Egypt: A revolution for dignity

A revolution is happening in Egypt. Theres no doubt about it. And Hosni Mubaraks tyrannical regime, created, sustained and maintained by the United States with its money and military might, is quivering with fear. But the dictator, who is hiding in his Made in US bunker even as his party office goes up in flames, doesnt seem to be ready to go before firing the last few shots. His police are firing tear gas shells at the people on the streets. His army is loading their guns and getting ready to go out on the roads and crush the people who have risen against the regime known for its brutal repression. The polices teargas shells are Made in America. The army rifles are Made in America. This dictatorship is Made in America.

Speaking to BBC tonight, an Egyptian journalist pointed at the teargas canisters, saying the tyrant is trying to crush the uprising with American weapons. This is the real story of the revolution thats sweeping the Arab world from Tunisia to Egypt to Yemen, he said. Make no mistake, this is not a rebellion of a bunch of youngsters who met on the Facebook and decided to go out and create some ruckus. This is no gathering of unhappy citizens who were told by the WikiLeaks how corrupt and compromised their government was. This is no movement of Islamist zealots who want to grap power by riding a wave of popular discontent. This is a revolution against the axis of a dictator (Mubarak), his mentor (US) and the mentors rogue agent (Israel). To see it as something else is to miss the real message of this revolution, though it has many hidden messages.

In June 2008, when thousands of protesters came out on the streets of Tehran to challenge the result of the Iranian presidential election, the Americans, led by Barack Obama, started preaching to the Iranians in particular and to the whole in world in general the benefits of democracy. In 2009, during the Afghanistan presidential election, as soon as the voting closed, Obama issued a statement, congratulating the people of Afghanis! tan on t he success of democracy. And in October 2010, when Mubarak rigged the Egyptian election in which his party got 97% seats, Obama and his people kept quiet. And when it became clear that the election was rigged, the only thing Hillary Clinton could say was that we are dismayed.

The Americans failed to read Iran. Protests by the supporters of the opposition candidate, who refused to throw in the towel, were seen by Washington as a sign of an uprising against the Iranian government. They failed to see the truth in Afghanistan as well where Hamid Karzail-led regime rigged the election. And the Americans have failed to see the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Just two days back, as hundreds of Egyptians came out on the streets, shouting slogans against Mubarak, Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying that the Egyptian government is stable. What was she thinking?

And today, when it became clear that Mubarak has been completely rejected by the people of Egypt, Clinton changed her tune again and called for peace. At Davos, former British prime minister Tony Blair, who masquerades as the special envoy on Middle East, told the BBC that we should manage this process of change in Egypt. The western leaders havent got it yet. They are still playing their dirty games. Rabid think tanks in America have already started raising the bogey of Islamist fundamentalists taking over Egypt and Blair, who should be in jail for war crimes, is talking about managing Egypt.

The Middle East revolutions are not about just bread and butter issues. Yes, people have been hungry and jobless but they have also been tired of meddling in their countrys affairs by western powers, particularly the US and UK. This uprising is not just against local dictators, its also a rebellion against Americas imperial games and Israels thuggish policies in the region. But the West hasnt given up yet. They are talking about peaceful change in Egypt. What does that mean? Is there someone in particular they want in Cairos presidential p! alace? I s Mohammad el-Baradei their new puppet for Egypt. After playing Americas game for years as the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, El-Baradei is suddenly trying to become the voice of Egypt. Wasting no time as the crisis began, he landed in Cairo trying to be in the middle of his people.

If El-Baradei is part of a western ploy to hijack the revolution, its a big mistake because more than anything this uprising is about dignity, something the Middle Eastern people have been robbed of by their dictators and their American masters. This is not about only jobs, internet, free speech, food and education. This is also an uprising against dynastic rule. This is also a rebellion against the looting of national resources by a few families. This is also a rejection of a global financial system which is creating inequal societies. As a deep unrest grips the Middle East and people cry for freedom, democracy and dignity, the worlds biggest democracy is keeping quiet. Why? What are we thinking?