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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Egypt echoes across region: Iran, Bahrain, Yemen

World Feb. 15, 2011 - 12:15PM JST ( 42 )

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42 Comments

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atamantFeb. 15, 2011 - 08:37AM JST

Hey, the Iranian leadership claims they support the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Leave them kids alone!
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goodDonkeyFeb. 15, 2011 - 08:56AM JST

I would love nothing more than to see an end to the despotism in Iran. However I don't see that happening without a great deal of bloodshed.
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paulinusaFeb. 15, 2011 - 09:28AM JST

Ahmadinijad is such a ass. One can only hope that he and his ilk get their comeuppance in the near future.
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skipthesongFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:04AM JST

I'm surprised there are only three posts on this by this time.
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WilliBFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:07AM JST

Now stand by for the Obama admin to get all excited and demand that Ahmedinejad leave the country right now. As they did with Mubarak.

Or could the paradigm have changed suddenly?
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SmorkianFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:50AM JST

Now stand by for the Obama admin to get all excited and demand that Ahmedinejad leave the country right now. As they did with Mubarak.

There's a big difference between Iran and Egypt. Egypt is a US ally so presumably their leadership would listen to American advice. Iran would take American advice as an incitement for destruction of their culture as has been a rallying cry for 30 years there.

US foreign policy has to be different between the two countries. Personally I wish the US would butt out completely, let someone else take the heat on this for once.
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skipthesongFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:56AM JST

let someone else take the heat on this for once." That would be one political risk for the party in charge. You're right though, but not politically
0

TheBigRiceBowlFeb. 15, 2011 - 11:24AM JST

Change can only come from within. No matter how hard "Amerikkka" or "Zionism" may push, resistance will prevent any changes and push back. But if the change comes from within their own countries, it will succeed. The people want a voice.
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manfromamericaFeb. 15, 2011 - 11:29AM JST

Ahmadinejad and the Islamic leadership needs to follow Egypt's example, immediately step down and to respect the calls for democracy by the Iranian people.
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fdsFeb. 15, 2011 - 11:31AM JST

difficult position for the u.s. how do you support democracy in egypt, iran, while supporting monarchy/dictatorship in saudi, yemen, etc.
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paulinusaFeb. 15, 2011 - 11:33AM JST

"US foreign policy has to be different between the two countries".

Think the US's position matters one bit to an Iranian who wants to get rid of this repressive regime? Should that make a difference?
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gogogoFeb. 15, 2011 - 11:46AM JST

I hate copy cats.
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presto345Feb. 15, 2011 - 11:47AM JST

A peaceful demonstration was severely dealt with by Republican Guards and riot police on motorbikes, the equivalent of thugs if you ask me, beating up the silent, but determined marchers. Disperse is a mild term. Unarmed people, including women and children were cowardly and viciously attacked by those who are supposed to protect them. It's time dictator Mahmoud is leaving.
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thorgrimfileFeb. 15, 2011 - 12:01PM JST

The Iranian military is impotent compared to that of Egypt (and the Egyptian military was the deciding factor in forcing Mubarak out).

Plus, the apparatus of repression in Iran - the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij militia - is much stronger that even that of Mubarak's Egypt.

Plus, as has been noted, as the Iranian regime is no fried of the West, is has no compunctions at all with using extreme violence to crush popular uprisings.

So God help the protesters there. They're going to need every bit of help they can get.
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skipthesongFeb. 15, 2011 - 12:12PM JST

We should be even more concerned about the protesters in Iran than that of Egypt, at least in Iran, there is very little chance a theological organization like the Muslim Brotherhood would reap the benefits of a regime change.
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atamantFeb. 15, 2011 - 12:38PM JST

No matter how hard "Amerikkka" or "Zionism" may push

You are trying to hard.
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sharpieFeb. 15, 2011 - 12:39PM JST

who gives a rats a ss about US "we're the world police" foreign policy! this story is about iran
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paulinusaFeb. 15, 2011 - 01:13PM JST

According to what I've read and heard Bahrain is at the top of the list for impending trouble.
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manfromamericaFeb. 15, 2011 - 02:06PM JST

Just like in Egypt, the people have spoken and it is criminal for Ahmadinejad and the Islamic rulers not to immediately step down and abide by the people's peacful call for Democracy.

Ahmadinejad and Islamotyrants - follow Egypt's example and resign immediately.
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SmorkianFeb. 15, 2011 - 02:21PM JST

Think the US's position matters one bit to an Iranian who wants to get rid of this repressive regime? Should that make a difference?

No, and nor should it.
0

elbudamexicanoFeb. 15, 2011 - 02:26PM JST

I am not holding my breath for the thugs in Teheran to say, ok young people of Iran, we will give you freedom, democracy etc..kind of like a snowballs chance in hell?
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Harry_GattoFeb. 15, 2011 - 03:29PM JST

I lived in Bahrain for 2 years. The average REAL Bahraini would not support this type of protest, the main problem in Bahrain is (and always has been) the Bahranis, Bahrainis of Iranian descent and Shiites, not Sunnis.
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gogogoFeb. 15, 2011 - 03:54PM JST

copy cats.
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manfromamericaFeb. 15, 2011 - 04:01PM JST

Think the US's position matters one bit to an Iranian who wants to get rid of this repressive regime? Should that make a difference?

Hey, aren't we all citizens of the world?
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skipthesongFeb. 15, 2011 - 04:34PM JST

why isn't what is going on in Iran, right now, its own story? Why is it just lumped into last week's news? You guys hearing what's up over there today?
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SolidariTeaFeb. 15, 2011 - 06:01PM JST

Facebook and Twitter - both American creations - helping to possibly bring these backward nations into the modern age, in the way the satellite dish helped the Poles and Czechs throw off the Soviet scourge.
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skipthesongFeb. 15, 2011 - 06:51PM JST

Facebook and Twitter - both American creations - helping to possibly bring these backward nations into the modern age, in the way the satellite dish helped the Poles and Czechs throw off the Soviet scourge." LIKE!
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SmorkianFeb. 15, 2011 - 09:09PM JST

Facebook and Twitter - both American creations - helping to possibly bring these backward nations into the modern age

I see what you did there. Very condescending. Iranians aren't choosing to live in such conditions, they have no choice - but they are trying!

I figure they will still be "backward nations" by neocon standards, judging by the bleating over the US "losing Egypt". I can only imagine what the necons will say if/when Yemen and Jordan oust their US-backed dictatorships.
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sailwindFeb. 15, 2011 - 09:39PM JST

I wish President Obama would weigh in forcefully with support and words of encouragement to those protesting in Iran right now. The counter-argument that the Mullahs would use that as an excuse to crack heads doesn't fly. They proved that they crack heads even when we were silent the last time they tried and rose up on the streets. As a matter of fact we should give our all to support them in any way we can, they are trying to throw off an repressive Islamic government not create one.
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SmorkianFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:17PM JST

they are trying to throw off an repressive Islamic government not create one

They are trying to throw out the oppressive part, not the Islamic part. The people are still going to be plenty religious.
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SargeFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:18PM JST

Let's hope I'minajihad is next to go.
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britlingFeb. 15, 2011 - 10:48PM JST

The elephant in the room is religion. Since Iran is a theocracy, any move against the government will be viewed by a significant portion of the population as an anti-Islamic plot. Unlike Egypt, a lot more people in Iran have a lot to lose if democracy takes root.
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yabitsFeb. 16, 2011 - 02:33AM JST

Between Facebook, Twitter, and (especially) Wikileaks, all authoritarian, anti-democratic regimes and organizations are in for rough sailing going forward. (This includes large corporations and government bureaucracies the world over.)

What's happening in the Middle East now is just the foreshadowing.
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TriumvereFeb. 16, 2011 - 03:17AM JST

copy cats

Yes, how dare they stand up for themselves?! Clearly they missed the window of opportunity and should now just accept their oppression.
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oberstFeb. 16, 2011 - 05:56AM JST

The Middle East situation is too fluid, it could go either way ( like duhhhhhhhhhhh ).

But 2011 promises to be a very interesting year ,all leading up to the " dreaded " 2012 ?
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oberstFeb. 16, 2011 - 06:01AM JST

I think that guy who burned himself to death after the confiscation of his vegetable cart ( In Tunisia ? ) could possibly be named man of the year 2011 by Time Magazine...............afterall his death " triggered " this awakening in the Middle East ( for better or worse )
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mikehuntezFeb. 16, 2011 - 06:31AM JST

All those progressive liberal "want change now" people who were so silent for 30 years about Egypt until some discontents there spoke out suddenly came out of the woodwork to blame the US for supporting him. Sudden Disapproval Syndrome seems to have been wiped out now that the Iranians are discontented with their leadership. Oh wait. Yes some are all for the Yemenis getting rid of the government trying to fight extremism. But that is just probably because Disapprove of America Syndrome is still such a virulent strain.
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yabitsFeb. 16, 2011 - 07:25AM JST

All those progressive liberal "want change now" people who were so silent for 30 years about Egypt until some discontents there spoke out suddenly came out of the woodwork to blame the US for supporting him.

Was it that progressive critics of Egypt's regime were silent, or was it that you were just so completely deaf and oblivious to the criticism?
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SmorkianFeb. 16, 2011 - 07:28AM JST

Yes some are all for the Yemenis getting rid of the government trying to fight extremism.

It's a long-running dictatorship in Yemen with no political freedom and the people are in dire poverty but this dictator supports one part of US foreign policy agenda so it's alllll right. Right? Sounds like the same thinking that led to the US supporting nun-killing freedom fighters in Nicaragua in the 80s because, hey, at least they're not pinkos!
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mikehuntezFeb. 16, 2011 - 12:24PM JST

Was it that progressive critics of Egypt's regime were silent, or was it that you were just so completely deaf and oblivious to the criticism?

I think it was the former not the latter.

It's a long-running dictatorship in Yemen with no political freedom and the people are in dire poverty but this dictator supports one part of US foreign policy agenda so it's alllll right. Right?

Hey who are we to interfere with a government if they are maintaining stability in the region? I thought that was the big complaint about Iraq. Which way do you want it?
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yabitsFeb. 16, 2011 - 08:20PM JST

I think it was the former not the latter

And I know it was the latter. Progressives have been critical of US support for undemocratic kleptocracies like Egypt for years.

You just don't see it on Fox News or hear about it from Limbaugh unless there's a way to spin it.
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mikehuntezFeb. 16, 2011 - 09:08PM JST

You just don't see it on Fox News or hear about it from Limbaugh unless there's a way to spin it.

I have CNN and BBC. I usually watch BBC because it's better until they start going on and on about some poor poor pitiful country with their bleeding heart voice. Sorry I wouldn't know about FOX and who is Limbaugh? Other than that I'm not listening to you. I'm deaf and oblvilious because I respect the world to do as they please.