The Arab Spring Is Not Over

After the events of Sept. 11, when al-Qaida bombed the Twin Towers in New York, much has happened in the Arab and Muslim world. It would not have happened without America wanting to change the political map according to the neoconservative plan in the era of U.S. President George W. Bush.

First came the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the Lebanese-Israeli War of 2006, then the Gaza War with Israel and the mobilization of many countries in alliance against what they call terrorism perpetrated by Muslims against the civilized world.

After years of successive wars, the population exploded in a number of Arab countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Yemen — and of course the list goes on.

By all indications, the phenomenon appears to be a once in a lifetime sign in the Arab world. The infection passed to other, non-Arab Muslim countries. Should we attribute this to historical chance or to the internal conditions of each country which have reached the brink of explosion?

The internal factors were important because regimes that deal with their people through iron and fire confiscate political and humanitarian rights and concern themselves only with power and wealth. These factors motivated the people to revolt against tyranny and express their rejection of the current realities on the streets. The international coordination among events of the Arab countries, or the Arab Spring as they say, encouraged these people to talk openly about their rejection of the status quo. All this was done under the umbrella of the protection of freedom of expression. They had lofty and legitimate goals no one can dispute, but one goal remains on the political agenda: the transformation of the Arab and Muslim world after the events of Sept. 11. This would not have happened had America not decided to change its strategic plans in the Middle East.

This may continue for another few years, as the full extent of reforms desired have yet to be implemented. It is disappointing to those who participated in the uprising that this does not necessarily correspond to their vision. Nevertheless, we hope that this will be in the best interests of the Arab people.