Yes it is possible. But Egypt has its fair share of islamic militants and though brutal, Mubarak was controlling them and stopping the passage of weapons to Palestine. One cannot expect that from a new regime.
Mubarak was hyping tha radical Islamist threat to suppress any dissent or criticism of his regime. By supporting Mubarak's brutality unconditionally, America has damaged its own image. Islamists didn't need to do a thing -- America achieved this all by itself.
Now why does Spain, or France, or Great Britain, or Japan, or Australia, NOT so dependent upon US aid? Egypt can be like any of them and not be 'addicted' to US aid but then would earn the hatred of the rest of Islamic countries. Or remain as is being nothing more than old wine in a new bottle.
Prevention is always easier than the cure.
If Egypt had remained free of US aid, then it would not need to be weaned off it now. The good news, if you can call it that, is that the US aid went mostly to the oligarchy and the military -- the ordinary people barely saw any of it. So they won't miss it.
He will need Allah's help in that.
Skipped your medication again, did you?
True...But then we do not see Australia waging a military conflict against Israel, do we? Can be Egypt be like Australia and be that conscientious objector and still be a functional democracy?
As a democracy, Egypt's government -- whether Islamic or secular -- should abide by its people's wishes when formulating its foreign policy. Whether it remains pro- or anti-Israel is entirely up to the Egyptian people. "Protection money" by foreign powers should not thwart the democratic process.
you assume that a democratic Egypt will automatically be anti US. Perhaps you can explain the reasons for your assumption?
The US aid to Mubarak has served a dual purpose -- to play nice with Israel, and to maintain a brutal despotic regime. The Egyptians are rebelling against the latter and they are not likely to look favorably upon the despot's financial backers.
However, I think the Egyptians are pragmatic and would want to reset the relationship and start afresh -- if America is wise enough to do likewise.
Anyway, are the Egyptians rebelling against the American influence in its foreign policy? I think not.
Correct. These protests are about domestic issues, not Israel.
American influence is always overblown in order to absolve the country from as much responsibilities for its own (in)actions as much as possible.
In this case, American influence is not overblown. America has been paying $2 billion/year for the last 30 years precisely to suppress democracy in Egypt.
Assuming the Egyptians get what they want: a peaceful evolution of political structure from being a dictatorship to a nominal democracy, is it too early to say that Egyptians will not elect into offices hardcore Islamists in the long term? Yes, it is too early. A government can be diplomatically critical of the US and keep that attitude from becoming militant and socially volatile. But the Islamists will not allow any opinions that could be construed as 'pro-West', no matter how tenuous that link could be, and the scope of what is 'pro-West' will be expanded. That potential remains open and that is why Israel and the rest of the world are quietly watching. After Iraq, now Egypt will serve as another 'canary in the coal mine'.
Ah, the standard Western duplicity shows its head again: democracy is good, except where it harms Western interests. Glad you finally acknowledged that the West has a vested interest in suppressing genuine democracy in Egypt, and has been doing so for the last 30 years.
The Egyptians, like most people around the world, will elect whoever delivers the best results on domestic matters. Elections are rarely about foreign policy, except during a war. Being pro- and anti-West will be low on the Egyptians' list of priorites when electing representatives.
If the people who deliver the best governance on domestic issues happen to be Islamistsw, then so be it. The West will have to suck it up.
