CAIRO -- The present revolt that has erupted across Egypt is in many ways historic and should take the nation into a hopeful future. Unexpected, even by the Egyptians themselves, is that this intifada is led by youth, the so-called Facebook children, with no religious or ideological agenda other than a better future for Egypt and the Egyptian people.
In this difficult time, the military has earned the expected respect of the masses by acting professionally to maintain safety and stability as guardian of the Egyptian people. By reclaiming the future while maintaining stability, these two forces of the youth and the military offer great hope for an orderly transition to a new Egypt.
Clearly, it is time for fundamental change in Egypt, not just cosmetic alterations. There are several reasons for the current uprising which must be borne in mind in order to figure out where to go from here. The people of Egypt have finally lost patience with power games among those surrounding the president over succession to his son, Gamal Mubarak; the lack of transparency among those who held power; and the phony elections that led in the last parliament to a majority by Mubarak's party, effectively with no opposition.
Though Egypt has seen some economic progress in recent years, the masses of the poor have been left behind, and the middle class has actually gone backward. Only the small elite at the top has benefited lavishly by exploiting the marriage between their political influence and the capital. The corruption resulting from this marriage and the constant demands for bribes by officials has further exhausted the tolerance of the people.
Finally, the education system, which is central to every Egyptian household's hopes of progress, has deteriorated into a sad state that is far below Egypt's standing in the world. The system failed in a big way, especially when I compare it with the one I personally experienced as a student in Alexandria in the 1960s. Moreover, scientific research in Egypt, which was ahead of South Korea, has now fallen to the tail of global rankings over the 30 years of the regime's governance.
Where do we go from here?
There are four important steps that must be taken to resolve the current crisis:
First, a council of wise men and women should be assembled to map out a new national vision and draft a new constitution based on liberty, human rights and the orderly transfer of power;
Second, the independence of the judiciary must be guaranteed;
Third, free and fair elections must be conducted for the upper and lower houses of parliament and for the presidency, overseen by the independent judiciary;
Fourth, a new transitional government of national unity must be formed as soon as possible.
Egypt is in a transition, and it is important that the Egyptian people realize that in the coming days solidarity will be a key force for a successful outcome. The role of the military must be to maintain order and to protect the people from lootings and crimes in this transitional period, and not to interfere in the formation of the unity government. Long-standing political parties and organizations should for now put aside their own agendas and place their priorities on building a stable bridge to Egypt's democratic future.
In order for this plan to succeed as legitimate, President Hosni Mubarak must step down now. Mubarak came to power as a hero who fought bravely in Egypt's wars and headed the nation's air force. He can act heroically again if he leaves power immediately so that the transition to a new Egypt can take place in an orderly and peaceful manner.
Dr. Ahmed Zewail was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1999. Currently he is a professor at the California Institute of Technology, serves on President Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and is the president's special envoy for science to the Middle East. Holding dual Egyptian-American citizenship, Zewail is often mentioned as a potential candidate for Egypt's presidency.
© 2011 Global Viewpoint Network; Dist. by Tribune Media SERVICES.
Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Revolutionary Egypt: From Red Sea of Old to Tahrir Square Now
I'm Still trying to Savour these Historic Moments in Time, that we're Watching LIVE, where NOTHING will EVER be the Same Again!
Egypt has always been BIGGER & FAR more Important, than MOST People Realize!!
This is much BIGGER than Egypt, and WILL have Global Ramifications & Reprecussions!!!
This Defiance & Rebellion in Tahrir / Liberation Square (Midan El-Tahrir), is a LOUD Warning to the Entire World. The Kleptocrats, Oligarchs & Thieves of the World, have GOOD Reason to Worry........
More Power to the People of Egypt................
Peace, Love & Respect.
This description of Egypt's socioeconomic condition nearly mirrors that of the United States. While the solutions to these problems in the US will no doubt differ, it's useful to consider that socioeconomic change in the US, too, is pending.
As to running for President: wouldn't someone who's been living in Egypt be a better choice?
I've spent about ten years in the Middle East and traveled to Egypt many times.
Democracy. That is the main slant on HP. Something that has been an outlier for a long time. President Obama and Hillary have handled this wrong from the get go. This is not about Democracy as Democracy is not the end result here.
I understand how we should cry about the poor, the beat down people. I agree with that. But no Democracy will rise out of this.
President Obama and Hillary muffed this from the get go. They choose to pacify both sides and not take a side. The prudent choice would of been to say nothing at all. They are both in the belief this will end without violence and in the US best interest.
The Mercy should of been activated and sent immediately and an offer of non-combat SAR. Medical and Transport capabilities sent into MMC.
The main cause of this revolution, as in Tunesia is the cost of food staples. Which will only get worse in the coming days. Not one single person has tried to relieve this issue. This is where the violence is going to come from.
You eat poor people?
That sounds awfully familiar. There's this other country where the political elite use their position of power to stomp on the poor and middle class in order to enrich the politically well-connected few to whom they are effectively married. Unlike in Egypt however, the bulk of the population of this other country doesn't recognize that it has been sold out by its own government.
≈40% of Egyptians live on less than $2.00 a day.
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This is exactly what Suleiman Osman and Mubarak are trying to wreak. They should be clearly told that they are painting themselves in a corner where the rest of the world is concerned, and will be abandoned as recognized criminals when the predictable outcome puts them on the run. No one inside or outside the country will tolerate (eventually) more dillydallying about addressing blame where it is so clearly deserved.