Ahmad Shafiq
The Wall Street Journal's
Christmas Gift for Egypt
The Influential Wall Street Journal gave Egypt a Christmas gift early on in December of 2010. It had dubbed retired air-marshal Ahmad Shafiq New Contender for the top Boss Job for Egypt.
The Journal said that a new face had emerged as a possible contender to follow Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as leader of the Arab world's most influential country.
It reminded the world that Mubarak was 82 years old and had just recovered from what it called a gall-bladder surgery, apparently following the official announcement by the Mubarak’s disinformation apparatus. The truth, however, is they were hiding that he was suffering from both pancreatic and gall-bladder cancer.
The Journal subsequently did acknowledge the facts regarding Mubarak’s real condition along with experts' opinions on the general prognosis of similar cases.
The Journal, in its Egyptian politics analysis pointed out that Mubarak, suffering from serious health condition, had yet to name a successor, refusing even to appoint a vice president, ahead of the presidential elections that was slated for the following fall. Obviously not even the mighty Wall Street Journal had any clue on what the Egyptian Youth had been doing on Facebook!Citing the natural order of hierarchy to the top Boss Job, the Journal did run the names of both Gamal Mubarak and Omar Suleiman to pave the way for running air marshal Ahmad Shafiq’s name as the third contender.
It quoted what it called some Western diplomats, senior members of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party and political analysts in Cairo as the sources which had made a compelling case for Shafiq’s contention for the job.
The Journal touted air marshal Ahmed Shafiq’s career by pointing out that he had been minister of civil aviation and a former commander of Egypt's air force, who spearheaded a turnaround that was begun in 2002 at the country's flagship carrier, Egypt Air.
"Shafiq, the Journal said, had a good reputation. He was tough, honest, and low-key," based on an unnamed source in the NDP. The source went further to say:, "His name is definitely out there."
The Wall Street Journal cited a column by the editor-in-chief of the pro-government, state-controlled Al-Mosswwar magazine touting Mr. Shafiq's merits as a sign of his rise.
Amid persistent questions about Mubarak’s health, the lack of a known successor had worried the West and of course, above all, Israel.
Wall Street Journal interviewed top brass, evidently Lt. General Sammy Annan, who said: "Everyone expected to have some clarity by now.” The military, according to the Wall Street Journal was key power broker in Egyptian politics. "At any time, we can see a sudden power vacuum." Said the top military spokesman, according to the Journal.
The West had been scared of a power vacuum which would increase the chance of a protracted power struggle in the ruling party, according to the article which represented an accurate assessment of how the West viewed Egypt’s political theater.Rivalries, said the Journal, reach up to Mubarak's inner circle, That circle of military commanders, security and intelligence officials and party bosses would likely decide Egypt's next ruler if Mubarak dies or becomes incapacitated without naming a successor.
The succession prospects of Gamal Mubarak, 47-year-old head of the ruling party’s policy committee, was once almost unquestionable, but appeared to the Journal’s analyst to have faded in recent years, as a series of policy initiatives, including economic overhauls, had been stymied.
The younger Mubarak and his allies had long appeared locked in a power struggle with an old guard that had maintained a tight hold on Egypt military and security apparatus.
Ahmad Shafiq, meanwhile, appeared to be able to navigate between the two power centers inside the NDP. The 69-year-old is a former Air Force commander, as Mubarak was, and served under Mubarak's command. He came from a relatively limited cadre of powerful retired generals serving in influential civilian roles. He was a trusted Mubarak-family confidant, according to the Wall Street Journal
He had also proved his managerial skills, dragging Egypt's commercial air sector into the 21st century. He spearheaded massive upgrades to Cairo International Airport and transformed the country's once-rickety national air carrier. And he earned a Ph.D. in Strategic National Airspace Policy in the field of Aviation Commerce.
Osama Ghazali Harb, editor of an influential political journal described him to the Wall Street Journal in the following statement: "He's a very stable person, very balanced, and very quiet," "But most importantly, he's very trusted by Mubarak himself."
Shafiq had served with Mubarak in the air force and was a wing commander when Mubarak was Air Vice-Marshal. He earned his High command fellowship from the High War College of the Nasser Academy for Strategic and Military Studies and the same from the French Joint Services Staff College, now renamed The High War College. He earned his Ph.D. from a Canadian University in Quebec, Canada.
Pros:
When he first took over the Aviation Ministry his first battle was with the crooked businessmen who campaigned to push the government to sell the national carrier in the manner state assets had been sold, or at least to minimize the carrier's business in favor of private airlines. Shafiq tightened his grip on the business and imposed new regulations allowing only "serious investors" into the business.
He stood firmly against attempts to force his administration to apply open sky policies by the tourism industry owned by suspect businessmen and opportunistic foreign airlines.
During two major protests by pilots and air controllers, Shafiq exercised extremely tight No Negotiation Policy under pressure and won.
On his watch as minister of civil aviation there has not been any report of a single case of corruption within the Aviation Ministry or its affiliated companies and associations.
On the international level, his policies scored way above average and Egypt’s civil aviation authority scored high marks on all facets of operations. Cairo International Airport was transformed under his watch to a successful commercial institution
Cons:
Appointed by Mubarak forming a cabinet which included symbols of the decrepit regime showing signs of non-repentance.
Showed readiness and willingness to work with the Zionist Jewess US Ambassador to Egypt, giving her a free season on on his ministry. He also permitted an almost treasonous act by permitting the Israeli Jews to dictate the unimpeded presence of their own security forces on Egyptian Soil at Cairo International Airport
He is recorded as saying "I am sure the crisis will end and we will handle the political dispute. But there are continuous losses due to the economy being paralyzed at present." In other words he was incapable of recognizing that the nation had undergone a revolution. Very delusional.
He maintained the curfew only reducing it from 17 hours to 10 hours and also ordered financial institutions and banks to resume work on Sunday whatever the circumstances during which time tens of billions of dollars were smuggled out of Egypt by the crooks who had looted Egypt.
When Government Criminal thugs were unleashed in Tahrir Square, hundreds were killed and thousands were injured ... Shafiq only apologized to the nation in a press conference, but refused to acknowledge the crimes or name the criminal thugs, much less arrest any of them.
He deceived the nation by saying the government had no hand in the criminal acts and that rioters would be brought to justice. He never followed through, nor did he respond to repeated demands to do so.
As a figure of the decrepit regime, having served under Mubarak's command, he maintained his loyalty to the deposed dictator, refusing to negotiate any formula for the dictator to hand over power in compliance with national demands. He insisted that "Mubarak would complete his presidential term against national will and swore that he would continue as prime minister.
He has continued to resist compliance with revolutionary demands and dictates, and has refused to resign with honor, forcing the nation to demand his oust by any means necessary.
