Headline of the Century - International Social/Political

Headline of the Century
by Chris McGreal via stylus - The Guardian UK Tuesday, Feb 1 2011, 9:32pm
international / social/political / other press

"Tony Blair describes Mubarak as immensely courageous and a force for good"

WASHINGTON -- Former British prime minister, Tony 'sociopath' Blair, praised (CIA Torturer) Mubarak over his role in negotiations and also warned against a rush to elections that could actually result in Democratic Leadership or bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power! [Give me a fuckin' break, Blair, you divorced from reality, lunatic! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.]

Tony Blair has described Hosni Mubarak, the beleaguered Egyptian leader, as "immensely courageous and a force for good" and warned against a rush to elections that could bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power.

The former British prime minister, who is now an envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, praised Mubarak over his role in the negotiations and said the west was right to back him despite his authoritarian regime because he had maintained peace with Israel.

But that view is likely to anger many Egyptians who believe they have had to endure decades of dictatorship because the US put Israel's interests ahead of their freedom.

Speaking to Piers Morgan on CNN, Blair defended his backing for Mubarak.

"Where you stand on him depends on whether you've worked with him from the outside or on the inside. I've worked with him on the Middle East peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians so this is somebody I'm constantly in contact with and working with and on that issue, I have to say, he's been immensely courageous and a force for good," he said. "Inside Egypt, and I have many Egyptian friends, it's clear that there's been a huge desire for change."

But asked if the west had not been an obstacle to change, Blair defended the policies of his and other governments.

"I don't think the west should be the slightest bit embarrassed about the fact that it's been working with Mubarak over the peace process but at the same time it's been urging change in Egypt," he said.

Blair argued that the region has unique problems which make political change different from the democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe. He said the principal issue is the presence of Islamist parties which he fears will use democracy to gain power and then undermine the freedoms people seek.

"It's perfectly natural for those of from the outside to want to support this movement for change at the same time as saying let's be careful about this and make sure that happens in this process of change is something that ends in free and fair elections and a democratic system of government and it doesn't get taken over or channelled in to a different direction that is at odds with what the people of Egypt want," he said.

Blair said that meant there should not be a rush to elections in Egypt.

"I don't think there's a majority for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. On the other hand, what you've got to watch is that they are extremely well organised and well funded whereas those people who are out on the street at the moment, many of them will be extremely well intentioned people, but they're not organised in political parties yet. So one of the issues in the transition is to give time for those political parties to get themselves properly organised," he said.

But Blair said he did not doubt that change is coming to Egypt.

"People want a different system of government. They're going to get it. The question is what emerges from that. In particular I think the key challenge for us is how do we help partner this process of change and help manage it in such a way that what comes out of it is open minded, fair, democratic government," he said.

AND THERE'S MORE!:

From PressTV

ISRAEL arms Egypt against protesters [If you require further proof you ARE either a MORON or an American -- the terms are interchangeable/synonymous!]

Israel has sent crowd dispersal weapons to the Egyptian regime to curb massive protests against President Hosni Mubarak's 30 years of authoritarian rule.

The International Network for Rights and Development said that three Israeli planes landed at Cairo's Mina International Airport on Saturday, carrying equipment for use in dispersing and suppressing large crowds, a Press TV correspondent reported.

According to the report, Egyptian security forces received the cargo on three Israeli planes, which were allegedly carrying a large supply of internationally proscribed gas to disperse crowds.

Egyptians have taken to the streets across the country for eight days running, demanding that Mubarak step down.

The uprising has prompted Mubarak to appoint his first-ever vice president and a new prime minister in a desperate attempt to retain power.

But his response has, so far, failed to appease angry demonstrators, who have vowed to remain on the streets until Mubarak's resignation.

The unprecedented protests have sparked concerns over a possible energy crisis in Israel given the prospects of a new, Islamic government in Egypt, which supplies some 40 percent of Israel's natural gas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his cabinet ministers in a public statement on Sunday, highlighting the significance of Tel Aviv's ties with Cairo and that Israel is "following the events unfolding in Egypt and the region with vigilance."

"I remind you that peace between the Israeli establishment and Egypt has endured for over three decades… we currently strive to guarantee the continuity of these relations," he noted.

Meanwhile, Israel has allowed Egypt to deploy its troops to the Sinai Peninsula despite a bilateral agreement, under which Egypt has been only allowed to station police forces in the region.

Tel Aviv said the move was to help Cairo prevent a revolution in Egypt, where people have been protesting Mubarak's regime for eight consecutive days despite warnings and the precautionary deployment of the army.

A report by the United Nations says at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during the protests.

[Comments added.]

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163052.html

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