Is Egypt sliding towards a civil war like one is seeing in Syria or will this new round of unrest usher in a new, democratic order? CNN-IBN's senior editor Suhasini Haidar joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Do you think the Muslim Brotherhood as a liberal or a conservative Islamist group? Since they are not in power, and Saudi countries are supporting the current interim, is there any possibility of the radicals like Al Qayda to gain more ground? Where do you see India's role in all of this? Asked by: [email protected]
A. Hello all, and thanks very much for all the questions! Will try and answer as many as possible, and hope to keep the chat going over twitter @suhasinih or on our website ibnlive.com/worldview. Ankan, I think the Muslim Brotherhood is certainly not liberal, it is a conservative group, that was underground for decades. While AQ hasn't yet made any inroads into Egypt, the fear will always be that as the conflict there becomes polarised on radical-liberal, sunni-shi's lines, that AQ will try and gain access.
Q. Hi Suhasini, why Egypt is so important for Obama Administration? Thank you. Asked by: Jagannath Pujar
A. Jagannath, thanks for the question. The US has over the decades put most of its eggs in the Egyptian basket, counting on the military there to safeguard interests, not just business interests like Oil, but also strategic interests like Israel. It seems to have made the mistake of over-aligning with specific rulers though, and whether it is Mubarak, or Morsi, the general perception in Egypt is that the US continues to back them despite all the unhappiness with them.
Q. Will the Arab spring 2.0 will have consequences for other countries practicing democracy? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Absolutely Sundar, 2 years ago, Libya and Egypt were successes of the Arab Spring version 1.0, today, with the tussle with Islamic radicals there, one has to wonder!
Q. India does not seem to have taken a stand on the Egypt issue.Are we as usual going to be with the 'Silent majority'? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Unfortunately, yes. India has taken no stand so far.
Q. How is Syria doing with Asaad still in power? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Ironically, the last big rally Morsi held was to snap ties with Syria and call for a 'Jihad' to defeat Assad.
Q. Hi, an important point raised by pro-morsi demonstrators is that, 'Morsi came in via the ballot, and he should leave only via the ballot'. Do you think it was right on the army's part to overthrow him in this manner? Asked by: sherin
A. No military coup is ever right, Sherin, and so no I cant say this one has. But I do understand the reasons for Morsi's unpopularity, and some of the decisions he took were very worrying. Please see my piece in the Outlook Magazine: http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/author/218/suhasinihaidar.html
Q. Can and Should Bassem Youssef be the next Egypt president? Will he run for presidency? Asked by: Vishvesh Agrawal
A. Ha.Ha.Ha.
Q. What stand has been taken by the neighboring Islamic countries on the present situation of Egypt? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Interestingly there has been little overt outrage with the military's actions! Remember the Muslim Brotherhood has been a potent force in many countries and several establishments are beginning to get uncomfortable with its actions in Egypt- Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, and of course Syria, maybe Turkey in the future?
Q. The arrest of Muslim brotherhood leaders will evoke response from the supporters.Has Morsy a chance to come back to power with a better majority? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Its the question that must be keeping Egypt's new regime awake at nights right now! Also the video of alleged MB mobs pushing anti-Morsi protestors off a building shows how divided society has got. Can Morsi come back? Unlikely given the boycott call by the MB. Would need major reconciliation with the all-powerful army for that.
Q. Obama trying to be neutral is good for Africa and the globe? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Neutral? Not if you mean Libya and Syria! Thanks everyone for the questions, let's chat again soon!
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