A few days ago, Dr. Mohamed Elbaradei quit the race for the Egyptian presidency. Elbaradei, the former director general of the (International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the public, "I can't go on."
Elbaradei said that the revolution had been diverted from its course, and that the Mubarak regime had not in fact fallen. He said that his conscience would allow him to run for a top public position only in a democratic climate, and in the shadow of the generals' regime.
Between the lines, it is possible read what Elbaradei was afraid to say out loud. Egyptian security forces continue to monitor leaders and public opinion setters, bug them, and shape their policies to prevent harm to the interests of the army.
It cannot be said that Elbaradei is blessed with charisma, which is why his quitting the race was not earthshaking. A jurist who became a diplomat, and then a politician, he is a jolly grandfather, secular and liberal in his views. He lacks the drive, enthusiastic support, or conservative groups who could help in the race for the presidency. He does not even have a military background of the kind that could charm the voters.
Nonetheless, Elbaradei's positions represented the voice of conscience. Today's Egypt is sunk in severe economic problems and sharply worsened personal safety, and its future is shrouded in mist. It needs people who will show it the right path, who will point to its flaws, and say how they can be fixed. But today's Egypt is led by a moody general, a general without a staff, but who has soldiers in every corner who obey his commands. Some of them are armed (Molotov cocktails, knives, or sometimes just nerve), a few are anonymous, but most are active in the public and political dialogue.
Although their doctrine is not ordered, their path is sweeping, and their voice is loudly heard. It is a policy of "adversity", and its guiding principle is simple: anything that will help us and hurt the group, we will do; and we will assert that it is in the national interest. The media is the stage, the language is the language of schism, and the general spirit does not allow dissent.
In the land of adversity, the jurist with a global reputation, who completed a successful 27-year career abroad to return to his homeland and immediately recruited to help the national effort, is scorned for not knowing his country. In the land of adversity, the Christian minority could be a bridge to the West, which should be protected and faith in its country should be restored, instead of being drowned in the violent frustrations of society. In the land of adversity, which is economically, militarily, and technologically strong, there is not an enemy whose relations should be reconsidered and the necessity of relations with it, but a support that could offer advantages.
July 23 will mark the 60th of the revolution that put the officers regime in power in Egypt. This regime distorted Egyptian society, and sowed it with social diseases. Instead of serving the people, it turned them into its slaves. Instead of encouraging creativity, it prevented pluralist thinking. Instead of fostering academe, it built a self-serving system. Empty slogans were bandied about in the camouflage of the national interest. They were partly intended to divert attention from the main issue and partly intended to foster an imaginary enemy.
Anyone who expressed the individual's right to enjoy the fresh air was branded a traitor. The battalions of clerks at every ministry were given the right to pocket bribes from the citizenry in exchange for the requested service. This method guaranteed loyalty to the regime at the expense of the public that they were supposed to service. This regime kept the right to direct the land of adversity.
The results of the parliamentary elections are due to be published within a few days. The Muslim Brotherhood will be the largest party. Paranoia has spread through Israel, but the government that will be established in Cairo is a small problem for Israel. The big problem its the future - social, economic, and political - of 80 million Egyptians, a repressed and tortured people who seeks reprieve and relief. The Muslim Brotherhood will act as the people's representatives, but it, too, is a product of the land of adversity. Its primary task is to rehabilitate society from the sickness inherited from its predecessors. Many years will be needed for this task, and it will be accompanied by internal conflict.
Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has declared a new national holiday - January 25 - to mark the revolution. It will be marked for the first time next Wednesday. On this day one year ago, the demonstrations broke out which would go on to topple the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. The holiday's name is misleading - the Egyptian revolution has not yet happened; it has barely begun.
Jacky Hougy is the Arab affairs commentator for “IDF Radio" (Galei Zahal).
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 18, 2012
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012