the Union speech, and the arab world began erupting. I sent reports on
the latter and analyses of the speech and its ramifications. I'm glad I
waited. It's a good-as-possible analysis of the situation, with enormous
implications for the world, by Robert Fisk, the Edward R. Murrow of the
area. Then, a just-received call to protest the brutality of the repression
going on right now, throughout Egypt. It's for a demonstration tomorrow
at the Egyption Consulate in Los Angeles. -Ed
A new truth dawns on the Arab world
Leaked Palestinian files have put a region in revolutionary mood
By Robert Fisk:
The Independent.uk: 26 January, 2011
The Palestine Papers are as damning as the Balfour Declaration. The
Palestinian "Authority" - one has to put this word in quotation marks - was
prepared, and is prepared to give up the "right of return" of perhaps seven
million refugees to what is now Israel for a "state" that may be only 10 per
cent (at most) of British mandate Palestine.
And as these dreadful papers are revealed, the Egyptian people are calling
for the downfall of President Mubarak, and the Lebanese are appointing a
prime minister who will supply the Hezbollah. Rarely has the Arab world seen
anything like this.
To start with the Palestine Papers, it is clear that the representatives of
the Palestinian people were ready to destroy any hope of the refugees going
home
It will be - and is - an outrage for the Palestinians to learn how their
representatives have turned their backs on them. There is no way in which,
in the light of the Palestine Papers, these people can believe in their own
rights.
They have seen on film and on paper that they will not go back. But across
the Arab world - and this does not mean the Muslim world - there is now an
understanding of truth that there has not been before.
It is not possible any more, for the people of the Arab world to lie to each
other. The lies are finished. The words of their leaders - which are,
unfortunately, our own words - have finished. It is we who have led them
into this demise. It is we who have told them these lies. And we cannot
recreate them any more.
In Egypt, we British loved democracy. We encouraged democracy in Egypt -
until the Egyptians decided that they wanted an end to the monarchy. Then we
put them in prison. Then we wanted more democracy. It was the same old
story. Just as we wanted Palestinians to enjoy democracy, providing they
voted for the right people, we wanted the Egyptians to love our democratic
life. Now, in Lebanon, it appears that Lebanese "democracy" must take its
place. And we don't like it.
We want the Lebanese, of course, to support the people who we love, the
Sunni Muslim supporters of Rafiq Hariri, whose assassination - we rightly
believe - was orchestrated by the Syrians. And now we have, on the streets
of Beirut, the burning of cars and the violence against government.
And so where are we going? Could it be, perhaps, that the Arab world is
going to choose its own leaders? Could it be that we are going to see a new
Arab world which is not controlled by the West? When Tunisia announced that
it was free, Mrs Hillary Clinton was silent. It was the crackpot President
of Iran who said that he was happy to see a free country. Why was this?
In Egypt, the future of Hosni Mubarak looks ever more distressing. His son,
may well be his chosen successor. But there is only one Caliphate in the
Muslim world, and that is Syria. Hosni's son is not the man who Egyptians
want. He is a lightweight businessman who may - or may not - be able to
rescue Egypt from its own corruption.
Hosni Mubarak's security commander, a certain Mr Suleiman who is very ill,
may not be the man. And all the while, across the Middle East, we are
waiting to see the downfall of America's friends. In Egypt, Mr Mubarak must
be wondering where he flies to. In Lebanon, America's friends are
collapsing. This is the end of the Democrats' world in the Arab Middle East.
We do not know what comes next. Perhaps only history can answer this
question.
Like Robert Fisk on The Independent on Facebook for updates
f/ 3, 258 people like this (as of 6 AM, January 27)
***
***please forward widely***
Los Angeles Stands in Solidarity with the Egyptian People
Protest at the Consulate General of Egypt
Demand the release of political prisoners
4929 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE #300
LOS ANGELES CA 90010
Sat, Jan 29th, Noon-1:30 PM
Inspired by the successful ouster of the tyrant of Tunisia and the continued
mobilizations in that country for justice,the Egyptian people have organized
massive marches and rallies throughout their country for the past 3 days,
fighting off vicious police attacks and mass arrests to call for the ouster
of the hated Mubarak regime. They have shown they will not give up - even in
the face of guns, tear gas and other weapons supplied and paid for by the
United States.
Hundreds of activists have been jailed and we demand their immediate
release.
A free Egypt is the key to justice throughout the Arab world.
Come stand in solidarity with the brave people of Egypt!l
Contact zebraslk@gmail.com, or call 213-309-2713 to endorse and support the
rally.
You can also call the Egyptian Consulate General to demand a release of the
prisoners
TEL: (323) 933-9700
(323) 933-9757
(323)933-1401
FAX: (323)933-9725
No comments:
Post a Comment