GPS is coming to you from the center of the revolution in Egypt: Tahrir Square. It’s been four months since the spontaneous people’s uprising that toppled the 30-year dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. Fareed is on the ground to tell you what’s changed and what hasn’t. He'll also share his thoughts on President Obama’s speech on the Arab Spring.
It was a revolution without leaders. The uprising brought people from all across the entire country to demand their rights and Mubarak’s resignation. We’re bringing you some of the faces of the revolution. Joining Fareed this week:
- Waleed Rashed, a spokesman for the April 6th youth movement, one of the key groups organizing protests in Tahrir Square.
- Sarah Abdelrahman, student activist and video blogger who was in Tahrir.
- Noor Ayman Nour, a law student active in the protests.
- Ragia Omran, a human rights activist and a lawyer helping defend the protestors against the military tribunals.
Then, what in the world has the revolution done to Egypt’s economy? Can it recover?
After that we bring you a tale of two candidates. The election for president of Egypt is scheduled for November. Fareed sits down with the two presumed favorites: 1) Amr Moussa, the outgoing Secretary-General of the Arab League and former Foreign Minister of Egypt and 2) Mohamed Elbaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Laureate. They used to be colleagues. Now they could be opponents.
Ffinally, a last look at the “de-Mubarak-ification” of Egypt’s landscape.
Tune in this Sunday for this special edition of Fareed Zakaria GPS from Tahrir Square at 10a.m. ET/PT.
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Fareed, you and other media pundits have recently criticized Pakistan's military for somewhat falsely upping the ante on India's military threat in order to not only maintain their stronghold on the government but also to keep military expenditure at current levels (which are a major portion of Pakistan's budget). What do you think of recent statement by India's defence minister A. K. Antony with relation of defence ties between China and Pakistan "It is a matter of serious concern for us. The main thing is we have to increase our capability — that is the only answer".
Zakriya is a Jewish paid employee,why do you expect him to take a pro-Pakistan or a pro-Islam stand?
I remember having seen Christiane Amanpour on BBC – reporting from the Tahir Square for ABC, when the Egyptians were waiting to hear when Mubarak would step down. She wanted to talk to a few protesters there and they showed the world anti-American sentiments and told her to go away.
Fareed, after having watched your interview with the four young Egyptians, I asked myself, how much they represent the Egyptian populace? They all spoke excellent English, well educated, probably abroad. It is clear that the literacy rate there is relatively low. How about those much less priviledged youngsters, who had taken to the streets and brought the regime down. Where would they stand in the new Egypt? Right now uanimity is everywhere. Afterwards when life gets back to normal, what then? Would they be part of the nation-building-process?
Fareed, thank you for the great show. But i think you should interview one member of the higher council of the Armed Forces...why not?? I recommend General "Mamdouh Shaheen" assistant minister of defense for legal and constitutional affairs... you can ask him about every thing you want. Also it would be great if you bring Wael Ghoneim in your show. Thanks.
I agree completely. PLUS – Fareed, you gave those intelligent and articulate kids the privilege of sitting (e-sitting) in front of the American people to criticize our President, but did not force their hands when you asked them what they would have America do. They had NO constructive comment at all. It isn't enough to say "treat us all the same" when you don't even have an idea of how you want "the same" to be. Perfect politicians – don't answer the questions.
Mr. Zakaria,
There are some things that should not be spoken about – and I think your admission that you 'counsel' the US President is something quite frankly that deserved a certain amount of discretion and should not have been broadcasted. I wonder if you will ever be called upon again.... I could not find an email address for you, so I have posted here. Just a tad less respect for you!
I heard you questions to the Tahrir Square activists regarding the role that US had played. It appears that the US has reached damned-if-do-damned-if-don't stage in balancing its interests with its ideals. On the other hand, surprisingly, by staying absolutely silent, China is avoiding all backlash. This is 'surprising' because to stay silent is to favor the oppressive regimes.
Fareed, I think you and others ought to start asking questions about China's convenient non-interventionist approach.
Mr. Zakaria, I was watching the interview with the student activists, and was upset by their answers regarding the US Middle East policy – UNTIL one of the young people called the US a Regime. At that moment I recognized that their political world and ours are so different, that their opinions regarding the US is based upon their own experience. The US, in my humble American opinion, while not perfect, is certainly not a "Regime". Perhaps our inconsistent message arises from the fact that we are allowed to have differing opinions, and different concepts of what is the best way forward. Our leadership changes on a regular basis, and it was intentionally created that way so no single person would have that much control and power. Basically what they are calling us out on is what makes Democracy work. Freedom of expression and ideas. Should we stop sending weapons overseas? My opinion is yes. But there are others who would disagree. It might be slower than molasses to get anything done; but as a nation, we share the right to speak our minds. I hope they can establish their own democracy, and they will see how it works, and perhaps, be less judgemental of how we get things done.
IF THESE FOUR ANTI AMERICAN IDIOTS REPRESENT ANYONE OTHER THAN THEMSELVES I WILL NEVER RETURN TO EGYPT OR SUPPORT THE U.S. "REGIMES" FUNDING FOR THESE PEOPLE.
To the question: Has US foreign policy been hypocritical in calling for some dictators to step-down while allowing others to crack-down on protesters, the answer is "Yes, of course it is, but look how far we've come.". In matters of state, hypocrisy is a hard-won achievement, without which no progress in human rights would ever have been possible.
One day you will look back at all of this and laugh.
In other words, how would then Declaration of Independence read if Jefferson had not been an appalling hypocrite?
Fareed,
The so-called "Arab Spring" is simply a euphamism for the recent false uprisings in the Arab world. The real question for the Arabs will always be the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As we saw with the recent visit of Benjamin Netanyahu, there is virtually no chance for peace in the middle east now and in the near future. Israel is much too strong to give up any land to the illegitamite Palestinians that occupy Israel. You obviously have an Arab-Islamic agenda and it shows very clearly on CNN. I believe that you may also be an radical Islamist but you of course would not dare to admit it on CNN.
The Arab uprisings are false and were spawned as part of a Mossad operation to destabilize the region. It has thus far succeeded and the Mossad should be commended for such a great operation to destabilize and cause chaos in the Arab world.
I watched the show with the Egyptian activists. I am a very liberal Democrat, and I'm very critical of the United States foreign policies especially in the Middle East but these people were so hyper-critical of the U.S. that even I found their comments really mean-spirited and offensive. They all need to take some courses in diplomacy. Do they realize that if people like me were offended, what must other "middle of the road" Americans think of them? Their demeanor, body language and statements will not help further their cause. If they hate Obama so much, I wonder how they will feel when they end up dealing with a Palin or any of the Republican candidates if he loses in 2012. Obama is the "best" president as far as Egypt is concerned that we have to offer. Or maybe, they want to deal with another Bush. They are very young and maybe they just haven't learned that diplomacy requires that you use a bit of sugar to help the medicine go down.
Like the poster above, I tried to find an email for you, but this will have to do.
So tourism is zero. What a surprise.
The protesters wouldn't talk to Hillary Clinton, wouldn't talk to Christiane Amanpour and sexually attacked Lara Logan. Then a number of western women – journalists and diplomats – who had lived in Egypt came forward and reported hundreds of incidents of groping and attacks when they walked around in public.
Women make up half the world, but disproportionately more western travelers and tourists and right now are not going near Egypt. And do you think men are going to take their wives and daughters to potentially have them molested?
This is an important situation when half the western world is treated badly by these countries and then expects support. I am a woman and run 3 companies in the US. I cannot and will not have business dealings with any mideastern companies because of their attitudes.
And you don't seem to recognize the elephant in the room.
I watched the Egyptian students on Fareed Zakaria’s program and they have some valid points. They also are completely ignorant in other respects. First, when they call the American government a “regime”, that is not correct. Yes, the definition of the word is simply a “system of government”. But in western democracies, we attach a negative connotation to the word, reserved for the brutal, dictatorial types that exist in the Middle East and in other countries. What we have in America is a democratically voted-in leader and his administration. It is not a perfect system and our leaders are not perfect, but nothing on the planet approaches it. Next, the students are correct that America is hypocritical in the way it “dole’s-out” political response and pressure with regards to governments that are repressive to their people. America has always “played ball” with the likes of Saudi Arabia so that we can keep a steady flow of that dark, Middle Eastern honey that we are addicted to. Yet at the same time, how would these students suggest that we govern? If we renounce a leader and the student democracy movement does not take hold, now we are left dealing with a tyrannical government that is hostile towards America. That doesn’t mean that we should close our eyes to atrocities that are occurring in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other countries that are American “friends”, but it is a delicate balancing act in which we function just as poorly as any other government on the planet.
As for the students and what they expect from America, well, after 9/11 Muslims/Arabs all over the world said that Americans didn’t understand the hearts and minds of Muslims and Arabs. So we have spent the last decade trying to understand. But what have Muslims/Arabs given us in return? Do any of them try to look into the hearts & minds of Americans? No. When a sleazy, redneck, hillbilly preacher from Florida burns some Korans, the entire Middle East takes to the streets in protest. But what about all of the Christians that are murdered right there in Egypt and in many other Muslim/Arab countries? I didn’t hear the students mention any of that to Fareed. What Muslims/Arabs have taught Americans is that Islam is a religion that does not accept others and does not teach its followers to be accountable for their own decisions, lives, and governments. Everything is always blamed on America, Israel, and western Democracies. It’s time for Muslims/Arabs all across the world to start to try to look into the hearts and minds of Americans. It angers us greatly to see our flag burned and our people and way of life threatened, and Muslim/Arab consistency to support murderers and terrorists simply because they hate America shows that Muslims/Arabs are still stuck in the 10th century.
Join us in 2011 and we can forge ahead together. Continue to be more hypocritical than the American government and the ensuing decades will show you much more military, political, and social supremacy by America.
As an Egyptian I agree with you on many many points, but you have to understand that the fundamental issue for many of us is your country's unconditional support of Israel as it humiliates and degrades daily our brothers and sisters in Palestine. It is a very complex issue but one in which the U.S. has continually demonstrated its hypocrisy and very convenient abandonment of its main "Principles" Morals and Values in favor of its baby, Israel.
Just trying to explain why some of the opinions seem so fraught with emotion and fervor. As for the flag burning, well as you said, your pastor burns our Koran and we burn your flags.. the cycle goes on...
Egyptiangirl, I watched a video, by a muslim group, in which a newly converted hindu girl smashed an idol with a hammer and says " if your god can't protect themselves how can they protect you". I felt like burning a Koran to see if Allah will come to save it. Problem is that muslims cry when one koran is burned but do not control their own people. Islamic motto seems to be that it's OK to insult non-muslims but wrong to insult muslims.
I am sad for you and your lot. By the way I did not deface a Koran, because I did not want to stoop to the muslim level of thinking.
Thank you Farid, for a wonderful show. I really enjoyed your well rounded presentation and particularly enjoyed seeing Moussa and Baradei presenting their positions.
Egypt is a beautiful, magical and magnificent country and I hope we can emerge out of this challenging time as the proud, independent and strong country that we all dream of being.
Revolution???
I listened to your show today and the Egyptian “students” were compelling in their rhetoric but offered no answers to what to do economically. Outside of a cessation of brutality and detentions for thoughts, both imperatives that all can support , there appears to be only young wild eyed affirmations of everyone is bad and our Policies are bad. The reality of what it takes to run a government and implementing change in a poor country such as theirs is greatly lacking. The facts speak for themselves, they are a welfare country and though radical voices are loud they will soon be drowned out by reality.
Consider, they are actually saying that we should not be concerned about our dealings with Saudi Arabia and they should not be tempered by our concern on oil costs, currently the lifesblood of our country is oil.
I am a bit offended by the strident rebukes of our President and policies. The fact is, the 3billion dollars and more they will continue to ask for will come from Americans. We need money ourselves. People here are losing their homes.
Maybe your revolutionaries should have remained students a bit longer.
Lynx
I need much more of such programming/ideas/points-of-view but for heaven's sake get rid of the advertising so there is more time for learning.
Fareed, your piece on how to fight corruption is very interesting indeed. I ask you, as a frequent viewer, to do further on this subject, perhaps even bring into a panel to talk more about this topic, and give it much more time on the subject, a subject that surely deserves.
Any more outrage or dislike for the Egyptian "Students" comments? It is hard to accept but at the same time demonstrates the lack of world knowledge. Looking through their eyes as they said is important but just as important is them looking through ours.
Thank you Fareed for a well-done informative coverage. You are an intelligent well-informed journalist. And I love your passion for Egypt and Cairo.
Amro Moussa is an arogant old man with no new ideas to offer anyone. He is too self-centered. Sarah the student would make a much better President of Egypt. At least she is cute.
ElBaradei is the one with practical ideas and is not as self-centered as Moussa. Revolution of the Poor? Perhaps. If it happens it will be region-wide aand it will be bloody.
These young people do not accept that they and their continual demonstrations are going to destroy Egypt in a bid to save it. Mubarak treated the people like children, and this continues today with ruinous results. The main subsidy is gasoline in Egypt, and the public still thinks they have a God given right to cheap fuel. The military council does not want to be the ones to open the curtain and expose the truth, so we can expect Egypt will continue to waste precious resources on this foolish subsidy. Any help from the US will not be used for good, but to continue this charade.
These young people have never heard the turth, but the fact is that the US policy of assistance was successful for Egypt. 20 years ago the sewage ran in the streets and you couldn't make a call, let alone use the internet. Most of this progress was through the generosity of the people they despise.
The priviliged in egypt have never seen the truth, from denying the animals in the streets to the actual thinking of the multitudes. You can be sure, when a "democratic" election takes place, the fact that 80% of the population will support a fundamentalist agenda will be as real as Hammas in Gaza.
That was great of you going to tahrir square in Egypt, and share their progress after the historic revolution there. I agree with the "student activists" that America's foreign policy shouldn't be based on the national interest. All country's should be treated the same way, not matter what the national stake is. Hope to see you reporting from Kathmandu one day.
President Obama should pay close attention to the response of your 4 young activist guests. They were not at all swayed by President Obama's speech and seem to feel upset and isolated over his government's response. I agree with your guests in their summation that he is a President great with words but poor in action.
Fareed you know very well that the Israeli – egyptian peace is no longer exist. Therefor signing a peace agreement with the palestinians (even if Hamas pretend to recognize israel right to exist ) is not just stupid it is suicide. I don't know if you know that in the 1970s there were some palestinian leaders how tried to talk peace with israel and the palestinians kill them.
Mr. Amnon, let the Palestinians solve their own problems. It is about time for Egypt to look out for Egypt. There is nothing wrong with having a peace treaty wth Israel. Egypt will not live looking out for the Palestinians and neglecting the main issues of Egyptians. If you look closely at the Egyptian situation, Egypt has much more problems than the Palestinians. Are the Palestinians your cousins? Is it fair to say that we are ignoring all the serious issues Egypt and the Egytians are facing and going to look for the Palestinian issues – like we have nothing to do. Israel did not do any harm to the Egyptians. Let's be fair.
Man has dominated man to his injury. Until true equlity and justice prvail, it will not change. Just a new face, to an old game
Egypt is at crossroads either to bury the past or be buried by the past. Unfortunately Egyptian and many middle Eastern are hypnotized by distorted ethnic believes and years of ignorance. I really feel sorry for my fellow Egyptian whom are unable to really understand the evolution of human race and human rights, they simply lack education and culture. They are also deeply sunk into this anarchist sentiments of rejecting everything and every true friend due to years of suppressions, uncertainty and lack of transparency; fuelled by the double standard of US historical foreign policies, therefore they are unable to grab the generous opportunity and gesture that the US administration is kindly offering to them now.
I believe it will take them many years of disappointments, failures, chaos , trials and error, until they reach a better understanding of a true civilized world and the welfare of their countries, similarly to what happened in the West pro-world war 2, and earlier during the dark ages in the 14th century. But I am betting on the communication and technology to speed up this painful process.
Dear Fareed, I watched your show yesterday from Cairo. I think some of the opinions from the young guests on the show were quite naive and I personally would have liked to have you pointed some issues.
The opinion that America has been unhelpful in the events that happened during the revolution is at the least very naive. What I would have wanted you to point out to them is that the very fact it wa a relatively bloodless revolution in Egypt was not because the people in Egypt were smarter or the Government weaker, it was because of the restraining invisible hand of America. Just look at the countries were America holds less sway, Syria, Libya, Iran. Blood bath with no end in sight. Places where American influence is more robust, Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia. More successful campaigns with relatively less loss of life (at least in the former two). True, American policy in that part of the world is somewhat selective, but can they name one country in the world where it is not. national interests supercede every other interest and America is doing the same. I don't claim it is right, but at least it a policy everybody knows is in the open, Arab countries do not want American influence but at the same time, they want the money in the form of largessee.
Is that guy Mike Jackson????
Fareed, I thought that was a well-made show. Of course, to cover many issues in Egypt, you might need a series of shows, but within the allotted time you have in CNN, I commend your efforts and I enjoy your show very much. I would hope not only you interview MB leadership next week, but also the army leadership, as well as leaders of Coptic groups due to recent events with the sectarian violence.
Thank you.
Mina
I love the way so many countries criticize the United States for being unilateral, unprincipled, prejudiced...the list goes on – but they ALL have their hands out for our money, they ALL want us to help them when times get tough – they ALL want to dictate American policy – they ALL want our military help when they call for it. We should bring our troops home – and our money – and fix America !!! Floods, fires, tornadoes, joblessness – and those damned Republican congressmen – not doing what they were hired to do – just watching the rich get richer. Somebody – do something !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent! Thank you for doing this!
I watched the Egyptian youth show. If it is up to those kids, they are in trouble. I know spoiled brat when I see one. They were slouched. They did not understand metaphors (Arab spring is not a season...). Certainly there must be in Egypt someone with a better sense of nation, freedom, justice, human rights and so on. It should not be so hard to find them, Fareed. My bet is that if it is up to these type of youth that we saw on TV, another opportunity will pass for Egypt, and soon it will be the same old, same old.
from http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/450002
Church leaders have objected to provisions in the new law on places of worship that give the government the authority to supervise the financial resources of churches.
...
he church was closed under the former regime for security reasons but was reopened on the condition that no crosses should be placed on the outside of the building, and that it should not have a dome.
“Can you build a mosque without a minaret?” said Kamil Siddiq, secretary of the Confessional Council in objection to the conditions.
Fareed – your show is one of the best things on TV. Keep up the good work.
Regarding these "activists", the word that comes to mind is "disappointing". When the uprising was going on, I felt a real kinship with these protesters. If these four young people are representative of the views of the masses, then I have lost hope. They damn us for supporting Mubarak for 30 years. They damned us for not showing more support for the protesters. But had we interfered, they surely would have damned us meddling in their affairs. And had we intervened and Mubarak survived and turned against us, any future chance at a US-Middle East peace would have been forever destroyed. These young people missed a huge opportunity to connect with the American public and instead, came across as snotty, narrow-minded kids who do not realize the opportunity they have with Obama in the White House and how they are blowing it.
So i just heard the moslem brotherhood spokesman calling some people infidels. How could this movement be about peace and equality. It shows it's true nature. It is a shame that even Fareed failed to ask him what he means by infidel. This was soft interview to boost this movement lies and give them more credibility.How can a religion be peaceful when it calls majority of God's people infidels. Shame on CNN for giving audience to these wolves in sheep clothing.