End of Mubarak's 30-Year Rule Heralds a New Era for Egypt, Arab World & Iran

Jubilation in the Tahrir Square, Cairo

Hosni Mubarak is gone! Good riddance! At age 82, after ruling Egypt with heavy hand for 30 years, the people of Egypt and the Egyptian military finally pushed him out of the presidential palace Friday evening, February 11, 2011. A historic day indeed!

Fallen dictator, Hosni Mubarak

Mubarak was appointed as Vice President by another military man turned dictator, Anwar Sadat in 1975. He became president of Egypt in 1981 after the assassination of Sadat. According to Wikipedia, “the length of his presidency made him Egypt's longest-serving ruler since Muhammad Ali Pasha. Before he entered politics, Mubarak was a career officer in the Egyptian Air Force, serving as its commander from 1972 to 1975“.

King Farouk

The 18-day protest turned into a huge party in Tahrir Square in Cairo & elsewhere in Egypt as visibly shaken Vice President Omar Suleiman announced Mubarak's resignation. As the news came, the Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo and the whole country exploded with jubilation. The people had finally won!

Anwar Sadat

It is big one for Egypt and the whole Arab world as Egypt occupies an important place in the Middle East and is considered to be a trend setter in the region. It is no less than a political earthquake with its center at Tahrir Square. Many autocrats, dictators and kings will not be sleeping easy from now onwards in the Arab world and Iran.

Muhammad Naguib

Mubarak handed over the power to the “Supreme Council of the Armed Forces”. It will be led by Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi. Egyptian military has long history of ruling the country. All its recent rulers from Muhammad Naguib (he took over as president in 1953 after the 1952 Egyptian Revolution overthrowing Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt and Sudan) to Mubarak came from military. The other two rulers were Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Now the power is again transferred to the military. But there is a hope this time that the present Revolution will lead to genuine, free & fair elections and establish a true democratic government. Power to the people! Long Live Egyptian Revolution!

Mohamed Hussein Tantawi