What kind of "People's History of Egypt" can be complete with an attack on Gamal Abdel Nasser?

I seemed to have sparked quite the conversations on FaceBook and on a number of list serves and many e-mail exchanges with my defense of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

This was a response of mine to some attacks on Nasser on a FaceBook page of old SDS'ers:

Look; the various Egyptian Communist Parties had many problems and squabbled amongst themselves making it pretty much impossible for them to play a constructive role when it was required. Some kind of attempt was made to bring several of them together to support the Arab Socialist Union party's goals and objectives. I don't know exactly what happened but when an attempt was made to bring other Egyptian Communist Parties into unity they hit a problem and things kind of exploded.

But, to use the problems within the Egyptian Communist parties to attack Nasser is a very flawed way of viewing history.

I wouldn't exactly call the Rag Blog a friend of Marxism unless it is the pro-Obama Marxists you are talking about.

What was Nasser and the Arab Socialist Union party supposed to do; wait until the many factionalized Egyptian Communist Parties got their act together before doing anything? I have never heard such nonsense.

That would be like waiting for the Obama-loving CPUSA today to stop supporting Obama before building movements for peace, social and economic justice.

In addition, people, including leaders, have a right to develop their thinking as they proceed forward--- the idea is that their thinking is consistent with the arch of history bending towards justice. Nasser was such a leader. In the anti-imperialist movements you will find many such people who turn out to be towering figures capable of moving the masses continually, and often swiftly, on the road to socialism.

It ain't easy; I guess that's why it's called a "struggle." And a lot of times things don't develop as perceived, intended and planned.

But, come on; anyone who can't look at Egypt prior to Nasser and after Nasser and can't see remarkable progress on all fronts from 1952 to 1970 must be kind of out of it. In all of modern Egyptian history--- these were the ONLY good years for the Egyptian masses. And the important thing to consider is there was constant improvement in all facets of life--- not to mention Nasser's stellar, able and capable leadership he provided to the non-aligned anti-imperialist movement which, under his leadership was unified against imperialism.

Who were Nasser's closest associates on the international scene? Fidel Castro, Kwame Nkrumah, Sukarno.

And Nasser had the support of the International Communist and Worker's Parties from all over the world.

Does anyone know how many countries were part of the very important Non-Aligned Movement which Nasser helped to found and lead? It must have been 80 to 100; at least. Supporting national liberation movements in every corner of the world.

Compare Nasser's thinking to that of the publishers of the Rag Blog who support an imperialist warmonger like Barack Obama. And this outfit is now going to provide us with a "people's history of Egypt?" Give me a break.