By Arnold Keiser
On behalf of the Organization for International Cooperation I want to acknowledge the extraordinary accomplishments of the Egyptian people. You are inspiring and it is clear that the impact of your country’s transformation is already far reaching. Dictators and oppressive governments in the Middle East and around the world are now far more fearful of the people they have brutalized and stolen money and futures from.
We urge you to maintain a very, very high level of vigilance going forward. You must not forget what happened in Iran where the well meaning protestors brought down the Shah only to be manipulated by a monstrous radical so-called religious regime that has brutalized, tortured and murdered its citizens ever since. We all know what they did and have continued to do.
The world is watching with great expectations what will happen next but it is certainly up to you to continue to act in your own best interest and more broadly the potential positive or negative impact of your actions going forward now on the entire Middle East.
We know that the military stands behind you to a large degree but you cannot ignore the fact that the head of the military did stand by and did nothing to stop Mubarak’s brutality, suppression of your rights and stole vast amounts of money for the last 30 years.
We also want to urge you to not just be satisfied with Mubarak’s removal from office. He has clearly committed numerous crimes along with certain others and they all should be tried and punished for their crimes. He should not be living in luxury in his retreat by the Red Sea. He and all those who committed his vicious crimes should be in prison.
If the Egyptian people hold these people accountable for their crimes, it will further impact other dictators and oppressive regimes.
Governments that give these criminals refuge should be influenced or pressured if necessary to not give safe haven to such people.
In many countries harboring known criminals is also a crime. Why should leaders who commit numerous crimes be given refuge by any government anywhere.
We further urge you to attain the economic support, political advice and support and security assistance of free nations to be effective in moving forward. Free nations have a serious obligation to help the people of Egypt because they have not until this week. They too should be well advised to stop supporting brutal regimes for they have most definitely been a part of the problem.
Our government the US has long talked about democracy but has hypocritically at the same time often diminished that possibility of democracy by supporting dictators like Mubarak, Saddam Hussein, Ferdinand Marcos, Batista, Somoza, the Shah of Iran and many others for their own foolish purposes. This too must stop. The Egyptian people are well positioned to stand up against such actions.
Our organization stands ready to help you in any way we can.
Again, congratulations on your amazing accomplishments in the last few weeks. People everywhere are inspired by your success.
Arnold Keiser, President, Organization for International Cooperation (www.oicworldpeace.org)
