Heeding Sensitivities

He is 84 years old, after all, with known critical health conditions.  And he has suffered a dreadful shock.  The man who had given his life to his country in his own inimitable way, felt himself to be the father of his country, as it were, and here the reciprocation of his dutiful attention to serving the needs of the country has been somewhat less than he anticipated.

In the Middle East even benevolent dictators, knowing their public and the violence that seethes among certain sectors of the population, take steps to protect the entire society that seem brutal, and are, by Western standards, but represent common security fare there.  Little did he ever imagine that the venomous hatred that many of his people felt for him would result in a significant, vocal portion demanding his execution.

He would never have imagined it, because he thought of himself as being the sacrificial lamb, the servant of his country to which he dedicated himself as a source of personal pride and honour.  That some among the population would be disloyal to him and what he represented would be a given; that their combined strength would be sufficient to drive him from power, would be unthinkable. 

The shock that resulted from that reality turned him from an arrogant, entitled head of state to a defenceless, sick old man.  Egyptians, the loud, young vocal ones imbued with their own sense of outrage that they live in a country where human rights are repressed, and freedoms are not recognized by law, and lack of opportunity depresses and oppresses their futures, vowed to overturn the status quo.  And they did.

And now, that man whom they loathe - whom they wish to see dead and departed, and all the symbols and trappings of his reign banished from reality to be replaced by another reality that reflects what they know exists in Europe and North America - is imprisoned, sentenced to life in prison and close to death, they will not relent.  To them it is dreadful that his colleagues were acquitted; they will not see this sick old man released.

"He says, 'They want to kill me.  Save me, Mr. Farid, find me a solution", explained his chief lawyer.  "His condition is very critical.  I appeal through Agence France0Presse to all world leaders and NGOs: save Mubarak'".  

His family has formally asked that he be transferred to a civilian hospital where he can receive expert medical attention that someone in his severe medical state would require to endure beyond the short term.  He wishes to be rescued from the dreadful indignity of someone in his position being installed in a medieval prison to which enemies of his regime were sent.

"Moving him now is very sensitive, with the threat of protests in Tahrir [Square] and the elections coming up", said one security official.  Reports of his death were premature.  That report lent credence to the pleas of his family, and allowed authorities to permit them to visit with him. 

Before too long it seems evident enough, such a report, repeated, will factually announce his death.  Solving nothing whatever for Egypt.