Mubarak must Leave

I had a long interview with the BBC on Friday February 4th to discuss whether Mubarak should leave immediately. Here is what I had to say.

Quick Thoughts on the Liberation of Egypt

Egypt is joyous, jubilant and determined. For the first time in Egypt's 7,000 year history, Egyptians feel free.

The January 25th Revolution is truly remarkable, as it has been relentlessly peaceful and civil. In fact, most of the acts of sabotage and arson were orchestrated by the regime itself to intimidate the population, and give the impression that freedom equals chaos. Egyptians, however, remained steadfast in their peaceful protests, and did not even try to storm government buildings.

I cannot emphasize enough how pro-democracy this revolution is. People's demand for freedom has been loud, clear and consistent. It was not Islamist, anti-American, anti-Semitic, etc. It was all about democracy and freedom.

Why are you still reading this? Tune into Al Jazeera and celebrate with us.

Mubarak's Counterattack

Hosni Mubarak refuses to heed the calls of demonstrators to step down, and allow a democratic transition. Instead, his plan became obvious yesterday. After giving a defiant speech in which he promised not to run for the next presidential elections (but without offering any meaningful democratic reforms), Mubarak released scores of thugs and plainclothes security officers to terrorize the peaceful demonstrators. These attackers chanted pro-Mubarak slogans to give the media the impression that there are two sides to the story. There were also pro-Mubarak marches composed almost entirely of government employees. The military mysteriously withdrew from Tahrir Square to allow the thugs and plainclothes policemen to attack the peaceful protests.

It should be abundantly clear at this point that Mubarak has zero intention to introduce any democratic reforms, or oversee an orderly transition. If anything, it appears he plans to turn Egypt into Saddam Hussein's Iraq. This is why the revolution cannot be allowed to fail.

How to Save America's Alliance with Egypt

Tom Ricks of Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security generously offered to host my recent article on US-Egyptian relations at his weblog.

A Revolution Long in the Making

My interview with Boston University's student magazine.