May Have Only Been Cosmetic

Mubarak Ruling Egypt From Sharm El-Sheikh

"During an interview given last February 19 2011, by Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, an intellectual, historian and the greatest Egyptian writer to the program “Misr El-nahr da”, in the midst of the conflicting reports about the health and wealth of deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Heikal surprised the listeners by exploding a heavy bomb during his dialogue which was heard by millions of Egyptians. What Heikal said has spread yesterday and today in the Egyptian public opinion, in speech between various political parties and the revolutionary youth of January 25.

Heikal spoke about the structure of the puzzle and the insistence of former President Mubarak to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh and his rejection to all invitations to travel abroad. He revealed ten scenes with regard to the revolution of youth of January 25, some cause of optimism such as “the youth, nation, the army, the admiration of the Arab and International world for Egyptians, and the surprise about what happened to the elements of the ruling government”. The other side of his talk was about the deep concern and the suspicion related to the “rapid shift in attitudes, the new protest demo in support of Mubarak, the legalization of corruption and the mystery his stay in Sharm El-Sheik”.

Heikal stated that the structure of the “protection plan” of the police state that existed in the Mubarak era was based on moving their assets into open spaces which are far away of the urban chaos and which are not easily reached by ordinary people, what decreases their ability to damage these assets, hence the focus on Sharm el-Sheikh was the plan of Mubarak. Heikal states : “Sharm el-Sheikh is out of sight and far from the presence of the people, it is close to the sea and to the airport, and MORE importantly, it is close to Israel and next to US forces stationed in the Sinai”.


From Wikipedia:

"Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000 (2008). Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's South Sinai Governorate which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai."

added - The Popular Uprising in Egypt. The Military Machine Remains Intact. The Political Status Quo Prevails

"The same group of Egyptian generals running Cairo presently formed the backbone of the Mubarak regime. There has been no real change in government. The military junta represents a continuation of the Mubarak regime. The previous so-called civilian administration and the Egyptian High Council of the Armed Forces are virtually the same body.

The generals would have run Egypt either way, under the so-called civilian government formed by Mubarak before he resigned or the current military government. While the generals rule the Nile Valley, a “controlled opposition” is being manufactured and nurtured by the U.S. and its allies.

Change is forthcoming. Whose interests will it serve? Those of Washington and Brussels or those of the grassroots movements in North Africa and Southwest Asia?"