CAIRO – Egypt's influential and commendable role in international affairs and helping to defuse tensions in global and regional hotspots has been dimmed in the wake of the criminal attack on the Israeli Embassy in Giza. The violence was followed by the looting and damaging of public and private property, while vehicles were also torched. The world is now worried that post-revolution Egypt is in a state of anarchy, unable to commit itself to its obligations to ensure the safety of citizens, foreign guests and diplomats. What the rioters did on Friday night was disgraceful; they tore through the Israeli Embassy like a wild, rampaging elephant, before rushing off hysterically to loot and trash public and private property, and torch vehicles. World countries must now be worried about the safety of their embassies and diplomatic staff in Cairo. It is all the more disgraceful for the Egyptian people that panic-stricken world leaders have promptly appealed to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to swiftly intervene and protect their diplomats here. Egypt is now on the defence, trying to fend off allegations being cynically exploited by elements at home and overseas that it has descended into anarchy. In collaboration with the beleaguered Government of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, the (SCAF) is now trying to control the domestic situation, hoping the scar will heal before it becomes indelible. Irrespective of the revival of the Emergency Law, the entire Egyptian nation should have a better understanding of the unprecedented experience their country is undergoing. However, the buck starts and ends with the nation's youth, who were greatly admired round the world for launching a revolution that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. The young Egyptians should roll up their sleeves to remove the rubble, which is blocking the revolution's bid to achieve democracy, social justice and freedom of expression.
