The day part of the Internet died: Egypt goes dark

[DinoDoc]

Imperialism

American imperialism? I honestly see no need to run away from label.

[giblets]

Hey, I never suggested we annex a rat hole like Egypt. I just don't want to have to deal with another Syria or Lebanon.

You just think the US should install or prop up puppet governments in other countries whenever it perceives it as convenient. It's like you think the whole world belongs to westerners or something.

[Hauldren Collider]

You just think the US should install or prop up puppet governments in other countries whenever it perceives it as convenient. It's like you think the whole world belongs to westerners or something.

You have correctly deduced that I prefer it when the world is oriented in a fashion more beneficial to the USA. However, I think it's fair to say that anyone who replaces Mubarak would be in The Who's words "Meet the new boss -- Just like the old boss" except that they would hate us as well as be repressive towards their own people. Egyptians are not protesting their lack of freedom, they are mainly just protesting unemployment.

[Al B. Sure!]

Hey, I never suggested we annex a rat hole like Egypt. I just don't want to have to deal with another Syria or Lebanon.

Imperialism wasn't always about annexation. In fact, take the history of Egypt during the age of European Imperialism... Egypt was always nominally independent even when it was a British protectorate in 1914. Eight years later, the Egyptians revolted and the British were forced to concede the end of the protectorate but as we all know, the British were fighting Rommel in North Africa from Egypt during the Second World War so British imperialism continued even though Egypt was independent and there was no protectorate.

Imperialism, as defined by The Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination."

Annexation is not necessary. The history of the British and French in Egypt and the Middle East in general shows there's no need for annexation to maintain economic and political domination of a region. In fact, installing your guys and sending occasional expeditionary forces to maintain order as you see fit has been shown to be far more effective than outright annexation, which the populace would likely never stand for and which would attract too much negative attention from other powers and your people.


American activities in Latin America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are another example of imperialism which was not accompanied by outright annexation. Puppets were maintained, non-US foreign influence was guarded against, economic domination through banana republics was established, and the Marines were sent all over to maintain American economic and political interests.

[Al B. Sure!]

Marine Major General Smedley Butler who TWICE received the Medal of Honor wrote in 1935:

I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class thug for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.[12]

[giblets]

You have correctly deduced that I prefer it when the world is oriented in a fashion more beneficial to the USA.

Just as I would be correct in deducing that the Nazis preferred a world that would be oriented in a fashion more beneficial to Germany.

[Hauldren Collider]

Just as I would be correct in deducing that the Nazis preferred a world that would be oriented in a fashion more beneficial to Germany.

The nazis had thumbs! You have thumbs! Nazi!

[giblets]

The nazis had thumbs! You have thumbs! Nazi!

It is the political and racial views of the Nazis that make them abhorrent and not their anatomical characteristics. I merely pointed out a political similarity between you and the Nazis. Like the Nazis you view the subjugation of foreign countries as good.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Egyptians are not protesting their lack of freedom, they are mainly just protesting unemployment.

I thought it was bread prices.

QE2

Ethanol Farm Subsidies

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Winner HC by Godwin forfeiture.

[giblets]

There's no such thing.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Egyptians are not protesting their lack of freedom, they are mainly just protesting unemployment.

What ridiculousness.

[Imran Siddiqui]

One of the few times I'll quote President George W. Bush positively:

Are the peoples of the Middle East somehow beyond the reach of liberty? Are millions of men and women and children condemned by history or culture to live in despotism? Are they alone never to know freedom and never even to have a choice in the matter?

Down with Mubarak!

[giblets]

"Mainly just protesting unemployment"? Unemployment in Egypt is only ~10%. So I don't think that's the driving force here.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Reports are that Mubarak is going to go on TV to say he will not run for another term (of course that didn't save Ben Ali in Tunesia).