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February 22, 2011
Squawk Like an Egyptian
Normally, it wouldn’t be unusual to utter the statement, “Things are a mess in the Middle East.” It’s the fact that the turbulence is happening in Egypt that makes it unusual.
Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave (okay, Osama bin Laden’s been hiding in a cave and even he probably knows about it), you’re likely aware that the streets of Cairo have been filled with protesters demanding the resignation (or headless torso) of President Hosni Mubarak.
Mr. Mubarak has been president for nearly 30 years now, winning reelection in 1987, 1993 and 1999 by a landslide. Of course, since he didn’t have an opponent, which increased his odds of winning considerably.
International pressure forced him to allow multi-candidate elections in 2005 but the resulting election pretty much had all of the uncertainty of outcome as a Harlem Globetrotters/Washington Generals game.
Mubarak was considered a war hero for his role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, leading to his appointment as Vice President by then President Anwar Sadat. The U.S. vice president is often described as being a “heartbeat away from the presidency.” Mr. Mubarak turned out to be “several bullets away” from the presidency, assuming the top office upon the assassination of Mr. Sadat for his role in achieving a peace treaty with Israel.
Mubarak had announced that he would not run again when his term ends in September. The people in the streets of Cairo seem to want him to run now, preferably with them chasing him.
Just what will happen now is anybody’s guess. Egypt has had such a rich history throughout their civilization, in fact, inventing civilization. I have no idea who will succeed Mubarak but I thought it would be fun to look at some of the rulers of Egypt through the ages.
King Tut---Probably the most famous of all, King Tutankhamun, his full name (I guess just his buddies called him “Tut”), Tut assumed the throne upon the death of his father, Akhenaten when Tut was nine years old. This highlights one of the many problems of royal rule. You’re leader can’t attend a crucial meeting about foreign policy because it would interfere with recess.
Exactly how Tut died remains a mystery. Some have suspected illness, while others would point to his crushed skull as a possible sign of foul play.
King Tut’s mummy was discovered in 1922 and many of the workers died soon afterward, leading to rumors that there was a curse upon King Tut’s tomb. As science moved forward, it was realized that ancient bacteria, exposed to individuals with no previous exposure to it, made the newcomers easy pickings for the tiny bugs.
Ramses II---Okay, when most of us here the name Ramses, we think of a certain family planning product. I don’t figure that we shall ever see “Mubarak Condoms” at CVS anytime soon. Birth control was something clearly unavailable to or unwanted by Ramses as he is said to have between 100-200 children.
He lived to be over 90 years old and according to one website, was “a great builder and a famed warrior.” I’m guessing that the peak of those careers took place before his 90th birthday. His war with the Hittites, which sounds suspiciously close to “Hitlerites,” lasted for 15 years. Think Iraq, squared. He signed a peace treaty with the Hittites, even marrying the Hittite king’s daughter. Ramses II ruled for some 67 years, making Hosni Mubarak look like a quitter.
Anwar al-Sadat---Like President James A. Garfield, who comedian Robert Klein is best remembered for being “shot by a disappointed office-seeker,” Sadat is remembered for mainly two things. First, he secured a peace treaty with arch nemesis Israel and secondly, being shot by a disappointed office-seeker. Okay, Muslim fundamentalists who objected to his treaty with Israel shot him, but it would’ve been more funny to say it was a disappointed office-seeker.
Gamal Abdul Nasser---He overthrew Egyptian King Farouk to found the modern state of Egypt, as we now know it. Well, as we knew it until two weeks ago.
Hosni Mubarak has been called a dictator but he’s been a U.S. ally, participating in rendition of U.S. enemies and torture so, I guess he’s our dictator.
Here’s hoping the next Egyptian leader is an ally and who is also not an oppressive leader. Otherwise, the Egyptian people will once again be protesting on the streets of Cairo for his removal.
After all, they’ve learned to squawk like Egyptians.
Posted by dmargarita at 4:54 PM