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The Winds Of Change In The Middle East
By D. Asghar
As these lines are being written, according to the reliable news media of the world, at least 20 people have lost their lives in Egypt. The anti government demonstrations have been defiant of the restrictions and the curfew. Scores of people have been wounded and injured. The 82 year old, I repeat 82 year old, President Mubarik has dismissed his government and promised to install a new one to alleviate the anger and frustration of the masses. (Poor move Sir, how about resigning yourself?)
Needless to say, the recent upheaval in Tunisia, has given many of the suppressed Arab world masses some hope. This is the age of information, where Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media streaming through the internet and mobile phones, can reveal anything and everything within minutes.
What is the first thing that our so intelligent and respected President Mubarik did to respond to such an irrefutable and potent resistance? He cut off the internet and mobile phones within the country to give a “befitting response” to the vociferous opposition. Little did the dear President know, that this information revolution is unstoppable.
People still communicate via land lines and even if land lines are cut, there is cable and satellite. If those are cut off as well, there are newspapers of the world. If those are banned, then people have couriers like DHL and Fed Ex and finally regular mail to transfer the news. The point here is that, when people want change, they will go to any length to get it. No amount of force or fear can really stop them.
The winds of change have started to flow through the Arab world. Many of our analysts would blame the “Evil US”, for the recent Egyptian episode as well. I certainly do not agree with every foreign policy move of the US Government, but know at least this much, preserving self interest dominates most of the US foreign policy. Similarly, when the handwriting on the wall becomes obvious, often a 180 degree can be expected from policy makers in Washington. So the other Middle Eastern monarchs, must pay close attention to these rather unfamiliar events and do not consider themselves as the Pharoahs of modern times.
What all of this means for our part of the world? My last scribble briefly touched on this issue. If we do not embrace the supremacy of the law and implement it in letter and spirit, unfortunately we will lose the spirit of this country and the vision of its founding father. Regretfully, that scene may be worst than what we are currently witnessing in Cairo.
Written by dasghar
D. Asghar is a Pakistani American. A Mortgage Banker by profession who loves to write as well. He blogs frequently at popular South Asian websites. A repository of some of his scribbles is http://dasghar.blogspot.com/. He can be reached at dasghar@aol.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized · Tags: government, land, people, policy
12 Responses to "The Winds Of Change In The Middle East"
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click on the following link for a tribute to salman taseer in benazir bhutto’s voice :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK2PIAKlgnE
share the link on facebook,email as much as possible,it’s a beautiful poem recited by Benazir bhutto.
.
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It is quickly approaching the anniversary of the assassination of Salmaan Taseer’s and I am enclosing a Link of an interview with Shehrbano Taseer that is so uplifting and informative as she certainly has her father’s bravery and political acumen when it comes to Pakistan.
The interview was from an Indian Journalist and she called Salmaan Taseer “The Lion of Punjab” which I believe should be his new mantra. It seems most fitting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wQ1L8w7DQ&feature=related
Barkha Butt is an idiot !
@Suneel
[Barkha Butt is an idiot !]
Would you be kind enough to elaborate?
@D Asghar: Mubarak is toast – as he should be. Hope that hell-hole Saudi Arabia is next. Of course it’s not going to be milk and honey. The Muslim Brotherhood will get a shot at governance in the near future. And so it should be. The US and the rest of the world need to reconcile ourselves to an arc of Islamism from Egypt to Pakistan for some time to come. No point preventing people from going where they’re hell-bent on going.
@wonderer: Check out the video of Barkha Dutt interviewing Sherbano Taseer. Barkha is a complete mutt. Not to mention how she lost her credibility in the Radia affair. And the fact that she’s a closet-commie, in an openly commie outfit like NDTV doesn’t play well with me.
What is happening in Tunisia is going to happen all over the Muslim World. Till now the Arabs and other Muslim countries could sustain their ever growing populations on the back of Petrodollars, even in countries where there is little Oil, as the Gulf Arabs provided employment and investment. What happens when Oil runs out in the next 3-4 decades?
There is little in the form of innovation, productivity, agriculture or even trade amongst the Arabs. How will they sustain their growing populations?
At least till now Ben-Ali provided Tunisia with security and stability, which brought in significant Tourism dollars, and some Tunisians could support themselves. Now even the Tourism industry is also going to collapse.
What do the Muslim youth think – jobs grow on trees!? Or is it that the Book will give all the answers?!
“I certainly do not agree with every foreign policy move of the US Government, but know at least this much, preserving self interest dominates most of the US foreign policy. ”
Umm, does not preserving self interest dominate virtually everyone’s foreign policy? The US is actually a bit unique in that it does promote some of its principles/values in other countries.
@Raj
“Mubarak is toast – as he should be. Hope that hell-hole Saudi Arabia is next.”
Mubarak maybe(?) toast due to the lack money/job opportunities in Egypt. However, Saudi Arabia will be stable so long as they have oil wealth. The whole system in KSA is a crude form of socialism, where the royals supply the local tribal/clan chiefs with money in return for loyalty (the chiefs then support the populace with this money). No one will bite the hand that feeds them, no matter how corrupt they are.
@ wonderer,
Barkha Dutt is an idiot, but she is not the only idiot in India, screaming their lungs out in support of the Pakistani liberals.
These Indian idiots need to realize that Salman Tassir was no different when it came to be a rabid India hater. So, there is no reason for the Indian idiots to be excited about the Pakistani liberals.
Asghar bhai,
Aren’t protests in Egypt unconstitutional?
It is advisable that if your posts are added some relative pictures which will make your blog more fantastic.