Phares, whose book ‘The Coming Revolution’ predicted the Arab Spring and whose book in French “Le Printemps Arabe Automne Islamiste” was launched at the European Parliament in November, will be launching another book in March 2014. His briefing in Congress, hosted by Congressman Robert Aderholt, was addressed the events in Egypt but also in other countries in the region. “The Egyptians at this point will lead the way. Their fight will be long and difficult, but the partnership between civil society and the armed forces will push back and defeat the Terrorists, both the Jihadists in Sinai and the Ikhwan militias across the country. Once the new Egypt is rising, it will inspire others in the region. It will be a matter of time, and a matter of choice for civil societies. The greater the risks, the sooner they will liberate themselves.”
Phares, who served as a senior national security and foreign policy advisor to Presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2011-2012, will be releasing a new book on US policy in the region and the alternative strategies. Congressman Aderholt has been active in the field of democracy support particularly in Egypt, North Africa and the Levant Introducing the speaker Congressman Aderholt said: “We rely on Professor Walid Phares expertise and knowledge of the Middle East region and listen to his advice. We are worried about the developments in the region but we are looking to find ways to support freedom and democracy.” In his remarks, Phares said: “The West needs to understand what the millions of people on the streets of the Middle East really wants. From the Cedars Revolution in Lebanon 2005, to the Green Revolution in Iran in 2009, to the Egyptian revolution of 2013, tens of millions of people have been marching on the streets of the region’s cities and towns to demand liberty. The West should listen to what the youth… and civil societies, including women and minorities want. They want to live free from Jihadists, Khomeinists, Baathists and all types of authoritarians, regimes and militias. Simply free.”
He added: “There are many developments which are frustrating, negative and dangerous in the Middle East, including in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. But we see hopes coming out of Egypt, Tunisia and other areas. Even as we see the Iranian regime maneuvering with the international community, we can see hope inside its own civil society. It is a great race between the forces of fundamentalism and the forces of democracy. Where we need to see change, so that civil societies in the region would accomplish a serious change towards liberty and peace, is in US Foreign Policy. The sooner Washington changes its direction from partnering with Islamists and engaging this Iranian regime, the sooner the peoples of the region will take the matter of their liberation in their own hands.”
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