The Army In the Arab World

The Tunisian republic was founded in 1956 by a lawyer and political activist, Habib Bourguiba, who had led the revolutionary struggle against the French colonial rule. Tunisia's new government was a civil state based on civilian rule. The military, then and now, is a apolitical force which has never played a role in national politics and is regulated to the role of defending the nation's peaceful border.

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Tunisia's military is atypical in the Arab world: a small force(it was the lowest percentage of GDP dedicated to the armed forced among all Arab nations), absent from politics, professional and limited to the proper rules of an armed force in any nation. Many senior officials also adhere to democratic norms, in part due to the high number trained at U.S. military academies that emphasize such values.

Thus it is not surprising that the general brass was appalled at the violence Ben Ali used to maintain his power and it was the military that eventually forced the 23 year reigning Tunisian tyrant to flee his nation after making it clear that, as Tunisians themselves chanted, enough is enough and Ben Ali had either the option of exile of jail. He choose the former in Saudi Arabia.

The image of a disciplined military force in an Arab country siding with popular will, the people, over a corrupt tyrant, dislodging him and ensuring a peaceful transition to democracy sparked hope in the Arab world that their Arab forces would similarly exhibit love of country, solidarity with the people, and patriotism.

That is why the Egyptian people welcomed the armed forces into Cairo and elsewhere. Because they had scenes the images from Tunisia and believed that they army would likewise side with them over their tyrant Mubarak. Alas that is not so easy in Egypt.

Tunisia's army is an independent force separated from the political apparatus of the state. Egypt's army is the state. The Egyptian republic was founded only four years prior to Tunisia's and that republic was born in a military coup. All its four presidents have been military officers, including Mubarak. The cabinet is staffed with military officials, including the newly appointed vice-president and prime minister. Beyond being the basis for the republic's birth and for maintaining a continuing role in its politics and the domination of said politics, such as deciding successors in the (what we will soon call) ancien regime, it is further simply unprofessional in its economic role. Egypt's generals not only have pampered officers clubs and enjoy other perquisites, such as the placement of retired generals on the boards of private firms, but the military is thoroughly embedded in the Egyptian economy through the management and control of several private firms, including in real estate. This is not simply an armed forces, but a bulwark of the state's politics and the nation's economy. It is not an independent outfit of professionals committed above all to the national interest, but a reflection of the corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and the ruling elite in Egypt which manage the control solely for their interest.

The army is deliberating with Mubarak right now and it's part of his inner circle in a manner that favors him. The army is part of the problem and not the obvious solution. It is a corrupt, self-interested force with a lot in stake in preserving status quo. To speak of the "military" and "Mubarak" is false, Mubarak comes from the system and that system is now siding with him. It is the corrupt cadre.

That is why it is not surprising that it has issued a T.V. statement and SMS statement calling for an end to protests under the false rhetoric that the army understands the people and is with them. No it isn't. It is a corrupt politicized corps which prefers the continuation of Mubarak because it has vested interest in him. The man's advisers are army officers and they are the only ones who can dethrone him. That looks unlikely now.

Tunisia's military has no economic interest and it not a politicized force which is counted amongst the government's personnel. Tunisians military officers do not operate as ministers. It is truly independent and had nothing to lose by expelling Ben Ali, but the nation had a lot to gain so it did the right thing.

Egypt's army has a lot to lose and its selfishness is not about to be subdued for the lofty pursuit of liberal values and the greater good. Eventually it will be forced to do with right thing, but it will be a shameful force since it was never its intention nor will it be pure of heart even then; but one of great recalcitrance. It will be forced only after great international pressure and a realization that the status quo will wreck the country. Then it will do the right thing. I fear many more lives lost until then.

Pray for Egypt.