This report is very interesting to the level I believe we will not see the magazine in our newsstand next month thanks to its cover.
Already Youm 7 and Al Shorouk online published a summary for the report without the iconic image of Mubarak
There is an elephant in the room , a big dying elephant to be correct and it seems the fact that the regime does not want confess it makes you wonder if it is an alienation from reality due to arrogance or it is actually fear to confess the bitter reality ; the end is so close and time is not in the side of the son who planned too much for this moment.
The report is a must read , you should bookmark it to read it carefully.
AS an expatriate who left 49 years ago and revisited it 20 years ago, I find the article very accurate and wish Egypt the best future outcome.
ReplyDeleteThe most significant change I noticed on my revisit was the absence of the relaxed kind and content look on people's faces I remembered growing up.
I concluded that Egyptians have been robbed of a very precious thing in 52 years by failed dictators.
I didnt like the report that much and the comments below mostly show the amount of ignorance those commenting have about the history of the region, Islam and even current Egyptian affairs. What was very telling in my opinion was that image with Mubarak's statute half buried. The West is clearly giving up on him, trying to distance themselves from that regime even though the regime served their interests very well.
ReplyDeleteWe did have some democracy when we had a real parliament and real elections, we are capable and we should always remember we want a democracy that serves the ppl well, which doesnt have to be a copy of what the US or EU has. I also hope that those so-called experts in our affairs realize that the majority of Egyptians have nothing against MB or religious ppl in general and that while I find the real force of MB amplified mainly by Western reports as well as the frantic way the gov deals with them, I do hope that any change will manage to gather all Egyptians around the idea. I also hope we remember we need a system that doesnt all for Western interests in the county and the region to be Amened by us, even when it is not serving our interests.
So Zeinab what do you think? Russia, Iran or Turkey?
ReplyDeleteEgyptian in USA
@Annon 3:42 AM
ReplyDeleteJust like a typical looser you place the blame for Egypt's failures on the US, EU (you forgot Israel)and foreigners.
Denial is the enemy of truth.
Who caused overpopulation, religious conflicts, economic inequality, inferior education, poor health care, poverty, corruption, dirty streets, traffic noise, etc.
Change happens when people genuinely realize their own mistakes and stop blaming the the world for their misery.
Hi Z, Please remember to watch the news stands and tell us whether this Economist issue appears.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the Economist's special report.
ReplyDeleteThe economic overview was quite objective and positive.
Well done.
The examples of Iran and Turkey were far-fetched.
The differences between the political activities of the army in Turkey, as opposed to Egypt were correctly listed in the report - one cannot compare apples and oranges.
And re: an Iranian style revolution, where and who would a revolution in Egypt emanate from and who would lead it?
Perhaps the Russian example is closest to home, however no one knows exactly who the new strong-man will be...
I, no 'we' still think that Egypt has an image problem in Africa that it should work on specifically by reforming its media.
It was gratifying to see the Economist's map of Egypt excluding the Halayeb triangle and with a dotted boundary to indicate the dispute over the territory.
It seems to me that the Russian model may be the most likely scenario upon the father’s death, the son might become Prime Minister, or, Vice President. At the same time quiet promises would be made to the military to keep them sweet. Depending on the position, power then shifts towards the Prime Ministership (See Russia's Putin for details on how to do this) or, after a year as deputy, the son moves up to become President. What is clear is that Mubarak wants his son in charge,(look at most Arab leaders for more on this)
ReplyDelete@Annon 2:01 PM
ReplyDelete"Just like a typical looser"
Actually a looser is one who resorts to personal attacks instead of discussing ideas ect.
"...you place the blame for Egypt's failures on the US, EU (you forgot Israel)and foreigners."
Where exactly did I say I blame the West for all our failures?!! I simply pointed out to a couple of well known facts:
a) Western govs consider the Mubarak regime as an ally. Even though I didnt refer to Israel, its not a secret how they are supportive of the current regime and even published reports discussing how its in their best interests if Gamal takes over.
b) During the last parliamentary elections, Mubarak being under pressure for more democracy allowed just 80 members of the MB into the parliament in a clever tactic to tell the Western govs putting such pressure that the other option is MB. I simply pointed out to how this is not true and how foreign media still represent this as the more stronger option in case there is a void in power. I simply said that isnt how things are. and that the power of MB and their support from citizens isnt as strong as projected by Western media and feared by Western regimes.
c) We are seeing increasing number of Western publications talking about the imminent fall of Mubarak by death or other means ect and we are seeing efforts by major Western powers to appear as not supporting any side in this and even seeking to meet with the rising new face, Dr. El Baradie. It wont be the first time the West lets go of one of its allies, we saw how Sadam was a good friend receiving even military support one day and the next day attacked as an awful enemy. Any way you twist it, the majority in Egypt and Id say in MENA do believe that one of the main supporters of their dictators are major Wester govs and there is a real question about whether a democratic MENA would appeal to countries like the US, esp since when you have a properly elected gov and a system that draws a policy meant to serve the ppl not merely to protect the regime, you wont have an Egypt that is so agreeing to what the US and Israel want.
In my comment I also referred to readers comments below the report, which I found mostly ignorant. Some referred this situation to our application of Qur'an!! Who passed this info to them is beyond me actually. Others were talking as if we never had a proper parliamentary and election system ever before and how we are not civilized, while we actually had a strong parliamentary life and proper elections during the monarch time.
"Denial is the enemy of truth"
Very true and I recommend you think about that before you preach it to others. All I said is that we want a gov that serves its ppl as a priority and our interests, even at instances when our interests might collide or contradict that of the West. Isnt this what any proper gov is expected to do?!!!
'Change happens when people genuinely realize their own mistakes and stop blaming the the world for their misery"
True for the first part and if you cared to "read" and "understand" what I wrote that is actually the point Im making, that we are capable of change by ourselves.
Plz point to me where exactly did I blame the World for our misery!!!
Next time you decide to reply to my posts, take the time to read and understand first and plz do not take your own insecurities against me I do not view politics in terms of emotions but in terms of interests and I do believe this regime invested too much in pleasing Western govs sometimes at the expense of our ppl and at the expense of our position and interests in the region. I hope the next one will not do the same