Goodness ...

[blamebrampton]

Mubarak has actually resigned, and handed power over to the army.

I'm a bit breath-holdy on the whole thing now, because while that is what people wanted, the opportunity for it to go wholly pear-shaped is still very real. Good luck, Egypt!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Yeah, it's half of it, because Suleiman is at least as bad. I did send out congratulatory texts though.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes -- is this the beginning of real change, or just a bit of window dressing instead?

[nedtheimpaler.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever seems to go well, historically, when corrupt dictators hand over power to their military. At least he's gone.

[ineffably-roma.livejournal.com]

I think we're witnessing a remarkable point of change in history for the Middle East and for the good.


I have lots to say about this......but will spare you. :) Rom is very hopeful.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Power to the people!

[drgaellon]

I'm not sure he has. The last reports I heard said that he was NOT resigning, but WAS turning the bulk of his power over to Suleiman, making himself a figurehead. (How long that can last is anybody's guess.)

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I apparently view the agenda behind what's been happening in Egypt somewhat differently to many people. I would like to be wrong, but I suspect that what Egypt will end up with is not at all what people there think they've been asking for.

Time will tell.

[wivern.livejournal.com]

Good luck indeed. I hope it goes well but I admit to some anxiety.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Bah, my cynical take on this is similar to meredyth_13. Wake me up when the true democracy and free elections begin. Yawn.

[lokifan]

I am wibbling... but generally I'm of the opinion that something is better than nothing. And YAY for the protestors!

[teresacoutinho.livejournal.com]

If armies could guide a nation, then we wouldn't need a democracy. An army in power is no use, as was evidenced in Pakistan.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I'm in two minds on this one. As a general rule, armies in charge are a TERRIBLE idea. But there are certain times and places where the army can provide a workable stable power until the civilian agency is ready to reassert itself.

The trick is that it only works when the army is the least corrupt option. This is why they are a terrible option in Pakistan as they have been endemically corrupt since the nation came into existence. In Egypt, they could possibly be all right, as of the four agencies of the state (political, legal, police and military), the army is historically the least corrupt and most respected.

Of course, it could still go horribly wrong ...