whs0211_036
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SPECIAL REPORT: 36 Egypt rocked by revolution This month’s Special Report is dedicated to explaining the recent riots and turmoil that took place in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian President Mubarak was in office for over 30 years, and the Egyptian people rebelled to take back their democratic government. Mubarak finally stepped down on February 11, after originally agreeing only to step down at the end of his term. Read more to learn the causes of this revolution, its potential effects, and what it means for the U.S. Steven Lee Staff Writer Thirty two years ago, Egyp- tian president Anwar El Sadat along with Israeli Prime Minis- ter Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords, which cre- ated peace between the two na- tions in the Middle East. As Unit- ed States President Jimmy Carter presided over the signing, the U.S. agreed to support Egypt by send- ing them half the amount of fi- nancial aid that they were sending Israel. Three years later, President Sadat was assassinated, and Hosni Mubarak assumed power. He was president for over 30 years, and the United States continued to sup- port both Egypt and Mubarak dur- ing his reign. However, the Egyptian people and, to some degree, the Egyptian army, did not feel the same support. Tensions grew between Mubarak and the citizens of Egypt for years, and these tensions broke out into revolts on January 25. After 18 days of protesting, the Egyptian citizens’ work came to fruition. On February 11, President Mubarak stepped down and turned all power over to the military. The previous day, Mubarak addressed the nation of Egypt, along with the rest of the world. Waiting eagerly, the protestors fully expected Mubarak to step down at that time and end the rebellions. However, Mubarak merely reaffirmed his previous statement that he would step down in September, the month of the national elections, and handed direct power down to his right- hand man, Vice President Omar Suleiman. Therefore, the protesters’ wish wasn’t fulfilled until the next eve- ning, February 11, when Suleiman delivered a short televised state- ment announcing Mubarak’s res- ignation. He said that the president was stepping down for the benefit of the republic. Before Mubarak resigned, many protesters had been quoted to say that the rebellions would not stop until he had been ousted. Al- though he was technically “presi- dent,” he acted as a dictator, and the citizens were pushing for a true democracy. However, the direct cause of these revolts is not located within the country of Egypt. The origin of these rebellions occurred in a Middle Eastern country nearly 700 miles from Egypt—Tunisia. Tuni- sia has faced a similar situation to the one in Egypt. Its citizens had also been led by an autocratic rul- er, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Due to issues such as high unemployment and corruption of the ruling class, Tunisian citi- zens revolted in December 2010. After approximately four weeks of increasingly intense demon- strations, Ben Ali stepped down from power and fled the country on January 14, 2011. News of this revolution traveled through social media and when it reached Egypt, it gave Egyptian citizens the same idea. To help him fend off the upris- ings, Mubarak used the Egyptian police, possibly the only group that still showed him support. More than 300 Egyptians are estimated to have been killed in the riots, ac- cording to the New York Times. Mubarak shut down all Inter- net access in Egypt, which made communication among demon- strators and the rest of the world nearly impossible. President Obama’s spokesman recently criticized Mubarak’s administra- tion for arresting and harassing journalists and human rights ac- tivists. Even though Mubarak is now out of power, Egypt is still dealing with an extremely delicate situa- tion. It is not yet known who will assume power. As history teacher Mr. Hoff- man said, “Though technology and mass communication have greatly impacted the revolution in Egypt, there are still many similar- ities to [the revolutions in] France in 1789, Russia in 1917, and Iran in 1779. All of those ended differ- ently, and it will be interesting [to see] how Egypt ends.” Streets filled with citizens, citizens filled with discontent Photo illustration by Elissa Miolene / Photo Manager Tensions grew between Mubarak and the citi- zens of Egypt for years, and these tensions broke out into violent revolts on January 25. After 18 days of protesting, the Egyptian citizens’ work came to fruition. On February 11, President Mubarak stepped down and turned all power over to the military. Chaos in Cairo
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This month’s Special Report is dedicated to explaining the recent riots and turmoil that took place in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian President Mubarak was in office for over 30 years, and the Egyptian people rebelled to take back their democratic government. Mubarak finally stepped down on February 11, after originally agreeing only to step down at the end of his term. Read more to learn the causes of this revolution, its potential effects, and what it means for the U.S. Steven Lee Staff Writer
Transcript of whs0211_036
Special RepoRt:36
Egypt rocked by revolutionThis month’s Special Report is dedicated to explaining the recent riots and turmoil that took place in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian President Mubarak was in office for over 30 years, and the Egyptian people rebelled to take back their democratic government. Mubarak finally stepped down on February 11, after originally agreeing only to step down at the end of his term. Read more to learn the causes of
this revolution, its potential effects, and what it means for the U.S.
Steven LeeStaff Writer
Thirty two years ago, Egyp-tian president Anwar El Sadat along with Israeli Prime Minis-ter Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords, which cre-ated peace between the two na-tions in the Middle East. As Unit-ed States President Jimmy Carter presided over the signing, the U.S. agreed to support Egypt by send-ing them half the amount of fi-nancial aid that they were sending Israel. Three years later, President Sadat was assassinated, and Hosni Mubarak assumed power. He was president for over 30 years, and the United States continued to sup-port both Egypt and Mubarak dur-ing his reign.
However, the Egyptian people and, to some degree, the Egyptian army, did not feel the same support. Tensions grew between Mubarak and the citizens of Egypt for years, and these tensions broke out into revolts on January 25. After 18
days of protesting, the Egyptian citizens’ work came to fruition. On February 11, President Mubarak stepped down and turned all power over to the military.
The previous day, Mubarak addressed the nation of Egypt, along with the rest of the world. Waiting eagerly, the protestors fully expected Mubarak to step down at that time and end the rebellions. However, Mubarak merely reaffirmed his previous statement that he would step down in September, the month of the national elections, and handed direct power down to his right-hand man, Vice President Omar Suleiman.
Therefore, the protesters’ wish wasn’t fulfilled until the next eve-ning, February 11, when Suleiman delivered a short televised state-ment announcing Mubarak’s res-ignation. He said that the president was stepping down for the benefit of the republic.
Before Mubarak resigned, many protesters had been quoted
to say that the rebellions would not stop until he had been ousted. Al-though he was technically “presi-dent,” he acted as a dictator, and the citizens were pushing for a true democracy.
However, the direct cause of these revolts is not located within the country of Egypt. The origin of these rebellions occurred in a
Middle Eastern country nearly 700 miles from Egypt —Tunisia. Tuni-sia has faced a similar situation to the one in Egypt. Its citizens had also been led by an autocratic rul-er, President Zine El Abidine Ben
Ali. Due to issues such as high unemployment and corruption of the ruling class, Tunisian citi-zens revolted in December 2010. After approximately four weeks of increasingly intense demon-strations, Ben Ali stepped down from power and fled the country on January 14, 2011. News of this revolution traveled through social
media and when it reached Egypt, it gave Egyptian citizens the same idea.
To help him fend off the upris-ings, Mubarak used the Egyptian police, possibly the only group that
still showed him support. More than 300 Egyptians are estimated to have been killed in the riots, ac-cording to the New York Times.
Mubarak shut down all Inter-net access in Egypt, which made communication among demon-strators and the rest of the world nearly impossible. President Obama’s spokesman recently criticized Mubarak’s administra-tion for arresting and harassing journalists and human rights ac-tivists.
Even though Mubarak is now out of power, Egypt is still dealing with an extremely delicate situa-tion. It is not yet known who will assume power.
As history teacher Mr. Hoff-man said, “Though technology and mass communication have greatly impacted the revolution in Egypt, there are still many similar-ities to [the revolutions in] France in 1789, Russia in 1917, and Iran in 1779. All of those ended differ-ently, and it will be interesting [to see] how Egypt ends.”
Streets filled with citizens, citizens filled with discontent
Photo illustration by Elissa Miolene / Photo Manager
Tensions grew between Mubarak and the citi-zens of Egypt for years, and these tensions broke out into violent revolts on January 25. After 18 days of protesting, the Egyptian citizens’ work came to fruition. On February 11, President Mubarak stepped down and turned all power over to the military.
Chaos in Cairo
