Any illusions that religious extremists can be rehabilitated by forming political parties, should now be dispelled. It is becoming quite clear to that this we have replaced a dictatorship by a murderous fascist organization. Terrorists will never give up their violent ways for ballot box. They will subvert the democratic process itself to insure domination. They will cheat, lie, bribe, and kill in their pursuit for unchecked powers. The rehabilitation experiment is now over, and what remains now is struggle (likely to be bloody) to remove the religious fascists from power and to find a way to heal the nation afterwards.
Prelude to the great clash:
- Morsi's ambitions plan for the first 100 days of his presidency was nothing but smoke and mirrors
- Police brutality is the on the rise without the slightest hint of reform
- No sign of reforming Egypt's corrupt governmental institutions
- A crack down on the media that leaves many wondering about freedom of speech
- Banning porn sites, which many see a an forerunner to online political censorship.
- Shirking from responsibility in response to the terrible crash that left 51 children dead.
- The killing of a political activist Salah Gabr near Tahrir and three of more in later clashes
- Morsi issues a shocking constitutional declaration last Thursday he gave himself god-like powers. He can issue laws at will, through anyone in jail to "protect the revolution", will being fully unaccountable to any authority. This was in clear violation of the laws and constitution he had sworn to protect and uphold when he was sworn in as president.
- Burning of the freedom and justice party (FJP) offices in several governarates in response of the killings in Tahrir and the dictatorial decleartion
- Massive protests against Morsi in Tahrir in Nov 27, and Nov 30. They demanded that the dictatorial constitutional declaration be annulled, and that the current constituent assembly be dissolved and new one formed the is more representative of Egyptian society.
- Morsi responds by orders the constituent assembly to finalized their work in couple of days and put a new constitution up for referendum
- Morsi gets his supporters to stage a large rally near Cairo University. Those who organized the rally declared that the rally is about "Legitimacy and Sharia". Many of the rally participants who, were shipped in on buses from all over Egypt, viewed the political dispute as a battle between godless infidels and their God fearing president who want to reinstate divine law in the land.
- On Tuesday Dec 4 the largest march since the early days of a the revolution moves toward the presidential palace. The march was intended to give Morsi, "one last warning". It was supposed to pressure him into some sort of political compromise. The march was peaceful, and at the end of the day many protesters staged a sit-in in-front of the presidential palace in Heliopolis.
- Morsi responds by sending armed militias on Dec 5, from all over the country to break the sit-in that and display the might of his group. The police and army do nothing as peaceful protests are beaten and tortured. More Morsi supporters and pro-democracy protesters arrive and wide scale fighting ensues. Morsi's supporters are armed with shotguns, tear gas, knives and swords. The battle becomes more intense, six are killed and over 350 injured.
Morsi is simply saying to those who disagree with him: go to hell!!
In times when a constitution is at stake, a wise leader works to build
consensus. He does not go around beating up his opponents. He does does
not start a civil war.
The
revolutionaries are not some sheep that you can shoo off with stick.
Morsi is treading very dangerous waters. The little hope for a political
solution out of this impasse that might have persevered a little that
is left of his dignity is now, beyond any doubt, over.
A popular perception is growing is the Obama administration is strongly backing Morsi. The US showered praise upon Morsi as a respectable international statesman for his effort in mediating a cease fire in Gaza. He was on the cover of time as "
the most important man in the middle east". His absurd obstinacy only became clear after lavish praise by Clinton and others were heaped upon him. Many see the Morsi as the US' man in Egypt, in the same way the Mubarak was. Many see that the United States has not given up the habit of cultivating dictators that are friendly to their interests in the middle east.
If we succumb now to fascists who cloak their murderous ways in religion, the implication for Egypt and the rest of the world will be dire indeed. In minds of all Egyptian liberals, Morsi has lost all legitimacy. He must step down, or be forced to step down. It appears that there is no peaceful ways to achieving that. The less bloody option would involve the army stepping it. It the army steps in, we are back to SCAF rule. The liberal coalition leadership in the form of ElBaradie, Sabahy, and Amr Mousa seem to be running out of creative solutions to this crisis.
A civil war seems eminent. Lord have mercy!