A seed of peace in Egypt

What a peaceful sign of joy between civilians and army officials!

The contrast between the role of the army in the post-Mubarak regime and in the regime which is now over reminds me of the contrast between friendly police in the UK and the "unfriendly" police in the military dictatorship in Brasil in 1965-85 about which Caetano Veloso sang in the song London while in exile in the UK.

ابتهاج والألعاب النارية والاحتجاجات تتحول إلى احتفالات

Cheers and fireworks as protests turn to celebrations!

Yo yo: freedom to all the brothers in Egypt from Wyclef

Freedom

Fish, Leviathan, Mubarak and Obama

"Big fish eat little fish" according to Darwin. However, whales are not democratically elected as no vote is casted under the sea level.

Democracy and elected governments are a more complex matter as they may degenerate in "big fish eat small fish" with losses for all parties involved but a few corrupted executives. However, the status quo may still be justified or simply tolerated at home and abroad. An example is Egypt and its support by the USA for decades and up to a few weeks ago.

The withdrawal of the support by the USA to the Egyptian president and the refusal by its president Mubarak to step down have puzzled the public opinion and perhaps embarassed the government in the USA.

Such puzzle is easily solved by looking underwater for a key assumption that supported the Egyptian government. Here is where the Leviathan , is a rather big fish that is referred to in the Bible, belongs to.

An inspring book by Thomas Hobbes, "Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil" , exploits the powerful image of the biblical monster to argue that Leviathan-type governments are necessary to avert chaos and civil war, "the war of all against all" in Hobbes' words.

The assumption is uncovered in Egypt and the support that Egypt obtained abroad: the Egyptians needed a Leviathan to behave in an orderly and peaceful fashion (Israel is out of temporarily out of the picture but I bet it will come back in the press as the government changover in Egypt unfolds). The recent popular, orderly and peaceful uprise may make such an assumptions less tenable in 21st century Egypt than it was in the early 20th century. (Recent history in Egypt and the international disputes over the Suez canal will be dealt with separately.) Additional evidence to support this are the deprecable tortures by the Egyptian secret police

Mubarak to retire: who is next?

Bookmakers may soon revise the odds about Mubarak's political record in office in Egypt as he seems closer to retirement than ever according to the BBC.

Years ago The Economist offered a very innovative proposal for early retirement of non-democratic leaders in exchange for retirement benefits such life-long accomodation on a tropical island. Such a proposal may still be lure 21st century leaders whose extraordinary committment to improve their countries has proven tiring sooner than expected.

Who may join the plan among Ahmadinejad, Gheddafi, Kim Jong Il and Mugabe? Would Berlusconi and Putin also qualify in case they were interested? Did I miss anyone else? The list is in lexicographical order to avoid disclosing my personal one!

However, I envisage some potential backfire of extending such an initiative as "tropical retirement plan for dictators" on a large scale. It may end up looking more like a "become a dictator to then enjoy a tropical retirement plan"!

Any thoughts about an improved retirement package free of adverse selection and moral hazard!?

One way to get around Egypt's internet blackout: spread the word if you talk to people in Egypt: speak2tweet!

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/some-weekend-work-that-will-hopefully.html

Is the protest over in Egypt aka is the BBQ of secret documents over?

Interesting blog article in The Economist on the correlation between the length in time of the protest and the time it will take to destroy a fair amount of secret documents by the incumbent Egyptian government

A sweet, sweet revolution in Egypt

This is a sweet, sweet revolution; it is peaceful. Tell everyone we are peaceful

Blog big bang and democracy in Egypt!

I could not help starting a blog on the day in which Egypt fights to break the "Berlin wall" !

On the case, the US Department of State supports fundamental right of expression and assembly for all people. Michael Posner (Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor) calls on the Egyptian government to restore the Internet and cell-phone service