Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"As it prepares to transfer authority to elected civilian leaders, the Egyptian military is still the most potent political force in the country. The struggle to assert civilian supremacy will take years and is by no means assured"
"The presidential elections are very far from being fair because the Military Council has set the rules in order to obtain the result that it wants. It is a decisive battle between the revolution and the Mubarak regime"
"Ironically, it seems that the Egyptians, having staged the first popular revolution in their history, are being asked not to choose the future but to choose between various versions of an imagined glorious past"
The man who would rule Egypt, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, started political life as self-confessed extremist. Challenged Sadat, ended up in prison with Zawahiri and others. Later rose in Muslim Brotherhood. Then broke with it
"The euphoric toppling of Hosni Mubarak last year has given way to a vexed, often violent and needlessly prolonged transition. Yet in its awkward, bumbling way, the most populous and influential Arab country is moving forward"
On the American coach of Egypt's national side. "His team has no home. His players have no league. His new country has no leader. It's no wonder Ahmed Hassan, Egypt's all-time leader in caps, said recently 'God help Bob Bradley'"
"As Aboul Fotouh has risen to front-runner status in the presidential election, he has become the Rorschach test of Egyptian politics. Liberals think he's more liberal than he actually is. Conservatives hope he's more conservative"
"This election is expected to bring to office the first civilian president in post-colonial Egypt, after more than 60 years of rule by generals -- retired or active. But will any civilian winner be able to demilitarize the state?"
Excellent short analysis of Egypt/Saudi Arabia spat. After years of clientelism under Mubarak, Egypt is now an unruly place; Saudis use financial arm-twisting to try to maintain old ways. But the old ways of the region are gone
Comment on Mona Eltahawy's polemic (linked to below) on the treatment of women in the Arab world. Yes, the problems are real but they need putting in a wider context where wholesale reform is needed. It's not just about gender
A call to arms. "Arab societies hate women. Name me an Arab country, and I'll recite a litany of abuses fueled by a toxic mix of culture and religion that few seem willing or able to disentangle lest they blaspheme or offend"
Celebrated Egyptian novelist likens his country to a burning building. You're resident there and so is your neighbour from hell, the Muslim Brotherhood. There's no alternative – you must put aside differences to extinguish the fire
Image by Stefania Zamparelli on Flickr
