New Democracy?

From the AFA Daily Report:

Anti-government demonstrations sweeping through much of the Middle East are having "no effect" on events in Afghanistan and Iraq, Army Gen. David Petraeus said last week. Speaking March 18 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Petraeus said the "people power" revolts in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen are focused on people's dissatisfaction with their form of government. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the complaints are about national housekeeping functions, like "jobs and keeping the electricity turned on" and "basic services," Petraeus said. It's a hopeful sign seeing the free exercise of complaints in those two nations about how a government is doing its job, rather than a desire to abolish the government, he asserted. Iraqis, in particular, see the government "as 'their' government," he said.

The general seems to be unconcerned that these events are a coordinated rebellion that can lead to destabilization. Egypt was an ally of Israel's under Mubarak. I doubt if the new pro-Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt will be nearly as accommodating to Israel. Over the weekend, 50 rockets were launched by Hamas from the Gaza strip into Israel. In Syria, police clashes resulted in 7 dead and a call for massive protests today. And of course the US has joined other European forces in establishing a no-fly zone over Libya. I wonder if the Muslim Brotherhood views the no-fly zone, imposed by some of the same European countries that colonized most of North Africa, as part of the democratic process?