Let's first look at George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799): He was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775–1783, and he presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787. As the unanimous choice to serve as the first President of the United States (1789–1797), he developed the forms and rituals of government that have been used ever since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. As President he built a strong, well-financed national government that avoided war, suppressed rebellion and won acceptance among Americans of all types, and Washington is now known as the "Father of his country".
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle [22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970] was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969.De Gaulle led the writing of a new constitution founding the Fifth Republic, and was elected President of France, an office which now held much greater power than in the Third and Fourth Republics. As President, Charles de Gaulle ended the political chaos that preceded his return to power.He is considered by many to be the most influential leader in modern French history.
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Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Soliman (Arabic: محمد حسين طنطاوى; born 31 October 1935) is an Egyptian military officer and politican who is current Acting President of Egypt since 11 February 2011. He holds the rank of Field Marshal and has served in the government of Egypt as Minister of Defense and Military Production since 1991; he is commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces.
Tantawi received his commission on 1 April 1956 serving in the infantry, and he participated in the wars of 1956, 1967, and 1973. He held various commands and was assigned as military attaché to Pakistan. Following the dismissal of Lt. General Yousef Sabry Abo Taleb, Tantawi was appointed as Minister of Defense and Military Production and commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces on May 20, 1991; he became the first Egyptian since 1989 with the rank of Field Marshal. In that period, he also participated in the First Gulf War on the coalition side.
As of 2011, Tantawi is seen as a possible contender for the Egyptian presidency. Amidst the 2011 Egyptian protests, Tantawi was promoted to the ministerial rank of Deputy Prime Minister, while retaining the defense portfolio, on 31 January 2011.
On 11 February, 2011 President Hosni Mubarak resigned and transferred authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, led by Tantawi. The council will rule with the Chairman of the Supreme Constitutional Court, and dissolve the Egyptian parliament.
Tantawi has served as Commander of the Presidential Guard and Chief of the Operations Authority of the Armed Forces
During the 2011 Egyptian protests, Tantawi was promoted to the ministerial rank of Deputy Prime Minister, while retaining the defense portfolio.
Tantawi famously became the first member of governent to visit Tahrir Square on February 4. He is said to have engaged military officers as well as protesters during his brief visit.
During the 2011 Egyptian protests, Tantawi was promoted to the ministerial rank of Deputy Prime Minister, while retaining the defense portfolio.
Tantawi famously became the first member of governent to visit Tahrir Square on February 4. He is said to have engaged military officers as well as protesters during his brief visit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Hussein_Tantawi
Members of Ruling Council:
General Omar Suleiman, vice president and former intelligence chief, is among the key retired or serving military officers on the council.
Others include Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, defence minister; Lt Gen Sami Anan, chief of staff of the Egyptian army; Air Marshal Ahmed Shafiq, minister for civil aviation.
Here are brief profiles of some of the men that make up the council:
Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed, the air force chief, became commander of the Eastern Air Zone and then the Southern Air Zone in 2005.
On 1 July 2007 he became Chief of the Operations Department and towards the end of the year he was appointed Air Force Chief of Staff.
Within three months he replaced Magdy Galal Sharawi as air force chief, taking up his post on 20 March 2008.
Lieutenant General Sami Anan is the commander of 468,000 troops, and is seen as having a crucial role in co-ordinating interim arrangements for the government in Egypt.
Anan was in Washington when the uprising began. He had to cut his visit and return. It was reported that the United States was pushing Anan for a key mediating role, though it was speculated that he was far too close to Mubarak to retain any role in a new government.
Some of the other members in attendance at Friday's supreme council meeting were:
Lieutenant General Abd El Aziz Seif-Eldeen, commander of air defence and Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish, chief of navy.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/fact-file-on-egypt/story-e6frea8l-1226004249635
Members of Ruling Council:
General Omar Suleiman, vice president and former intelligence chief, is among the key retired or serving military officers on the council.
Others include Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, defence minister; Lt Gen Sami Anan, chief of staff of the Egyptian army; Air Marshal Ahmed Shafiq, minister for civil aviation.
Here are brief profiles of some of the men that make up the council:
Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed, the air force chief, became commander of the Eastern Air Zone and then the Southern Air Zone in 2005.
On 1 July 2007 he became Chief of the Operations Department and towards the end of the year he was appointed Air Force Chief of Staff.
Within three months he replaced Magdy Galal Sharawi as air force chief, taking up his post on 20 March 2008.
Lieutenant General Sami Anan is the commander of 468,000 troops, and is seen as having a crucial role in co-ordinating interim arrangements for the government in Egypt.
Anan was in Washington when the uprising began. He had to cut his visit and return. It was reported that the United States was pushing Anan for a key mediating role, though it was speculated that he was far too close to Mubarak to retain any role in a new government.
Some of the other members in attendance at Friday's supreme council meeting were:
Lieutenant General Abd El Aziz Seif-Eldeen, commander of air defence and Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish, chief of navy.
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The peaceful protests across Egypt have been blessed with success! Demonstrations marked by non-violent behavior that constituted a national uprising in Egypt, to remove oppression and tyranny, have achieved more in just 18 days than Al-Qaida-like terrorism has done in decades. The Egyptian example shows the world how struggle can be translated from the hearts of Muslims, onto the social media and finally, overcoming apathy and fear, taking to the streets.
A Day of Wrath was initially organized on January 25, 2011 calling for the end of Mubarak's oppressive police state and demanding he step down. Protests continued for a further eightteen days with sustained momentum until on February 11, 2011 the president finally stepped down relinquishing power.
From day one, in a rare show of force, protestors took to the streets in hundreds of thousands across Egypt. These protests were organized through the social media in defiance of, among other things, the Egyptian government's Emergency Law, shaking the government to its core. Demanding the protests should end, the regime tried to get the people off the streets but they continued protesting and on the following Tuesday millions flowed through the streets of Egypt united in one call for the removal of Mubarak.
The initial violence, police crackdowns, thugs, and brutality at the hands of the security apparatus and pro-Mubarak supporters, only solidified the people's resolve to persist in the demonstrations until their demands were met.
There has been a network of help and support by everyday Egyptians for the protestors. Tahreer Square is also now known as 'Tahreer City' as people fill the square handing out tents, blankets, tea, food and other necessities to the hard-core protestors. Masses of youth, armed with laptops and mobile phones, headed the demonstrations, organizing, supporting, motivating and persevering.
Thousands of die-hard pro-democracy protestors also filled the streets of Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and other cities and towns around Egypt. The patience, endurance, and determination of people all over the country have rendered this an unprecedented peaceful, positive and successful uprising, in one of the most volatile regions of the world.
The energy, positivity and hope that were generated at the protests were sufficient for many police officers to swap sides and join the demonstrators. After struggling under the Emergency Law and all the corruption, stagnating bureaucracy and brutality of Mubarak's regime for nearly three decades, the people decided enough was enough, and with a spirit of determination asserted their claims and refused to back down.
Behind the scenes and supporting the protesters' struggle for democracy and social justice, and representing the voice of moderate, insightful, peaceful Islam, the MB has supported the demonstrations that succeeded in ousting Mubarak and removing him from his power that has spelt oppression and poverty for most Egyptians for three decades.
As Mubarak steps down, the next phase of the revolution begins to unfold. There is a lot of work yet to be done in making the reforms, rewriting the Constitution, and regaining stability and economic recovery but if the spirit and positivity of the Egyptian people continues, the process will continue to be smooth and successful.
As many countries in the region have populations struggling under autocratic power, the example of the Egyptian Revolution is a precedent for the method of procuring peaceful change in countries where change is badly needed.
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BASICS facts about Egypt
BASICS facts about Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, which has been rocked since January 25 by unprecedented protests against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for more than 29 years.
Mr Mubarak today delegated power to his deputy Omar Suleiman and proposed constitutional reforms, but said the transition to end his reign would last until September.
GEOGRAPHY: The Arab Republic of Egypt is located on Africa's northeast corner, with the Sinai peninsula bridging over into Asia. Washed to the north by the Mediterranean Sea and the east by the Red Sea, Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel and the Gaza Strip to the east.
GEOGRAPHY: The Arab Republic of Egypt is located on Africa's northeast corner, with the Sinai peninsula bridging over into Asia. Washed to the north by the Mediterranean Sea and the east by the Red Sea, Egypt borders Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel and the Gaza Strip to the east.
AREA: 997,738 square kilometres.
POPULATION: About 83 million.
CAPITAL: Cairo.
RELIGION: Most Egyptians are Sunni Muslim. Islam is the state religion. Coptic Christians make up six to 10 per cent of the population.
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: A presidential system, with the president serving unlimited six-year terms.HISTORY: After a period of British rule, Egypt gained independence in 1922 under the reign of King Fuad I.
In 1952, Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the king and a republic was declared on June 18, 1953, headed by Mohamed Naguib. Nasser became president in 1956, the same year the Suez Canal was nationalised.
After Nasser's death in 1970, his vice president Anwar Sadat took over as president. Sadat became the first Arab head of state to sign a peace treaty with Israel (1979). He was assassinated two years later by Islamists.
Hosni Mubarak became president in 1981.
In 1952, Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the king and a republic was declared on June 18, 1953, headed by Mohamed Naguib. Nasser became president in 1956, the same year the Suez Canal was nationalised.
After Nasser's death in 1970, his vice president Anwar Sadat took over as president. Sadat became the first Arab head of state to sign a peace treaty with Israel (1979). He was assassinated two years later by Islamists.
Hosni Mubarak became president in 1981.
In May 2005, constitutional reforms led to the first ever multi-party elections. Four months later Mr Mubarak was re-elected for a fifth term. New presidential elections are scheduled for September 2011.
Egypt has a bicameral legislature overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).
The People's Assembly (Magles al-Shaab) is responsible for passing laws and supervising the government.
Members are elected every five years in popular ballots rights groups say are consistently marked by fraud and intimidation in favour of government candidates.
Egypt's main opposition groups, the Muslim Brotherhood and liberal Wafd party, refused to take part in runoff parliamentary elections in December 2010 after the NDP swept 209 out of 211 seats in a November 28 first round of voting.
Since January 25, Egypt has been confronted by unprecedented political unrest, with demonstrators calling for political, economic and social reforms. A state of emergency has been in force for nearly 30 years.
Egypt has a bicameral legislature overwhelmingly dominated by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).
The People's Assembly (Magles al-Shaab) is responsible for passing laws and supervising the government.
Members are elected every five years in popular ballots rights groups say are consistently marked by fraud and intimidation in favour of government candidates.
Egypt's main opposition groups, the Muslim Brotherhood and liberal Wafd party, refused to take part in runoff parliamentary elections in December 2010 after the NDP swept 209 out of 211 seats in a November 28 first round of voting.
Since January 25, Egypt has been confronted by unprecedented political unrest, with demonstrators calling for political, economic and social reforms. A state of emergency has been in force for nearly 30 years.
ECONOMY:
Oil: Egypt currently produces more than 700,000 barrels of oil per day. Proven oil reserves stood at 4.07 billion barrels in 2009, putting Egypt in sixth place in Africa.
Gas: About 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.
Tourism: A record of more than 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2010 (tourism ministry).
Suez Canal: Revenues from the Suez Canal were 4.3 billion dollars in 2009, down from 5.4 billion in 2008 (Suez Canal Authority).
Gross domestic product: 188.3 billion dollars (World Bank, 2009)
Gross national income per capita: 2,270 dollars (World Bank, 2009)
Currency: Egyptian pound.
Oil: Egypt currently produces more than 700,000 barrels of oil per day. Proven oil reserves stood at 4.07 billion barrels in 2009, putting Egypt in sixth place in Africa.
Gas: About 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.
Tourism: A record of more than 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2010 (tourism ministry).
Suez Canal: Revenues from the Suez Canal were 4.3 billion dollars in 2009, down from 5.4 billion in 2008 (Suez Canal Authority).
Gross domestic product: 188.3 billion dollars (World Bank, 2009)
Gross national income per capita: 2,270 dollars (World Bank, 2009)
Currency: Egyptian pound.
MILITARY: 468,500 active soldiers according to the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. 397,000 paramilitaries.
WEB SITES: www.presidency.gov.eg (presidency), www.mfa.gov.eg (foreign ministry),www.mof.gov.eg (finance ministry).
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/world/fact-file-on-egypt/story-e6frea8l-1226004249635
