Mubarak has just addressed the people of Egypt, saying that he will fulfill his final term as president and calls on both houses of parliament to re-examine the terms of candidacy for presidency. The people are chanting, live, out of my computer “Leave! Leave!”
While the people Egypt are screaming for him to leave, I cant help but note that Mubarak did make an interesting point in his address. He said that “political forces at work” are mostly responsible for the violence that occurred and the media coverage of it (which may or may not be why he banned the internet and Al Jazeera from the country). While this is clearly the self-defense mechanism of a corrupt government, there may be some truth to it.
This story has exploded across the world in the past week while protests in the Arab world, namely in Tunisia, have been occurring for over a month. But why the coverage now? Revoltuions are no common thing but unrest in the Middle East is something we’ve been conditioned to expect, from the point of view of westerners who have been at war for a decade. Perhaps its just more Western liberal mentality but one has to wonder what strings are being pulled behind the scenes, at least as far as filtering information goes.
The U.S. government is being demonized by Egyptians as supporting the corrupt government of Mubarak. It looks very bad for the an administration that seeks a second term to have ever stood on the side of a leader like Mubarak. Naturally to follow, the press continuously reiterates that Obama has spoken with Mubarak not to run again as this story rips across the internet.
Other forces he could have been referring to are the ones who could be grabbing for power in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood, according to one exiled professor interviewed by Al Jazeera, accounts for 20% of the people in Tahrir Square. Mubarak stepping down now may create a power vacuum; how to choose a non-corrupt leader in this youth culture revolution?
There have been precedents for this kind of thing in other countries, and the results have been all over the map (so to speak). The coverage is focusing on the voices rising from the streets, their anger and certainty of their desires. But what is the next step if the president steps down? In the past thirty years, he has created a system of bribes and negotiation. Parliament and the police force are in the palm of his hand. Even as I write this- the national television in Egypt is broadcasting video tribute-montages of Mubarak and his wife, to reiterate the pride with which he spoke of his years in office during the address.
No one can say what is going to happen, nor can they say what should happen. All we know is that the people want him out now. His administration and his media are attempting to soften his image as he says he wont run again, but behavior in the past five minutes may suggest he is giving himself, in these final months, another chance. Here’s to hoping this isn’t the beginning stages of Egypt’s collapse.
