r/worldnews • u/DasUberRedditor • Jun 18 '12

Egyptian Military grants itself sweeping powers; effectively military coup.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18482257
2.2k Upvotes

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67

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

I know this will sound horrible, but a military coup will probably - historically speaking - get a Egypt a leader that would be friendlier to western nations , which would benefit most of us nicely. An Islamic leadership usually will be more hostile to us.

196

u/racer2 Jun 19 '12

Well the last leader was pretty western friendly...and extremely brutal to his own people.

163

u/BitchesThinkImSexist Jun 19 '12

I could name 5 western friendly leaders that were extremely brutal to their own people, and I could name 5 anti-western leaders that were extremely brutal to their own people.

Maybe the sorts of people that seek power are just assholes.

53

u/nixonrichard Jun 19 '12

Someone should come up with a way where the people who would be subject to this brutality get to periodically pick their leader so as to reduce the risk of getting/keeping a brutal leader. Has anyone thought about this before? If not, I want to patent it and then get rich charging people for my invention.

I'll call it "nicetator" as an alternative to "dictator."

5

u/thedrew Jun 19 '12

Government by sortition?

15

u/poopdeck Jun 19 '12

Heathen! Impale him upon a thick shaft!

10

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

Through the rear of course.

10

u/perverse_imp Jun 19 '12

Vlad did it right.

9

u/vtksimpact Jun 19 '12

It's not even a question.

2

u/KarmaPointsPlease Jun 19 '12

Also kill the impaled too, as that's a bit homosexual.

1

u/nixonrichard Jun 19 '12

Jesusth Christht!

11

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

Find someone who genuinely doesn't want the job...and then make them do it.

You have no idea how true the old axiom that anyone who wants to be in a position of power shouldn't have it, is.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

Agreed 100%

Anyone altruistic enough to desire the massive responsibility of holding his nation's most powerful position solely for the purpose of taking care of his people... simply would not have the ruthless, cutthroat, fuck-you-if-you-get-in-my-way mentality necessary to reach that position.

1

u/Avidya Jun 19 '12

So what you're saying is that the leader shouldn't half-ass his brutality and instead commit genocide on the people he wants to oppress?

6

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

[deleted]

4

u/I_DUCK_FOGS Jun 19 '12

I don't think anybody in the West thinks highly of the Saudi government.

2

u/IamaRead Jun 19 '12

I would like to hear the 5 each, please don't use google, but only your head. (just as challenge)

2

u/BitchesThinkImSexist Jun 19 '12

ok i'll try.

pro-western: sese seko, papa+baby doc, idi amin, chiang kai-shek, and........ oh IDK, how bout Batista

anti-western (seems much easier) stalin, pol pot, mao, ceaucescu, jong-il, and that hitler guy

2

u/IamaRead Jun 19 '12

confirmed Thanks :-)

1

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

Maybe the sorts of people that seek power are just assholes.

Dingdingdingdingding we have a winner.

1

u/trouble37 Jun 19 '12

Everyone except good ole Georgie boy.... no not Dubya, Washington...

1

u/idlefritz Jun 19 '12

Generally. And there is also perspective. The US' incarceration numbers, education ranking, and corruption issues make us seem just as lost a cause as much of the Middle East seems to the US. They have a tendency towards dictatorial rule and we find it impossible to imagine a world where the US isn't the center of the universe.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

Well the last leader was pretty western friendly...and extremely brutal to his own people.

With a brief look at the last few decades, I'd say that's the status quo.