France, Courant Alternatif CA #226 - Egypt - Pharaoh and big brothers (fr)

In the winter fog that is sweeping the country "Arab revolutions" appear a few events that 
confirm the fears expressed two years ago, the outcome of these "revolutions", fears that
they are not the high aspirations of rebel-es and the price paid by the people who carried 
out these rebellions. As is always the present that illuminates the past, even if that 
past is still very close to the recent events in Egypt and the political crisis in this 
country can enlighten us on this "revolution", its origins and the various protagonists. 
This backward can help us better understand the current situation in which Egypt is 
diving. At the beginning of the "Arab Spring", the various media and political analysts 
place great emphasis on the differences between companies Tunisian, Libyan and Egyptian 
demographic differences, geographical, historical, political and economic developments, 
etc.. It is clear that the three revolutions accomplished practically the same result: the 
Islamists to power. There is therefore scope to examine this phenomenon and to investigate 
how this can happen despite the different character of each of the companies concerned. 
What are the common factors that generate the same results?

Social factors

An event as important as the "revolution" in Egypt January 25, 2011 can not be the result
of a single cause whatever its importance or dominance. It is clearly in its scope, the 
result of several factors combined in an explosive mixture, triggered 25 January 2011. 
Internal factors cover several levels of society. Firstly, there is the social situation 
of the working class with unemployment, poverty, insecurity on the one hand more and more
of the population. There are more than 10 million unemployed, 20 to 30% of the population
lives below the poverty line, but must also take account of the corruption of unions that
are under control or power or Islamists or both at once! The situation of the poorest 
continues to deteriorate, the repeated attacks against the working class and the 
repression against trade unionists led successive revolts in all sectors of the Egyptian 
economy since 2004. The capitalist regime of Mubarak has initiated several mechanisms to 
promote the bourgeoisie, it goes "structural adjustment" to the "liberation of the 
economy" or "openness" which simply means the liquidation of all social gains the 
Egyptian-ing and privatization of large enterprises lowest price possible. "The assets 
owned by the state industrial, commercial and financial, agricultural land and urban or 
desert lands-have been" sold ". Who? A businessmen collusion, close to the government: 
senior officers, officials, rich merchants returned from their exile in the Gulf equipped
with beautiful fortunes (in addition political and financial support of the Muslim 
Brotherhood). At what price? A ridiculous prices, incommensurate with the real value of 
assets. "Samir Amin, in the journal Africa Asia, December 2012.

The situation is not much better farmers than workers in large urban areas. After the 
revolution of July 1952, Nasser has distributed land to peasants landowners that allowed 
them to significantly improve their lives and be able to cultivate their own land. From 
1996, the Mubarak regime, based on previous laws time Sadat confiscated peasant land and 
has made the big landowners, which caused huge demonstrations and protests of farmers. 
These confrontations between landlords and police on one side and the other farmers have 
left dozens dead and led to numerous arrests. Other offensive and attacks against farmers
followed: rent increase arable land, rising prices of seeds, fertilizers, etc.. All this 
has contributed greatly to degrade the standard of living of farmers. To this must be 
added the problem of water, despite the Nile is the main source, the average annual per 
capita per year and fell in 2376 m3 in 1950 to 800 cubic meters in 2005, it would be only
600 cubic meters in 2015, below 1000 cubic meters of water per capita per year considered
the poverty line in water and the regional average of 1,200 cubic meters of water. 
Decrease attributed to the growth of the population from 20 million in 1950 to more than 
80 million people now but also a disproportionate use of water by the wealthy class and 
rich sumptuous villas and castles with pools and garden thousand and one night, tourist 
cities, golf courses, etc.. and a policy that favors the rich at all levels to eventually
privatize the water supply. Suddenly, hundreds of villages are deprived of drinking water, 
small farms are abandoned for lack of water for irrigation, this situation has led 
Egyptian-ing to carry the "revolt of thirst" with various demonstrations and occupations.
This situation is not likely to improve, everything leads to believe otherwise. The 
Ethiopian project a huge dam on the Nile launched April 2, 2011 for a dam with a capacity
of 62 billion m3, will be the largest dam in Africa and Egypt will entirely dependent on 
the Ethiopia in terms of water supply as are already in Iraq and Syria against Turkey, 
which controls the Tigris and Euphrates. Secondly, the awareness of the middle class the 
extent of the corruption, degradation and fundamental freedoms of economic disaster 
resulting from the large-scale privatization of companies, etc.. The frustration of a 
majority of the political class not being able to share power with the Mubarak regime, 
including the Muslim Brotherhood. "The Egyptian Movement for Change" Kifaya, is generally
considered to trigger a broad awareness in Egypt since 2004. It considers that the failure 
of the Egyptian society to achieve a dignified life for every citizen is the lack of 
fundamental freedoms, confiscated by an authoritarian and repressive. He then seeks common 
bonds to consolidate all forces in the country-left forces, nationalists, Islamists, 
liberals, etc. - To change society peacefully and get a "real democracy" where everyone 
has a say. Kifaya was able to break the fear, to introduce the possibility to challenge, 
to demonstrate and the right to organize open day, which was then unimaginable. 
Subsequently, Egypt was born a multitude of movements in all sectors of society. The 
movement for the independence of university workers to change, youth movement, doctors, 
writers and artists, journalists, engineers, judges, teachers, the unemployed, the 
personal health insurance, movements for the right to organize against torture ..... and 
even economists have created "Not for sale in Egypt" in response to the wave of 
privatization. These movements are the expression of the middle class against the 
continuing deterioration of living conditions and also the eviction of a role it considers 
legitimate and historic Egypt and its marginalization. A final factor is the youth who saw 
no future but began to organize with new means of communication, create networks of 
contestation and develop awareness of the need to change everything. In particular, the 
April 6 movement, created in 2008 to support the strike of textile workers Almahallah and
calls for a general strike. This movement is actively involved in the events of 25 January 
2011, with dozens of other groups that are mostly related to political parties: Socialist
Youth, Muslim youth, young democrats. The "revolution" Egypt is the work of all and every
Egyptian-ing of all classes, it is only after the departure of Mubarak that the 
bourgeoisie betrayed his forced alliance with the working class - could she do otherwise?
- and returned another alliance with the army at the beginning but later she called to 
protest bourgeoisie more and more credible in the eyes of the street: the Muslim 
Brotherhood, to complete the revolutionary process that back in business. In the second 
round of presidential elections, Mahmoud Morsy won the support of all the forces of the 
left-Trotskyists, including but despite overwhelming support his victory by a short head.

The Muslim Brotherhood The Muslim Brotherhood were formed as a group or association in 
1928 Ismailiyya north of Egypt to solve social, economic and national by the application 
of Islam. At the beginning of the "revolution" July 23, 1952, the Muslim Brotherhood 
supported Nasser among the "Free Officers" who led the coup, there were officers from the
current or very close. Following the enactment of the law banning political parties in 
1953, the Muslim Brotherhood, who present themselves as not being religious group policy,
then remain the only organized political current that can provide support to Nasser when 
needed and to As they begin to demand privileges and more prominent in the state. Nasser 
does not like blackmail and it follows a very violent confrontation between them which 
ends ban the group in 1954. This repression against the Muslim Brotherhood will be more 
than 300 victims by execution or death by torture, and hundreds of arrests and 
disappearances. This situation continued under Sadat and Mubarak, despite periods of 
tolerance. In the early 2000s, the Muslim Brotherhood make alliances and concessions with
the regime, they participate in elections in 2000 and 2005 and get 20% of the seats, this
group became the first political force in Egypt. They are found in trade union bodies 
where they were able to take control of the unions of doctors, engineers, lawyers and 
pharmacists. After triggering events, January 25, 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood formed a 
new party the "Party for Freedom and Justice" June 6, 2011 they get 47% of parliamentary 
seats in the first post-revolution parliamentary elections . But the High Constitutional 
Court judge election as illegal and unconstitutional demand the dissolution of parliament
on 14 June 2012, it is the beginning of a brief war between the army and the Muslim 
Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood are a structured organization with a direction, an 
executive and a guide "Murchid" considered political and ideological leader. The current 
guide, number 8, is Muhammed Badia, Professor of Pathology and the first to be elected and 
not appointed on 16 January 2010, regarded as the true ruler of Egypt, saw many slogans 
against which it is the object events. This group has ramifications in the Arab world, 
there is power in Tunisia and Libya, and is characterized by its extreme opportunism, its
ability to adapt to all the powers and quickly handle a situation. They have 3 or 4 days 
to reach Tahir Square and catch the train to the challenge, and when the army took control 
of the situation they rallied to her and asked the demonstrators to clear the square and 
go Tahir at home. The number of members is a secret, despite estimates of journalists and
researchers who estimate that between 500,000 and 2 million people. Most belong to the 
middle class: doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, businessmen and entrepreneurs, 
etc.. Historically this movement represents the most reactionary wing of Egyptian 
capitalism with landlords and big farmers then their base has expanded to encompass a 
large part of merchants and traders, especially those who work with the Arab Gulf. It 
represents a marginal capitalism, not global, because the Muslim Brotherhood is absent in
certain sectors such as tourism because of their position on women and liquor, and indeed
they were able to exploit this position wobbly and shifted themselves as opponents of 
capitalism.

Qatar

Qatar is a small country of 11,400 km2 with a population of one million and a half 
inhabitants, 60% of immigrant workers mainly from Pakistan, India and Iran. But it is the
third largest producer of natural gas in the world after Iran and Russia, the largest 
exporter of liquefied natural gas. It is quite amazing that such a small country has much
ambition to want as big a role in the Arab events for two years. Opinions diverge to find
a convincing explanation that gives the reasons for such involvement that will control gas 
resources to want to have a leading position in the Arab world through a long-term by 
investing around the world in case the surplus gas is depleted. Qatar has three formidable 
and effective weapon with which to act directly or indirectly on events. On the one hand 
an immense fortune, amount of money after the retirement of oil and gas on the other hand
Al Jazeera television channel developed since 1 November 1996, which became one of the 
largest networks of communication, looked throughout the Arab world. This chain often 
covers live events with a very pronounced bias and far from any "journalistic objectivity" 
and did not hesitate to resort to lies, faked reports like this has happened several times 
between other during the events in Libya. Al Jazeera has strengthened the position of 
Qatar in the Arab world and globally globally, "Al Jazeera is a Qatar made." The third 
weapon Qatar less known than the previous project is entitled "Nahda", which means rebirth 
in Arabic. A sort of think tank that emits Qatari ideas and develop a strategy to change 
the Arab world. This project provides a practical tool, "Academy of change" based in 
London which is a sort of training center for Arab youth where we learn to use the tools,
techniques manifestation as fallback self-defense and the development of claims, slogans,
etc.. A tacit agreement between Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood group was signed in 1999, 
which states that the organization was officially dissolved in Qatar and ceases all 
activity in that country. However, some of its members are involved in projects in other 
countries Qatar, Qatar providing material and financial assistance and unlimited access to 
Al Jazeera. Qatar became the refuge and shelter of many personalities of the Muslim 
Brotherhood. "The Academy of Change" is headed by a close Muslim Brotherhood, Hisham 
Morsi, a pediatrician Egyptian Youssef Garadawi son, it is one of the most important 
figures of the Islamist propaganda, head of the International Union Islamist He hosts a 
show on Al Jazeera on Sharia. As the project "Nahda", it was designed and is managed by 
Jasim Sultan, a former Muslim Brotherhood Qatar. Qatar exploits the Muslim Brotherhood in
its external relations with other Arab countries, to carry out these projects hegemony and 
infiltration of Arab societies. Qatari efforts to train activists in close collaboration 
with the U.S. are to organize seminars and meetings for young people of all Arab 
countries. November 20, 2008 in New York held the coordination of youth movements followed 
by several other peaks, Mexico City in 2009 and London in 2010. Members of the April 6 
movement were present during these meetings funded by Google, Face Book, You Tube, MTV, 
... in the presence of these companies and members of the U.S. administration. Do not 
forget that Google and Twitter have offered free telephone lines during the first days of
the Egyptian revolution. Do not forget that Wael Ganim, a computer engineer, co-founder in 
2012 of the "we are all Khaled Said," named by Time magazine as the Man of the Year and 
won the Kennedy is also responsible to Google for marketing its products in the Middle 
East and North Africa. It is on this page that launched on January 14 to protest the 
appeal of 25 January 2011. The other administrator page Abderrahman Mansour less 
publicized, more discreet, it is he who chooses the 25 January and is still a member of 
the Muslim Brotherhood.

A provisional dictator The "revolution" Egyptian (no more than other "revolutions") is the 
work of the CIA or the dark forces behind a black curtain, it is the opposite because they 
do not want, it is the work of the Egyptian-ing. These are political forces, businessmen 
in Egypt but also in France, the USA, Qatar and elsewhere who do not want this 
"revolution" to run its course and do everything that the capitalist system remains in the 
condition. The Muslim Brotherhood, supported by the USA via Qatar and Turkey, are part of
the force that is trying to control the situation.

Asked about the nature of relations Egyptian-Qatari Mohammed Jawdat, economic adviser to 
the Muslim Brotherhood party, the Party for Freedom and Justice, responded that these 
relations were excellent and "Egypt, Qatar, Turkey , Tunisia and Syria were soon axis of 
the utmost importance in the Arab region. " Egypt relies heavily on economic aid from 
Qatar, especially in the form of loans and investment projects valued at more than $ 18 
billion. Some Gulf countries are beginning to have doubts about the intentions of this 
axis denounced by King Abdullah of Jordan expressing his fears that Turkey implemented to
establish an Islamist regime in Syria, where the need for him to form an axis Jordan Saudi 
Arabia, United Arab Emirates. The formation of these two blocks may fear future 
confrontations and highlights the role played by the Muslim Brotherhood, with the support
of the West.

Mahmoud Morsy, the Egyptian president, has won the title of pharaoh, demigod or 
provisional dictator after his attempted coup November 15, 2012 to enact a constitutional
decree which concentrates all power in the hands and immunized presidential decisions 
against any claim or legal and judicial criticism. And at the same time, he dismisses the
prosecutor and ordered the reopening of the trial of the former Mubarak regime, that to 
please the people and to swallow the bitter pill of full powers it is granted. This coup 
is to neutralize the judiciary is one of the weapons of the political class to control the 
Egyptian state, with the Army. It also serves to accelerate the planned vote on the 
constitution December 15, 2012 because there's a problem with the board constituting 
drafting the constitution which is the subject of a dispute over its legality. Obviously 
this legal battle and political concerns that politicians and political parties in terms 
of population, the expected reforms on wages, housing, health, etc.. and does not 
participate in this little war elites. However, events are held at the call of the decree
opponents and Islamists also took to the streets to defend their president, clashes were 
seven dead and hundreds injured. Morsy eventually drop his decree but not the date of the
referendum on the constitution on December 9 he gave all powers to the army to clear the 
streets of all manifestation. This episode clearly shows the willingness of Morsy, wanting 
to control everything, and his party, which at the beginning of the "revolution" after 
their electoral success, swore not to present presidential candidate not to focus 
legislative powers and executive in the same hands, until the army which was believed at 
the time! Islamists are not inevitable, nor in Egypt or elsewhere, if they come to power 
today thanks to their opportunism and organizational capacity under authoritarian regimes, 
because they also have forums and places weekly meeting and propaganda are thousands of 
mosques, a large annual international meeting in Mecca with more than 3 million people 
this summer 2012 and a favorable geopolitical context. But it is the practice of power 
that will be their loss when the people see that change leaders without changing the 
nature of the system does nothing to improve the conditions of life, on the contrary!

Saoud Salem OCL / Toulouse, December 2012