The peoples’ uprising in Egypt is over, according to Foreign Policy’s Robert Springborg, subborned by the very military whom the people greeted so enthusiastically in the streets:
Millions of demonstrators in the street have not broken the chain of command over which President Mubarak presides. Paradoxically the popular uprising has even ensured that the presidential succession will not only be engineered by the military, but that an officer will succeed Mubarak. The only possible civilian candidate, Gamal Mubarak, has been chased into exile, thereby clearing the path for the new vice president, Gen. Omar Suleiman. The military high command, which under no circumstances would submit to rule by civilians rooted in a representative system, can now breathe much more easily than a few days ago. It can neutralize any further political pressure from below by organizing Hosni Mubarak’s exile, but that may well be unnecessary.
The president and the military, have, in sum, outsmarted the opposition and, for that matter, the Obama administration. They skillfully retained the acceptability and even popularity of the Army, while instilling widespread fear and anxiety in the population and an accompanying longing for a return to normalcy.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
The truly frightful thing is how easily we’ll adapt to it.
Yeah…something about going to a battle of wits…with an unarmed administration.
Progressive political agendas seem to hold up well in the coffee houses among disaffected youth in their “formative years,” go go completely to hell when smashed up against real people living in a real world having to deal with real problems.
When will they get that fancy proclamations of “Words, just WORDS!” aren’t getting it? I guessing when they dump all the lawyers thay hang out with….oops! The WON! is a lawyer!
Side note: Just when did it all of a sudden become fashionable to meddle in another country’s affairs? How about just when did the hearing aids get turned on? I’m still waiting for The WON! to hear the voices of those who didn’t vote for him…like he said he would on a cold night in Nov 2008…so are the Iranian students.
Compare and contrast: Support for a people with a dictator who is pro-west (yeah, big money helps), and for a dictator who has a real no kidding theocracy, that actually oppresses their own people (stonings…not so much fun for one!), but runs a virulently anti-western, to the point of war, regime. I’m not liking this trend in bizarro world international relations.
As usual, if I was a cynic…..
I’m gonna go with Yogi Berra on this one. “It ain’t over ’till it’s over.”
You read “Foreign Policy?” Ewwww.
The military high command, which under no circumstances would submit to rule by civilians rooted in a representative system,
Knowing nothing about Egypt – which makes me qualified for a staff position at 1600 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, apparently – I was not aware that this was an issue.
You’re a reader here…ergo: DISQUALIFIED to be unqualified!
I don’t doubt that the regime in Egypt is engaged in machinations, but to Dr. Springborg I would say, “Not so fast.”
My sense of the rhetoric coming from the opposition is that the “new boss same as the old boss” approach will be thoroughly unacceptable. When the opposition says, “Mubarak must go”, they mean “the system must go”. My gut tells me that any successor who looks like he’s hand-picked by Mubarak will just exacerbate the problem in the long run.
Events in Tunisia, Yemen and Jordan suggest that the street easily sees through the changing of wallpaper and drapes approach and is increasingly willing to insist that the house be torn down and rebuilt.
Speaking of “This just in!”: Guess what a eccentric, grab the international spotlight to portray someone who gives a crap about the rights of the masses…The Arab World rejects you. Go figure…I thought his speech in Cairo made the Arab World love us.
Some things you couldn’t even make up in a novel…:)
Interesting comment from the UAE foreign minister in that article:
The princeling doesn’t get it; the US is trying to treat Egypt with respect. It’s the despot atop the Egyptian government whose time has come.
And if the Muslim Brotherhood really is “the peoples’ choice” in Egypt? Let them have some, see how that works out.
For my own part, I’m guessing it won’t do much to improve the lot of everyday Egyptians. And it might do a very great deal to discredit a 7th century ideology as a model for running a 21st century country.
Ah, but, you’re forgetting the cardinal rules of honor cultures:
1) Find and take offense whenever and where ever you can; and,
2) Use such offense to your advantage whenever and where ever you can.
In many respects, Arabs are such delicate souls. Their “dignity” is so easily bruised….