Xchoboomer

A defining moment in the story that is Egypt.

Egypt has been at the center of civilization since before the dawn of recorded history and signs of humanity are evident as far back as 10,000 BC. The rise and fall of Pharoic dynasties, pharohs, and kings, and foreign occupiers has always been a mainstay of Egpytian history. The great Egyptian dynasties which were founded in 3150 BC eventually fell to the Persians in 343 BC. The Persian rule lasted a short 9 years until a Alexander the Great, a westerner liberated Egypt in 332 BC and founded Alexandria, an important center of the Hellenistic sphere that served the western world. The Ptolemaic dynasty was annexed by the Roman empire after Cleopatra VII was captured by Augustus and committed suicide. Egypt remained in a Roman-Byzantine state until it was briefly taken over by the Persians once again in the 7th century AD until the Muslim Arabs absorbed Egypt after defeating the  Byzantines. In the middle ages the Muslims lost control to the Turcs and the Ottoman Empire but not before influencing much of the country with a Sunni Islamic culture that persists till present day. Even Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt in the late 18th century briefly until the Brits came in and pushed the French out. Modern day Egypt has been just as plauged with war and power struggles and has been complicated by the establishment of an Israeli state after WWII. In 1981, President Sadat was assassinated after making a historic visit to Israel which resulted in a peace treaty being signed.  Hosni Mubarack succeeded Sadat after his assassination. And here we are today…

Today Mubarack once again defied his people and asserted he will remain in power after the Egyptian governement sent communications and indications to its people and the U.S government that Mubarack would be stepping down. Egyptian people are gathering by the hundreds of thousands as they have been for the last two weeks. Today has been the largest crowds since these protests began and they are angrier then ever after Mubarack slapped them in the face last night. It remains to be seen if these mostly peaceful protests will become violent.  The army has resisted harming the protesters but it also remained neutral as Pro-Mubarack supporters unleashed violent acts against Egyptians and foreign journalists. With the will of the Egyptian people as well as the U.S government funding the Egyptian military, I find it highly unlikely the military can remain loyal to Mubarack and his regime for much longer without losing credibility and power themselves even though they have just announced they are backing Mubarack until a transfer of power can take place. Mubarack has very few military options without enflaming the world and has arguably no control over a country that wants him out. If history gives any insight Mubarack is only fighting the inevitable.

Will the protesters march on the palace?

Will the army resort to violence if that happens?

Will there be a coup d’etat?

Will the U.S remain an influence over the Egyptian government after the transfer of power, however that happens?

Will a real democracy take root?

Will the Muslim Brotherhood take control?

Egypt will fall. It’s just a matter of who’s hands it will fall into this time.