This happened but an hour ago. If you've been living under a rock, lately the Egyptian populace has been pushing to overthrow their president (who has military control) peacefully. It has drawn much attention because some are using it as a point to see if peaceful revolutions are possible for reforming much of the opressive and/or unfair governments in the Middle East.
Read story below:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011211164636605699.html
I think this momentous event is so unbelievably significant. It won't be long before it is used in the stance that the US is way out of line, but it will also be used as a source of strength for all of the people who are unhappy with their current state of affairs. Honestly, I could not see this in a more positive light at present. My only worry is the repercussions of having the military in charge. For the immediate future, it is an improvement. It's just that there is history behind such a system evolving into fascism, so I hope they can find a suitable replacement and the military is handles its post with proper care.
It's also worth noting that though the previous president was a tyrant, I think he will be remembered in history a bit more fondly because he gave up his position of power when the unhappiness of the people was made clear. He was reluctant, but it's a great thing that he gave it up even though he had control of the military and could have silenced the protests if he had so wanted.
Read story below:
Al Jazeera said:Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has resigned from his post, handing over power to the armed forces.
Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, announced in a televised address that the president was "waiving" his office, and had handed over authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Suleiman's short statement was received with a roar of approval and by celebratory chanting and flag-waving from a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square, as well by pro-democracy campaigners who attended protests across the country on Friday.
The top figure in Egypt's new regime is now Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the country's defence minister. After the announcement, he drove past Mubarak's former palace, where crowds cheered him. He stopped briefly to thank and hail the crowds before driving in.
In its third statement to the nation, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said it was examining the situation "in order to materialise the aspirations of our great nation".
The statement said that "resolutions and statements regarding the ... actions to be followed" in order to achieve the demands of the people will be handed down later.
In the televised address, the spokesman also extended "greetings and appreciation" to Mubarak for his service to the country, and saluted the "marytrs and those who have fallen" during the protests.
'Dream come true'
The crowd in Tahrir responded to Suleiman's statement by chanting "We have brought down the regime", while many were seen crying, cheering and embracing one another.
Mohamed ElBaradei, an opposition leader, hailed the moment as being "a dream come true" while speaking to Al Jazeera.
"I can't tell you how every Egyptian feels today," he said. "We have been able to restore our humanity ... to be free and independent".
He reiterated that Egypt now needs to return to stability, and proposed that a transition government be put in place for the next year. The government, he said, would include figures from the army, from the opposition and from other circles.
"We need to go on ... our priority is to make sure the country is restored as a socially cohesive, economically vibrant and ... democratic country," he said.
Ayman Nour, another opposition figure and a former president, told Al Jazeera that he would consider running for the presidency if there was concensus on his candidacy. He called Friday "the greatest day in Egyptian history".
"This nation has been born again. These people have been born again, and this is a new Egypt."
"Tonight, after all of these weeks of frustration, of violence, of intimidation ... today the people of Egypt undoubtedly [feel they] have been heard, not only by the president, but by people all around the world," our correspondent at Tahrir Square reported, following the announcement.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011211164636605699.html
I think this momentous event is so unbelievably significant. It won't be long before it is used in the stance that the US is way out of line, but it will also be used as a source of strength for all of the people who are unhappy with their current state of affairs. Honestly, I could not see this in a more positive light at present. My only worry is the repercussions of having the military in charge. For the immediate future, it is an improvement. It's just that there is history behind such a system evolving into fascism, so I hope they can find a suitable replacement and the military is handles its post with proper care.
It's also worth noting that though the previous president was a tyrant, I think he will be remembered in history a bit more fondly because he gave up his position of power when the unhappiness of the people was made clear. He was reluctant, but it's a great thing that he gave it up even though he had control of the military and could have silenced the protests if he had so wanted.