Summary of DEBKA Exclusives, July 5, 2013
Morsi's supporters criticizing military
"6. States that the overthrow of the democratically elected President does not conform to the relevant provisions of the Egyptian Constitution and, therefore, falls under the definition of an unconstitutional change of Government as provided for in the instruments mentioned in paragraph 5 above. Accordingly, and as mandated by the relevant AU instruments, Council decides to suspend the participation of Egypt in the AU's activities until the restoration of constitutional order;" Communiqué: African Union Communiqué On The Situation In Egypt
In Africa in particular, challenging the judiciary as President Morsi once did, is usually fraught with danger. It gives the enemy some ammunition with which to attack. I remember Eboe Hutchful, one of my neighbours in Ghana (the Chalets, South Legon) famously/ infamously accosting the then president of Ghana, Kofi Busia and his Mercedes Benz, just around the time that Professor Busia was committing the folly - not felony - of challenging the Ghanaian Judiciary. That must have been what added the extra fire to George Eboe Hutchful's already pent up ire and got him to tell his president, "Mr. President, I think that you must have left your brains in Oxford!"
Of course at that time George – as I knew him (Eboe) had some partial immunity from prosecution (for indecent assault) since he was doing research in Ghana sure enough, but affiliated to a Canadian University – and of course Kofi Busia himself was otherwise a decent, civilized man. He wasn't getting too big for his presidential breeches or suffering from illusions of grandeur.
As things are now, it's payback time for the bigwig that the military coup makers have just appointed/ installed as their "Interim" unelected president – and that's why that BBC commentator in interviewing Magdi Abdelhadi, described the military coup as "A sweet moment for the Constitutional Court" ( the Judiciary). In theory ( in a democratic country) it's supposed to be a clear-cut separation of powers – between the executive and the judiciary but in practice in today's Egypt, it is indeed the head of the still not defunct Constitutional Court that now enjoys the concentration of all powers in his own hands and is now appointing as it so pleases him, unelected representatives of the bebble – such as el Baradei being suggested as prime minister. I guess that the next time there is a coup d'état in Ghana (God forbid) the coup-maker will appoint himself or his own cousin or clansman as the Chief Justice or will have the even more brilliant idea of appointing the soft-spoken but unelected Kofi Annan as interim Prime Minister or President of Ghana until they fix the next election which they hope that their guys will win. Leaves you wondering, where is the Christian Coptic fellow known as Boutros Boutros Ghali? Is he not also under consideration for the post of prime minister, just because his first name is not Mohamed?
And what happens if the Brotherhood and Islamist allies win the next free and fair election – without any coercion from the rich and powerful and most politically influential Egyptian military? Will the el-Sisi refuse to accept the results – the people's verdict, once again?
For two ridiculous seconds it looked like it was being suggested that el Baradei was going to "do" the salvation miracle of saving the economy of Modern Egypt - the same guy that I saw laughing on CNN two nights ago, but not about the tragedy that has befallen his motherland - he was laughing and shaking off the idea of him ever being appointed Prime Minister - not because he got the least votes of all the candidates who contested the last democratically held elections for the Egyptian presidency, but because , as he said apologetically in that programme two nights ago (Swedish time), his family would object to him being crowned with such an appointment. Such a selection, this time with the military chief, General el-Sisi and his coup-makers who have already violated the Egyptian Constitution, now wishing to crown this old Egyptian political failure as interim prime minister of Egypt his motherland – to give a good but weak face to the international community during the so called "second phase" of the Egyptian revolution. The first phase was getting rid of Muba (Mubarak), the second phase being the not so good idea of bringing him back again through the back door in the form of his lackeys, chief of whom is the former head of the judiciary, most probably Mubarak's appointee – a personal enemy of Morsi, now acting as the new unelected president of Egypt.
That's the new Egyptian (military) power politics in action, doing what they believe to be phase two of the revolution: a military coup and confidently on the way to absolute disaster.
But there must be reasons for this and here we seek them:
That old windbag Tony B-liar has other views of course. I too have other views. On principle.
We are not to suppose that Saudi Arabia and maybe Israel too – are happy with the recent rapprochement between Egypt under the Brotherhood – and Iran after a suspension of diplomatic relations between the two countries, since the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979.
Concerning the economy, with unemployment figures at 13% and inflation on the increase, Morsi's Egypt was still in the process of negotiating a $4.8 billion from the IMF when the Morsi government was toppled. Had it been in some other parts of Africa that I know so well, I would have said that the new "leaders" would sure like to get their fingers on some of that IMF money – but as things are right now, the IMF does not dish out loans to governments that are not recognized internationally - and this interim government to say the least, was not democratically elected but came to power through the barrel of their guns and not through the ballot box.
The instability is not good for the economy of for getting credit from anyone – but maybe, some national sadaqah will be forthcoming form Saudi Arabia, if they can afford it. Otherwise Egypt's economy will worsen, dramatically, will get worse month by month – and just now the tourists that accounts for some 13% of the economy will not be coming. Phase two is looking really gloomy, phase three a long stay by the men fronting for the military might mean the cemetery - for the economy: It's said that Egypt only has about $15 billion dollars in reserve to cover imports for another here months…
It's said that Qatar which was closely allied with the Brotherhood Government had pumped enormous sums into the Egyptian economy and is unlikely to continue doing so with the coup maker's men in power.
And where is all of Mubarak's money?
Don't ask me! Just like a lady, I too say, I don't know. No, ai kian't.
So far I've been reluctant to even mention the US and what president Obama says. He more than anyone knows how difficult it has been for him during the recession that's passed – with all the bank bailouts etc. and the recession that's definitely on its way. And that a military coup in the US – as was romoured before his re-election – farfetched as it is, would not be a democratic solution. It is my belief that had the White House issued a sterner warning to the military – from the time that el-Sisi issued his 48 hour ultimatum, Morsi would have thus been given more space and more time within which a dialogue involving the main players could have been convened.
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