By: Khalid Iqbal February 21 (THE NATION): Interestingly, the fall of the Mubarak regime coincided with the day: exactly 21 years ago: when Nelson Mandela was released from his 27-year long internment. This was also the day when the Shah of Irans tyrannical regime collapsed 32 years ago. However, the anatomy of the Egyptian revolution is unique; it was contagious, spontaneous, leaderless, yet very powerful. Rapid mass mobilisation overtook the traditional pillars of political and religious leadership in Egypt. And before the native leaders could come out of their slumber, it was all over. The western intelligence agencies had failed to predict it, almost replicating the way as these outfits had failed to forecast the collapse of the Shah of Iran. Similar to the recent uprising in occupied Kashmir, the centre stage was dominated by the youth, born and grown up during the Mubarak era. Their internet skills were instrumental in maintaining communication amongst peers; the message spread across the country at a phenomenal speed inspiring the masses to join the struggle; they came from across the country. There were young and old people: Women in hijabs protesting alongside men; toddlers on the shoulders of their parents; teenagers; and religious as well as secular: Christians and Muslims alike. The labour and trade unions joined in the revolution, and so did the lawyers and doctors. Within a few days, the number of agitators rose from 200 into millions. It was a national movement cutting across all social, political and ethnic divides. However, all of this did not fall from the blue. Although the Tunisian uprising provided the vital spark for the Egyptian revolution, yet undercurrents were operating in Egypt since long; turmoil was predicted by the latest books like Egypt on the Brink, Egypt: The Moment of Change, and Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution. Like most of contemporary Afro-Asian public uprisings, the Egyptian revolution has also fizzled out a midway, as the armed forces have hijacked it at least for the time being. There is a clear cut disconnect between the apparent objectives of the demonstrators and the outcome. In all probability, it will not be possible for the military regime and the protestors to pretend as allies for an indefinite period. So far, the militarys strategy has been to calm the nation and the world. Ever since the Camp David Accord, Egypts armed forces have become heavily addicted to USAs support. Its regime has annually been receiving an average of $1.3 billion as military aid. The US and the Egyptian armies bi-annually hold joint exercises, in which reportedly around 25,000 American soldiers participate. Hence, it would be a bit naive to believe that the Egyptian army has become a pro-peoples force, that too overnight.
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
