The developing situation in Cairo is heartbreaking. In eight days of demonstrations, millions of people took to the streets to peacefully express their desire for democratic reform. After a late-night statement from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, that peace has been broken.
The violence must stop, and it can only be stopped by President Mubarak. Events are still within his control. He must immediately tell his supporters not to engage in violence against peaceful protesters or journalists. He must order plainclothes police officers not to become involved in fomenting violence. He must order the army to protect the protesters and journalists and to prevent further violence.
Onrushing events in Egypt bring to the international community a sense of urgency. The world community should not wait for a wider conflict to develop. People everywhere must speak out against the violence, which if it spirals could become disastrous. President Mubarak can still assure a peaceful transition.
Follow Rep. Dennis Kucinich on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RepKucinich
Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Revolutionary Egypt: From Red Sea of Old to Tahrir Square Now
What will happen if Mubarak steps down, and the reason that we've "supported" him are closely tied.
If he 'just ssteps down', then there's a Good Chance that the Muslim Brotherhood will be swept into power - and if THAT happens, we can probably kiss the Camp David Accords Good-Bye (remember, that's WHO shot Anwar Sadat, as well as WHY they did it); which is why we need to Support ElBaradei!
The Muslim World was on a course of Modernization - Politically, Socially, Economically - from the late 1700's up until WW2, The Holocaust, and 1948 came along and screwed everything up; as the more radical Muslims (like those in the M.B.) could not bide any former "Dhimmi" taking over Palastine.
While the time is ripe for these positive changes to get back on track - preferably starting with the ouster of some of the more brutal dictators and/or corrupted Monarchs (no offense intended, my many Royal friends) - it's by no means certain that this will be a Leap Into The Future, or one into the Past; a past filled with racism, discrimination, and untold abuses of power for the purpose of taking advantage - of raping, ropbing, pillaging - the very peoples who the Holy Qu'ran Commands the Faithful to Protect!
Must do BETTER than that - or
Inflation is the cruelest tax of all on poor people and that's simply something that is beyond the reach of control of Mr. Mubarak.
He's not going to go quietly into that good night. He's been in power for 30 years, and considers himself not only Egypt's president but the embodiment of Egypt itself.
The Bastille has to be stormed sometimes. Calls for peace to those who rule by violence and intimidation are wasted on deaf ears Mr. Kucinich. We have seen Mubarak's true colors. He doesn't want to listen to the will of the people, nor is a practitioner of democratic principles. He's used the system, used democracy to further his own needs.
His only job has been to keep his job. Now he wants to go out on his own terms? No. He has to go out on the people;s terms and if that means run out of the country on a rail, tarred and feathered or worse, so be it.
We shouldn't have supported him for this long, with money, arms or rhetoric. Not only is this the end of Mubarak, it has to be the end of the way the United States tries to buy friends around the globe.