March 23, 2005

SAUL, NOW PAUL:

Mass movement is accelerating the process of revolution (Youssef M. Ibrahim, 22/3/2005, Gulf News)

These are great times in Arab lands. In multiple countries millions are daring to imagine a future radically different from the past. Imagination is a dangerous thing, thrilling and infectious.

When it runs amok, revolution is never far behind and from the shores of Tripoli to the Gulf of Arabia, it appears indeed revolution has landed.

Just a few weeks ago, would anyone have possibly imagined in Lebanon the sight of Syrian soldiers packing jeeps, armoured cars, shutting down so-called intelligence offices, tucking tails between legs, rushing out in the darkness that precedes dawn?

It is more than imagination now.

It is happening. Could anyone have imagined that an upstart opposition movement in Egypt that called itself kifaya Arabic for "enough'' would grow strong enough to disrupt President Hosni Mubarak's hopes of a dynastic rule where his son Jamal succeeds him, surely, as the next ruler over 70 million Egyptians?

Well, guess what?

That little kifaya movement has now cast enough serious doubts over succession that Jamal as well as the entire superstructure of men who have ruled the largest Arab country since 1952 can no longer count on another half a century monopoly.

Picture frame after picture frame on the canvass what is surfacing is an Arab landscape in revolt, fears melting away, people turning suppressed frustrations into action.


Man, he's really been at the Kool-Aid.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 23, 2005 12:00 AM
Comments

The road to Damascus apparently includes three carrier groups converging on the Middle East.

Posted by: ghostcat at March 23, 2005 12:56 AM

He forgot to add, "and all inspite of GWB." I thought the Arab landscape/street was turning its anger toward US because we were/are attempting to impose our way of life upon them.

Posted by: Dave W. at March 23, 2005 2:04 AM
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