Day: January 24, 2014
Obama will need to decide
My piece on the Egyptian constitutional referendum was published on Al Jazeera America yesterday. Bottom line: the 98% “yes” vote was real, but just as real was government intimidation of those who might have voted no, a boycott by the Muslim Brotherhood and some more secularist political forces, and “couch party” indifference. Still, about twice as many voters approved this constitution as the one President Morsi put before the voters in June 2012, when turnout was lower and “no” voting higher.
The sincerity and enthusiasm of the “yes” voters should not be doubted. Judging from my admittedly brief conversations with them while observing the referendum for Democracy International, they had no interest in the substance of the constitution but were anxious to vote for stability and an improved economy. The “revolution” has acquired a bad name. It stands for disorder and strife. Many Egyptians want to restore law and order so that they can return to earning a living, albeit a paltry one for most of the population.
The “yes” voters were also enthusiastic about the Egyptian army and General Sisi in particular. In the land of the pharaohs, leaders are deified. Sisi is more than a general or politician to his fans. He is the epitome of all that is good and clean in an Egypt that has seen a lot of nastiness and dirt. His picture and name are proudly displayed and chanted at international election observers, apparently in an effort to impress them with his support and send a message back to Washington. Read more
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