12 takes on Egypt 12 months later

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Wednesday is the one-year anniversary of the first protests that eventually toppled Egypt’s president and inspired change across the Middle East. Twelve months after protesters took to its streets, here are 12 takes on Egypt and where it is headed:

--Daniel Williams, Los Angeles Times: ‘As for human rights, though, just what do Egyptians have to celebrate? Not all that much ...’

--Olivier Roy, Washington Post: ‘This was a revolution without revolutionaries. Yet the Muslim Brothers are the only organized political force.’

--Salah Attia, Egyptian Gazette: ‘By calling for a second revolution on January 25 this year, these people are insulting the revolution in January last year.’

--The Christian Science Monitor: ‘One year on, the Arab Spring provides a new opportunity to plant more democracies while also preventing backsliding. The worst regimes are now on notice.’

--Thanassis Cambanis, The Atlantic: ‘... this year of political turbulence has been more terrifying than inspiring ...’

--Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations: ‘The big question is what does the so-called silent majority -- that the Egyptian armed forces consistently looks to -- want?’

--Hania Sholkamy, Ahram Online: ‘ ...women are at the heart of a new and emerging Egypt but they are not seated at tables where laws are negotiated, where rights are formalized and where people are represented.’

--Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Egypt Independent: ‘There is a plot to topple the state.’

--Mansoura Ez-Eldin, New York Times: ‘Even if the regime continues to bombard us with bullets and tear gas, continues to block Internet access and cut off our mobile phones, we will find ways to get our voices across to the world, to demand freedom and justice.’

--Mark LeVine, Al Jazeera: ‘Today, revolutionaries across the Arab world circulate his [Tunisian fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi’s] supposed final words on Facebook: ‘Maybe by setting myself on fire, life can change.’’

--Steven A. Cook, Foreign Policy Magazine: ‘Egyptians are in trouble, and there is not much anyone can do to help them.’

--Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan: ‘The fact is that we are still in the middle of the road.’

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-- Emily Alpert