Monday, January 31, 2011

Rage, rage against counter-revolution

By Pepe Escobar
Asia Times

"The Age of Rage from Northern Africa to the Middle East is not an Islamic revolution, it's a graphic example of grassroots activism against repression, mass unemployment and rising food prices. But at street level in the Egyptian intifada, suspicions are that a United States-orchestrated coup will keep the military in place, even if Mubarak has to go. Expect the counter-revolution to be fierce....

Egypt won't become a working democracy because of lack of political infrastructure. But it has to restart from scratch, with most of the opposition almost as reviled as the regime. The younger generation - empowered by the feeling of being on the right side of history - will be crucial.

They won't accept an optical illusion of regime change that ensures continuous "stability".
They won't accept being hijacked by the US and Europe and presented with a new puppet. What they want is the shock of the new; a truly sovereign government, no more neo-liberalism, and a new Middle East political order. Expect the counter-revolution to be fierce. And extending way beyond a few bunkers in Cairo. "

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