Last week, after 18 days of vicious non-violent protest, President Hosni Mubarak stepped down. In the last week, the military has dissolved the Parliament, and suspended the Constitution. The top military leaders have held talks with leaders of the protest and have promised to give back power after the elections in 6 months. What do you think is going to happen in Egypt? Do you think the military will keep their promise?
6 comments:
Interestingly, what happens in Egypt isn't really that unpredictable. I think that the Egyptian military will keep its promise: to put on elections. Whether they are fair elections, I cannot know. What I really wonder though is whether or not the United States government will allow them to be fair democratic elections if it is clear the Muslim Brotherhood will win. This isn't clear as of now, but I fear that the Brotherhood will turn this peaceful protest in support of democracy into something like the 1979 Iranian revolution which was taken over by Islamic fundamentalists who instituted the current tyrannical regime. If this begins, will the US do what we did in 1953 in Iran, toppling a new democratic regime for the old pro-US one?
Everyone is talking about Egypt and Tunisia, but what about Iran, Bahrain, Algeria, Yemen, and the other countries that are revolting (some peacefully, some not) against their unjust governments?
For some reason I feel as though something bad will really happen. Such as one of the military leaders will become power hungry and want to start his own dictatorship. So for some reason, I feel as though the military won't keep their promise and that any opposition from protests will lead to mass killings. This is a very pessimistic view of the future for Egypt, but this is what I see will happen. But I still hope good things will happen.
I think Egypt is going to turn out to be a very peaceful, if not strong Muslim country to prove to the world that we have too much of a negative image of their kind. Egyptian people are very well educated and they know what is more or less best for their country. It would be foolish of us to completely trust the military/Brotherhood, but it would be ignorant of us to assume the worst will happen. I think democracy will flourish in that country. If the people were able to do it once, I am positive they will do it again. The military most likely will have to keep their promise or it may turn into another large protest. If an extremist faction of the Muslim religion does rise up, then that is more or less their say. We have a lot to learn from Muslims and maybe it is time we accept one for a change. Many Muslim people live a very humble, happy life, does that make them bad? I think we should put aside our differences and accept that we are all humans, very, very similar to one another. What causes all of this anger? Though optimistic, I think it is time we see through the mist and allow a new direction (if it so happens).
I was watching the protests on Youtube and TV... it makes the Philippine's People Power Revolution look like nothing
-Raymond Lim
I have a gut feeling that the new government in Egypt will not live up to its hype. Although the new government may be less corrupt and more fairer the older, it takes more than just fairness to run the country. If there are elections (and I think there will be, as Kathy has stated; the momentum and spirit of this revolution seems like it will carry through), someone will be chosen to run a completely new government that has replaced a more experienced 30-year-old government. That's bound to pose challenges. The new government will not only have to maintain social order, but also will need to prevent widespread economic hardship, which is easier said than done.
To be honest, I don't believe that the protesters really thought through to the repercussions of their mob-like behavior. All the protesters did was cause chaos and throw out a leader who represents democracy and stability in the region. With military leaders in control the people can hardly expect for there to be anything but a dictator/oligarchy form of governing. Mubarak was Egypt's and the Middle Easts form of protection against there being a radical Islamic leader coming to power. Although the protests appeared to be grassroots I believe in the silent majority who supported Mubarak and know the anarchical rule that will strike Egypt's government soon. With Egypt being Israels only quasi partner in the region, it would only take a moderate Islamic ruler to go against Israel and cause more problems in the region. It is also important to note that Mubarak played a vital role in brokering peace between Middle Eastern nation and Israel. Interestingly enough, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had openly stated that he hopes that Egypt's next succession of rulers will be less sympathetic to Israel... Things only goes down from here.
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