Egyptians 'Hungry For Change'

[Richard]

And so it goes...

Richard

Egyptians 'Hungry For Change'
Sarah el Deeb, AP, 28 Feb 2010

The former head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, who has emerged as an opposition leader in Egypt, appealed to the government Saturday to heed calls for change before frustration over a stale political system – ruled by one man for nearly 30 years – spirals out of control.

Mohamed ElBaradei is a Nobel laureate who has seen a wave of support from youths and reformists who see him as a potential challenger to President Hosni Mubarak. Getting the general public on board with a peaceful movement is his biggest challenge, ElBaradei said.

The 67-year-old career diplomat – who gained international respect while leading the International Atomic Energy Agency – remained mum about any presidential aspirations, saying a mass reform movement must first take hold.

"You have seen how much support I got even before I set foot in Egypt," ElBaradei said during an interview at his house on the outskirts of Cairo. "It shows that people are ready, I would say even hungry for change. But this is still something that has to take roots and has to spread to different parts of the country."

As IAEA chief, ElBaradei infuriated Washington by challenging claims that Saddam Hussein had a secret nuclear program ahead of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The Bush administration tried to have him removed from office. But the U.S. and its Western allies publicly lined up to praise him in the months before he left the post in late November after 12 years as the public face of world diplomacy on keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of rogue states.

He has been meeting with various groups at his house since returning to Cairo a week ago after nearly three decades abroad, including women and youth representatives who initiated a petition calling on him to run for presidency. Over 100,000 people have joined a Facebook group supporting his candidacy.

Existing restrictions make it practically impossible for independents or candidates from new parties to run, meaning that ElBaradei's chances would be dim without long-sought constitutional amendments.

"I hope the government will understand that you don't want for people to reach a point of desperation, and then you get into yet another revolution," he added.

He is a declared independent and has refused to consider joining an existing political party because of the regime's control over the political system. He also denied that his campaign gives legitimacy to the powerful regime by creating an air of democracy.

"I am not playing by the rules of this pseudo-democracy," he said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.4bbc995.html

[Marina]

Someone better tell him not to go to Dubai

[Pete]

".........Existing restrictions make it practically impossible for independents or candidates from new parties to run, meaning that ElBaradei's chances would be dim without long-sought constitutional amendments................"

Its interesting how the press puts it. Way back when, coming out of The Great War nations were struggling for independance in the Middle East. It was then that the Ba'ath political system began to evolve.

It varies for country to country but basically is a one party system stacked by the country's strong man ruler. He picks the party heads and they pick the candidate to run for president - him. They then hold an election with only his name at the top of the ballot - and surprise, he wins.

So, Yes, and election was held.

And in the above I am talking about the general Ba'ath political concepts (Arab Nationalism) not the evolved Ba'ath parties in each state. You could say each state twisted the concept to it's own ends.

Has it been so long since Sadat was assasinated? I remember watching the news with clips of the parade and the gunmen jumping out of the trucks and firing into the stands. Mubarak, IIRC was badly wounded in the arm.