HBO will have a 30-minute documentary tonight on the Egyptian uprising. The current situation, by my analysis, is that Egypt remains under military dictatorship with a Muslim Brotherhood mask.
Now, this is not to disparage the Muslim Brotherhood. They are some of the canniest and most tenacious players in Egypt. They aren’t puppets, and they will be trying to use and co-opt the military as strenuously as the military will try to use and co-opt them. But for the moment, the military controls not just the streets, but the economy. That’s a powerful combination.
Cam McGrath, IPSNews:
CAIRO, Jan 25, 2012 (IPS) – When Egypt’s dictator was ousted during a popular uprising last February, the military leaders who assumed control of the country pledged to “protect the revolution” and ensure a swift transition to civilian rule within six months. One year later, the ruling generals appear to have hijacked the transition to preserve the military institution’s economic autonomy and secure their own political future.
Cam McGrath, IPSNews:
CAIRO, Jan 25, 2012 (IPS) – When Egypt’s dictator was ousted during a popular uprising last February, the military leaders who assumed control of the country pledged to “protect the revolution” and ensure a swift transition to civilian rule within six months. One year later, the ruling generals appear to have hijacked the transition to preserve the military institution’s economic autonomy and secure their own political future.
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“The military controls many economic sectors, and now it controls the government that regulates these sectors,” says Ahmed Sakr Ashour, professor of management at Alexandria University. “You can see why it wouldn’t want to give that up.”
Cam McGrath, IPSNews:
CAIRO, Jan 18, 2012 (IPS) – For three decades Western governments and lending institutions bankrolled a corrupt regime in Egypt that trampled human rights and stifled democracy. Now they appear ready to do it again, say critics of the military council that has ruled since removing president Hosni Mubarak last February.
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The popular uprising that unseated Mubarak had a deep impact on Egypt’s economy. Foreign reserves plunged over 50 percent in 2011 to reach 18 billion dollars as the vital tourism industry and other business sectors continue to suffer from political instability and labour unrest. The government is anticipating a budget deficit of 11 percent of GDP this year unless it can successfully implement austerity measures to save over 3 billion dollars.
The West was quick to offer a lifeline to battered Arab Spring economies. Group of Eight (G8) finance chiefs meeting in Deauville last May said international banks could provide up to 20 billion dollars to post- revolution Tunisia and Egypt. Officials said the funding would be distributed in stages to reduce the risk of national institutions, including the military, misusing the aid or simply syphoning it off.
Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, IPSNews:
CAIRO, Jan 19, 2012 (IPS) – The Islamist landslide in recently concluded parliamentary polls has led to fears in some quarters of an impending paradigm shift in Egyptian foreign policy. Most local analysts, however, dismiss the likelihood of any sea changes, especially when it comes to the sensitive issues of Palestine and the Camp David peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.