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MUBARAC STEPS DOWN
Less than five hours from when I am writing this Hosni Mubarak stepped down as president of Egypt. Since last night when he appeared on television saying he would remain in power, the forces set in motion by the Egyptian people upset his plans. I worried since his TV appearance that the result would be the beginning of a bloody confrontation between civilians armed only with lumps of concrete and the well-armed Egyptian army.
The revolution did in eighteen days what it took the American patriots four years to accomplish: root out a dictatorial and unpopular ruler. Had Mubarak not stepped down when he did it could well have taken four years in Egypt.
President Obama has just addressed the nation on this important chain of events. He noted that we are witnessing history taking place, that the Egyptian people can find answers to the vexing questions still unanswered, and that the United States shall continue to be their friend and partner.
Now the harpies railing at everything his administration tries to do will be silent on this issue. The major interest of the United States in Egypt has for fifty years been to stabilize the Middle East. When things are in constant flux it is difficult to take drastic actions which could prove to be wrong, and send that part of the world into war. Fortunately, thoughtful Republicans and Democrats have supported the president during this stressful time.
A major factor in this amazing change was the social network which allowed average citizens to communicate with each other. Considering that such a capability did not exist five years ago, it has proven to be a powerful force in interconnecting individuals.
What remains to be seen is how Egypt restructures itself. If it remains secular and becomes a true democracy, then that region of the world will be better off. However, the thing we should be concerned about is the potential for radicals to subjugate eighty million people by a fundamentalist theocracy. This could lead to worldwide religious war and vast danger to the United States.
The revolution did in eighteen days what it took the American patriots four years to accomplish: root out a dictatorial and unpopular ruler. Had Mubarak not stepped down when he did it could well have taken four years in Egypt.
President Obama has just addressed the nation on this important chain of events. He noted that we are witnessing history taking place, that the Egyptian people can find answers to the vexing questions still unanswered, and that the United States shall continue to be their friend and partner.
Now the harpies railing at everything his administration tries to do will be silent on this issue. The major interest of the United States in Egypt has for fifty years been to stabilize the Middle East. When things are in constant flux it is difficult to take drastic actions which could prove to be wrong, and send that part of the world into war. Fortunately, thoughtful Republicans and Democrats have supported the president during this stressful time.
A major factor in this amazing change was the social network which allowed average citizens to communicate with each other. Considering that such a capability did not exist five years ago, it has proven to be a powerful force in interconnecting individuals.
What remains to be seen is how Egypt restructures itself. If it remains secular and becomes a true democracy, then that region of the world will be better off. However, the thing we should be concerned about is the potential for radicals to subjugate eighty million people by a fundamentalist theocracy. This could lead to worldwide religious war and vast danger to the United States.
posted by Ed Fisher at
3:21 PM
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