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Exquisite scholar, worthy to be read and heard.
Fear and loathing in post-Morsi Egypt
(France24) – As my EgyptAir MS800 flight touched down on the tarmac at Cairo’s international airport, August 15, the usually blasé voice of the plane’s captain wavered as he said, “Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Egypt … May god protect our country.”
Ever since the military’s deadly crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi last week, the country has resembled a plane in free-fall, whose pilots continue to squabble even as the cockpit goes down in flames.
The endless escalation of violence in Egypt has pushed the military to adopt a series of security measures reminiscent of former president Hosni Mubarak’s rule – raising fears that the hard-won progress made in the wake of the country’s 2011 uprising is being eroded.
It’s impossible to move around Cairo without noticing the omnipresence of armed forces near the city’s key sites, be they bridges, main squares or public buildings. Furthermore, the recent decision to implement a curfew means that the previously straightforward 30-kilometre trip from the airport to capital’s central Zamalek neighbourhood is now a three-hour expedition punctuated by military roadblocks, makeshift check-points and blocked roads.
Interview on Egypt’s state of affairs
The crisis in Egypt deepens every day, with the country increasingly divided into two apparently irreconcilable camps. Recent events, such as the arrest of the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide Mohamed Badie, indicate that the military rulers are determined to break the religious movement, and reconciliation appears impossible, at least for now. So where is Egypt heading? Eduardo Cue puts the question to Gilles Kepel, author of many books about Islam and the Arab world.
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Not really breaking news, more in line with expectations from earlier appeals hearings.
Well, appears the courts in Egypt are in session 24/7 and quite busy … ElBaradei facing dishonesty charges .
Thanks for this perspective. The politics and situation are so complicated that I certainly don’t know how to form an opinion. And there’s no need for me to do so. I’d rather keep an open mind and listen for now.
I REALLY like Professor Kepel. I appreciated that he laid out in the beginning his experience and connections to give us an idea of his viewpoint in the region.
I have picked up bits and pieces about the area, but didn’t have a framework to put it in. I liked that he touched on the pieces that had been standing out to me — religions, oil, and the evolution in each country as they replaced or fought authoritarian regimes.
I think I’m going to have to make a list of each country, maybe a little bit of history, and what the issues are within the country as well as with each other. Very simple. So that I can have a structure to add new information to. To do that begins to solidify my thinking because I choose a structure, but I want to understand more and that will help me organize information.
One thing really stood out for me when he was talking about oil. I’m 65 and was a peaceful protester of the Vietnam War. I felt then that we got into the war solely because of oil and other natural resources in the country. It’s a huge topic to consider the influence of Haliburton and other big companies on foreign policy for this country, but something I must consider as an American.
And these companies have bought the Republican party, openly promoting opposition to President Obama, his policies that would empower people and help the economy and they are fighting tooth and nail against the development of green energy in this country.
To give you my perspective: I am someone who appreciates our government and the good that it does. I appreciate President Obama and his call for us to step up and make it better. I live in a red state and sure as heck don’t want GOP warlords running the states or corporations having any more influence than they do.
You’ve given me lots to think about. I’m excited for the introduction to Professor Kepel and look to learning more. Thank you!