Oh, What a Waste, Our Revolution

There is no doubt that the release of the Americans accused in the foreign funding case without a trial and with their dignity intact was a huge scandal. This ordeal is a great blow to the nation’s dignity, and it re-emphasizes the fact that post-revolution Egypt is no different than it was under Mubarak's reign.

Several questions arise: What became of Prime Minister Ganzouri’s flippant statement to the Egyptian Parliament that “Egypt will not kneel down”? Where were the free Egyptian judiciary, the prosecutor, the Parliament and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that run the country? They are all complicit in this scandal. I ask them: Were you too weak to hold out against the American threats to cut off aid in response to the trial? Why did you portray yourselves as heroes and play the role of free men who do not tolerate such threats? Why did you make us believe that Egypt had become truly sovereign and would not submit to anyone, even America? How long will we live as prisoners with the knife of American aid at our throats?

There is yet another question: What will become of the Egyptians who have been accused in this case? Will they be released like the Americans were, or will they be prosecuted? The scales are tipped in the Americans' favor. Is there a judge whose conscience would allow him to decide the case in such a way? Who allowed the Americans to return to their country without judgment? Was this Field Marshal Tantawi’s decision, or was it Ganzouri’s?

What will the public’s position on this case be? Will the Ganzouri government become a scapegoat in order to calm the public reaction? Will it result in his resignation? In the end I find myself speechless, except to say, "Oh, what a waste, our revolution…"