The overthrow of the first ever democratically elected president, President Mursi, in Egypt has brought crowds on the Egyptian streets against the military coup. So far, the army has killed hundreds of the protesters. It is hoped that the United States did not have any role in the Egyptian military coup. The 1953 United States sponsored military coup in Iran that overthrew the first ever democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mossadegh still remains the main source of Iranian government mistrust of America.
As the Iranian experience has demonstrated, the coup involvement is not only inconsistent with American values, it will return to haunt America in the future, especially in Egypt where over two-thirds of the population is under 30 years of age.
President Mursi, despite his inexperienced and narrow vision, was elected in a free and fair election. Democracies could withdraw all their support and aid from the Egyptian military as a gesture for the military to restore Mursi to his rightful position. President Obama’s announcement of the cancellation of the military exercises next month and the discontinuation of cooperation with Egypt are proper courses of action for the start.
Once restored, President Mursi could have learned from his months under arrest that his survival depends on his willingness to work with the secular political entities. He could recognize that the new Egyptian Constitution failed to guarantee equal rights for women, define individual rights, and balance the government’s powers. The constitution was devised and approved by a constituent assembly that was chiefly composed of Islamists at the dismay of liberal Muslims and Christians who walked out. He could initiate amending it to address women’s rights, minority rights, and other secular concerns.
In the interest of its Arab allies in the region, the United States could encourage the Arab states under America’s influence from interfering in the Egyptian internal affairs, allowing Mursi a chance to work out his differences with secular organizations in moving Egypt forward. Otherwise, the Egyptian crisis will likely worsen and gradually spread into the other Arab states.
Democracy demands patience! The young Egyptians can also realize that democracy will ultimately address inequities, but it moves in the desired direction slowly, a bit better at a time. They could focus on knowing that all will work out in time.
Most of the region is already in turmoil. Syria is invaded by the al-Qaeda inspired foreign fighters, Lebanon on the verge of a civil war due to the conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are faced with insurgents financed by foreign states, Libya is run by militias, and Pakistan is becoming a lawless state. For those of us in love with freedom and peace, the least we can do is to value the freedom we take granted, live in peace, and wish them all freedom and peace!
Dr. Mehdi Alavi, President
Peace Worldwide Organization
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