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In Egypt Protests, Beck Sees ... A New Islamic Caliphate And Communist Revolution?

February 01, 2011 6:01 am ET by Sean Easter & Todd Gregory

On his Fox News show on Monday, Glenn Beck unleashed a torrent of wild speculation about the consequences of the protests in Egypt. Beck described a world remade by a shift in global power:

BECK: I believe that I can make a case in the end that there are three powers that you will see really emerge. One, a Muslim caliphate that controls the Mideast and parts of Europe. Two, China, that will control Asia, the southern half of Africa, part of the Middle East, Australia, maybe New Zealand, and God only knows what else. And Russia, which will control all of the old former Soviet Union bloc, plus maybe the Netherlands. I'm not really sure. But their strong arm is coming. That leaves us and South America. What happens to us?

That's right: China may control New Zealand, and Russia may control the Netherlands.

Later, Beck proceeded under the assumption that there are connections between recent protests in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Beck designated these countries -- which included France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy, among others -- as being "on fire." Pretty much every country that has seen a protest of any kind in the past couple of years, in fact.

While jabbing at Egypt on a map of Africa, Beck said, "When you take the Marxists and you combine them with the radical from Islam, when you combine those forces, which is exactly -- we'll show you this week -- what is happening here, the whole world starts to implode."

He also suggested that the Tunisian revolution could prove analogous to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the event that began the first world war.

All of this was offered up in service of his theory that the protests in Egypt are the manifestation of The Coming Insurrection, an obscure book that French police believe was written by a member of a small group of anarchists. Beck has repeatedly described the anonymous author (or authors) of the book as "communists." He's tied George Soros and President Obama to The Coming Insurrection, as well.

So, a diverse group of the Egyptian people are in the streets protesting an autocratic leader, and Glenn Beck has decided that this is directly connected to an anonymously written anarchist tract from France that he's been obsessing about for the past two years?

Normally, we are in the business of debunking the falsehoods and smears that Beck promotes. But how do you debunk pronouncements that quite obviously bear no relationship to reality?

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    • Author by Cate123 (February 01, 2011 6:09 am ET)
      2 1
      In Egypt Protests, Beck Sees ... A New Islamic Caliphate And Communist Revolution.

      Of course he does.

      I wish we could place bets on what Glenn Beck "sees".
      I'd have a fortune by now.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eb (February 01, 2011 9:05 am ET)
        3 2
        Beck should add this to his doomsday list: ...And in North America you will see a takeover by neocon libertarian Christian fundamentalist radicals...
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mata ruach (February 01, 2011 9:54 am ET)
        2 3
        Tonight, Glenn will war us about evil communist nazis on flying carpets smuggled out of Yemen tossing magic lamps full of anthrax into the water supply!
        Report Abuse
      • Author by grrson (February 01, 2011 11:33 am ET)
        1 2
        Now, I want you to listen very carefully....

        We need to buy all the gold in the world, through Goldline of course, so that the new Egyptian Islamo-Communist pharoahs won't have any to use in their elaborate sarcophoguses. Their glory in the afterlife will be denied and their caliphate will fall.

        And after that, go buy some food packets from Glenn. He really needs the scratch.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ProudProgressive (February 02, 2011 7:37 pm ET)
        1  
        Honestly, my hubby's family watches "BECK!" every night, and after only a couple of years of exposure, they're all looney-tunes, too. They gang up on me whenever possible, to do an "intervention" against my liberalism, and throw the name George Soros at me constantly. Honestly, I'm someday going to do a Google search on him so I can find out who this man, who is apparently my ultimate liberal hero, is and how I can follow him more dearly, day by day. Good grief.

        Hopefully, Beck will go off the air soon. Threatening to chop up bunnies, saying crazy things like Marxists are collaborating with the protestors in Egypt, and that the entire world is going to be a caliphate? The guy has gone way, way, way over the edge. Viewers should demand their money back.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (February 01, 2011 6:26 am ET)
      6 2
      And the JDL and the KKK will form a dictatorship here in the United States supported by a Gay military.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Abe (February 01, 2011 6:30 am ET)
      3 2
      As an Aussie, I have just checked; there are no Reds under the bed.

      (Sigh)I remember happier times in which, when you mentioned "Becks", people asked whether you were talking about a soccer player or a German beer. Now, they immediately assume you are about to mention Glenn Beck's latest idiocy.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mjtertany (February 03, 2011 3:40 pm ET)
          1
        very foolish thinking Aussie...only time will tell...what carefully how wrong you may be....I hope he is very wrong....but we will see soon enough won't we...
        Report Abuse
      • Author by jitter (February 03, 2011 6:25 pm ET)
          1
        But did you check New Zealand...that's how they will get to us!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by MickD (February 01, 2011 7:10 am ET)
      5 2
      Commie, Commie, Commie, Commie Chameleon.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by temphandle tearfully55timetable (February 01, 2011 7:20 am ET)
      5 3
      I'm surprised he knows the meaning of "Caliphate" Think his listeners do?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by m.welker (February 01, 2011 8:30 am ET)
        4 4
        His listeners zoned out years ago. They just watch for the flashing colors and exciting pictures.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mjtertany (February 03, 2011 3:41 pm ET)
          1
        yep and would be nice if you truly understood yourself!!!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by sonnyjames (February 01, 2011 7:23 am ET)
      1 3
      This man is an Idiot,that can not be said enough!!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by MagCynic (February 01, 2011 7:28 am ET)
      1 17
      Why'd it take Media Matters so long to post this? Wasn't this show from yesterday at 5pm?

      It's like they felt they needed more Beck material so they re-watched the entire program just for more fake outrage.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Tony161956 (February 01, 2011 7:45 am ET)
        2 3
        I think you've got it wrong. Beck is the master of fake outrage. Outrage with no solutions.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by soze169880 (February 01, 2011 8:13 am ET)
        8 1
        See, even MagCynic doesn't feel like pretending this isn't misinformation.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mikehuck1976 (February 01, 2011 4:22 pm ET)
          1 1
          Yeah, that was an awesome defense by the Becker MagCynic. Sure this is total nonsense, but he said it yesterday. You can only point out someone's lies and misinformation today. Once midnight passes - the lie becomes truth. Nice job, MagCynic.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by m.welker (February 01, 2011 8:31 am ET)
        4 1
        You finally came around Mag... even you recognize Glenn Beck's outrage is fake.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ccreadme (February 01, 2011 11:33 am ET)
          1
        MagPie,
        What took you so long to pucker up and kiss Bleckkk's fanny? Your defenses of this idiot are starting to have a sexual overtones.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by flaminglionofjudah (February 01, 2011 8:18 am ET)
      1 2
      Beck seems to forget the truth of history (even the history channel is doing episodes on the secret agendas that really exist like NEW WORLD ORDER )...and conviently forgets that it has been RIGHT WINGERS WHO HAVE FINANCED, been a part of and participate in theis NEW WORLD ORDER that Bsck wants to redefine so that OBAMA can be included
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eb (February 01, 2011 9:32 am ET)
        2 1
        Funny how these libertarian - scared of the government- crybabies on the right seem to think that billions of people around the world can't handle democracy and need a big daddy dictator to run the show. It seems they don't really trust the people to make their own decisions after all.

        The same goes for us here in the USA. These libertarian conservatives complain about how awful they are treated in a democratic republic with guaranteed civil rights. They talk as if they suffer greatly under a system that seems to easily elect their representatives in a media climate that tolerates their ideological celebrities to completely disseminate propaganda shamelessly. They talk as if they stand with the people... that is until the people want something that is inconvenient for their sponsors or their entrenched interests.

        So what is Becks vision for us? A government that is so weakened and restrained and a political system so purified of progressive elements that our democracy is rendered toothless when it comes to making significant decisions effecting our destiny. Beck sees virtue in a democracy where we essentially only vote for different conservative allies of big business. Maybe we will pick the one with the best hair and sound bite combination.

        Ultimately Beck's libertarianism leaves us with a corporate dominated authority and a weak civil society... Until years later when the people are bled dry and take it to the streets to topple the regime, having been left no other choice.

        So Beck thinks the choice for Egyptians and the like is either a US friendly authoritarian or a cleric dominated caliphate. Meanwhile here in the USA he works to make sure the people, through their elected officials, have less political choice and less influence to guide society and the economy and correct any imbalances.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Mr. Katanga (February 01, 2011 8:40 am ET)
      4 1
      Islamic Caliphate...

      is this now going to be the Go-to buzz word these twits will now use?

      what was the quote the right pounced on Emmanuel or Axelrod for saying? Never let a disater go to waste?

      Boy, Fux sure doesn't, that's for sure.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by terrapin53 (February 01, 2011 8:44 am ET)
      2 2
      he will say anything to keep his loyal viewers tuned to Fox, so that he may continue to pad his bank account.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wookie (February 01, 2011 9:28 am ET)
      1 2
      Aren't we on fire with Teabaggers? I hope they don't turn us into Commie Muslims.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by swayjay (February 01, 2011 10:41 am ET)
      1  
      Wow, Prophet Beck. He sure has it all figured out.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by sluggo (February 01, 2011 8:32 pm ET)
         
      I would pay money to listen in on the FOX sales reps trying to sell advertising time on Beck's show to companies...

      "Look, he may have lost a third of his audience and he really is crazy and those people still watching are likely as crazy as he is, but who better to buy your product? You don't have to create ads that even make sense and you can say things like 'Buy 1 for 10 dollars or 2 for 50 dollars and save a lot of money..' "
      Report Abuse
    • Author by BamaGuy1024 (February 02, 2011 8:19 am ET)
         
      I think it is frightening that Glenn Beck has television and radio shows - and any kind of audience of any size at all. It is like a paranoid delusional person ranting raving mad blather full of rage and fury - with no insight or real intelligence or any basis in fact. Just a huge ego feeding itself, basking in self-importance. I try to watch these clips but he is virtually unwatchable. Are there really people who think this man has a brain? Are there really companies who want to fund the insane rantings of this lunatic? Unbelievable.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Doctor K (February 03, 2011 11:12 am ET)
      1  
      Dear Enlightened Americans,

      Change comes slowly like a wave but at times can get big like the waves in Hawaii. Occassional and earhquake occurs deep under the sea and a Tsunami occurs. The course of human history comes in waves too. Darwin started a wave in the late 1800's. Karl Marx picked up his ideas and ran with them to think of social changes. Communism developed out of those ideas and led to different degrees including socialism. We had World Wars in Europe in part due to these 2 ideas led by the National Socialist Pary of Germany in the late 1920's thru it culminating in being democratically elected to power in 1933 with their leader Adolf Hitler. Can things like that happen again. I do not know about the future. but things happening now do cast a shadow forward. An Islamic Caliphate or Empire in the Middle East led by Iran, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah and other like minded individuals would likely lead to a Third World War as well as another genocide of unimaginable proportions. So if Glenn Beck mentions this and reports how there are groups in the United States who agree with these groups does not mean he is an idiot or crazy. There were alot of Americans who agreed with the Communist/Socialist movements in the 1920's-30's that led to those wars. So think, open your minds, consider the circumstances unfolding and consider what we as a nation should prepare for. Media Matters is not a news organization. It is a PR organization. Trust the Truth. Find the Truth and only it will set you free!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jitter (February 03, 2011 6:27 pm ET)
         
      So China will control Asia and Russia parts of Europe. Do you think Russia will have issues with China controlling it yet it controlling Europe?????
      That's right Mr Beck, majority of Russia is actually on the asian continent, shock horrow.
      And the US is getting worse at geography....
      Report Abuse

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  • County Fair is a media blog featuring links to progressive media criticism from around the Web as well as original commentary, breaking news and rapid response updates to major media events from Media Matters senior fellows and other staff.