Mohamed ElBaradei's announcement that he will not stand in this summer’s Egyptian Presidential election is a vote of no confidence in the future of the country’s democracy by one who went back to his homeland to become fully engaged in what appeared like a more optimistic process for change. Did ElBaradei withdraw because Egyptian democracy is “cosmetic” as he has stated or because Egypt is not willing to vote for his candidacy? It is bad news either way, including if a person with both an international and now domestic record of engagement as ElBaradei is no longer viable for the new Egypt. As much as ElBaradei may not be embraced by those jockeying for power within Cairo’s political backrooms, Egypt needs its own Vaclav Havel’s and Danilo Turk’s to project the appetite for openness and progressive international engagement to the outside world that can only too frequently see symbols for change from a distance. (See Film Report on Muhamed Elbaradei - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/mohamed-elbaradei/24523). Objectively, Egypt’s reform looks of two minds. One is engaged in the election with record turnouts. The other is not only on the street but among respected domestic pundits/observers protesting the rolling-in of a new authoritarian fog under the banner of the military, Islamist parties, sectarian discord as coalescing fear or all. In this context the foundation of Elbaradei’s charge is that the new Egypt is the old Egypt with a costume change. Read – “New Egypt is Old Egypt” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/new-egypt-is-old-egypt-by-ambassador-mo/41931. Egypt is becoming like a tragic play, both as a broader theme for developments in the Arab world and the drama that is played out on the stage. The role of the directors and choreographers continues to dominate even as the actors rebel on stage. The heroes of yesterday become the tragic victims of today. However, is it possible that what happened almost now a year earlier in Tahir Square was a dress rehearsal for a revolution still to come or will the current state of affairs have its own run in Cairo as durable as “Les Miserables” 25 year plus on Broadway. Will we be writing new books and screen plays titled “ Arab Change” that will be read as tragedy and lost opportunity by future generations? Read: - “Arab Women as Leaders & Indicators of Change”- diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/arab-women-as-leaders-indicators-of-change-by-ambassadormo/43153 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook = Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX War Crimes Justice Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice