The former Pakistani dictator, Zia ul-Haq, well understood how to make himself necessary to the US and how to exploit the claim of Democracy while violating all its principles.

Just for fun, check out these stamps from the 1984 Referendum: Link 1, Link 2

"Overwhelming mandate by the people"!

I don´t think they will go to such heights; I say 40%. (As the real percentage maybe somewhere around 10%.)

OK, so Link 2 above is the 84 referendum stamp. Link 1 are stamps from the equally bogus 85 general elections.

81%

Wait, does this work like The Price is Right?

"I don't think anyone can anticipate...."

A humble 73%.

What do I win?

I'll boldly go for 99.2% but only 'cause the other .8% had problems with hanging chads.

Mubarak runs things just the way Bush would if he could, so why would any loyal Bushie disapprove?

Did they get the Diebold machines set up?

Did they get the Diebold machines set up?
Posted by: Extradite Rumsfeld

Wanna make a side bet as to who gets the ATM concession in Cairo?

I vote for a 74% turnout and an 69% approval vote.

I flew the second US military cargo aircraft to land in Egypt after the Camp David accords. Landed on an Egyptian airfield still cluttered with junk from the 1973 Yom Kippur War - pieces of airplanes and bomb craters all around. I suppose they decided it was too much trouble to clean up. I had to put a crewmember out so he could kick pieces of debris out of the way of our Starlifter as we taxied in. I forget what we were delivering to the Egyptians - from what I could see, what they needed most was plumbing supplies, forget guns.

I've been back a dozen times since and Egypt has gotten better, though it's hardly a miracle of democracy. Back in 1979, it was normal for your van driver to get out and beat off the beggars with a rubber hose so you could exit the vehicle. Bedouins lined the roads into Cairo living in squalid tents. Now, at least, the beggars are trying to sell you something.

Our coddling of the Egyptians is about what you'd expect, given the political intracacies in the region. Progress is slow, but there has been some progress. The people I blame most for the lack of real freedom are the well to do, college educated Egyptians. The bastards know better, yet their own comforts always come before the future of their country.

I understand that Condoleeza Rice is an accomplished piano player and shopper.

Secretary of State, not so much.

"The people I blame most for the lack of real freedom are the well to do, college educated Egyptians. The bastards know better, yet their own comforts always come before the future of their country."
Why should their elite be any different from ours?

A truly democratic election in Egypt would probably conform to our worst fears. Eqyptian do not want a parliamentary democracy or a Republic, they would likely vote overwhemingly for Islamic fundamentalism. The Economist had a very good article on point with a strong argument against hoping for self-determination in Egypt a couple years ago.

smartalek wrote:

"Why should their elite be any different from ours?"
_________________

I dunno, smartalek. Personally, I've been privileged to know many Americans who have repeatedly placed their country over their comfort and even their lives. I don't know if you'd call them all elite. But I do.

Hey, Trashhauler (and I ain't so certain I wasn't some of the trash you hauled...) I have totally rethought my take on the Tillamn leak/four Generals story.

I think I was had with a leak of a story they wanted to be old news by Monday when the rest of the world learned about it...
\
I'll explain when I'm sober...

Personally, I've been privileged to know many Americans who have repeatedly placed their country over their comfort and even their lives.

Been proud to do so for all my life. First as a Navy brat, then as an Army Reserves Officer, then a SAC officer's wife. Now, as a Homeland Security trained first responder.

Oh good lord. Never blog while drinking.

It's okay, Blue Girl. We've all been there, done that, and slopped beer on our t-shirts.

Get some sleep, hon. ::smile::

Sleep is on the horizon...

{::grinning till my jaws hurt::}

When I went through the Suez Canal in around '79, there were still burned out tanks visible. You'd think the lazy motherfuckers would clean up a little.

The official results are out:
Turnout: 27.1%
Yes: 74.9%

I'm on the ground, and have been able to look around, and in my opinion is that the real results should have been:

Turnout: 7-8%
Yes: 90% (Those opposed boycotted the vote altogether)

However, an elaborate and sophisitcated operation was undertaken to raise the number of voters, and achieve a credible result too.