Saturday, January 29, 2011

With Revolution In The Air, What Will Egypt's Army Do Now?


Just Whose Side Are Arab Armies On, Anyway? -- Foreign Policy

Tunisia’s military saved the people’s revolution. But in other Arab countries on the brink -- such as Egypt and Yemen -- the armed forces are far less likely to do the same.

TUNIS—When security forces started firing on protestors earlier this month on the streets of cities around Tunisia, the military stepped in. President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali's orders were to make the protests end, with live rounds if needed. The armed forces didn't listen. Troops moved into the streets and reportedly even deployed helicopters to stop paramilitary snipers who were shooting demonstrators from rooftops. The de facto head of the military, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Rachid Ammar, then prodded President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali into exile, saved the people's revolution, and -- most miraculously of all -- then declined to take power himself.

Read more ....

My Comment: These soldiers have no stomach to fire upon their own citizens. The dye is cast .... the military rank and file are not going to support what their leaders tell them to do. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak days are numbered .... and at an age of 84 .... I doubt that he has the stomach to even fight.

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