Mohammed Hasanain Haykal interview on Al Jazeera

Tranlation from tweets by @SultanAlQassemi & @draddee

Wed 9 Feb 2011
Al Jazeera

Fahmi Huwaydi interviews Mohammed Hasanain Haykal. Haykal is one of the most respected Egyptian journalists, active since the days of Gamal Abdul Nasser. Haykal was born in 1923, an Egyptian journalist, former editor of Al Ahram newspaper & ally of Gamal Abdul Nasser

Haykal: "I was told that the regime has fallen, I was told so many figures, all the numbers provided by the regime was false, I was told that there is a state police that is in control, this turned out to be false, it all melted in front of my eyes. We were in front of a scenario that was going to break down sooner or later.

This started by 60,000 people on Facebook, then millions of people came out, a strong resolve turned into a revolution. The regime repression tools have all collapsed. The only authority is the youth and the army in Egypt. Who can rule the country with legistlative power? The people. They are able to take control of a new regime. We always think that a revolution is like a match stick that was lighted. It took 7 yrs after the Versailles treaty for things to settle (in Germany). What has happened here cannot be renovated.

It hurt me when I was told before Jan25 that there is no hope for Egypt, but after Tunisia I told them, things are different. The Egyptian state press came out every day saying "We are not like Tunisia" But the youth did it. I am only watching from afar. I am one of the oldies, but I see myself in these young people. Leave this youth be, the old parties must leave them be. My generation must not impose ideas on this youth.

I know the police, they were a tool in the hands of those with power. The police must wake up and see the role they are playing. The facebook generation talked with a new language & ideas. The youth understood the plans of the police, they called it the "black map" (said it in English), it is used to surpress people. The police used to kidnap people, they disappeared and are arrested. But it will take time for a revolution to mature. There is a power that is trying to absorb these actions. But this not a time to talk. The army must oversee this transition. The military's role is essential. It is not for the army to rule but to curate a transition to a democratic state.

Part of the reaction (by the gov) is to create fear, they overdid it with the camels and the horses. Kidnapping and torture will continue. These are the tools of this regime. It was surprised. This is how it is reacting. There is no order to downfall. The chaos we see is not of the people, it's the chaos produced by a failed regime crumbling. This is the chaos that is created as a regime collapses. Even in the corridors of power and authority there was chaos. Things started getting out of hand, it was beautiful, the world tuned in.

People think that this country has collapsed, after 30 yrs of repression, but there is a process that is followed in all revolutions. Don't think that we can move from a regime that is entrenched for 30 years to a new order without some problems. Don't trust except in the youth, those in Meydan Tahrir are a symbol, but there is an effort to isolate them. The revolution is not just in Meydan Tahrir, there is an attempt to say that it is only them, that is untrue.

The four powers (major political figures)in Egypt now are 1- Omar Suleiman, 2-Ahmed Shafik, 3- General Tantawi, 4- Sami Hafez Anan. The old powers and the new powers are fighting internally now.

There was a giant photo of Mubarak looking over the opposition meeting, their meeting was to discuss a ready (pre-prepared) document. Don't think that there will be a change in rhetoric and action in everyone at the same time. The genius of this youth revolution is that it saw the modern map of the world, and worked within what is possible to achieve. They tried to stop it by violence, media, repression, bleeding them, but it didn't work. Omar Suleiman is holding talks with the youth and opposition like he is talking to Hamas.

The youth will not go back home until they are confident that their demands have been met. This moving people around will not work for them. We must admit that something huge has happened, renovations won't work. What is true is that everyone is invited to join (this revolution). What happened has broken this regime. It is natural to imagine that this 30 year old regime is facing an historic moment. But there is no one to sign a surrender statement. In Tunisia it was all over in 48 hours, they told him get out.. Ben Ali told them "I understand you" The next day he was gone. Only some people understood in Egypt.

We are now at the beginning of a long journey. Keep that in mind.

The whole world is watching, and the world is part of this movement, it is a party to this revolution. The world is USA, Europe, China, even Latin America and especially the Arab world. They feel their future will be affected. There is no Arab country that cares about the status quo.