Egyptian revolution back to square one

TEHRAN, Nov.27 (MNA) -- It is nearly one year since the Egyptian revolution successfully deposed dictator-for-life Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011. However, as the first anniversary approaches, the Egyptian people feel that the uprising has failed to realize their objectives. The ruling Supreme Military Council, headed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, played a positive role in the early days of the revolution. But over the past few months, the generals have been accused of dragging their feet in the process of establishing a democratic civilian government. The recent clashes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square broke out when the people learned that the military was drafting a new mechanism to maintain their hold on power. In other words, the generals are trying to create a situation in which they would have immunity from prosecution by the future government and would be able to act with impunity, as before. This intensified the demonstrations, and all political groups and parties, both Islamists and non-Islamists, called on the ruling junta to establish a national salvation government in order to pave the way for democratic elections. In such a scenario, the military must return to barracks and hand over power to a civilian government. The generals are opposed to such a move because they believe they must retain their prominent role in Egypt’s political system. Backed by Western governments, including the United States, the military will continue to look for new ways to stabilize its position in the current political turmoil. Killing and intimidating people are the only ways the military knows for dealing with the people. The junta has borrowed the tactics from the Mubarak era. Some people say the Supreme Military Council has even committed more crimes, including torture, than Mubarak committed in about three decades. The Egyptian revolution seems to have returned to square one, and the popular uprising against subservient military rulers has gained new momentum. But once again, the people will surely win the battle, just as they did during the final days of the Mubarak regime.