This was also an interesting article I found on Huffington Post. Apparently, there was a violent clash between protesters and security forces in Egypt this morning. This struck me as particularly odd because Egypt is planning on having democratic elections soon, but further reading shed light on the issue.
Hosni Mubarak was President of Egypt for almost 30 years. I, and many others, did not think he was an obvious dictator or that his administration was very authoritarian. That could just be my ignorance, or it may not have been made known. In early 2011, however, revolts took the nation by storm, calling for the removal of Mubarak. This widespread feeling of revolution was seen around the same time all over the Arab world, in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and other nations. Finally, Mubarak resigned, and a military junta was in power. To most, they would seem fitting as a temporary government, since the military of Egypt was in support of the protesters and no the government. Democratic elections were planned, and the revolution was successful.
But, now it looks like the military regime governing the nation at the moment is repressive, like Mubarak, and many Egyptians are still dissatisfied. A protest in Tahrir Square, where many of the earlier protests occurred, turned into a bloody clash between Egyptian security forces and civilians, resulting in lots of harm to participants in the protest.
Protesters are now gathering in opposition to the military junta in power. Supposedly, in the upcoming election scheduled for a few weeks from now, they plan on purposely not maintaining order anywhere. Chaos that would surely ensue, with no one to enforce order, would justify the government's decision to keep the military committee in power.
It seems like now Egyptians are back where they started, only this time they have a different enemy. I sadly see no hope in the near future for Egypt, but hopefully I am mistaken. I'd like to know what you guys think will happen, and if Egypt will ever resolve its problems.
My Indian Liberal, its nice to see someone put something military related for a change. As to your question about Egypt, Hosni Mubarak wasnt really a so called "Dictator" as most people think he is. He was Air Chief Marshal of the Egyptian Air Force and he did serve in the Yom kippur war and kept serving in the military but that doesnt make him a "Dictator". It just means he is a military leader who served in power i mean look at Japan when General Douglas Macarthur took control for a few years some people called that a military government but that was only until the treaty of San Francisco took place did they have a civic government. I think the military leadership in Egypt is going it all wrong they should have civic people run and the military leaders that way they can choose which one they want thats a fair way and maybe the only way out of the mess they are in.
ReplyDeleteHaha I'm glad you enjoyed my choice of topic, Big Smoke. And I agree, he was not dictator, but I was referencing the fact that many people labelled him as such, since the citizens of Egypt were obviously discontent with him and he had been in power for 3 decades. I do agree with you, though, that he wasn't necessarily a dictator. And I like your idea of giving Egyptian citizens the choice of military rule or a civilian government. I also feel like that would solve the crisis, but cooperation would required by all parties in order for that to happen.
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ReplyDeleteI'm not really familiar with any of this, but it sounds similar to a discussion we had in class. Military rule is good for awhile, especially after a revolution, to provide stability. I think it has come to the point where citizens don't just want stability and dependability in government--they want a say in government.
Usually, when the citizens decide they want to give democracy a try, the military will give up power and elections can go on, but I don't know if this is the case in Egypt. Is there any reason for the military to want to stay in power? Shouldn't they let the citizens have a try at running the government?