Yes, it is time for Mubarak to go. And the people of Egypt not only want to make sure Mubarak makes his exit from Egypt, but for his entire regime to leave. As the Egyptian government has shut down all internet and social media services, limited cellular and SMS/text messaging communication, and tried to limit the international media by arresting, harassing and attacking journalists, it has not done anything to stop the Egyptian people’s plight for freedom. To sum it up, the Egyptian government is in denial of this revolution. And while Mubarak attempts to cling to his 30 year reign and avoid resignation by appointing a new cabinet and a vice-president for the first time, there is a dilemma for Obama administration.
For President Obama, it is crucial he takes the correct side. The Unites States has always supported and turned their shoulder to the brutal and inhumane dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak, as Mubarak has always blindly followed and agreed to United States and Israeli Foreign Policy. In fact, in a recent interview, Vice-President Joe Biden said he did not consider Mubarak to be a dictator or unfair. This is contrary to the U.S. State department, which have produced reports of the Egyptian government’s human rights violations against their own Egyptian people. If the Obama administration does not distance itself from Mubarak and his regime, the U.S. risks alienating the Egyptian people, thus helping to open the way to a new regime that would, by default, be anti-anyone who was pro-Mubarak and thus, most likely anti-American. The United States should not make the same mistake it made in 1978 in Iran, when President Carter and his administration backed up the Shah and his regime, thus creating an anti-American government and regime as a result of that revolution. This is something the United States is still suffering from.
The different political groups of Egypt who were once suppressed by Mubarak and his regime now have the opportunity to express their political ideologies, and they definitely will. Who the Egyptian people will elect to run their new government is still not clear. Yet, one thing is: The Egyptian people are united with another. Not just united for a new government and new era, but united under humanity. The people have stated their own neighborhood watch groups against thugs and vandals since the local police have disappeared. As someone I personally know who is currently in Cairo said, “We are safe. Things are not as bad as they seem. The Egyptian people are heroic and brave. The youth are protecting us all with their lives. It can be said that this is perhaps the safest our streets have been in 30 years.”
As the revolution in Egypt was inspired by the recent revolution in Tunisia, the question is how far will the uprising of people in the Middle East against their autocratic leaders and dictators spread and last? Only time will tell.
Thank you..really informative!!
mr. nabil is writing the good thing. i am also believing in the future and america must be also believing. please mr.obama let the muslims people have a justice.
regards,
billoo
You bring up good points. I look forward to reading more of your blogs 🙂
also ewanted to mention that we should love a people. islam is the love. the jews, the christians, the punjabis. they are all a people.
it is now to see who else will become the next leader to fall. zardari is not a man who can lead the nuclear pakistan. let us join togehter and sing the songs of freedom.
billoo out
what is inspiring about the present situation is that people’s imaginations can now be unleashed. when we take hold of our own affairs and plot our own course, we see the world differently. domestic and international affairs are no longer distant, cynical conspiracies but rather events over which we can, at the very least, make our feelings heard.
the stifled thoughts of a people can now be a part of the human contribution..truly exciting times.
Interesting article
I don’t believe the Egyptian revolution will ever match the Iranian revolution in extent and effect. The Iranian people remained in the streets for an entire year directly protesting the “biggest entity of evil”–the USA. Not only that, but they were under the guidance of a tremendously grand figure–Ayatollah Khomeini (ra). True, the Egyptians are fighting to topple a tyrannical regime in order to regain their basic human rights, but the Iranians were fighting with the message of Imam Husain (as) strongly embedded int their hearts, and this message is iron steal. It pushes people and gives so much meaning to everything they do. The message of Imam Husain (as) helps one realize that whatever they do,they are doing it in the way of Allah. I wish the best to all the heroes that fight against oppression. That is true bravery.
great article Nabil, all points are true. Hopefully, Mubarak gets out soon.
Looks really hopeful for other Middle Eastern nations after seeing the Million Man march today!
It is critical for the US to side with the people. You almost get a sense, that American foreign policy is mainly about self interest and very little about ideal. If this protest was happening in Venezuala for example, the American government would have been calling for Hugo Chavez’s head and talking about freedom and democracy. Even if it was in China.
It is also a wake up call that the media, like CNN, is sort of toeing the line with Mubarak. They are not really showing the torture and the human rights violation inflicted by Mubarak regime. They keep bringing guest that talk about the positive attributes of Mubarak.
This is dark contrast to when they covered Saddam Hussein.
The saddest comment is that the state department and elected official are basically justifying their support of Mubarak by stating that they dont want to upset the other dictators that they support. Very ironic and very sad
Nice read…I am so happy to see my Muslim brothers and sisters waking up and speaking up for justice and freedom of their brother…
Great read, masha’Allah. Great perspective that I did not think about.