Press TV
Time running out for Pharaoh Mubarak
Fri Feb 4, 2011 7:6PM
Mohioddin Sajedi
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
The Egyptian revolution is reaching the final stages of the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship. Hosni Mubarak has become a person who has no support in the country or elsewhere and who everyone wants to resign.
Some like protesters in different Egyptian cities are calling for the immediate ouster of Mubarak as the main prerequisite for negotiations on the transition of power in this ancient country.
Others like the US and European countries insist on the need for saving the regime and beginning the transition phase in a systematic and organized manner. The truth is that Mubarak's era has come to an end.
The people of Egypt expect more than lack of extension of Hosni Mubarak's presidency or abolishing the succession of his son, Gamal or even some changes to Egypt's constitution.
Mubarak, who until a few months ago, said that he would not step down as long as he is alive, deceitfully told an American journalist that he is “fed up with being Egypt's president” and that “he is ready to quit”, but since he is afraid that “stepping down would result in chaos in Egypt,” he feels that he should remain in power for the time being.
Mubarak's statements are exactly similar to what the deposed king of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi said before fleeing the county.
Exactly like any other dictatorship, Egypt has some people who are trained for such critical days with the mission to create a chaotic atmosphere in the country during protests and permitting any attempt that might intimidate people.
In Tunisia, there are still some trained mercenaries trying to intimidate the people. They act exactly like followers of former Iraqi despot, Saddam Hussein who tried to pave the way for the return of Saddam in a preplanned manner by attacking people and carrying out massive explosions in Iraq.
Understanding how a dictatorship uses organized mobsters to terrorize its opponents and at the same time acquits itself and expresses unawareness about their motives is much easier in the Middle East than other parts the world.
The continuation of protests in Egyptian cities, especially their gathering in Cairo's Liberation Square after the Friday Prayers leaves no doubt that the Egyptian government's policies for creating a rift among people and turning them into pro- and anti-Mubarak groups has not succeeded.
It goes without saying that if the attack by mobsters on protesters in Cairo's Liberation Square had achieved the desired results, the newly-appointed Egyptian prime minister and vice president would have praised the heroic performance of these mobsters, introduced them by name and described their actions as the result of the commendable policies of the government.
There is no doubt that Mubarak is still in power. Omar Suleiman is a person who grew up in the regime of Hosni Mubarak and managed to win his confidence to administer Egypt's security affairs. Suleiman knows more than anyone else the details about the mobsters and their mission.
In addition to sending mobsters to suppress the Egyptian people, Mubarak is trying to intimidate, especially the liberal Western governments and the political factions of the Muslim Brotherhood and the possibility of their control over Egypt's revolution. The West's liberal governments and political factions are ready to compromise with the worst dictators in the Middle East after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Although the Muslim Brotherhood is the most organized opposition group in Egypt and plays a very important role in pushing back the pro-Mubarak mobs in Cairo's Liberation Square, it has not talked about exclusively gaining power and does not seem that until the Muslim Brotherhood-like model of Turkey bears result, it will be looking to gain absolute power. Moreover, the Muslim Brotherhood prefers to be that section of Egypt's movement that comprises of the youth and not the elite of the society.
The viewpoints of different Egyptian officials indicate that a certain kind of power struggle is going on behind the scene. Arrests and travel bans cannot only be regarded as an attempt for deceiving the Egyptian people. Dictatorships, like that of former regime of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, are ready to make some people scapegoats, who have served them the best, in order to calm the people
Mubarak's insistence on remaining in power until the end of his presidential term and a proposal by the newly-appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq for Mubarak to step down with dignity cannot be considered entertaining, but it shows that the Egyptian regime does not have any clue about the power of Egyptian people and that of his opponents. The influence of Egypt's popular movement has caused more confusion within the government.
Mubarak's respectful exit does not mean that the Egyptian government does not believe in the immediate transfer of power and is trying to help Mubarak remain in power. Mubarak's departure is not only tantamount to the departure of politicians, but it also the departure of businessmen who have become very rich due to their relations with Israel and the West because of the economic policies of Mubarak's son, Gamal.
King Farouk of Egypt left the country and relinquished power to the Free Officers Movement, led by Gamal Abdel Nasser. Farouk was officially escorted out of Alexandria by the Free Officers who had risen to power. The Question is will Mubarak choose to leave like King Farouk or will he leave like Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali?
MS/HSH/HGH
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of Press TV.
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