The Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Under Field Marshal Tantawi: A Recipe for Revolution or More of the Same?
Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah, JCPA
*
Egypt is ruled today by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Muhammad Hussein Tantawi. The country is now ruled under military law, something which the masses did not expect and which does not fit in with the idea of democratic reform.
*
WikiLeaks documents describe the Egyptian military as a parallel economy, a kind of “Military Inc.” Military-owned companies, often run by retired generals, are active in water, olive oil, cement, construction (building roads and airports), hotel and gasoline industries. The military produces televisions and milk and bread.
*
Egypt has become a firm ally of the U.S. since the end of the 1970s, assisting it in many facets of its anti-terrorist policy. Tantawi himself and his troops fought alongside American troops in Operation Desert Shield in Iraq in 1990.
*
At 76, Tantawi is no revolutionary. He and his colleagues have a lot to lose if they accede to actual demands for change. A transformation of the regime into a civilian democratic regime will not be viable for the military, and he will likely try his best to maintain the advantages his class has always enjoyed.
*
In the strategic field, it seems that Tantawi will remain loyal to Egypt’s American ally, even though he may have to rethink the totality of the country’s commitment in view of the behavior of the U.S. administration toward Mubarak.
Arnoldharris:
Reminiscent of Nazi Germany, where the propaganda depicted Jews as rodents and rapists of Aryan, blond,blue-eyed nordic, pure maidens.
Arnie, why don’t you take a hike!!
Egypt has just toppled a brutal dictator. The objective now, for all Israelis of good will, should be to encourage whatever democratic elements may exist in Egypt to prevail, and to keep the Muslim Brotherhood from replacing Mubarak as part of yet another dictatorial radical Islamic regime. Everyone with half a brain who follows world events knows that the only way to make this a reality is for the Egyptian Army, which is strongly influenced by the US, to take power and then re-write the constitution so that Egypt becomes a secular multi-party democracy with protections for all minorities. Instead, Arnold and this retired Israeli officer ridicule the Army takeover of Egypt, which is the only hope for any democracy in Egypt.
One of the Army’s first actions was to confirm that the peace treaty with Israel will remain intact.
While keeping your fingers crossed because Muslims do not always behave rationally, it would behoove all sane Israelis to support the Egyptian Army in promoting democracy instead of ridiculing it.
You have no other rational choice, for your own good.
I think what these febrile Egyptian mobs are looking for is mass death, and I hope they all find it. I could not hold such a people in greater disdain. Now I know why the Zahal guys of the 1960s and early 1970s called them “kofim” (monkeys). Who could possibly take such animals seriously?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI