How Mubarak can shape his exit and emerge as a hero in the Arab/Islamic World

Strongman no more Mubarak p.c: kerrywaghorrn.com

Egypt’s President Mubarak can still salvage his situation and go out as a hero to the Arab world; with a little help from Obama’s youngest presidential aide; the symbol of it that is. Remember the “yes we can” speech that helped change history?

The stage is now set for the biggest exit of a ruler in the world and Hosni Mubarak would command world attention for a moment. He needs to do it right with the right speech. 

Now looking like a caricature, Hosni Mubarak is a ghost of the once symbol of stability in the Arab/Islamic old. For 30 years he was master of the balancing act between Zionism, Islamic uprising and pan-Arabism. 

His cork is up and bobbing

He is now villain in chief because his cork is up and bobbing from under the water. And why? It is simply impossible to suppress the will of the people and freedom of expression forever. The uprising in Egypt and the Arab/Islamic world is the story of, the English and French revolutions, anti-slavery and racism, the wave of African independence uprisings against colonists, women’s suffrage movement and workers rights etc. 

It is a just a matter of time for Gaddafi’s Libya, Syria, Zionism Israel, Ahmedinejan’s Iran, Eyadema’s Togo, Mele Zenawi’s Ethiopia,  Chavez’s Venezuela among others. 

But right now it is Mubarak and it looks like a series of meetings by President Obama’s security team and communications with counterparts in the Middle East, something is about to go down today. How it goes down, whose interest is best served; United States, Israel, the Arab world, Egyptian ruling class, and the ordinary people of Egypt, we will see.

Mubarak can shape his exit and emerge as a hero

Mubarak can shape his exit and emerge as a hero in the Arab world by giving the greatest speech of his career that should end up taking the wind out of the sails or protestors at Tahiri square and Egypt. 

He would off course call for unity and peace and maybe outline the time table for elections. Still, the speech must contain the following for effect; 

• gratitude and congratulations to the people of Egypt for their spirit and will to rise up.
• mention names of the victims of the uprising; honor them as martyrs and thank their families. Outline compensation for them starting with the graduate student that set himself on fire
• mention the countries experiencing tyranny and dictatorships and for which the people have risen up and thank them – Yemen, Algeria, Tunisia etc
• emphasize why religion must stay out of politics
• congratulate Christians and Moslems for standing by each other during the uprising

Google executive Wael Ghonim Pic:Reuters

He must invite some of the symbols of the uprising;

President Mubarak needs to invite Al Jazera the CNN of the Arab world which has become a symbol of freedom of expression in these uprisings.

All major networks and media need to be present and given adequate access to cover the event live.

He must invite some of the symbols of the uprising; Egypt’s Google executive Wael Ghonim, and opposition leaders El Baradei and families of the victims that could be reached. If not get to the jails directly and talk to prisoners of conscience being held and invite them to stage for the historic event

We all wait this interesting day of days to climax. Hopefully it ends before the Celtics vs Lakers match even though we have the flipper at our disposal.