Newstalgia Documentary - from The BBC World Service this past week, a documentary about opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei and his role in the protests that overturned the Mubarak regime.
February 13, 2011

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Mohamed ElBaradei - likes Woody Allen. Likes Seinfeld. Loves peace.


With the events of the past two weeks only just starting to settle in, one of the names which kept popping up was the name opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei. We know him primarily as a UN weapons inspector and sporadic appearances in Tahrir Square in Cairo during the demonstrations. But like most everyone else outside the Arab world, not very much is known about him.

Last week the BBC World Service ran a documentary about Mohamed ElBaradei, shedding some light on a somewhat shy and unassuming figure. A figure who may emerge in the no doubt behind-the-scenes power play currently going on and become either a leader or a key factor on the emerging landscape of a new Egypt.

At the moment it's way too early to tell who will assume what, and in what form this new government will take. I don't think anyone can adequately predict what will transpire over the coming weeks. Certainly, upcoming events throughout the Arab world may indicate some direction, particularly with the proposed protests in Iran next week. But as of this writing, it's anyone's guess.

I think you get an idea what it's like to be part of a historic event and unsure what the outcome will be, much the same way people reacted to events we now take for granted because views of the past are rarely laced with nervous apprehension that comes with not knowing how it's going to end.

Enjoy ongoing history, you get to be part of it.

By the way - if you haven't already, you really need to bookmark BBC World Service and AlJazeera, especially during times like this. It may save your sanity.

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