Renowned Egyptian media star and talk show host Imad Adeeb, writing
today for the Saudi newspaper of record Asharq Alawsat, explains why Egypt
is now in the lap of the gods:
What is happening in
Egypt now is very bad. It is not the worst. But sadly, insiders believe it is
the beginning of accelerated descent to anarchy in the country.
We yelled ourselves hoarse warning good people,
rulers, elites, political parties and (Muslim) Brothers: “Beware the risks of
confrontation!”
We yelled ourselves hoarse saying a high frequency of
vocal violence among adversaries is a logical prelude to violence on the
streets and public squares.
All that happened and is happening is everyone’s
loss. There can be no winners in this battle, only losers.
President Mohamed Morsi lost his popularity among the
coterie of revolutionaries who voted for him in the presidential runoff. He
lost the confidence of “Couch Potato Party” members who were monitoring his
performance in office and looking forward to a better life. He squandered the
momentum and international support he generated by brokering the (Hamas-Israel)
Gaza agreement.
The opposition has closed ranks, but it faces a
constitutional fait accompli after (Morsi’s Nov. 22) constitutional declaration
and the planned mid-December referendum on the draft constitution.
The blood of citizens was spilled in clashes at the
doorsteps of al-Ittihadiah Presidential Palace in Cairo. It was also spilled in
Alexandria, al-Mahalla and Buhaira. Groups also started torching the head
offices of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom
and Justice Party.
Authoritative sources expect acts of violence and
counter-violence on Cairo streets to escalate to unprecedented levels in the
coming hours and days. They do not rule out political assassinations of
prominent figures by unnamed sides, and the regime’s initiation of political
arrests.
There is conclusive information that more than 12
million handguns were smuggled into Egypt across the borders with Sudan and
post-Gaddafi’s Libya over the past two years.
Yesterday, charges of conspiracy against the regime
were filed against Dr.
Mohamed ElBaradei, Amr
Moussa, Hamdeen Sabahi
and Ahmed el-Zind, head of the powerful Egypt Judges’ Club. Corruption claims
were also filed against a number of public figures.
The situation is akin to internecine strife in which
each side is resorting to litigation, strikes, demonstrations, media campaigns,
political money, rifle cartridges and Molotov cocktails.
The idea of dialogue leading to compromise is the
last thing on the sides’ minds.
Blood is being shed, the economy is collapsing,
legitimacy is at risk, and the country and its people are sitting on the tip of
a volcano of anger presaging anarchy.
Was the proposed constitution worth such a price?
Are current events in Egypt the harbingers of an
authoritarian regime or of something uncharted?
