(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - We have interviewed Azikiwi in Detroit to get more on the subject. Q: Mr. Azikiwi, the protestors that are sitting in Liberation square, do you think they are vital for the survival of the revolution ideals, or should people wait and have patience? Is the revolution being hijacked? Or people just have to wait for this transition period. Azikiwi: I think the demonstrations are vital and on going to the fundamental process of political and economical transformation of Egypt. The young people there, the workers, there are still mobilized, we see them occupying for almost a week in Tahrir Square, there were demonstration in Alexandria, as well as in Suez. The demonstration has become more and more militant, and I think this is central to the revolution, otherwise it would be derailed. We have to understand that military regime in Egypt is heavily supported by the US, and other Western powers. In fact there was a recent report that the US is going to supply Abrams tanks to the military in Egypt. There are already plans underway to have Egyptian military more involve in regional so called peace keeping operations throughout North Africa and the Middle East. There has been report that the military has been involved in special operations and supporting the opposition beyond the borders, the opposition in Libya, so unless the people actually take control of the entire political transformation process, it is going to be turned into another direction. And also they have to deal with the question of economics and social transformations of Egypt. We have seen the sabotage, carried out against the natural gas installations, which supply gas to Israel and Jordan, and the question of Egyptian-Israeli relation is going to be the key aspect of shaping not only the domestic policy, but also the international policy in Egypt. Q: Do you think looking at the situation in Egypt now, with all things that is happening on the ground, the US and Israel are actually preparing themselves for the new Egypt that would no longer be strategically ally as it has been for the US and Israel? Azikiwi: I think they are very concerned about the political character of the revolutionary movement in Egypt. As my colleague pointed out Egypt is a very important ally for the US, in North Africa and the Middle East. They do not want to see any government come to power there that actually transforms the society from bottom up, that changes its relationship with the state of Israel, and also that can play a key part in transforming other regime in North Africa, and Arabian peninsula, as well as the Persian Gulf. Egypt has tremendous revolutionary history, even in the recent period; we have to remind ourselves here in the US, that people in Wisconsin that went on general strike were heavily inspired by the mass demonstrations that began around January in Egypt to overthrow the Mubarak regime. In fact people were carrying sign that said “fight like an Egyptian” and that was our Tahrir Square. And that is why it is significant that people are pointing out that the security forces are accountable for the death of over 800 people. And State Department in this country is trying to make it appear as if this revolution has been a peaceful one and they are not acknowledging the fact that some of the same people who carried out these atrocities against the youth and against the masses in Egypt, they are still very much in power right now. Q: What are your prospects and expectations for the military ruler and power structure that Egypt will face in the near future? Azikiwi: I believe that military virtually has to step down, the question is, can the various political parties, that sprung up in Egypt for the past a few months, will be able to form a democratic alliance that can actually take on the transformation of the economy.
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