I don’t think the path things have taken in Egypt merits any revision to this post originally published May 10, 2014
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In periods of social upheaval and crisis, there always tend to be some leaders who do not lead, so much as ride. They urge their followers to mobilize even with no clear objective or plan, simply to keep the ride going.
But It is not acceptable for the leadership to expect people to sacrifice and risk their lives in street protests simply because they themselves have no strategy.
This will become a slow process of elimination. Week by week. Friday by Friday. Some will be killed, some will be jailed, some will be injured, some will be frightened away. Others will respond to this spiral by forming groups to carry out violent revenge attacks against the security forces; which is exactly what the security apparatus wants to provoke.
This is not an unfamiliar scenario, in fact it is a template. But that doesn’t mean you MUST adhere to it. Without a sound strategy, however, you will fall into this pattern by default.
Fighting the wrong way is more dangerous than not fighting at all.