The Tahrir scrapbook

Three hundred people were in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Saturday to protest the acquittal of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. This is an extremely small number, in relation to the "million-man protests" we became accustomed to throughout 2011. It is possible that Egyptian demonstrators have discovered the limitations of their revolution, especially the liberal youth. They, incidentally, already had all the reasons to feel frustrated, even before the court decided to add yet another reason.

The young Egyptian liberals, those who instilled hope across the globe of real Arab democracy, lost three different campaigns. In the first they saw Mohammed Morsi's Islamists steal the revolution from them. Later on, they witnessed army general Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi carry out a coup, rig elections and outlaw protests, all while taking control of the country.

And now, for the cherry on top, the protesters of 2011 just saw an Egyptian court acquit the man they most detest, Hosni Mubarak, essentially nullifying his 2012 conviction determining his responsibility for the deaths of 846 demonstrators during the 18 days of protests in Tahrir Square in January 2011. The liberal protesters are surely wondering today whether the Tahrir revolution was even worth the effort. For what purpose did they take to the streets? What has really changed-

Mubarak is still not a free man. He still owes the court time, until 2016, for an embezzlement conviction, but in regards to the crime the protesters deemed most important, Mubarak won. He was found innocent. And not just him -- seven other senior interior security officials, including former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly, and his two sons. In other words, not only Mubarak was acquitted, so was the entire system.

And this is precisely the story of Mubarak's retrial: The acquittal of the system. The new president, el-Sissi, does not need to open old wounds today. He wants to do the exact opposite. A few days ago he departed on a trip to several European capitals and spoke, among other things, about peace initiatives. The welcome he received was befitting of his new status. The world has also realized that in Egypt, it is preferable for to have more order and security, a tiny bit more liberty, and less democracy.

It can certainly be said that Mubarak's acquittal almost completely negates the Tahrir revolution. What is left of it if not for a few photo albums sold in hotels to tourists, who are just now gathering the courage to return in small groups.

Of all the Arab Spring revolutions, Tahrir Square received the most media coverage. It had all the elements of a big, important historical story. But the court on Saturday decided to rewrite the last chapter of the revolution. On January 25, 2011, Mubarak lost his power. On November 29, 2014, nearly four years later, he regained his honor.

From this side of the border, taking into account our mutual past with the former president, we will admit to receiving the final verdict with a modicum of satisfaction. A revolution in three campaigns. Over.

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