Egypt's Dangerous Turn

One of the fears that everyone has had -- the worse case scenario -- is that Hosni Mubarak would try to hang on to power in Egypt.  Although he has promised not to run in an upcoming election and has seemingly abandoned the idea of passing on rule to his son, Gamal, he doesn't seem ready to actually move the country away from autocratic rule.

Reports are out now that "pro-Mubarak" protests have emerged, and that "supporters" have attacked the protesters in Cairo.  Although I'm sure that Mubarak has his supporters, especially those whose lives are intertwined with his regime, most analysts have noted that much of this "support" comes from paid thugs.  We all know that autocratic and dictatorial governments have ways of staging counter protests or shows of support for the government.  The Soviets were masters of it.  The Nazi's knew how to do it.  So, we should not be swayed by this sudden show of support for Mubarak.

It is time for Mubarak to go, and it's time for the US government to end its support for his regime, whose military is propped up by our largess.  I understand the realities of the situation.  The pragmatist/realist side of me wants to see stability.  But propping up a dying government will not preserve stability, it will only further undermine it, and as in Iran, allow more radical elements to co-opt it. 

Mubarak -- it's time to go.

Comments

Allan R. Bevere said…
My first thought when I heard Mubarak planned to hang on to power until the elections, was that he was hoping that his agreement not to run again would quiet the masses so that over the next few months he could plan and implement a way to stay in power or pass it on to his son.

Cynical, I know.
Robert Cornwall said…
Dictators don't give up power easily, whether they're our allies or not. from what I just read he said he hadn't planned on running again anyway. Of course, the plan was for Gamal to succeed him. That the last elections were rigged, which is probably why no Muslim Brotherhood supporters got in, doesn't give the people confidence that he would oversee free and fair elections.
David said…
The US did the same thing, sending in undercover thugs to cause chaos and give the peaceful a bad name. The CIA must be advising.
Mystical Seeker said…
I've been following the events in Egypt with great interest. I am not surprised that Mubarik is turning to violent repression. His regime was repressive and he has not hestitated to use his iron fist when it served him. I can only hope that this will not be a replay of Tiananmen Square, that this really will herald the all of Mubarik and the emergence of democracy there.

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