How Wikileaks ignited the Egyptian Arab Spring

1 “... U.S. cables revealing the depth of Egyptian corruption… [they were] a ticking time bomb.” : How Wikileaks ignited the Egyptian Arab Spring Allison Brown HIST 3220: Modern Middle East Dr. Ward 20 February, 2021 Goldschmidt’sA Concise History of the Middle East begins its synthesis of the Egyptian Arab Spring with precursors to infamous protests such as the “Day of Rage'' in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Egyptians had long resented the leadership of the appointed dictator, Hosni Mubarak, an ex-air force officer who seized power after the 1981 assassination of Anwar al-Sadat. Tensions with Mubarak were always high, but 2010 was a year of compounding issues that would lead to protest for Egyptians: the police murder and cover-up of Khalid Sa’id, high prices of food and fuel, economic struggles, high rates of unemployment, repression, and undeniably, government cor2ru Spotciioanl. media and online news outlets, including Facebook, played an unprecedented role in spreading government distrust and inspiring protest. Egyptian beliefs were confirmed Wwih kielenaks released classified U.S. cables deep corruption in January 2011. Goldschmidt acknowledges the increase of anger in Egyptians and escalation in protests, but cannot delve into the leak’s contents and theirtimber-met ignition of an already resentful and overwhelmed population. In short,WikiLeaks is an international nonprofit organization, founded in 2006, which acts as a secure medium through which whistleblowers can disseminate secret or classified information. Those who possess controversial information can remain anonymous and protected. The organization claims that its main aim is “...to be of assistance to people of all regions who wish to reveal unethical behavior in their governments and corporations” and sees transparency as the way to “...generate 3 democracy and good governance T”h . e site originally sought to promote those under non- democratic oppressive regimes, the release of Iraq and Afghan U.S. war documents the year prior set an expectation for domestically aimed exposure. The U.S. government has publicly addressed WikiLeaks for endangering diplomatic processes and security, claiming that governments sometimes 1 need to keep certain information from the public for political and security purposes, this conflicts with democratic notions of transparency, free speech, and collective decision-making. Diplomatic cables sent from American diplomats in Cairo, 2,752 in total, were leaked to the public in January 2011 bW y ikileaks. The leaked communications and documents showed an American interest in the country’s political and economic reforms and provided crucial backgrounds of corruption on the people and institutions in Egypt's government. Even more troubling, the documents revealed a close tie between American officials and the autocratic and dictatorial government of President Mubarak, despite its public appearance opposed to many of his reforms. Another cable leaked a meeting between, then, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Mubarak who personally offered his doubts of Iran’s democracy, stating that the U.S. had made its own “self-motivated” relations with Iran “...easier for Iran by removing Saddam, yes, removing Saddam from power was the biggest mistake ever committed.” Mubarak even went on to state his beliefs that the Iraqis “...are tough and bloody, and they need a very tough leader. They will not be submissive to a democratic leade4r." The Wikileaks affecting Egypt also had a focus on military corruption and criticism. The Egyptian Military Council’s past lacked the capacity or will to create the meaningful change its citizens were protesting and dying for. The leak revealed that regardless of lack of use and motivation; They were guaranteed a $1.3 billion annual grant from the U.S., as a dividend from the Camp David Peace Accord with Israel negotiated earlier. Leaked cables offered troubled descriptions of Omar Suleiman, the longtime intelligence chief, then promoted to vice president’s engaging in similar military corruption. The cables also shed light on Egypt's role in countering Hamas in Gaza and helping to manage Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. 2 Leaked cables revealed how President Mubarak’s Egyptian regime has long used the threat of Islamic radicalism from their political rivals, the Muslim Brotherhood, to attempt and fuel public support as well as warn the United States that push for democracy would lead to the public choosing the perceived “radial” Muslim Brotherhood, a slippery-slope to a radicalized Islamic Egypt. In closing, although Goldshmidt acknowledges the role ofWikileaks the 2011 scandal in Egypt further pushing the Arab Spring rebellions, he fails to acknowledge the scope of the damming leaks that would lead to President Mubarak’s resignation and a hesitancy towards the U.S.’s role in his regime and their own democratic path forward. Wikileaks The scandal was the final spark that would come to engulf Egypt in its struggle for democratic rule and transparent government. 3