Media That Accumulates Is Not Independent

S. Fitzgerald Johnson's latest article Egypt: Educating the Empire draws a number of valuable political lessons from the Egyptian crisis. Although he identifies five of them, I would like to touch the third one, media's role. Johnson argues that,

[...] media that accumulates, for a state or bourgeois class, is never independent. The military claims that its intervention on 3 July 2013 restored a revolution and was not a coup, and the media – both state and privately owned – has dutifully represented the intervention as restoring a revolution and not a coup.

[...] The military labels all those opposed to its coup "extremists" and the media obediently incites against the military’s opponents calling them "terrorists."

[...] The names vary – New York Times, Al-Ahram, Pravda – but media that accumulates is always the instrument of the dominant classes in society. And make no mistake – the dominant classes are those controlling material wealth, not the numerical majority.

On a related note, here are five Turkish newspapers of August 16th, copycatting each other with identical/exact headlines and placement, citing Erdogan's "Bir Musa çıkar hesabını sorar" about Egypt. This was not the first and it is beyond disturbing:

Clearly, making an informed decision on anything is getting more difficult each day. We have to find, create, protect and cherish independent news outlets vigorously if we really care about our freedom (and sanity I might add).

A New United Nations Coming

In a recent (Aug 22) TV interview, Prime Minister Erdogan has called for a new United Nations. Claiming UN is not working the way it is meant to be, "We told them so many times but they either did the opposite (of what we said) or nothing," citing UN's policies in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Israel, Egypt and Palestine as examples.

If we really say that the world is bigger than five [permanent members of the Security Council], then the other countries could establish their own United Nations. Such a move could be made. Such a move would prompt them [the United Nations] to reform. What will the U.N do when they (other nations) would pull?

I am appalled. First preciously alone, then magnificent defeat and now a new UN. Heading full speed but where?

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Should Resign!

Turkey – a "preciously alone" country – is now pointing the finger at Middle Eastern monarchies for their extraordinary political and financial support to the Egyptian coup d’éta. Here is an example op-ed from the press:

That’s why I believe senior Turkish government members preferred to direct their criticisms toward Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Turkish secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). As they cannot demand the resignation of King Abdullah, it’s a lot easier to bash İhsanoğlu, who was elected to this position thanks to the great efforts of President Abdullah Gül during his stint as foreign minister in 2005.

There has to be a saying to describe this behavior but what? Pity I cannot remember, my memory is preciously weak!

The Correct Political System for Egypt

As the turmoil in Egypt continues, the death toll increases each day. It will eventually subside one way or another so it is imperative to understand what went wrong in Egypt's first trial of democracy.

I, for one, put the blame on the presidential system that put Morsi in power. The movement (that is softest word I have come up with to describe them) of Ihvan or Muslim Brothers found itself in full control with almost no restraints; remember that this was once an illegal underground organization that managed to survive by hard working and obeying orders to the letter, so nobody from within criticized.  With one fourth of the populace supporting them, the presidential system gave them the means to press their own agenda with no respect for different views. It lasted one year.

Now, try to imagine a parliamentary democracy with a coalition government in which Ihvan was a member, and ask yourself if this whole thing would have played out the same. I would go ahead and say it would have been a very troubled partnership, a lot of fights, tense meetings, etc but compromise in the end and no bloodshed. I humbly think it is still the right way to go. Finally,

Dear Brotherhood,
You screwed up! Give it up and get over it. There is no reason for your friends, relatives, colleagues, wives, husbands, sisters from either side to die. Reflect on what you did wrong. There will be many elections to be won or lost. Be a part of the process and help create a free and democratic Egypt for all.