The New Year Creaks In

Dear Readers

I do not know how you feel, but I feel exhausted, and the New Year has barely begun.

I think it is very interesting that El Baradei has withdrawn from the Presidential race. The cynics might say that he did it because he was not popular with the grass roots. Who knows? I really admire El Baradei, and I think he is exactly what Egypt needs, but then again, I am not Egyptian, so who am I to say?

He may be able to do better work on the outside as part of the "loyal opposition." I admire the crucial role he played in the Egyptian Revolution. There is plenty of work to be done to keep the Revolution on track, and keeping the SCAF honest as the transition continues. I think that El Baradei, with his global view, and intellectual, yet warm and compassionate persona (I have met him)  is the right person to hold the transitional council to task.



Heba Afify, El Baradei's Withdraw from Presidential Race Egyptian Independent, (January 15, 2012)


He has vowed to focus his efforts on organizing youth and concentrating on the basic demands of the Revolution, including Bread, Freedom and Human Dignity.  I think El Baradei will be Egypt's Gandhi.

~WMB

Implement Better Development Regimes in the Arab World (Guest Blogger)

Views contributed by my brilliant colleague and social geographer, David Rutherford, and endorsed by me! Right on, Brother! WMB

Sixty percent of the people across the Arab world are under 30 years of age, and they have terrible prospects for the future, largely as a result of the autocratic regimes that have failed to concern themselves adequately with improving conditions in their countries. I just heard that one in ten people in Libya are affiliated with the secret police, working to maintain the status quo which has had enough oil money to marginally improve the lives of the people of the country while lining their own pockets and ruthlessly suppress any dissent.

As flawed as democracy is in the U.S. and the West-- and I believe it is deeply flawed and that we need to make significant improvements-- the principles of free speech, liberty, democracy, and others that this country and the West developed over the last 250 years or so are worth promoting globally. Of course, those principles are not going to look the same everywhere, and we must be more sensitive and careful than we have been in many cases in the past, but nevertheless, the West seems justified to me in working to advance those principles. 

Text Message from Armed Forces

I received two text messages from the Armed Forces today. The first was at 11:15 a.m. and the second was at 2:20. Here is the translation provided by my office manager. We do not know what these text messages are referring to, although they are clearly meant to intimidate.

"From the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces: the dignified civilians must be responsible and prevent the actions of irresponsible people and organizations"

"The Armed Forces will not allow any illegitimate action due to its risk in the time being for our country. We will take the necessary legal action to stop it."

Feb 25

My Egyptian friend pointed out that she does not believe these messages are supposed to be intimidating. She thinks the texts are a way of reaching out to the Egyptian Youth. She also believes the texts are supposed to promote beneficial behaviors. She mentioned that the Armed Forces has created a facebook page. I must look for that.

Feb 25 12:39 p.m.

Here is some more information on the facebook page of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Here is a link to the official page. http://www.facebook.com/Egyptian.Armed.Forces. I commend the Egyptian Armed Forces for reaching out to the youth.

References:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8231193-egyptian-armed-forces-create-facebook-page-to-reach-out-to-youth