Dear friends,
I share with you below obstacles to the January 25 Egypt revolution. They have been gleaned from the many emails I received over the last week. I will leave it to you to read, digest and reach your own conclusion as to the potential impact of such barriers on the revolution and its objectives of freedom, democracy, and improved and prosperous living for all of the Egyptian people. Various impacts include blowing the revolution off track, seeing it aborted in its infancy, etc.
Hussein
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Obstacles to the success of the Egyptian revolution
- The survival of the old system as represented in current institutions and symbols. The old system that has over more than a half century has infiltrated and corrupted almost all institutions and governmental agencies.
- The current interim caretaker government has of yet no deadline for its end. This is an obstacle in so much as it includes hardliners of the Mubarak regime.
- The survival of state-owned and -operated media. It is self-evident that any revolution requires a new, free media to express and speak for it, as happened for Egypt's July 23, 1952 revolution. Basically the old guard of an outgoing regime is being asked to establish safeguards to freedom and independence of the media - from that same regime.
- The State Security Investigation agency is still in place. One must keep in mind that the agency historically is charged to protect the ruling regime and not the state.
- The National Party still stands, with Mubarak remaining as its head.
- Hosni Mubarak continues to enjoy all presidential privileges and perks while residing in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
- The lack of independent trade institutions and unions, a void that is being tested since Mubarak stepped down on February 11 with protests and sit-ins of workforce segments with legitimate claims for better pay and better benefits. The disorganized and unfocused nature and the timing of such claims could lend credence to the segment of the Egyptian populace that is not in favor of a changed course for the country, a segment that contends that these protests are carried out by people trying to take advantage of the chaos now in the country following the revolution.
- The belief of some people in Egypt that Omar Suleiman, the short-lived vice president and former head of the intelligence services, is a good, respected man.
- The belief of some people in Egypt that the regime as a whole is not corrupt, maybe 5-15% of the regime.
- The contention of some people in Egypt that even though 40-50% of Egyptians live on $2/a day, that Egypt is not a poor country because there is no one in a government job or working for the private sector who makes only $2/a day.
- The belief of some people in Egypt that democracy, corruption and ethics are words that the revolution is using in a manipulative way.
- The military has yet to acknowledge the people's demand that the Mubarak regime must fall. The military has yet to align itself with the people, it has yet, working with the leaders of the revolution, to present a meaningful roadmap outlining the transition period timetable.
These are the barriers and obstacles I see standing in the way of the Egyptian revolution. I am certain that all free people wherever they live in this world wish nothing but success for the Egyptian people in their determined and noble drive towards the reconstruction of a modern Egyptian state, a state where democracy, freedom and peace thrive, a state where men and women from all walks of life, all religions, all ethnicities, all races, all personal persuasions could live together in equality and harmony, a state where prosperity is not a dream but a distinct reality that is attainable for anyone who works hard for it.
Tomorrow, February 18, 2011, may yet prove a decisive and pivotal day in Egypt's struggle for a better future, for all of its people.
Long live Egypt.
Hussein
© Dr Hussein A Amin 2011
