He's wrong about this being about radical Islamists wanting to take over Egypt, though they may out of the chaos. This has been sparked by rising food prices, high unemployment and an oppressive and corrupt government doing nothing about it. It is the same reason why Tunisians overthrew their own government.
BBC News - Analysis: Egypt's unfinished revolution
Fresh Air from WHYY : NPR
He has said they were waiting, watching, wanting chaos in their region. That he did not anticipate that the chaos would arise from the financial crisis resulting in unemployment and food shortages seems to miss the point.
He is also now asking the question - loudly - why are those we are told we should depend on for our information not fully reporting the situation, particularly when the goals of the best organized fomenters of revolution are clearly stated in their own words:
From my earlier post, Beck quoting the Iquan (AKA The Brotherhood) quote:
BECK: But you decide: Their stated goal in the US, may I... [he shows a copy of an original
IQUAN document on screen and reads from its text]
The “IQUAN” which means the “Brotherhood” in Arabic...[he reads] “The Iquan
[The Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is kind of a grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western Civilization from within, and sabotaging its miserable house, by their hands and the hands of believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions”
(Beck again) I donÂ’t know... I.. IÂ’d love to go with David Gregory but I think, I think after we saw the towers first come down, we might... want... to... have... a... few... more... facts... Maybe thatÂ’s just me... "
He, Beck is saying we, the people, need more accurate information. It appears that folks like David Gregory, could (but don't) give us a more reasoned and rational accounting of events when he dismisses the Brotherhood as in this transcript from
Meet the Press: vis-Ã -vis the upheaval in Egypt and the one Beck was referring to above:
Gregory: " The Muslim Brotherhood, they would play a role, uh...it is pointed out by, uh... one of the experts on the panel that they will also be, uh... aware of their position internationally so they don’t want to overstep that, they don’t want to turn it (Egypt) into an Islamist state, they have matured politically in that sense and are rather sophisticated...”
[Beck again] “ yeah...?? since when? Shouldn't we take them at their word? ”
How many political/historical figures in the past stated their goals just as plainly, that we ignored at the time, and with disastrous results?
Don't revolutionary groups wait in the wings for instability and chaos, from whatever cause, (among those the primary cause you mentioned Toro) to move in and grab power before others which are more representative can get their own movement started; particularly when the former are well organized, and the latter arenÂ’t?
Beck is asking the question: Why canÂ’t we rely on our most trusted news sources to fully report recent history and events, when we have their own words in front of us?
Beck didn't ask this but I will: isn't he, Gregory, (among others) taking his cue from the president? And didn't the president remain silent during the green uprising when it took place in Iran? We know now and knew then that one actually was a democratic movement. Now the administration speaks up (in many uncertain voices) calling for immediate and irreversible change, in Egypt. Absolutely change is necessary, but without order and stability
those already poised or in position will seize power. History repeatedly has told us that.
How would David Gregory have reported that situation in Iran had Bush been president at the time? It went on for weeks, until it died a still-birth. But I get it; Gregory doesnÂ’t want to undercut the administrationÂ’s putative policy re: democratic change in Egypt. I'll give the administration the same benefit of the doubt that Beck did: Are they up to the task on this? Or are they just being pressed into some kind off action because of their failure in Iran's crisis?
I donÂ’t claim to be a foreign policy specialist, but shouldnÂ’t we expect better more consistent handling of unstable forces in such a critical part of the world from our leaders; and more comprehensive reporting from our most respected news sources?
I wonder that the administration doesn't call for a temporary caretaker government to allow for a stable transition. Would some announcement with pressure like that be so complicated? And if the've done that already shouldn't they say so?
That would quiet Beck on this situation I believe.
Thank heavens there is one strong and respected institution for democracy in Egypt; the military with its officer corps trained and educated in the US, and the enlisted body from the broader population.