Egypt Coup

What we've learned about the "new" Egypt is that if the people don't like you, the military will step in and fire your ass!

The military informed President Mohamed Morsy, as of 7pm local time, that he was no longer the president of Egypt. Further, they dissolved the nation's parliament and suspended its constitution. According to reports, the military council has formed an interim civil government, until the specifics of the forward process can be hashed out.

I know the pharaohs are spinning in their tombs!

7,000 Years

The nation of Egypt has waited "7,000 years for today," according to one Egyptian. According to him it has taken over 7,000 years for Egypt to go from an autocratic state, ruled by pharaohs, who in part drew their power from the gods themselves, to an elected despot, who represents another zealous faction swearing allegiance to another religious dogma. (That's a whole other concern.)

The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, Mohamed Morsi, declared that he was the candidate to represent all of Egypt. While those are commendable goals, he mustn't forget that his nation is formally ruled by a military council that garnered its power at the collapse of Egypt's previous president, Hosni Mubarak. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has dissolved parliament, at the behest of the nation's supreme court. It's rule is seemingly unhindered by recent developments.

It is my hope that Egypt can find true democracy through the majority's voice. The majority spoke last year when it rose up against then-President Mubarak and declared that it would no longer accept the rule of its nation's oligarchy. Mubarak has since found himself indicted, tried, found guilty and sentenced to life for his crimes against those who rose up against the government.

Whether the oppression came from a self-appointed, pseudo-dictator, like Mubarak, or the self-appointed military apparatus that rules firmly today, Egypt must rise out of the ashes of its own history to find its path into the future.

Hosni Mubarak & Egypt

In a follow-up to an earlier post today, it had been announced--through an unofficial capacity--that President Hosni Mubarak would resign his position in a nationally televised address. Instead, he offered six amendments to the constitution of Egypt.

He further stated that he would remain the country's president until September, when a new election can be conducted, in which a new president will be elected by the people. I admire him for such courage. The people of Egypt have lived with him for over thirty years. Why can't they stand him for six more months? (He states that he has served Egypt for over sixty years, both as a soldier and politician.)

I think Egyptians believed President Mubarak would flee for his life, like the former president of Tunisia did in earlier weeks. There is no blueprint for such sweeping change. Now, the people will look to the Egyptian military to see where it stands.

Egypt

In its third week of open revolt, the press is speculating that President Hosni Mubarak will resign as president of Egypt at any moment.

The protesters, who have been in Egypt's Tahrir Square for the duration, have seemingly broken the will of the 30-year-old, pro-Western regime. They want reform and freedom. Those are all noble sentiments, but we have found that those sentiments do not play well in the Middle East. (I didn't write their story.) Let's think of Iraq and Afghanistan; even though, those are cases of forced democratic reforms, I concede.

On this auspicious occasion, I am reminded of a line from the movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka tells Charlie, "Don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted." In the case of Egypt, instead of living happily ever after, it may have to make do with Islamic sharia law and an Ayatollah.

Good luck Egypt!