1:02am AJE correspondent reports that live shots will resume as soon as it is safe to do so, as journalists with cameras are being targeted.
1:26am Aida Seif El Dowla, founder of the El Nadim Center tells Al Jazeera how a sister organization, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, a prominent legal aid group providing help to anti-government protesters , was raided on Thursday, with its staff of five, along with 25 volunteers, being detained.
'''When asked if she knew where her colleagues were being kept, al Dowla said,
We don't know. We don't know. The fact that they have been taken by the military police means that probably being kept in some military place, not the normal police stations,
She said among those detained are representatives of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, along with several bloggers.
Sure, it is obvious to us that Mubarak sent the thugs to Tahrir Square, but will the mainstream media report it?
This morning Brian Williams did a guest spot on Charlie Rose program, where he used the term "Day Paid Egyptians" to describe the pro-Mubarak people who were sent to the square to clash with anti-Mubarak protestors, to create a pretext for Mubarak to use the Army and Police to "end the chaos". Several alternative news sites also report this, but I have not seen that suggested by mainstream western media [of course not - it is a tactic of the Elites, and they don't want it exposed]
The Human Rights Watch organisation also weighed in on the attacks on peacefull anti-government protestors in Egypt Wednesday, claiming government involvement in organising and inciting the attacks. They interviewed a woman from Human Rights Watch tonight as well who talked about it in regards to their people who have been taken.
Quote:
"The events in Tahrir Square and elsewhere strongly suggest government involvement in violence against peaceful protesters. The US and other allies should make clear that further abuse will come at a very high price."
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch
They've been reporting all of this on CNN. Started talking about it as soon as the pro-group started attacking. Two of their reporters there made it pretty clear from the outset about the suspcians and one talked about actually seeing some of the confiscated police and party ID. One talked about seeing these tactics used before and it was not a new tactic for the gov't to use. They've also been tweeting about it.
They've also had a couple of analysts on who talked about these tactics. One guy and professor originally from Egypt was pretty blunt about the whole thing.
I've been watching lots of news coverage but getting most of the info from twitter. Following a few different people including reporters. Most info comes from there first and the majority later confirmed and reported. AJE has had good coverage but I can't watch their live feed. CNN as far as news stations goes has been quite good in covering a lot more of what is going on then other stations seem to be. They also seem to match up more with what the on the ground activists and protesters are reporting. Just have to ignore the fluff and ominous 'Crisis in Egypt" cur ominous music and graphics.
Unfortunately since the gov't (though they deny it) has cracked down so hard on journalists there are no live feeds of the square anymore. Reporters are getting in though, some by sneaking and sending info. AJE says they will cover what happens today no matter what. Still some of the best info is coming from straight from people involved.
Oh and also if anyone decides to follow on twitter since the gov't reinstated the internet there's been some propaganda put on it. Namely misinformation and rumors. It doesn't take long to figure out who is legit but these people are good ones to follow. Most are either in the square or support for people in the square.
RELIABLE srcs: @sharifkouddous @mosaaberizing @monasosh @alaa @manal Most reporter feeds are good as well. These folk are all in contact/follow with each other and know who is legit and who isn't.
"A US plan to see Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak leave office immediately is reportedly in the works and would see a transitional government formed by Mubarak's vice president, a former head of Egypt's spy agency and an alleged 'CIA point man' who facilitated the 'extraordinary rendition' of terrorism suspects. US officials are discussing a plan with Egyptian officials that would see Mubarak quit immediately and hand over power to a transitional government run by Vice President Omar Suleiman, the New York Times reported Thursday.
CNN commentator says that plan is flawed, because in the Egyptian Constitution, the VP does not succeed the President (Mubarak) - the Speaker of the House does.
That cartoon is typical yanqui anti-Muslim propaganda, and not terribly self-aware.
Agreed. Its part of the western fear mongering campaign which is being used to justify the maintenance of the existing regime, whether it be headed by the brutal Mubarak himself, or his torturer-in-chief, Omar Suleiman.
"There were steps, I understand, that were undertaken this morning by the vice-president. I think these steps form part of this orderly transition effort toward reforms, and ultimately an election." "
Mr. Cannon did call for a transition to democracy, but did not emphasize speed. When asked whether he wants an "immediate transition," he replied: "An orderly transition that should bring us to the reforms we've talked about."
That is different tone from several other Western nations. On Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that when the United States calls for transition to begin now, "now means yesterday." On Thursday, the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain called for democratic transition to begin "immediately."
The unwillingness to call for Mr. Mubarak to quit now drew criticism from NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar, who argued Mr. Mubarak's refusal to cede power is increasing the likelihood of chaos, not lessening it. "I think Canada is letting down the pro-democracy forces by not being declarative," he said.
Pretty sickening, hope the Liberals also have enough sense to call out this shameful stance from our government."
I actually see the error in the cartoon - the cartoonist doesn't seem to be aware that the anti-Mubarak forces are working together, not against each other - to enact regime change. I'll take the cartoon down.
No worries Boom Boom. We've seen the ourpouring of western respect for democratic processes in the region before with the blockade of Gaza, just as the rise of theocratic regimes can be seen as a reaction to the customary application of lip service freedom in favour of stability.
The brotherhood don't seem all that interested in filling the power vacuum, and there doesn't appear to be another entity within the political establishment organized enough to enchant the majority towards theocracy.
"The events in Egypt cannot help but remind me of Portugal. Here, there and everywhere, now and before, the United States of America, as always, is petrified of anything genuinely progressive or socialist or even too democratic, for that carries the danger of allowing god knows what kind of non-America-believer taking office. Honduras 2009, Haiti 2004, Venezuela 2002, Ecuador 2000, Bulgaria 1990, Nicaragua 1990...dozens more. Anyone, anything, if there's a choice, even a dictator, a torturer, is better."
"Underlying the sudden volatile uprising in Eypt and Tunisia is a growing global crisis sparked by soaring food prices and unemployment. The Associated Press reports that roughly 40 percent of Egyptians struggle along at the World Bank-set poverty level of under $2 per day.."
"Ultimately, the Anglo-American Empire is still anchored to the principles laid down in 1945: to support those democracies that make the 'right choice' (that of servility) and to oppose the nations that make the 'wrong choice' (that of independence)"
This is what I don't get - why does Egypt need any financial assistance at all? After all, Mubarak and his family are worth almost a combined $90 billion.
"Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through Egypt's North Sinai and supplies gas to Israel via Jordan, according to Egypt's state television reports. 'It's a big terrorist operation', a state TV reporter said.."
"Things are seldom what they seem, skim milk masquerades as cream. Visceral street anger is real. What's orchestrating it, however, is suspect, especially its likely Washington impresario, implementing long-planned regime change for new faces containing old policies, leaving deep rooted hardships unaddressed.."
Swapping a Dictator for a Torturer in Egypt - by James Ridgeway
"As things now stand, the United States appears ready to have Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak tossed out in exchange for his newly named Vice President, Omer Suleiman, the Egyptian spy-master. That is, maintaining the status quo by swapping one dictator for another. Of course Israel must sign off on this deal...But Suleiman looks like a nasty piece of work.."
"The coaltion of youth movements providing field leadership to the pro-democracy protesters is to announce tomorrow, the formation of a 25 person committee mandated to negotiate with the Egyptian state..'
"This failure of moral leadership in the West--under the false fear of 'Islamisation' may prove to be one the the greatest tragedies of the modern Middle East. Egypt is not anti-Western. It is not even particularly anti-Israeli, though this could change. But one of the blights of history will now involve a US President who held out his hand to the Islamic world and then clenched his fist when it fought a dictatorship and demanded democracy.."
"Sodomizers come and go but Crawford's query is the perennial question of leaderville: should we offer them vaseline? The brave and good among us ar brutalized by the leaders that democratists thought were a good idea to install.."
"the country is falling apart, politically and economically. I would prefer to speak to the army leadership soon to explore how we are going to achieve a peaceful transition without the bloodshed.."
Egypt's Social Crisis: Financial Bonanza for Wall St - by Michel Chossudovsky
"In a bitter irony, Mubarak's decision to remain as head of state with Washington's approval has served the interests of international investors, currency traders and speculators.."
I'd love to see whatever new govt that follows Mubarak to freeze the family assets - about $90billion, which could go a long way towards resolving some social injustices. However, that CBC report also said many of these assets are real estate properties all over Europe and Asia - probably much of the Mubarak estate can't be touched. I think there should be an investigation to determine if the Mubarak regime has been stealing from the Egyptian treasury all these 30 years of power.
Secular and Devout, Rich and Poor, They Marched Together - by Robert Fisk
"But one of the blights of history will now involve a US President who held out his hand to the Islamic world and then clenched his fist when it fought a dictatorship and demanded democracy.."
In her most striking remarks, the US secretary of state said: "There are forces at work in any society, particularly one that is facing these kind of challenges, that will try to derail or overtake the process to pursue their own agenda, which is why I think it's important to follow the transition process announced by the Egyptian government, actually headed by vice-president Omar Suleiman."
Yes, who better to lead a democracy than Egypt's top spy? I wonder what links he has to the US spy networks.
"The group, which includes the April 6 Protest Movement, Young People for Justice and Freedom and the Muslim Brotherhood's youth wing, insist that the activists who met with newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman on Sunday did not represent them or those now in Tahrir Square. 'The people who negotiated with Suleiman only represent themselves. All the youth organizations are united in their position - no negotiation until Mubarak's departure,' says April 6 leader Ahmed Maher.."
"The Muslim Brotherhood has been in bed with colonial and post colonial governments since their inception in 1928, where they have played the role of fake opposition throughout their existence. The Muslim Brotherhood, who had absolutely nothing to do with the initiation of the current Egyptian intifada, will use their popularity among a great segment of demonstrators to pull the carpet from underneath the revolution's feet..."
"Controverting majority opinion, F William Engdahl maintains there is nothing spontaneous about the mass protest movements in Arab countries and sees them as a replay of the US -orchestrated colour revolutions that triggered regime change in post-Soviet countries. The contours of a US covert strategy for the region have been clear for some time. The question is, will it work?"
The Division of Egypt: Threats of US, Israeli, NATO Intervention? - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
"Pharoahs, ancient or modern, all have their end days. Mubarak's days are numbered, but the powers behind him have not yet been defeated. Egypt is an important part of America's global empire. The US Government, Tel Aviv, the EU and NATO all have significant interests in maintaining Egypt as a puppet regime. Egypt is not free from bondage yet."
"the Obama administration rallies around the suave and vicious torturer they have installed in Cairo, in a desperate attempt to produce the kind of 'continuity' of militarist-elitest corruption in Egypt that Barack Obama has achieved so magnificently at home in his takeover from the Bush regime..."
"The American power structure has been set reeling by something that is simply outside the boundaries of their mental universe: a non-violent, non-sectarian, non-ideological, leaderless revolution by ordinary people."
Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Khamenei's Attempt to Hijack the Revolution
"Ikhwanweb, the Muslim Brotherhood's official English website editor in chief Khaled Hamza has stated that the current uprising in Egypt is a revolution of the Egyptian people and is by no means linked to any Islamic tendancies, despite allegations, nor can it be described as Islamic.."
"The anti-dictatorial movement is only the first phase of a prolonged struggle toward definitive emancipation not only in Egypt but throughout the Arab world. The outcome depends on the degree to which the masses develop their own independent organizations and leaders.."
Finally got to Washington in the middle of the night I couldn't wait I headed straight for the Capitol Mall My heart began to pound Yahoo! It really exists The American International Pictures logo
I looked up at that Capitol Building Couldn't help but wonder why I felt like saying "Hello, old friend"
Walked up the hill to touch it Then I unzipped my pants And pissed on it when nobody was looking
Like a great eternal Klansman With his two flashing red eyes Turn around he's always watching The Washington monument pricks the sky With flags like pubic hair ringed 'round the bottom
The symbols of our heritage Lit up proudly in the night Somehow fits to see the homeless people Passed out on the lawn
So this is where it happens The power games and bribes All lobbying for a piece of ass
Of the stars and stripes of corruption Makes me feel so ashamed To be an American When we're too stuck up to learn from our mistakes Trying to start another Viet Nam Whilke fiddling while Rome burns at home The Boss says, "You're laid off. Blame the Japanese" "America's back," alright At the game it plays the worst Strip mining the world like a slave plantation
No wonder others hate us And the Hitlers we handpick To bleed their people dry For our evil empire
The drug we're fed To make us like it Is God and country with a band
People we know who should know better Howl, "America riles. Let's go to war!" Business scams are what's worth dying for
Are the Soviets our worst enemy? We're destroying ourselves instead Who cares about our civil rights As long as I get paid?
The blind Me-Generation Doesn't care if life's a lie
so easily used, so proud to enforce
The stars and stripes of corruption Let's bring it all down! Tell me who's the real patriots The Archie Bunker slobs waving flags? Or the people with the guts to work For some real change Rednecks and bombs don't make us strong We loot the world, yet we can't even feed ourselves Our real test of strength is caring Not the toys of war we sell the world Just carry on, thankful to be farmed like worms Old glory for a blanket As you suck on your thumbs
Real freedom scares you 'Cos it means responsibility
So you chicken out and threaten me
Saying, "Love it or leave it" I'll get beat up if I criticize it You say you'll fight to the death To save your worthless flag
If you want a banana republic that bad Why don't you go move to one But what can just one of us do? Against all that money and power Trying to crush us into roaches?
We don't destroy society in a day Until we change ourselves first From the inside out
We can start by not lying so much And treating other people like dirt It's easy not to base our lives On how much we can scam
And you know It feels good to lift that monkey off our backs
I'm thankful I live in a place Where I can say the things I do Without being taken out and shot So I'm on guard against the goons Trying to take my rights away We've got to rise above the need for cops and laws
Let kids learn communication Instead of schools pushing competition How about more art and theater instead of sports?
People will always do drugs Let's legalize them Crime drops when the mob can't price them Budget's in the red? Let's tax religion
No one will do it for us We'll just have to fix ourselves Honesty ain't all that hard Just put Rambo back inside your pants Causing trouble for the system is much more fun
Thank you for the toilet paper But your flag is meaningless to me Look around, we're all people Who needs countries anyway?
Our land, I love it too I think I love it more than you I care enough to fight
The stars and stripes of corruption Let's bring it all down! If we don't try If we just lie If we can't find A way to do it better than this Who will?
On Feb. 4, journalist Firoze Manji walked in on Egyptian theorist Samir Amin and Mamdou Habashi, a well known Egyptian activist talking politics, and joined right in. Here's the recording he made.
Hello and welcome to Needs No Introduction on rabble.ca.
What you're about to hear is an impromptu conversation between Egyptian theorist Samir Amin, Pambazuka editor Firoze Manji and Egyptian activist Mamdouh Habashi. Amin is probably best known for developing the theory of Eurocentrism. Habashi is a well-known Egyptian left-wing activist. And Manji's publication Pambazuka is produced by a pan-african network of over 2600 volunteers and organizations.
The three men met on February 4th at the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal. A few hours before, Mamdouh had arrived straight from Tahir Square in Cairo. This was not a planned interview - Manji began recording as he saw where the discussion was going. Although the sound quality reflects the spontaneity of the recording, this is rare opportunity to hear these three in discussion, with analysis fresh from the events unfolding in Egypt. We hope you'll enjoy this first collaboration between rabble.ca and Pambazuka News.
"The uprising in Egypt is our theatre of the possible. It is what people across the world have struggled for and their thought controllers have feared..."
"You have to ask why the stars flee and the story fades? Is Egypt suddenly insignificant? Inconsequential? Or is it an inconvenience? Is it the media or is it the audience? Bring on the Lady Gaga profile. Yes, that's whay viewers want, not those perplexing people in Egypt.."
"While the world is cheering on the Egyptian uprising, Harper is siding with the despotic regime..It's scandalous that a Canadian prime minister is saying that. And whereas he has always tried to please Washington to protect our trade, in this case he has preferred to please Israel.."
And from the BBC
A senior member of Egypt's governing party tells the BBC he is "hoping" that President Mubarak will transfer power to to his vice-president on Thursday.
Al-Jazeera English [url=http://blogs.aljazeera.net/node/3164] Feb 4th Live Blog [/url]:
They've been reporting all of this on CNN. Started talking about it as soon as the pro-group started attacking. Two of their reporters there made it pretty clear from the outset about the suspcians and one talked about actually seeing some of the confiscated police and party ID. One talked about seeing these tactics used before and it was not a new tactic for the gov't to use. They've also been tweeting about it.
They've also had a couple of analysts on who talked about these tactics. One guy and professor originally from Egypt was pretty blunt about the whole thing.
I've been watching lots of news coverage but getting most of the info from twitter. Following a few different people including reporters. Most info comes from there first and the majority later confirmed and reported. AJE has had good coverage but I can't watch their live feed. CNN as far as news stations goes has been quite good in covering a lot more of what is going on then other stations seem to be. They also seem to match up more with what the on the ground activists and protesters are reporting. Just have to ignore the fluff and ominous 'Crisis in Egypt" cur ominous music and graphics.
Unfortunately since the gov't (though they deny it) has cracked down so hard on journalists there are no live feeds of the square anymore. Reporters are getting in though, some by sneaking and sending info. AJE says they will cover what happens today no matter what. Still some of the best info is coming from straight from people involved.
Oh and also if anyone decides to follow on twitter since the gov't reinstated the internet there's been some propaganda put on it. Namely misinformation and rumors. It doesn't take long to figure out who is legit but these people are good ones to follow. Most are either in the square or support for people in the square.
RELIABLE srcs: @sharifkouddous @mosaaberizing @monasosh @alaa @manal Most reporter feeds are good as well. These folk are all in contact/follow with each other and know who is legit and who isn't.
US Plan: Replace Mubarak With Torture-Linked 'CIA Point Man'
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/us-plan-replace-mubarak/
"A US plan to see Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak leave office immediately is reportedly in the works and would see a transitional government formed by Mubarak's vice president, a former head of Egypt's spy agency and an alleged 'CIA point man' who facilitated the 'extraordinary rendition' of terrorism suspects. US officials are discussing a plan with Egyptian officials that would see Mubarak quit immediately and hand over power to a transitional government run by Vice President Omar Suleiman, the New York Times reported Thursday.
CNN commentator says that plan is flawed, because in the Egyptian Constitution, the VP does not succeed the President (Mubarak) - the Speaker of the House does.
CNN staff in Cairo believe the government crackdown is coming soon - maybe in a few hours. Armoured personnel carriers are full of riot police.
ETA: looks peaceful this morning, with the video feed back on.
Great cartoon, Boom Boom!
That cartoon is typical yanqui anti-Muslim propaganda, and not terribly self-aware.
Barack Obama affirms his Christianity
Why must a head of state genuflect before the mullahs of his country?
Agreed. Its part of the western fear mongering campaign which is being used to justify the maintenance of the existing regime, whether it be headed by the brutal Mubarak himself, or his torturer-in-chief, Omar Suleiman.
The Muslims built the pyramids? Who knew?
Capitalism: still got it
BertramPotts piece from the dead zone of National News...warrants lively attention:
"Laurence Cannon has broken with the measured (some would say cowardly) response of other Western leaders, to take a bold pro-dictatorship stance. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/in-break-with-us-ottawa-backs-gradual-handover-in-egypt/article1893451/
"There were steps, I understand, that were undertaken this morning by the vice-president. I think these steps form part of this orderly transition effort toward reforms, and ultimately an election." "
Mr. Cannon did call for a transition to democracy, but did not emphasize speed. When asked whether he wants an "immediate transition," he replied: "An orderly transition that should bring us to the reforms we've talked about."
That is different tone from several other Western nations. On Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that when the United States calls for transition to begin now, "now means yesterday." On Thursday, the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain called for democratic transition to begin "immediately."
The unwillingness to call for Mr. Mubarak to quit now drew criticism from NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar, who argued Mr. Mubarak's refusal to cede power is increasing the likelihood of chaos, not lessening it. "I think Canada is letting down the pro-democracy forces by not being declarative," he said.
Pretty sickening, hope the Liberals also have enough sense to call out this shameful stance from our government."
Not to rouse Jack from his slumbers.
I actually see the error in the cartoon - the cartoonist doesn't seem to be aware that the anti-Mubarak forces are working together, not against each other - to enact regime change. I'll take the cartoon down.
I took the cartoon down becasue it's giving an inaccurate message about the revolution.
No worries Boom Boom. We've seen the ourpouring of western respect for democratic processes in the region before with the blockade of Gaza, just as the rise of theocratic regimes can be seen as a reaction to the customary application of lip service freedom in favour of stability.
Might Egypt, too, go "theocratic" as a reaction to the "application of lip service freedom in favour of stability?" Or something else?
The brotherhood don't seem all that interested in filling the power vacuum, and there doesn't appear to be another entity within the political establishment organized enough to enchant the majority towards theocracy.
The Events in Egypt: A Cautionary Tale - by William BLum
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23078
"The events in Egypt cannot help but remind me of Portugal. Here, there and everywhere, now and before, the United States of America, as always, is petrified of anything genuinely progressive or socialist or even too democratic, for that carries the danger of allowing god knows what kind of non-America-believer taking office. Honduras 2009, Haiti 2004, Venezuela 2002, Ecuador 2000, Bulgaria 1990, Nicaragua 1990...dozens more. Anyone, anything, if there's a choice, even a dictator, a torturer, is better."
Rising Food Prices and the Egyptian Tinderbox
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23079
"Underlying the sudden volatile uprising in Eypt and Tunisia is a growing global crisis sparked by soaring food prices and unemployment. The Associated Press reports that roughly 40 percent of Egyptians struggle along at the World Bank-set poverty level of under $2 per day.."
Narco News: Interview with Noha Alef: Journalist, Blogger Dissident
http://www.narconews.com/Issue67/article4306.html
"spread the word to let others know that people in Egypt are changing their country. This might stimulate others to do the same.."
The Arab World is on Fire - by Noam Chomsky
http://www.readersupportednews.org/off-site-opinion-section/133-133/4834...
"a common refrain among pundits is that fear of radical Islam requires opposition to democracy on pragmatic grounds. That formulation is misleading.."
Egypt On The Brink - by Thierry Meyssan
http://www.voltairenet.org/article168319.html
"Ultimately, the Anglo-American Empire is still anchored to the principles laid down in 1945: to support those democracies that make the 'right choice' (that of servility) and to oppose the nations that make the 'wrong choice' (that of independence)"
A general strike and a halted economy probably doesn't help the food situation.
The US would be wise to stop giving Egyptian dictator $3.5US million per day in arms as "aid" and use that money to feed Egyptians instead.
This is what I don't get - why does Egypt need any financial assistance at all? After all, Mubarak and his family are worth almost a combined $90 billion.
Its a bribe to keep the peace with Israel.
Egypt-Israel Gas Pipeline Attacked
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112572657906674.html
"Unknown attackers have blown up a pipeline that runs through Egypt's North Sinai and supplies gas to Israel via Jordan, according to Egypt's state television reports. 'It's a big terrorist operation', a state TV reporter said.."
After Mubarak: What's Next? - by Stephen Lendman
http://mostlywater.org/after_mubarak_whats_next
"Things are seldom what they seem, skim milk masquerades as cream. Visceral street anger is real. What's orchestrating it, however, is suspect, especially its likely Washington impresario, implementing long-planned regime change for new faces containing old policies, leaving deep rooted hardships unaddressed.."
Swapping a Dictator for a Torturer in Egypt - by James Ridgeway
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/435
"As things now stand, the United States appears ready to have Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak tossed out in exchange for his newly named Vice President, Omer Suleiman, the Egyptian spy-master. That is, maintaining the status quo by swapping one dictator for another. Of course Israel must sign off on this deal...But Suleiman looks like a nasty piece of work.."
ElBaradei Appears an Unconvincing Alternative
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54365
"Among most activists, ElBaradei doesn't enjoy the credibility needed to become president of the country.."
Egypt Youth to Announce Formation of 25 Person Negotiating Body
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/5005.aspx
"The coaltion of youth movements providing field leadership to the pro-democracy protesters is to announce tomorrow, the formation of a 25 person committee mandated to negotiate with the Egyptian state..'
Mubarak's Last Gasps - by Esam Al-Amin
http://www.counterpunch.org/amin02042011.html
"There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen..."
Lenin
I can't imagine the pro-democracy movement ever accepting Suleiman. Getting rid of Mubarak must also mean getting rid of Mubarak cronies!
Didn't you see the movie? It was Charleton Heston, sub-contracting for Yul Brynner.
Mubarak Resigns as Ruling Party Head
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163779.html
"Hosni Mubarak resigned as head of National Democratic Party (NDP) along with the party's secretary general.."
The ruling party remains in place though.
One desperate move after another, on Obama/Clinton's orders, to stave off extinction.
Secular and Devout, Rich and Poor, They Marched Together - by Robert Fisk
http://zcommunications.org/secular-and-devout-rich-and-poor-they-marched...
"This failure of moral leadership in the West--under the false fear of 'Islamisation' may prove to be one the the greatest tragedies of the modern Middle East. Egypt is not anti-Western. It is not even particularly anti-Israeli, though this could change. But one of the blights of history will now involve a US President who held out his hand to the Islamic world and then clenched his fist when it fought a dictatorship and demanded democracy.."
Not in Egypt Not Anywhere: Why Leftists Should Not Support a 'Peaceful Transfer of Power' - by David Ker Thomson
http://www.counterpunch.org/thomson02042011.html
"Sodomizers come and go but Crawford's query is the perennial question of leaderville: should we offer them vaseline? The brave and good among us ar brutalized by the leaders that democratists thought were a good idea to install.."
ElBaradei Wants to Negotiate with the Army
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,743762,00.html
"the country is falling apart, politically and economically. I would prefer to speak to the army leadership soon to explore how we are going to achieve a peaceful transition without the bloodshed.."
Egypt's Social Crisis: Financial Bonanza for Wall St - by Michel Chossudovsky
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23099
"In a bitter irony, Mubarak's decision to remain as head of state with Washington's approval has served the interests of international investors, currency traders and speculators.."
I'd love to see whatever new govt that follows Mubarak to freeze the family assets - about $90billion, which could go a long way towards resolving some social injustices. However, that CBC report also said many of these assets are real estate properties all over Europe and Asia - probably much of the Mubarak estate can't be touched. I think there should be an investigation to determine if the Mubarak regime has been stealing from the Egyptian treasury all these 30 years of power.
Hillary Clinton (who is looking more like Donald Rumsfeld every day) just betrayed the Egyptians, and democracy.
Yes, who better to lead a democracy than Egypt's top spy? I wonder what links he has to the US spy networks.
This is the most concise comment on US Middle East policy I've seen in a while:
via The Angry Arab
Tariq Ramadan and Slavoj Zizek on Al Jazeera discuss the prospect of revolution.
Youth Coalition Rejects Talks with Embattled Regime
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/youth-coalition-rejects-talks-embat...
"The group, which includes the April 6 Protest Movement, Young People for Justice and Freedom and the Muslim Brotherhood's youth wing, insist that the activists who met with newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman on Sunday did not represent them or those now in Tahrir Square. 'The people who negotiated with Suleiman only represent themselves. All the youth organizations are united in their position - no negotiation until Mubarak's departure,' says April 6 leader Ahmed Maher.."
Muslim Brotherhood at Mubarak's Banquet
http://www.kabobfest.com/2011/02/muslim-brotherhood-at-mubaraks-banquet....
"The Muslim Brotherhood has been in bed with colonial and post colonial governments since their inception in 1928, where they have played the role of fake opposition throughout their existence. The Muslim Brotherhood, who had absolutely nothing to do with the initiation of the current Egyptian intifada, will use their popularity among a great segment of demonstrators to pull the carpet from underneath the revolution's feet..."
Egypt's Revolution: Creative Destruction for a 'Greater Middle East?' - by F William Engdahl
http://www.voltairenet.org/article168381.html
"Controverting majority opinion, F William Engdahl maintains there is nothing spontaneous about the mass protest movements in Arab countries and sees them as a replay of the US -orchestrated colour revolutions that triggered regime change in post-Soviet countries. The contours of a US covert strategy for the region have been clear for some time. The question is, will it work?"
The Division of Egypt: Threats of US, Israeli, NATO Intervention? - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23102
"Pharoahs, ancient or modern, all have their end days. Mubarak's days are numbered, but the powers behind him have not yet been defeated. Egypt is an important part of America's global empire. The US Government, Tel Aviv, the EU and NATO all have significant interests in maintaining Egypt as a puppet regime. Egypt is not free from bondage yet."
Torturers R Us: The Continuity Kid Does Cairo - by Chris Floyd
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2082-...
"the Obama administration rallies around the suave and vicious torturer they have installed in Cairo, in a desperate attempt to produce the kind of 'continuity' of militarist-elitest corruption in Egypt that Barack Obama has achieved so magnificently at home in his takeover from the Bush regime..."
Cry Freedom: Cairo Crowds Shred the Lies of the Power Players - by Chris Floyd
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2083-...
"The American power structure has been set reeling by something that is simply outside the boundaries of their mental universe: a non-violent, non-sectarian, non-ideological, leaderless revolution by ordinary people."
Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Khamenei's Attempt to Hijack the Revolution
http://warincontext.org/2011/02/08/muslim-brotherhood-rejects-khameneis-...
"Ikhwanweb, the Muslim Brotherhood's official English website editor in chief Khaled Hamza has stated that the current uprising in Egypt is a revolution of the Egyptian people and is by no means linked to any Islamic tendancies, despite allegations, nor can it be described as Islamic.."
Washington Faces the Arab Revolts: Sacrificing Dictatorships to Save the State - by James Petras
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23136
"The anti-dictatorial movement is only the first phase of a prolonged struggle toward definitive emancipation not only in Egypt but throughout the Arab world. The outcome depends on the degree to which the masses develop their own independent organizations and leaders.."
It sounds like another US managed counter-revolution from above.
Is Hosni Mubarak The World's Richest Man?
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/egypt/110208/mubarak-world-richest-ma...
"Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is likely the world's richest man with an estimated fortune of $70 Billion dollars.."
From a Dead Kennedys song. Still relevant today.
"Stars And Stripes Of Corruption"
Finally got to Washington in the middle of the night
I couldn't wait
I headed straight for the Capitol Mall
My heart began to pound
Yahoo! It really exists
The American International Pictures logo
I looked up at that Capitol Building
Couldn't help but wonder why
I felt like saying "Hello, old friend"
Walked up the hill to touch it
Then I unzipped my pants
And pissed on it when nobody was looking
Like a great eternal Klansman
With his two flashing red eyes
Turn around he's always watching
The Washington monument pricks the sky
With flags like pubic hair ringed 'round the bottom
The symbols of our heritage
Lit up proudly in the night
Somehow fits to see the homeless people
Passed out on the lawn
So this is where it happens
The power games and bribes
All lobbying for a piece of ass
Of the stars and stripes of corruption
Makes me feel so ashamed
To be an American
When we're too stuck up to learn from our mistakes
Trying to start another Viet Nam
Whilke fiddling while Rome burns at home
The Boss says, "You're laid off. Blame the Japanese"
"America's back," alright
At the game it plays the worst
Strip mining the world like a slave plantation
No wonder others hate us
And the Hitlers we handpick
To bleed their people dry
For our evil empire
The drug we're fed
To make us like it
Is God and country with a band
People we know who should know better
Howl, "America riles. Let's go to war!"
Business scams are what's worth dying for
Are the Soviets our worst enemy?
We're destroying ourselves instead
Who cares about our civil rights
As long as I get paid?
The blind Me-Generation
Doesn't care if life's a lie
so easily used, so proud to enforce
The stars and stripes of corruption
Let's bring it all down!
Tell me who's the real patriots
The Archie Bunker slobs waving flags?
Or the people with the guts to work
For some real change
Rednecks and bombs don't make us strong
We loot the world, yet we can't even feed ourselves
Our real test of strength is caring
Not the toys of war we sell the world
Just carry on, thankful to be farmed like worms
Old glory for a blanket
As you suck on your thumbs
Real freedom scares you
'Cos it means responsibility
So you chicken out and threaten me
Saying, "Love it or leave it"
I'll get beat up if I criticize it
You say you'll fight to the death
To save your worthless flag
If you want a banana republic that bad
Why don't you go move to one
But what can just one of us do?
Against all that money and power
Trying to crush us into roaches?
We don't destroy society in a day
Until we change ourselves first
From the inside out
We can start by not lying so much
And treating other people like dirt
It's easy not to base our lives
On how much we can scam
And you know
It feels good to lift that monkey off our backs
I'm thankful I live in a place
Where I can say the things I do
Without being taken out and shot
So I'm on guard against the goons
Trying to take my rights away
We've got to rise above the need for cops and laws
Let kids learn communication
Instead of schools pushing competition
How about more art and theater instead of sports?
People will always do drugs
Let's legalize them
Crime drops when the mob can't price them
Budget's in the red?
Let's tax religion
No one will do it for us
We'll just have to fix ourselves
Honesty ain't all that hard
Just put Rambo back inside your pants
Causing trouble for the system is much more fun
Thank you for the toilet paper
But your flag is meaningless to me
Look around, we're all people
Who needs countries anyway?
Our land, I love it too
I think I love it more than you
I care enough to fight
The stars and stripes of corruption
Let's bring it all down!
If we don't try
If we just lie
If we can't find
A way to do it better than this
Who will?
Great podcast from rabble:
So a theorist, an activist and a journalist meet in Dakar after a protest...
The Revolt in Egypt Is Coming Home - by John Pilger
http://original.antiwar.com/pilger/2011/02/09/the-revolt-in-egypt-is-com...
"The uprising in Egypt is our theatre of the possible. It is what people across the world have struggled for and their thought controllers have feared..."
The Crisis in Egypt Continues But Networks Are Leaving. Here's Why - by John Doyle
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/the-crisi...
"You have to ask why the stars flee and the story fades? Is Egypt suddenly insignificant? Inconsequential? Or is it an inconvenience? Is it the media or is it the audience? Bring on the Lady Gaga profile. Yes, that's whay viewers want, not those perplexing people in Egypt.."
Harper Follows Israeli Line on Egypt
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/936046--siddiqui...
"While the world is cheering on the Egyptian uprising, Harper is siding with the despotic regime..It's scandalous that a Canadian prime minister is saying that. And whereas he has always tried to please Washington to protect our trade, in this case he has preferred to please Israel.."
add it to the pile
And from the BBC
A senior member of Egypt's governing party tells the BBC he is "hoping" that President Mubarak will transfer power to to his vice-president on Thursday.
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