On Jan. 25, thousands of Egyptians took to the streets, calling for an end to the tyranny and autocracy that has gripped their country for three decades.
What began as civil unrest, transformed into revolution and culminated with the resignation of one of the Middle East’s many dictators, Hosni Mubarak.
While Mubarak’s resignation has brought celebration and joy to Egypt, the next few weeks and months will be very important for the arrival of democracy in Egypt. In the coming weeks, the actions of the United States in Egypt will serve to show the world whether our country is truly a supporter of democracy or simply a supporter when the conditions are most favorable.
It is no secret that Mubarak — and his totalitarian regime in Egypt — served to be one of our country’s strongest allies in the Middle East. Yet, Mubarak was not the only dictator of the Middle East with whom we shared diplomatic relations.
In Saudi Arabia, a country where elections are all but a pipe dream, the royal family rules with an iron fist, suppressing any form of political freedom, yet still remain a key ally. In Iraq, we celebrated as the Iraqi people were given the free and fair elections that Saddam Hussein had deprived them of. Yet in Palestine and Lebanon, we remain fearful and unsupportive of a democracy that elects representatives of Hamas and Hezbollah to government posts. Selectivity perhaps exemplifies our desire for democracy in the Middle East.
Egypt has now thrown a curveball to President Barack Obama’s administration. Mubarak’s regime, although unstable and tyrannical inside his own borders, provided a degree of stability in the Middle East for the U.S. As the closest Arab country to the time bomb that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Egypt rarely flexed its muscles in Gaza.
The last three weeks have rid us of both a dictator and key military ally. The Egyptian people will now move forward, hoping to inch closer toward a concept that has been foreign to them for some time; choosing their own leaders and government.
Obama’s approach to relations with the Middle East has been far less unilateral and much more diplomatic than his predecessor’s. It is this change in American policy that most likely helped him win the Nobel Peace Prize. However, if Obama desires a continued improvement in foreign policy relations, then he must do what America has failed to do so often when it came to foreign policy. Nothing.
Just as we sat back as Mubarak oppressed his country and deprived Egyptians of civil liberties, just as we sat back as ongoing protests forced Mubarak to resign, we should now sit back and watch as the Egyptians form their own democratic society. America’s political interference in Egypt could prove costly to not only the Egyptian people, but to our future relations with other countries in the Middle East.
History tells that our interference will only lead to more animosity in the region. In the 1950s, the CIA ousted democratic reformer Mohammed Mosaddegh, and replaced him with the tyrannical Shah of Iran. The oppressive regime of the Shah allowed for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to lead an Islamic Revolution in Iran, creating a theocracy, and casting America as “the Great Satan.”
Today, Iran remains America’s greatest opponent in the Middle East, and Iranians have yet to forget America’s meddlesome ways that removed Mosaddegh.
If our leaders truly believe in the ideals of democracy and freedom they so often espouse, they will allow Egyptians to create their own democracy. Democracy can no longer be a selective gift which we give to whom we deem worthy.
Interference in Egypt today, as in Iran 60 years ago, could incite only more instability and animosity in a region that is often at the breaking point.
— Mubeen Shakir, University College freshman
The Oklahoma Daily is pleased to provide you the opportunity to share your thoughts about this article. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or straying from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of OUDaily.com. Thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register
Arafat 1 year, 3 months ago
The only way for the people of the Middle East (all of Islam for that matter) to experience true democracy is to free themselves from the shackles of Islam. Islam and democracy are incompatible and anyone who says Indonesia is an example they are simply showing just how dire Islamic democracies are. Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Mauritania, Niger, Algeria, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kirgizstan, etc... Name one country from this or any list of Islamic dominated countries where one can freely criticize Islam, convert from Islam, proselytize for any other religion, draw pictures of Mohammed, criticize Saudi Arabia, openly practice homosexuality or Judaism, be a free woman with all this implies. So please don't blame Egypt's problems on America. I would bet money that if America could foster true democracy in any Muslim country it would, just as it fostered freedoms and democracy in Germany and Japan after WWII. Quit blaming their problems on anyone but them and their backwards-looking religion. Finally, let me say, Mohammed was Islam's first political leader. He refused to acknowledge a separation of mosque and state as Jesus did (Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's...). Mohammed was a theocratic despot who killed, raped, enslaved and pillaged his way to power and wealth. This is who Muslims look to for direction, no? Not to America, but to Mohammed and therein lies the tale of the tape.
kingtut 1 year, 3 months ago
Please stop posting the same comment in multiple articles. I hope this isn't your generic response to middle east events. Let me guess, you voted 'yes' on the 'save our state' from Islam legislation?
Whitley 1 year, 3 months ago
I've been reading a day by day account of the revolution in Egypt for one of my sociology classes. Great article though. A lot of America's actions to provide safety for our own country really just result in anger and despise from those which we supposedly "help." This really just leads to more conflict and hate. I really think America needs to understand that we aren't the only nation that can rise from oppression and prosper. What has happened in Egypt and the rest of the countries which are currently revolting is very inspirations, and I truly hope we allow everything to play out naturally instead of intervening.
The person who originally commented is obviously narrow minded and doesn't understand what is going on in the world. His comments are exactly why our world is being held back in prejudice rather than moving forward united.