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05 February 2011 By Saeed
Qureshi America's Stand on
Egypt's
Tumult is Ambiguous The U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton was simply beating
about the bush while expressing the American
administration's reaction to the emerging monumental
crisis in Egypt. She was talking to CNN anchor this
morning. Instead of clearly stating the
United States' stand, her implicit message was that
Hosni Mubarak should stay at the helm
and should initiate dialogue with the opposition for a
transition. She was not condemning the besieged and
tyrannical president totally bereft of the popular
support. United States should not sail
simultaneously in two boats, or as the proverb goes,
run with the hare and hunt with the hound. The hare in
this case are the people of Egypt while hound is
President Hosni Mubarak. If at this stage when the
whole Egypt is demanding ouster of Hosni Mubarak,
American leadership should not talk with tongue in
cheeks. The change in Egypt is
inevitable.
President Mubarak tryst
with power has come to an irreversible end. At this
crucial juncture, if United States supports the
nationwide uprising against a civilian dictator, it
would earn the abiding gratitude of the people of
Egypt. America should rather hastily snatch the credit
of facilitating the transition to the national unity
government by compelling the discredited Egyptian
president to relinquish his charge that he has been
holding for over three decades by force and oppression
and similar devious machinations. This is a defining moment not
only for the democratic destiny of the Egypt but it
also poses a challenge to the vision, courage and
foresight of the American leadership. Most of the
congressmen and senators have postulated that at least
in this crisis America should stand on the right side
of history. It means America must demonstrate
its support and solidarity with the people of Egypt
clamoring and struggling for great and historic change
that would herald an era of democratization, civil
society and freedom in the Arab lands lorded over by
lecherous and anti people, forces. It is time to
unfetter the enslaved people of
Arab nations from the barbaric clutches
of monarchs, kings, military dictators and royal
sovereigns. This is an age of enlightenment,
liberty and freedom already dawned for two centuries
now. Why must the inhuman and immoral systems based on
tribalism, feudalism, papacy, privileges and divine
rights, keep exploiting their people by every
conceivable coercive and cruel means? This is the
great challenge to the civilized world to deliver the
vast humanity from the abominable bondage of these
rapacious rulers thriving and lavishing on the
national wealth without sharing it with the people.
The members of the royal families
ruling these poor countries have billions of dollars
in their accounts that keep mounting from the sale of
oil, gas and from other sources. Their people rot and
wallow in poverty, ignorance and backwardness as we
can see in
Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Jordan, and
Libya, Morocco, Oman and
UAE. What rights the royal families in
these countries posses to pocket the huge incomes from
natural resources? The natural, mineral and other
resources belong to the people of that country and not
to a family. This is what all the religions urge and
all the
civilized society
practice. The stupendous change that will
come by removing a ferocious dictator would have its
salutary impact on other countries in the same region.
If the world moves towards civil and representative
governments, equality, freedom and justice and
egalitarianism for their teeming people, then
countries like United States should welcome and
facilitate such a phenomenal change. Thus the flashpoint and hotbeds
of wars and intrigues would be effaced and the world
which is already on the path to a global village could
collectively transform itself into a place of peace
and cumulative progress. That would be a journey
towards creating a paradise on earth. That coveted
dream can come true if the outposts of discriminations
divisions, exploitations and privileges for a few are
demolished. America must catch up with the
throbbings, spirit and calls of the present time and
support the people rather than their despicable local
masters and tormentors. The writer is a Dallas-based journalist and a
former diplomat. Email: qureshisa2003@ yahoo.com |
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