Predictive Text

The last few days in Egypt have been nothing short of remarkable.  In a stunning display of virtual coordination everyone seemed to turn out en masse to decry the iron rule of their leader Hosni Mubarak.  However, no sooner have we seen an apparent stand for democracy than we see a nation squander that momentum in what appears to be their first short-sighted disagreement, and I have to wonder where this is heading.  The last thing we all need is another civil war.

Until Mubarak spoke on national TV everyone was pulling together to depose their leader.  Then someone decided it would be a good idea for him to say a word or two.  In hindsight I suspect this was about the only way he could have salvaged anything for himself, and to be honest he wasn’t exactly quick out of the starting box to speak out in his own defence, which makes the sceptic in me think he was given too much time to consider his situation.  I like to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, but the same sceptic believes that Mubarak saw the way the wind was blowing and declared his wish to see his term through to September, knowing full well the divisive consequences it would have.  If he had a shred of decency in him he would have spoken quickly or quietly left as he was asked to.  Instead he was allowed to express his patriotism, and now we have two factions on the street – those who still maintain he should go immediately and those who are willing to let him see his term in office through, and once more the world has to witness brother fighting against brother.  This may all just be the ancient tactic of divide and conquer, to be used against an implacable and vast enemy.  If so, we may yet see the public decimated in their resistance and forced to concede comfort back into the old regime once more.  In my opinion I think this is exactly what he may be counting on, regardless of whether he really intended to concede office in September or not.  All in all this may not have been the turning point it appeared to be.

As for the in-fighting.. Well, for sure everyone has the right to an opinion and freedom of expression – this is what they were demonstrating for in the first place – but is this how they choose to demonstrate their dream of democracy to the world?  Are we to take it that nothing has been learned?  Barack Obama stated quite concisely that they would operate a policy of non-interference, but that assistance in any transition would be given willingly.  I worry that this is all going to end in tears.  Always with any power comes responsibility, and this is exactly what the world didn’t need to see happen.  In the beginning it was a precarious time for all Egyptians.  Now, this very moment that I write this it could be the prelude to a far more dangerous situation than their pre-revolution state.  I shall be watching this space with great interest.