The Fall of the Pharaoh – What Next?
“First we have to change everything, then we will see. We will have a transition, then maybe elections in 12 months.” TIME
The fall of the Pharaoh
As Mubarak gives the first signal of departure from the politics of Egypt, the world of this ancient nation is on the verge of setting a new example to the Arab world.
Tracing back, there has been deep dissatisfaction in Egyptian society for a very long time and life has been for ordinary people, a crushing ordeal. In 2003 Egypt had the first protests and calls asking for Mubarak to go but the regime was successful in putting down the voice of popular dissent. Ever since, the political consciousness of the people has been awakened and has been building up to a movement where people want to be more in charge of their destiny and not remain hapless victims in their land. The success of the uprising in Tunisia that threw out the dictator there greatly encouraged the people here and that came in as the trigger that set off this avalanche.
Information pervasiveness through electronic and Web 2 technologies played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion over the years in Egypt. Al Jazeera played a very positive role in a region where all other channels were telling half-truths or total lies doctored to suit one ruling interest or the other. What Egypt needed was somebody who would put out to the world, events as they truly are. Just the truth that is all. Al Jazeera did that on events in Tunisia, etc. and people from then on started organising themselves. It must also be remembered that the people who organised the protests in Egypt are people mostly in their twenties. They are bloggers, from the internet generation that is familiar with social networking tools. So the new age media too has played a significant role alongside television. We know that Mubarak’s regime even sought to block or limit Facebook access in Egypt.
We are now seeing the emergence of a new Egypt with a hope for the future. What Egypt needs now are Free Elections. That is what the people are asking for. The regime gave selected licences for political parties and in a way chose who should be their opposition. The real political parties were unlicensed and kept away. Egyptians have enough talent and commitment within the ranks of these parties to take the country through to the new situation. The protests are neither sectarian nor factional; it is by all Egyptian people seeking a better future as a whole. So free elections are the way ahead now. That is the rallying cry not just in Cairo but, in Alexandria, Suez — all across Egypt.
The role of the Muslim Brotherhood in the protests and in the days ahead is critical. We have noticed that Rachid Ghannouchi is returning to Tunisia.
Just as in 2003, these protests too were not organised or led by the Brotherhood. Religion is not a factor in these dynamics, though the Mubarak regime has repeatedly exaggerated the role of the Brotherhood and used it to further its ends, either to exercise repressive measures or to curry favour with the Western powers. Egypt is a nation of 84 million people and the Muslim Brotherhood is an organisation of about half a million people. There are an astonishing number of women, in large numbers, participating in the protests, almost half. Senior judges have joined in. Even some officers from the military are with the people on the streets. Being the largest country in the region, restoration of true democracy here will bring about positive changes and freedom to the peoples of the Arab world. Religion need not be mixed in here. Repressive regimes make use of everything, from the Arab-Israeli conflict to religious extremism, to cloud reality and serve their ends and not the people.
This restoration may take time and in the interim there will be fervent global and regional pressures on Egypt to cast its destiny. Amongst the varios options being forecast by analysts – a middle path may be followed by the Egyptians – to ensure “Bread, Freedom and Social Justice.”
Related articles
- Egypt Gov’t Gains Apparent Support of Israel (ecoworld.com)
- Mubarak now only controls his exit (politico.com)
- Muslim Brotherhood Appeals to Brotherhood of the Middle Class (pamil-visions.net)
- Breaking: Mubarak to announce retirement after current term? (hotair.com)
- US Sending Envoys to Egypt, “Sizing Up” ElBaradei for Post-Mubarak Role (news.firedoglake.com)
Recent events clearly reveal that:
(a) In American perceptions, China now has a role in Pakistan and India and neither of the two have any significant role in the policy formulations of equality in China. Gandhi has never been heard of in China, but Mao and Maoism are vibrant AND KICKING in India. Now in the visibly perceptible change in American policy formulations, China has irrevocably qualified for a superior role in the whole of South Asia, extending all the way to the littoral states of Indian Ocean. Indian mulishness on Kashmir, and inability to show creativeness in dealing with the assorted rebellions from Nagas to Maoists, has degraded India so much that Western heads of government rely on Indian capitalists to occupy the driving seat in policy making, which they now do behind the scenes. So when madam Sonia Gandhi and the ex-IMF gentleman refused to see the British Prime Minister because he gave them secondary importance by preferring to talk first to Indian tycoons in the south, Obama delivered the same snub to Delhi by going –under false pretences – to Bombay first.
(b) Israel has failed to let the American policy of greater Mideast come to fruition, with implacable intransigence on the Palestine Question. The rise of Hasan Narullah with Irani support is now an irreversible consequence with Iraq in the anti-American nut cracker. Turkey is steadily moving to occupy the role that Israel has failed to take. Now the inner sanctoms of foreign policy making the Jeffersonian White Anglo-Saxon Protestants appear to have formed a secret cabal to ditch Israel and hand the role of handling the Mideast to the Turks. Hence all the trouble in Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt to make space for a Turkish role there. You never know Turkey may offer refuge to old Hosny Mubarak after every country has refused under American inspiration.
The bottom line is that Turkey with its Turkic affinities in the Central Asia, and Ottoman affinities PLUS ISLAM in both regions is infinitely superior to any potentials in Israel for advancing American interests. And China is set to tame Japan. Within the current decade Turkey and China will have a much greater geopolitical clout than European Community and Japan togther. India has literally disappeared from great power games. ISRAEL AND INDIA HAVE LOST OUT TO TURKEY AND CHINA.PERIOD.