Editorials

Peace did not blossom from Arab Spring

Tom O'Hara
Published: September 19, 2012

Apparently America has been taken by surprise by the anger in the Muslim world sparked by a 14-minute video that mocks the Prophet Mohammed.

Since riots erupted last week in Egypt and Libya, TV broadcasters have been rounding up Middle East experts and asking them why would those Libyans and Egyptians treat the U.S. so badly.

"Didn't we liberate Libya from Muammar Qaddafi?" "Didn't we help overthrow Hosni Mubarak?" "What happened to the Arab Spring?"

Folks, the Arab Spring has spawned Islamist governments across North Africa and the Middle East. TV news probably gave you the impression that democracy was sweeping the region. After all, you watched as those young, idealistic Egyptians in Tahrir Square demanded freedom and forced an ailing old dictator to get out of town.

The Facebookers, as I call the early Arab Spring protesters, had gone online and seen how other societies operate. They liked what they saw. They ignited the fuse of revolt, but they had no idea how to seize power. Islamist organizations did.

It's a toxic stew over there. In Egypt, the generals still want to control the economy and steal as much money as they can. Pragmatic Islamists want to emulate Turkey; the fundamentalists want to emulate Iran. Most of the population is poor and illiterate. The economy stinks because the place is so chaotic and dangerous.

The few Coptic Christians left in Egypt are terrified radical Islamists are going to kill them, particularly since the guy who produced the video in California reportedly is a Coptic Christian from Egypt.

Militants are running amok in the Sinai Peninsula and the new Muslim Brotherhood government seems paralyzed. Poor Hillary Clinton is trying to make sure the new Egyptian government doesn't start pandering to its fundamentalist supporters by abrogating its treaty with Israel.

Libya is even worse. The central government doesn't control anything. The place is awash in weapons and criminals. Tribal militias are the real power. As in many lawless countries, Al-Qaeda fighters have moved inI returned from living in the Middle East in July. It's clear from talking to my friends here that no one pays much attention to what's happening in Pakistan or Iraq or Morocco. It's all too murky and remote — until someone flies planes into our skyscrapers.

All you really need to know is this: