All the action is not in the streets

The streets are dangerous in  both Egypt and Syria.

In Egypt, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has named a new civilian prime minister and intends to proceed with the first round of parliamentary elections next Tuesday.  While there is talk of boycotting among secularists, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists intend to participate.  As the violence of the last week ebbs, Tahrir square has been filling, but odds are that SCAF will have its way and elections will proceed.  It is starting to look as if the secularists will be the big losers.  Might they have done better to devote more time and energy to organizing their voters and less to occupying Tahrir?

The Arab League has issued an ultimatum to Damascus demanding admission of international observers.  Failure to do so will supposedly lead to vigorous travel, trade, investment and other sanctions.  The Bashar al Assad regime seems determined to continue its crackdown, which is still killing dozens of demonstrators every day, principally in Homs yesterday.  The Arab League, not known for taking decisive action, needs to be ready to make good on its bluff.

Military action in Syria, despite French blague, still seems to me not just far off but nigh on impossible.  Moscow is still blocking action in the UN Security Council, the Arab League is not asking for it, the Americans don’t want to think about it, and the Europeans are not going to do it on their own.  The best bet for the Syrians is still nonviolent protest, though it may be better to focus on boycotts, general strikes and work stoppages rather than putting large numbers of people in the now very dangerous streets.

Revolution is an emotional business.  Often the headiest experiences are in mass rallies.  But there are other ways to protest, and the ballot box should not be ignored.  All the action is not in the streets.