
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Very Liberal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/31/mohamed-elbaradei-tyrants-support-militan

ElBaradei, who has emerged as a potential challenger to the three-decade rule of Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, said western governments must withdraw the unstinting support for autocrats who were seen to be a bulwark against extremism.

"Western policy towards this part of the world has been a total failure, in my view. It has not been based on dialogue, understanding, supporting civil society and empowering people, but rather it's been based on supporting authoritarian systems as long as the oil keeps pumping."
Dam straight.
 
He's pretty much right, in a nutshell, but it has transformed into something completely different and simply withdrawing American support is not going to fix it, IMO.
 
While useful during the Cold War, with very few exceptions, it is something that is not only not needed now, it is counterproductive in dealing with regimes like China, Burma, North Korea, et. al.
 
Elbaradei needs to go, and someone like Phillip Coyle needs to be put in charge of the IAEA.
 
Elbaradei needs to go, and someone like Phillip Coyle needs to be put in charge of the IAEA.

Dr. ElBaradei is no longer the head of the IAEA. Yukiya Amano is now its Director-General.
 
he nailed it
as a fellow nobel peace prize winner, i hope Obama will heed his expressions of concern about our middle eastern foreign policy

truly hope he has success running for the egyptian office
 
he nailed it
as a fellow nobel peace prize winner, i hope Obama will heed his expressions of concern about our middle eastern foreign policy

truly hope he has success running for the egyptian office
You don't like having Egypt as an ally much do you?
 
You don't like having Egypt as an ally much do you?

seems you are opposed to someone willing to express the truth and advocate democracy in the region
 
Who voted in Hamas?

Who voted in Ahmadinejad?

Did we forget this?

I suppose its the West's fault for the Ottoman Empire as well? :roll:

The article is not talking about Palestine and Iran, it is talking about Egypt. Read the article, its not hard:doh
 
You deal with what the third world elects.

While much of the planet has developed, the middle east is stuck in 200 B.C. Xerxces could still walk down the street and fit right in. LOL

And outside of that oil underneath that wasteland, they have nothing else to trade on a global scale of any value. Don't spit on the lone resource you have.
 
The article is not talking about Palestine and Iran, it is talking about Egypt. Read the article, its not hard:doh

From your article:

"Western policy towards this part of the world has been a total failure, in my view. It has not been based on dialogue, understanding, supporting civil society and empowering people, but rather it's been based on supporting authoritarian systems as long as the oil keeps pumping."

How exactly do you limit that to Egypt? :roll:


And your link is broken :2wave:
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
You don't like having Egypt as an ally much do you?

Well in the long term what this really boils down to is whether you want to Egyptian people on your side. You can support those like ElBaradei and reach a modus vivendi *which benefits both sides or you can try to torture the people into submission by backing an unpopular and oppressive government, yet compliant government (much like the Shah during the cold war).The latter strategy got you Khomeini
 
You deal with what the third world elects.

Traditionally you overthrow the democratically elected leaders like Patrice Lumumba and Kwame Nkrumah then replace them with dictators more suited to your economic mindset.
 
he nailed it
as a fellow nobel peace prize winner, i hope Obama will heed his expressions of concern about our middle eastern foreign policy

truly hope he has success running for the egyptian office





Oh because the Nobel prize really really means something. :lamo
 
Traditionally you overthrow the democratically elected leaders like Patrice Lumumba and Kwame Nkrumah then replace them with dictators more suited to your economic mindset.

Drank the Kool-aid whole I see.
 
Who voted in Hamas?

Who voted in Ahmadinejad?

Did we forget this?

I suppose its the West's fault for the Ottoman Empire as well? :roll:

You neglected to say also the ROMAN EMPIRE!
 
The quote clearly says "systems" not "system" This goes far beyond Egypt.
It talks about authoritarian states which the West supports. Neither Iran nor Hamas fit this category. So again if you wish to actually respond to this topic i would be interested in your response.

Its interesting that so many here complain about the authoritarianism of the middle east but when it comes for our support for this authoritarianism (sometimes using our own troops, as in Saudi Arabia) there is complete silence.
 
It talks about authoritarian states which the West supports. Neither Iran nor Hamas fit this category.

LOL You think Hamas and Iran aren't authoritarian? Explain that. I need a good laugh.

The subject at hand are his comments. He claims we support authoritarian regimes yet we are actively supporting the two youngest democracies in the region and spilled our blood to make them a reality. We didn't for Saudi Arabia to be ruled the way it is. That was their choice. Working with them doesn't mean we support that type of government.

BTW, you can't be a libertarian and a socialist. Either you believe in freedom for the individual or you believe in the individual working for the betterment of the group.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom