Smearing El-Baradei, Challenger to Little Pharaoh, Challenger to Napping Old Pharaoh………….
“When Mohamed ElBaradei won the Nobel peace prize in 2005, Egyptians happily proclaimed him a national hero. But now that he has retired after 12 years as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, some are calling him a villain. He may be an American or even an Iranian agent, hint editorials in Egypt’s state-owned press. He bears a nasty grudge against his native country after so long abroad, grumble other government mouthpieces. The reason for this sudden spate of spurious insinuation? Responding to pleas from reform-minded Egyptians despairing of local politics, Mr ElBaradei has suggested he may return to Egypt and run for president in elections due in 2011. Worse yet, he has deigned to propose conditions for his possible candidacy. The poll, he says, must meet internationally accepted standards. …….. almost three decades under its present leader, President Hosni Mubarak, have smothered all but a pretence of democracy. The notion of Mr ElBaradei’s candidacy brings a frisson of unpredictability to what Egyptians had assumed would be a scripted outcome, giving either a sixth six-year term to Mr Mubarak, now 81, or a win for his son, Gamal, who steers policy in the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)……….. “
He will not be the next president of Egypt. It will be Hosni Mubarak (81, already over 28 years in power, and enjoying a long deep nap), his son Gamal (Jamal), or some military officer. Not by fair election; there is no such thing in Egypt, there hasn’t been affair election in Egypt since Saad Zahghloul of the old Wafd was elected nearly 80 years ago.
The vast semi-official media of the oligarchies and absolute tribal monarchies of the New Middle East are assuming, probably rightly, that he has no chance. They talk, these shameless media like Asharq Alawsat, about there being worse alternatives to a hereditary presidency. They have left most of the dirty work to the Egyptian media, led by government-owned al-Ahram. If they suspected that he had a chance, they would also join the fray.
Cheers and Happy Holidays
mhg
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