Egypt at the crossroads - a trip report by club member Rick Francona
I recently returned from Egypt as part of a media/academia analysts trip sponsored by the Westminster Insititute, a think-tank in the Washington, DC area established to promote individual dignity and freedom for people throughout the world by sponsoring high-quality research, with a particular focus on the threats from extremism and radical ideologies. I was invited as both a writer on Middle East events and as an on-air analyst previously with NBC News and now with CNN.
Egypt sits at the crossroads of the Middle East and is considered to be the heart of the Arab world.
While in Egypt, we were fortunate enough to meet with three leaders key to Egypt's future:
General 'Abd al-Fatah al-Sisi - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. It was General al-Sisi who removed President Muhammad Mursi from power on July 3, 2013.
Pope Tawadrus II - 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, more commonly called the Coptic Pope.
Amre Moussa ('Amr Musa) - Former Secretary General of the Arab League, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Former Egyptian Ambassador to the United Nations
Background on the situation in Egypt:
The “January 25 Revolution” (2011)
Begining in late January, millions of Egyptians took to the streets to demand the removal of then-President Husni Mubarak, who had ruled Egypt for over 30 years.
On February 11, Mubarak steps down and the military takes over as the interim government. Elections are scheduled for the next year (2012).
On June 24, 2012, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Muhammad Mursi wins the presidential election; he was inaugurated on June 30 of that year.
Mursi issues a series of decrees consolidating power among the Islamists, particluarly members of the Muslim Brotherhood. As popular opinion against Mursi's power grabs grows, in November, the President issued a decree exempting his decrees from legal challenge.
This prompts opposition political leaders to meet and discuss the removal of Mursi - and the Muslim Brotherhood - from power.
By June 2013, protests against Mursi start throughout Egypt. On June 30, an estimated 22 million protesters take to the streets of cities across the country.
On July 1, General al-Sisi gives President Mursi 48 hours to accede to the wishes of the people and make changes to accomodate their demands, or Egyptian Armed Forces would intervene to preserve the peace.
On July 2, Mursi refuses to make changes or to resign.
On July 3, General Abdul Fatah al-Sisi removes President Mohamed Mursi from power, suspends the constitution, calls for new presidential and parliamentary elections.
Chief Justice Adli Mansur was named interim president and charged with forming a transitional government.
Mursi was put under house arrest.
The military coup of July 3 triggered the cuttoff of US military assistance to the Egyptian armed forces, including planned and scheduled deliveries of F-16 fighter aircraft.
The Egyptian interpretation:
“It was not a coup d’etat...
...it was the army supporting the will of the people.”
In response to the Egyptians not having a secure source for modern weapons to meet their anticpated defense needs, the Russians have offered an attractive package of fighter aircraft and air defense systems.
The impact of the violence on tourism, an industry that employs 15 percent of population has been severe. Revenues have plummeted. The place looked devoid of tourists to us.
Popular opinion - I kept being asked the question, “Why are you Americans supporting the Muslim Brotherhood?”
The “road map” is Egypt's plan - they have scheduled parliamentary elections for the spring of 2014, followed by presidential elections in the summer.
Here are Ricks' comments (11 minutes) excepted from the trip news conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on October 1. The entire hour-long news conference is available here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqppsDaYrBQ)
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