Mubarak is confined to a prison at this moment; a prison of his own making. He tried, yesterday, to project a facade of competence, control and power but he failed. The Egyptian people rejected his lopsided compromise to remain in power until the elections, even with Mubarak saying that anarchy will occur if he is not allowed to finish out his term.
He must be one of the most miserable of men at this moment, hiding his fears while trying to exhibit the stability of a ruler who has not lost his people. He is a slave, a slave to his legacy which has been wrecked by those he thought he ruled. He is not his own master any more; he is a puppet being manipulated by everyone he has ever come in contact with.
The events of this past week have galvanized the world. Mubarak has not been first in exhibiting kindness and justice, it is his people who are demanding a new way; a way that rids the country of corruption, terror and fear, and they are trying to accomplish it using peaceful means.
What does this say to those of this world that believe change only comes at the end of a gun? What does this do for those out there that think violence is the only way? Will something occur to destroy this image of peaceful dissent?
Unfortunately today there appears to be conflicts between Mubarak thugs(those too intent on violence to be regular people)and anti-Mubarak peaceful factions which have been the bulk of the protesters for the past week. Some of us watching this believe it to be an engineered conflict; one that will establish reasons for the police and military to crack down on all the people gathering around the country.
This morning i saw this written in a comment thread about the Egyptian uprising on the Daily Kos that a typical tactic of a repressive government is to infiltrate with “supporters who disguise themselves, join the crowd of protesters and create havoc. Then the government/uniformed police/military can step in to "restore order" and "protect private property." This also leaves western governments (US/Britain/France/Germany) and other autocratic (Israel/China) regimes free to claim that the protesters were infiltrated by leftists/anarchists/communists/Muslim fundamentalists and an orderly transition of power (same regime with different faces) was in jeopardy.
Make no mistake, the people have the power, all rulers know their position is tenuous when they have lost their countrymen. These people that are marching day in day out want the right to choose. They are defying the curfew to show that they are not afraid of the military, they want change and they are willing to demonstrate to get it. Even without the internet, the railroads etc. the people are getting their message out, they are becoming more unified. They are working together to keep the areas clean, to tend to the sick, to feed those who are hungry. The people are happy, they have found their voice and they don’t want to lose it again. They are working against those that would use violence to break up the crowds.
Some of the agitators have been captured by anti-Mubarak protesters. You have to ask why men riding camels and horses are the ones creating violence and havoc? Why would Mubarak supporters immediately indulge in violence instead of peaceful opposition after a week of watching peaceful protesters? After being searched some are appearing to be carrying police id’s. Apparently everyone carries an id that says on it what your job is, so they can identify Mubaraks security forces immediately.
If Mubarak really believes in change and wants to be a part of that change he should stop his security forces and supporters from injuring the people who have been demonstrating peacefully. If there are pro Mubarak people who disagree with the anti-Mubarak forces they should also be out demonstrating peacefully. An attack upon peaceful protesters is not the way to rule a country. What is happening today reflects badly upon Mubarak. It is not the way to go out of power.
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