Protest in Egypt

Another Arab regime under threat

President Hosni Mubarak (below) faces unprecedented protest on the street. But it may not make him go—yet

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Readers' comments



Hosni Mubarak had backing of Democratic West. Democratic West has so far backed Despots. When they leave the aftermath will take them towards a: Democratic route or b: Radical Islam. There is secret about where money backing b comes from. There is also no secret as to who hates Democratic route (precedent is Bath Party).
Finally history will blame those who pushed Egyptians to Radical route.


Countdown to 2012
Egypt & other Arab states destabilised
Israel grabs the moment & does something nasty
American evangelicals precipitate Armageddon
Wow ... exciting hocus-pocus!

Prakhar Singh

Egypt president Mubarak is well supported by the united states (exactly as Benali of Tunisia), once this revolution takes over Mubarak, we will see Obama congratulating the Egyptians that they get rid of a dictator (as done with Tunisia).... This is the US policy, they support a dictator and once he becomes weak they forget about him and start talking about freedom and democracy.... Why doesn't the white house talk now about freedom and democracy in Morocco, Arabia Saudia, and Jordan??!!!
Actually, the real dictatorship and the lack of freedom and democracy is in united states itself.


Egypt is not Tunisia but it's a sign that democratic movement is starting to shape in the Middle East even that transformation may take much longer to change anything for the time being. Hosni Mubarak has solidified his grip of power not by decree but a shrewed policy of relaxing political oppositions to express their views. It has shown for the last few years that Mubarak's stance on political opposition was not tough enough to crack them down. The basic point is that Hosni Mubarak is a staunch ally of the United States and the West and without his presence in the region, there is not going to be a regional leader who can help to secure peace in the broader Middle East. But, the democratic movement that is taking place is healthy afterall. The Egyptian people knows better what is good for them and they will decide who will lead them. The political landscape in Egypt is very worrisome and therefore one must be careful how things shape up there.


When it is Lukashenko, we are dealing with tyranny, even though the protests against him are insignificant in both size and level of violence(let alone funded by shady western organizations)
When we are dealing with a pro-American dictatorship of the Mubarak type, then what is being reluctantly uttered? A vague reference to reforms...This strategy is quite amusing.


I wished that all what is happening now already succeeded in 1920s.. and got rid of Kemalism in favor of the Liberals in Turkey. Perhaps, all these would not be happening. Very sad indeed to see people are getting killed. But, Al-Baraday is an Al-Faraday for Egypt!!! :) or else?
I am very happy to see Mobarak go!

As President Barack Hussein Obama's name is a mix of the names of America's enemies – Mobarak +Osama + Hussein, what other irony will we witness after these days in the making of history!

I congratulate all free-spirited, democratic Egyptians who understand the importance of Peace and harmony of humanity..


Yesterday marked the first Egyptian demonstration against the current regime. In thirty years the people of Egypt did not have there say in how there country is ruled. Yesterday was the Revolt day it marked the police day which was supposed to be a national day.

People marched to down town Tahrir square and they we chanting for freedom to the Egyptian. There uprising was against the harsh economic situation , corruption and the unemployment.

There are several aspects that I should discuss in here regarding this demonstration.
• How the police acted towards this protest.
• What is the current regime position regarding there protestors demands.

How the Police dealt with the demonstration.
Most of the reports confirmed that by the beginning of the demonstration they have dealt with the protesters without the normal way of the Egyptian police to disburse any demonstrations. The media were left to cover the whole thing without any interventions and aside from small incidents that were reported it was going well

Around the Four P.M things started to get out of hands. That lead the police starting to hit the people and the demonstrators through stones back against them. The marched to the Tahiri square and decided that they will stay until the next day. The police used a gas bombs and water cannon against the people. The day causalities were two protestors and a police man.

The minster of interior issued a statement accusing the Muslim Brotherhood and the other social movements.

And although it was organized through a the social networks by regular independent Egyptian. There comes this statement in order to have an international echo that that this is not like what happened In Tunisia it is politicized movement. They want to send the message that this is not the Egyptian people it is just some outlawed groups who have that effect over the people. And although the Muslim Brotherhood at the beginning denied any participation in the uprising the regime still accuse them of plotting this thing out.

What is the current regime position regarding there protestors demands.

Although the people demands are legitimate and that the current regime is out dated and has fallen in all of there assignments as for an example the country does not have any kind of democracy and the last election is a clear example. The IMF reports that 40% of the Egyptians are living with less than 2$ a day. All the economic growth they announce only fall into the hand of less that 10% of the Egyptians. It is not about how much increase in the GDP that would reflects how the country is operating it is about the wealth distribution and how this distributed among the Egyptians.

The leadership insist that Egypt is witnessing a new era and that the economic growth that we have is significant. They also assure that the elections were transparent. They hold there position that the unqualified and illegitimate MP will discuss all the matter inside the parliament.

To give you a hint about the Egyptian parliament that is totally dominated by the NDP with almost 90% of the seats so it is just a one way flow

Now still there is no comment from the government regarding the incident. I think that this demonstrations will be a new chapter in the modern Egyptian History


Power to the people.

Hopefully these will protests bring about a true democratic government based on principles of equality and freedom rather than another Muslim dictatorship.


Hillary Clinton only offering limited support to the Egyptian leader at this stage as the riots turn nasty. Her words were under-whelming almost ambiguous. "RIOT if you want; but dont mention my name". By supporting the Tunisian leader openly (the week before) she decided to take a different approach with Egypt. The Tunisian leader got out with his gold-bars leaving his US dollars to rot in his Presidential palace.

All this came about because WIKILEAKS spilled the beans with the MAFIA remark by the US Ambassador in Cairo. America supporting the Tunisian MAFIA? Well they did ask the New York mafia to kill CASTRO with exploding cigars.

ISRAEL must be concerned because America pays EGYPT over 3 billion dollars a year to isolate and block GAZA. GAZA the prison camp suits ISRAEL as EUROPE pays for the UN food aid to the Palestinians living behind bars. HAMAS duly elected...but not acceptable to the WEST. Egyptians feel that GAZA deserves more freedom....and food.


We'll need to see big protests after Friday prayers if this movement is to have any staying power. Thursdays protests were small. It looks like Mubarak's strategy is to sit quietly and wait for it to blow over.


It's very easy for me, sat as I am in my middle class seat, cheering on the protesters in Tunisia, Egypt and goodness knows where else.
But am I the only one, with that nagging feeling, that after the dust has settled and the despots have gone, that life for the people in the short to medium term, won't be necessarily better than before?
Most of these countries are pacified by subsidies - petrol, food, housing etc and these are not going to be sustainable in the future.
Exposed to the harsh winds of the global downturn, things may be difficult in the coming years.
I wish the people of these countries, the very best in finding the best political and economic model for themselves - but just be careful what you ask for!

Michael Dunne

Not to sound melodramatic, but if this continues, it could be big, really big, along the lines of:

1968 Paris
1978 Iran

Like with both incidents, the US will not be able to do much, and in my view probably shouldn't (probably would strengthen Islamists and extreme elements on the far spectrums from any nationalist reaction).

Maybe some far right extremist will scream weakness (or talking heads, agitators, etc.), but I tend to be a real conservative, as in don't stick your finger in someone else's pie unless you have a real dang good reason, and stick to trade matters (so that Federalist, Whig, Republican Isolationist lite legacy).


Traveling has taught me many things, like:

1. We share more than we believe we do (young Palestinians and Israeli aspire basically the same)
2. Boys talk about girls and sports (Messi vs. Ronaldo is a hot topic everywhere and every men in the world has something to say about Beyoncé)
3. Girls talk about boys and family

Don't get it twisted people in Egypt want to be as free as people in California or Paris. Globalization and "new media" have shown people everywhere how good it is to live in democracy and new social dynamics (thanks social networks) are a big challenge for dictators and trust me, it is not easy being a dictator these days...

I am African and I feel ashamed when people like colonel Kaddafi pretend they represent the aspirations of this continent.

It took one month to topple Ben Ali, maybe persistence will work as well in Egypt.


To all the peaceful demonstrators in the Arab world: Do not give up until you establish Democracy! Do not negotiate with terrorist leaders like Mubarak. Let him go to exile in Israel and live with the settlers and burn down olive trees.
The people of the world are behind you even if some of their leaders (like the US government controlled by the Israel-firsters) are not.


Maybe those who have criticized Fukuyama's 'End of History' are starting to think that his scenario could be possible.


"Should Mr Mubarak begin to concede to the protesters’ demands, however, he may be perceived as weak—and that might encourage more to be made."

And so the Czar dismissed the Duma; we all know how that one turned out.

Jai Prakash Sharma

With Tunisia becoming the political epicentre, the tremors seem to have started shaking off rest of the Arab world as Egypt too goes the Tunisian way in the wake of sudden youth upsurge against the 30-year long authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak, and if, the momentum picks up, as seems likely, the Arab political landscape, the citadel of despotism, would soon undergo a major democratic transformation, however flawed it might be initially though, yet might consume one authoritarian regime after the other, paving way for the accommodation of people's say in running the state affairs, hence popular upsurge in pan-Arab world a historic turn around to be welcomed by the free world.



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