No one can confidently predict the outcome, both short and long term, of the events now unfolding on the streets of Cairo and Alexandria. One is reminded of Zhou Enlai's answer to the question whether the French Revolution succeeded: "It's too soon to say."
The short time outcome in Egypt may be the introduction of some structural democracy in the form of fairer elections. But the real test will be whether structural improvements will bring about real functional democracy -- freedom of speech, assembly, press, religion and dissent. This will take more time to assess.
There are models for good outcomes, bad outcomes, as well as for in-between results. The paradigmatic horrible outcome was, of course, the structural democratic election of 1932 in Germany which brought to office Adolf Hitler who quickly ended any semblance of functional democracy. An in-between result is the Philippines, where there is more democracy than under the previous dictatorship, but not nearly as much as there should be. The good outcomes have mostly been in Europe, following the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Mubarak administration has always conjured up the spectre of an Iranian style Khomeini result, in order to frighten those who wanted to replace him. Now Mubarak's critic, as well as many in the media, have challenged this straw man, pointing out the considerable differences between current Egypt and Iran 40 years ago. They are right. Iran is not an appropriate analogy. But neither is the Philippines nor the Czech Republic. The closest analogy may be Lebanon.
Both Egypt and Lebanon have strong middle classes. They both have influential Christian minorities. They both have secular traditions. And they both have a well organized and well funded radical Islamic group vying for power and determined to turn the country into an Islamic theocracy.
There are important differences as well. The Egyptian army is strong, while Lebanon's is weak. And the Lebanese Islamic group has a strong militia, armed and financed by Iran, whereas the Muslim Brotherhood has little military support behind it -- at least at the moment. But it is allied with Hamas, which is right across the porous border with Gaza.
The following scenario is possible, if not likely. Mubarak will leave. Someone like Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel Laureate who ran the International Atomic Energy Agency, will serve as an interim leader. He is supported by the Muslim Brotherhood, and, in turn, he has said nice things about the Brotherhood. On Sunday, he told Fareed Zakaria the following:
You know, the Muslim Brotherhood has nothing to do with the Iranian model, has nothing to do with extremism, as we have seen it in Afghanistan and other places. The Muslim Brotherhood is a religiously conservative group. They are a minority in Egypt. They are not a majority of the Egyptian people, but they have a lot of credibility because all the other liberal parties have been smothered for 30 years.
They are in favor of a federalist state. They are in favor of a wording on the base of constitution that has red lines that every Egyptian has the same rights, same obligation, that the state in no way will be a state based on religion. And I have been reaching out to them. We need to include them. They are part of the Egyptian society, as much as the Marxist party here. I think this myth that has been perpetuated and sold by the regime has no - has no iota of reality.
This Pollyannaish description of the Muslim Brotherhood is misleading and incomplete at best and totally unrealistic at worst. The Muslim Brotherhood is a violent, radical group with roots in Nazism and an uncompromising commitment to end the cold peace with Israel and replace it with a hot war of destruction. Its very name undercuts ElBaradei's claims that "every Egyptian has the same rights" and that "the state in no way will be based on religion." Christians, women, secularists and other dissenters will not have the same rights as Muslim men. Right now the Brotherhood "are a minority," but they are the largest and best organized minority, and they don't play by the rules of democracy, using assassination and threats of violence to coerce support.
ElBaradei is their perfect stalking horse -- well respected, moderate and compliant. He will put together a government in which the Brotherhood begins as kingmaker and ends up as king.
This will not produce functional democracy. Nor will it preserve peace in the region. The first casualty may well be the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority will be emboldened by the prospect of a powerful military ally on Israel's border. The Israelis will be reluctant to surrender any more territory if they can no longer count on peace with Egypt (and perhaps with Jordan).
The second casualty will be religious freedom for Egyptians, particularly Christians, but also secularists.
I have visited Egypt on several occasions, most recently a few months ago. Compared to other repressive dictatorships I have visited over the years, it was a 5 or 6 on a scale of 10 for the average Egyptian. The hard question is will it get better or worse. "It's too soon to say." My best guess is that it will get better for some and worse for others.
Alan Dershowitz's latest novel is The Trials of Zion
Is he referring to the type of "Islamic Regime" in Lebanon where the President must be a Christian by law and custom, as well as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces among others? An "Islamic Regime" where half the members of parliament are Christian by law? Where half of the country's top civil servants also must be Christian?
In his article's second paragraph, he writes: "the real test will be whether structural improvements will bring about real functional democracy –freedom of speech, assembly, press, religion and dissent."
But in his next to last paragraph, he writes that "the second casualty (of democratic government in Egypt) will be religious freedom for Egyptians, particularly Christians". One can only wonder how something, which by his own admission doesn't exist today, can be a "casualty" of a democratic government tomorrow.
The most blatant proof of Mr. Dershowitz's Islamophobic bias is his assertion that "the very name" of the Muslim Brotherhood "undercuts ElBaradei's claims that 'every Egyptian has the same rights' and that 'the state in no way will be based on religion.'"
By this measure, no Western democratic party calling itself e.g. "Christian Democrat", as many in Europe do, can be trusted with protecting the civil and religious liberties of any non-Christian European minority, be it Muslim, Jewish, or Bahai'. This is patently and demonstrably wrong.
Don't get me started on a Media beholden to the Gas &Oil Party for consolidation...
In this case every mention of Mubarak should have been stated in the following way:
".......Mubarak, whose predecessor was gunned down by the Moslem Brotherhood...."
Clearly a major reason that the outcome is a mystery is because Mubarak has suppressed every group for 30-years, presumably as a result of the above, so that their true colors in the Egyptian context are unknown and people can say what they want.
What I think has imressed many around the world has been that those finally allowed their voice have done so -- for the most part -- in a none violent -- and Responsible way -- while taking care of each other and properties around them -- as Obama encouraged them and the regime to do. This has been extremely moving to see. And creates hope for a positive outcome.
".......Mubarak, whose predecessor was gunned down by the Moslem Brotherhood...."
Or it could have been stated in this way:
The Brotherhood is a well-established presence in Egypt, which, for a time, the US and its Egyptian sock puppets were allied with during the cold war era, as a bulwark against Nasserite and pro-Soviet socialist groupings.
As was the case with every country that has had a revolution.
There is a very real fear that the Arab Muslims will expose the chauvinistic narrative that they are incapable of looking after themselves and their own interests. And of course, that means Israel won't be able to hold onto the claim of being he only democracy in the region.
What is going on in Egypt is of utmost interest and importance to Iran. This is a tough neighborhood. The house of Egypt is in a terrible uproar, and you can be sure some of the neighbors from the Iranian house down the street are busily talking with someone in the house of Egypt right now.
I completely agree that the US cannot put itself in the middle of this. Period. It can, however, exert some pressures.
Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130
The poor people of Egypt are rebelling against Mubarak because they demand economic opportunity (among other demands). Waging war against Israel will have the opposite effect on the Egyptian economy. But then again Islamic fundamentalists don't really care about the people of Egypt, they only want power. Losing another war with Israel will bring more misery to the middle east.
Of course, if you want to cite quotes, here's one from Avi Dichter, the Israeli Internal Security Minister, who said in a lecture at the ‘Israeli National Security Research Center’ “about the Israeli role in destroying Iraq after it was occupied in 2003 “we achieved in Iraq more than we expected and plan!” Dichter confirmed that keeping Iraq weak and isolated is an Israeli national interest.
“Weakening and isolating Iraq is no less important than weakening and isolating Egypt,”