This is a diary for quick translation of various Arabic sources with up-to date confirmed as well as unconfirmed information about the ongoing demonstrations in the Arab world. You can find previous Arab sources diary here and here
These sources include phone conversations with Egyptian friends, the facebook Rassd News Network which seems to be coordinating some of the demonstrations in central Cairo. Other sources include forums associated with various Muslim Brotherhood affiliated political parties.
Let me be clear, I don't expect the Egyptian revolution to be successful. The regime in Egypt is essential for the implementation and veracity of US-Saudi policy in the Middle East. A policy developed during the cold war and which remains in place. Indeed, the demonstrations are naturally anti-American and my expectation is that if they don't disappear soon there will be a massacre of demonstrators (mainly in Alexandria and Suess) that will be sanctioned by the US and the Saudis.
A couple of points. Mubarak's speech was timed for a US audience and not the Egyptian audience. Indeed, many Egyptians missed the live speech. He has now appointed a new cabinet including American intelligence services favorite torturer Omar Sulayman as Viceroy and General Sami Anan (air force) as Defense Minister, a Pentagon favorite. This is not reform.
Progressive Americans can do the Arab world a favor by demanding that the administration call for, unconditionally:
Free and Fair Elections in Egypt
Full-on democracy.
I'll make a few points other points:
- The people want regime change and democracy. They want it now. By regime they don't mean just the Mubarak presidency. They mean the whole edifice of the ruling coalition, including former ministers, security ministers, their son's, their cousins, their families. The whole sorry lot.
- It is totally unlikely that Mubarak will be leaving Egypt before he dies. Mubarak has a measure of dignity and truly believes that Egypt is not ready for democracy but needs one party style of governance. He is ready to die in Egypt and die for his idea about Egypt. Recall that he advised the late Yasser Arafat to stay in Palestine and die in Palestine, who died surrounded by Israeli occupation forces. Mubarak will do the same even if he is confined to a one bedroom apartment surrounded by protestors for years.
- No one pays attention to Hillary Clinton. We need Obama to front up and say the dictatorship and the regime (as described above) has no role and call for Free and Fair Elections in Egypt. Now.
- Oh please avoid using the language of the regime. Stability, law and order, strength, reform, transition. Or their fears, Muslim brotherhood, Sadat's treaty with Israel, war on teghogh (terror). They've had their chance. To hell with the lot of them and their ideas. Democracy now.
- This is a leaderless revolution. Arab revolutions don't need leaders as we saw in the Palestinian and Tunisian intifadas. Talk to the popular committees. Talk to their political program. Hold elections and talk to the emerging parties. Sunni Islam and its culture has no leaders. It was born as a grass roots movement and it is reflected in this revolution. How do you talk to a grass roots movement? Have parliamentary election now. Don't wait for a big leader. This is not the West or the East, there is a natural disrespect for leaders that is culturally impressed.
- The Arab world is paralysed. Nothing will happen in Morocco, Jordan, Syria, Libya, until we see the outcome of the Egyptian revolution. All the people are waiting for Egypt. If Egypt goes democratic and the regime falls, then kafak `al-dictatoria (it will be the end of all dictatorships).
- I will repeat what I said here in my diary Restoring American Islamic Relations: Obama's Cairo Speech:
In a few weeks Obama will give his major speech addressing all Muslims from the capital of the Muslim world Cairo. Ideally, that speech ought to keep in mind the recent history of American interaction with Islam. There are important points that we need to keep in mind.
- Islam is born explicitly universalist and internationalist. There is no notion of nationalism in Islam and it is explicitly hostile to tribalism and racism.
- On issues concerning justice Islam is liberationist in its theology. Anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism is built into Islam.
- Multiculturalism and the idea that there can be many center of culture is an idea in Islam. Indeed, Islam pioneered the modern notion of multiculturalism and its Turkish adaptation the Millet system.
- On economic issues Islam is progressive, in particular with regard to social welfare.
- Islam was born protestant, it (well at least the Sunni version) has no hierarchy and it has been a grass roots movement from its inception.
- Islam is democratic in the sense that everyone is politically involved in it. Everyone has a say.
- Islamic thinkers are open to rational discourse on issues not concerning religious tenants-on almost all other issues, in particular social issues. They do not have fixed ideas outside of a narrow domain.
- Islam like other religions is socially conservative. It has individuals that are very conservative socially. But it also has adherents that are socially liberal. It is certainly open to notions of gender equality and liberation.
Importantly, when speaking to the Muslim world consider the fact that every single individual considers herself a person that has a say in Islam and a person that is informed about Islam. Though tempting and consistent with popular perception of Islam and Arab culture, people do not hold their leaders in high regard, they are naturally suspicious of all forms of elitism. When speaking to the Muslim world you are addressing a grassroots movement to which a billion intelligent aware humans belong.
Update Over a million protestors in Cairo even though all roads to Midan at-tahrir are closed.
Update: Muslim Brotherhood Chairman Dr Isam Aryan:
Free and Fair Elections in Egypt
Head of constitutional court becomes interim president (other groups: head minister in parliament becomes interim president, this is more in line with constitution)
All regime must change.
We want Democracy.
Update: ElBaradei: I don't want to be interim president or president after that. [Of course,
he will not be. The brotherhood wants head of constitutional court. Other minor opposition groups want head of parliament]