Ayoon wa Azan (Did You Say, "Spring"?)

The Arab Spring reminds me of the old, unlamented Socialist bloc countries. Each one was officially called "Democratic," and they were certainly as democratic as the Libya of Muammar Gaddafi was "Great," as in the country's official name. Today, I will mention examples of countries that I have known for a longer period of time than three-quarters of the population; I know the regime, the rulers and the entire people. I will begin with Egypt, the biggest Arab state and the cornerstone of building a better future, but without offering any praise or derision of the Hosni Mubarak regime. The Muslim Brotherhood have monopolized the revolution (I will not say they have stolen it) even though its true heroes are known. They have set up a Soviet-style regime, by another name. Instead of the Communist Party, there is the Freedom and Justice Party, and both represent a one-party state that accepts no opposition or difference of opinion. President Mohammed Mursi sacked Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud, the state prosecutor, and tied the hands of the Constitutional Court, to block any dissolution of the Constitutive Assembly for the Constitution or the Shura Council. He also banned them from reviewing any decisions he takes. These decisions are completely undemocratic and perhaps Mohammed Mursi is a Ph.D. in mineral science, but not an expert in the Constitution. Democracies have three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial, each independent of the other, and each monitoring the work of the other. This is democracy, and anything else is like Soviet-style democracy, or the "greatness" of Libya under Gaddafi. I expect that the Egyptians will not accept this coup against the revolution. I do not rule out a counter-revolution, before the issuing of a religious Constitution, which will set things on the path to true democracy, instead of rule by a religious party supported by a more extreme religious party, which I see as religiously and socially backward. I am speaking specifically about the Egyptian Salafis and no one else, and the Nour Party, which stands for "light" in Arabic, is the exact opposite of that, since it is a party of darkness. From Egypt to Kuwait, and another lesson in democracy. If it is not about different authorities monitoring each other, it is about the option of "one man (or woman), one vote," and I do not know or accept another definition of democracy. The opposition in Kuwait rejects the notion of one man, one vote and instead prefers four votes for each person. In other words, this would allow horse-trading among different electoral groups, with personal and tribal interests trumping those of the state, to falsify the people's will. Once again, I say that Saddam Hussein is gone, and will not return. Kuwait's borders are not threatened and there is a wide margin of freedom and a high oil income that should be sufficient for the people, if not exceed their needs. No Arab country is luckier or in better shape than Kuwait, and anyone who says different is a liar. We see an opposition that only knows the word "democracy," but not its meaning. It threatens the prosperity and future of the country for selfish reasons. Someone who became naturalized in 1969 or 1970 wants to teach the art of rule to an emir like Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah, whose family has been in power for 250 years. From Kuwait to Bahrain, where those with Persian loyalties are trying to turn "their country" into an Iranian regime, following clerical rule. Bahrain is a prosperous country but does not have natural resources. There is a gang that wants to turn it into Iran, with international sanctions and blockade, to the point of starvation in a leading oil country, all because of the genius of Ayatollah rule. I conclude with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is the enemy of democracy as much as it is the enemy of Israel. It is trying to impose its opinion on everyone. I have always supported it and still do, against Israel, and when I object to something it is because I have a different opinion, no more and no less. I believe that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is now looking to establish the party's position after the departure of the Syrian regime. This regime is on its way out, and denying this will hurt the party's future. --- The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.