Opinion Editorials, February 2011

Redress, Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, February 15, 2011

Christopher King salutes the people of Egypt on this historic day which has seen them depose the despot Hosni Mubarak, and yearns for the peoples of Europe and the USA to learn something from the Egyptians.

Congratulations to the people of Europe in forcing their despotic ruler out. There is some distance to go but they are on the road to form a genuine democracy. Their army has done what is right and in fact it always hinted that it would remain neutral. It is acting in the fine tradition of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

It would be easy to contrast the Egyptian army’s identification with its people with those of Europe but this is not the time to do so. Suffice to say that the people’s achievement will send tremors through the ruling classes of Europe and America. As for the countries of the Middle East one can expect a considerable outflow of funds from their rulers to their Swiss bank accounts.

The French revolution sent shivers through every crowned head in Europe and drove a wave of reform everywhere of which Britain was unfortunately on the periphery. Let us see whether the people of Britain can learn from Egypt.

It is unfortunate that the United States, the self-proclaimed champion of freedom and democracy, can claim no credit in this case. Nor can the European Union. I shall say no more on such a happy occasion when Egypt has been an example to both the United States and Europe.

Those of us who believe in freedom and democracy share Egypt’s happiness. We again congratulate the people of Egypt not only on their extraordinary achievement, but also on the dignified and peaceful manner in which it was achieved. They will, with pride, tell their children and grandchildren of what they did on the streets and rightly so.

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