Analysis: Fallout From Egypt Being Felt in Region

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak has resigned after 18 days of mounting nonviolent protests, followed by mass labor strikes, stalling an economy that benefited but only a few. The protests – persistent, self-policed, nonviolent, largely leaderless – orchestrated a homegrown revolution. The Egyptian military, trained and partly funded by the US, has taken control of the government; Egyptians celebrate joyfully in the streets; global audiences, enthralled by the peaceful organizations, were relieved that bloodshed was averted. “The downfall of Mubarak – one of the mainstays of Middle East politics and Western policies in the region for nearly three decades – marks another history-shaping moment for the Arab world from a country seen by many as its political and cultural crucible,” writes Brian Murphy for the Associated Press. Constructing a workable democracy for 80 million is the next step. As Murphy’s analysis explains, Egypt’s protests could inspire citizens elsewhere in the Middle East, enduring autocratic regimes in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen or Kuwait, to press for reforms. – YaleGlobal