Today there is peace in Egypt. As for tomorrow and days long after, who knows. Troubled times will return again to the land of the Sphinx and pharaohs, and it won’t be long before their neighbors in Israel grow too fearful of the Muslim Brothers and do something brash. But for today, Egypt can breathe easy and dream fondly of democratic days to come. Mubarak is gone now, and at least for today things are better.
The Egypt Problem will not solve itself. While 30 years of autocratic rule came to an end today, a harsh transition lies ahead. Hope and optimism can only carry the people of Egypt so far. The military is still in control, and a power shift will not come easy. Promises of democracy are all well and good, but it can’t happen overnight. And when a new government finally forms to control this nation of 80 million people, there will still be unrest. The Muslim Brothers will most likely take over, but even that won’t satisfy everyone. Blood will inevitably be spilled, and an all out war with Israel seems inevitable.
No doubt about it, the nightmare in the Middle East is not yet over. Mubarak has retired and Saddam’s been buried, but what comes next? Peace for the Middle East will not come easy, and will cost more than anyone is willing to pay. Many will regret what has happened and feel nostalgia for the past days when freedoms were few, but everything was easy and controlled. But years from now, when the dust has settled and the air is clear, no one will regret it. Freedom doesn’t come easy, nor should it. Eventually it all makes sense.
So for now, good riddance to Hosni Mubarak. And at least for tonight, Egypt is in peace.
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