Every now and then, I get something right. This particular post is about two of those instances.
Egypt – On 14 June, the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court declared the lower house elections invalid essentially dissolving the Egyptian parliament. On Saturday, 16 June , Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt’s interim military ruler ordered parliament dissolved and said that no member should be allowed to enter the building. A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, which had the largest bloc of seats in parliament as a result of recent elections was quoted as saying that parliament should only be dissolved by a popular referendum. On June 17, when it appeared the Muslim Brotherhood had won the presidential election, the Egyptian military rewrote their charter giving them control of all laws, the national budget, immunity from any oversight, and the power to veto a declaration of war. Thus, they have reduce the President (and parliament) to a figurehead and put themselves firmly in charge.
In posts on this website as far back as February 2011, I had indicated that nothing will happen in Egypt unless the military, which has ruled that country since 1952, wants it to happen. There’s now a real risk of civil war in Egypt similar to what Algeria experienced between 1991 and 2002. Let’s hope that it does not come to that because the United States will be forced to choose between the Egyptian military and the Egyptian people. Our history says that we will choose the Egyptian military as a way to encourage stability in the region. So, let’s hope we’re not forced into making a choice.
San Diego Padres – last year I wrote that I was going to terminate my relationship with the San Diego Padres baseball team. Last year, this baseball team was not the worst in major league baseball, but this year they have worked really hard and are running away with the title, “worst team.”
On the day that I write this, this team is well on its way to losing 100 games. For the last two years, I have been a vocal proponent for the firing of Bud Black, the manager, but the reality is it wouldn’t do any good. The San Diego Padres are built to play baseball – but not to win games. Since my move to the Atlanta area, I have been following the Atlanta Braves. This team has restored my faith in baseball because not only are they built to play the game, but they are built to win it (except on Mondays where they are 0-10). Maybe someday, a winning philosophy will arrive in San Diego. But it won’t be this year.