From Harrods To The Pyramids: Over-encumbered With A Thirst For Power
12 March 2013
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed
We have recently seen news reports about the Qataris
wanting to buy the pyramids from the Egyptians. Prior
to this, there were claims that they had also made an
offer to Egyptian businessmen and deputy Muslim
Brotherhood Guide Khairat El-Shater to buy the Suez
Canal.
Although such claim have been denied and said to be
nothing more than unsubstantiated rumors, there can be
no doubt that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood government is
now facing a financial crisis to the point that it is
now looking at any and all means of saving money,
including reconciliation with businessmen imprisoned
on corruption charges.
In principle, there is nothing strange about such
bids, particularly in this era of globalization. After
all Harrods, one of Europe's most important stores and
a historic British symbol, was bought up by Egyptian
businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed. He managed this store
for a quarter of a century before selling it on to
Qatar for a reported GBP 1.5 billion. So what would be
the problem if the Egyptians sold the Suez Canal or
the pyramids to the Qataris who have enough cash pay
off the Brotherhood government's deficit?
In reality, it would be easier to imagine New York
City selling off the Statue of Liberty, or the French
renting out the presidential Elysée Palace. It is
impossible to imagine the Egyptians agreeing to sell
off the Sphinx or any other historical monument in
this manner. Egypt is a country in the midst of
political transition and is witnessing many conflicts
between different civil forces. In addition to this,
the Egyptian people are very sensitive about the issue
of foreign ownership. We must not forget that the
Egyptian opposition, during the Mubarak era, raised
hell with the government for taking the decision to
sell off the country's iconic Omar Effendi department
stores to a Saudi food company. Even the Muslim
Brotherhood criticized Mubarak at the time, despite
the fact that Omar Effendi was just a store—not a
historical landmark—and was losing money to boot.
Today, the Brotherhood stand accused of being worse
than Mubarak for putting Egypt's historic and
strategic wealth on sale.
The Suez Canal—which the Qataris are reported to be
interested in buying—epitomizes the history of
conflict in Egypt over control of national land and
wealth. It is therefore natural for the Egyptians to
be suspicious and angry about the idea of its sale,
even if we are in an era of globalization where no
commercial property is sacred. The Suez Canal began as
a French engineering project during the eighteenth
century under Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon wanted to
secure maritime control over the primary area of
European colonial activity in the world. The project
also served as a French political move against the
British. The digging of the canal was not complete
until the second half of the nineteenth century. The
Suez Canal deal saw the French being granted the right
to operate the canal for 99 years. When the Suez Canal
began operations in 1969, this represented one of the
greatest events in the world, changing the balance of
trade and contemporary history. Due to their debts,
the Egyptians were subsequently forced to sell their
shares in the canal to the British. Following this,
the military conflict over control of this important
strategic waterway began, with the British
colonialists deploying their troops to control it. The
situation became even more complex after the
establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and
Egypt's refusal to allow the Israelis to use the
canal. Eight years later, Israel, Britain, and France
attacked Egypt following the nationalization of the
canal. Egypt responded by sinking forty ships and
shutting the Suez Canal. The rest is history. As a
result of this, it is very difficult to imagine that
Qatar being able to manage the Suez Canal. This is not
a department store, while the Qataris are not an
unaffiliated political party. Qatar is at odds with
almost 80 percent of countries in the region and does
not have Dubai's experience in terms of successfully
operating international ports.
Although selling the pyramids and renting out the Suez
Canal are just ideas, or more like rumors, they
perhaps reflect the greatest problem that is facing
the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, namely the economic
crisis. It would be very difficult for any ruling
party to feed eighty million people per day,
regardless of ideology or political views. The
Brotherhood came to power from opposition in the
street, and even prison, and they do not know much
about running an economy or state. As a result of
this, we do not know how they will manage a complex
state like Egypt that is burdened with numerous
commitments. In addition to this, the Brotherhood is
at odds with the other revolutionary forces and
over-encumbered with a thirst for power, seeking
control over the presidency, the government, the
parliamentary and judiciary.
Al
Rashed is the general manager of Al -Arabiya
television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of
Asharq Al- Awsat, and the leading Arabic weekly
magazine, Al Majalla. He is also a senior Columnist in
the daily newspapers of Al Madina and Al Bilad. He is
a US post-graduate degree in mass communications. He
has been a guest on many TV current affairs programs.
He is currently based in Dubai.
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