Israel Matzav: Egypt's mobocracy

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Egypt's mobocracy

Well, what a shock. Ordinary Egyptians joined with the Egyptian army to drive 'pro-democracy' protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

Squeezed between an assertive military and the country's resurgent Islamist movement, many Internet-savvy, pro-democracy activists are finding it increasingly hard to remain relevant in a post-revolutionary Egypt that is struggling to overcome an economic crisis and restore law and order.

"The liberal and leftist groups that were at the forefront of the revolution have lost touch with the Egyptian people," says Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Institution's Doha Center. "These protesters have alienated much of Egypt. For some time they've been deceiving themselves by saying that the silent majority is on their side—but all evidence points to the contrary, and Monday's events confirm that."

Monday's turmoil in Tahrir followed a massive Friday demonstration on the same square by hundreds of thousands of Islamists, who called for transforming Egypt into an Islamic state—and railed against the liberal and secular youths who had helped motivate millions to rise up against Mr. Mubarak.

The Islamists' numbers dwarfed those of the activists who have re-occupied Cairo's central square since July 8, criticizing the slow pace of reforms, calling for police accountability and pressing for speedier trials of Mr. Mubarak and his associates. The Tahrir sit-in was organized by the April 6 Movement, one of the uprising's main planners, other youth groups and relatives of protesters killed in the weeks before Mr. Mubarak's ouster on Feb. 11.

These activists' criticism of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has failed to resonate in the streets. Their continuing protests have also angered many Egyptians who want an end to the unrest they say has frightened away foreign tourists, damaged the country's economy and increasingly undermined their livelihoods.

And that last paragraph is key: It's the economy, stupid!

Unlike in previous skirmishes, the activists interviewed Monday didn't allege to be the victims of thugs paid by the government.

"The people were beating us and helping the army," said protester Mahmoud Abdallah, catching his breath in a side street off Tahrir as an army truck hauled away detainees. "The people don't know what is good for them. They don't have any awareness. They just want to make money."

As he spoke, Tareq Shawky, a 42-year-old toilet equipment vendor, interrupted the conversation. He said he had heard about the army moving against the protesters, and drove to the square so he could help dismantle the encampment.

"The Egyptian citizen wants only two things—security and low prices," Mr. Shawky shouted. "The millions of Egyptians will do anything that the army tells us to do."

Abdallah sounds like a typical liberal anyplace else in the World, doesn't he? But this isn't Europe and the Egyptians aren't buying it? Aren't you glad we got rid of Mubarak? What could go wrong?

Labels: Cairo, Egyptian army, Egyptian regime change, Hosni Mubarak, Muslim Brotherhood, Tahrir Square