It’s Like Going Backward Except Worse

Brave activists like Alaa Abd El Fattah and dozen others who fought hard for years to bring freedom to Egypt are thrown in jail awaiting military trials. Why would Alaa be treated this way after he and his revolutionary comrades already paid a high price to live in a free country? Why is SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) in charge, and for how long? When will elections be held to usher in true reform? Why is SCAF punishing the heroes of the revolution instead of honoring them and ensuring they play an effective role in building their free nation? I don’t think the Mubarak regime really fell. It is still alive through such dictatorial practices!

Tunisia is a different story and yet leaves much room for concern. The first democratic elections brought the Islamists to power. This is not what the young revolutionaries had in mind, but many Tunisians are expressing with confidence that “Islamist” does not mean “extremist” or “exclusive.” If the Islamists do not immediately prove their inclusive plans by sharing the power and making sure the youthful voices of the revolution are clearly heard and represented in the new political landscape, the Tunisian revolution as we witnessed it would be a total failure.

Libya is trying to figure out its future after Gaddafi. It is not a secret that Libyans - for the most part - owe their freedom to NATO, the U.S. and Arab countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The challenge now is for the free Libyans to stand on their feet without turning their country into another Iraq caught in a web of division, outside influences and violence.

Bahrain is in turmoil despite efforts by the government to suggest otherwise. The elements of that revolution are deeply rooted and well pronounced. The fire is still burning under the ashes and ready to ignite at the first opportunity it finds.

Yemen is in chaos with President Ali Abdallah Saleh back in country and back to his murky stance on whether he will relinquish power or not. Saleh has shown resilience to carry on despite all opposition. Although his word has become synonymous of confusion, distraction and remorseless bluff, he remains the president until further notice.

In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad supposedly agreed to a peace deal presented by the Arab League, but his troops did not show any signs of cease-fire. Instead, Eid al Adha was mired in bloody raids. The death toll since the uprising now stands at more than 3,800. The relentless aggression against civilians and the rising death toll, are taking place amid inaction by the world community, except for ineffective and ad hoc verbal condemnations; this makes the situation in Syria the most desperate and the most explosive human tragedy of the entire region. Syrians are being butchered at the hands of their own military and the world is watching. NATO still has no plans to attack as it did in Libya. Arabs have shown no willingness to interfere militarily as they did in Bahrain or Libya. The Syrian army continues to pound cities, piling victims and bodies behind. Syrians continue to brave the violence and take to the streets, in acts that are becoming more suicidal than heroic by the day.