Continued from here.
Egyptian Revolution II
Thu, 2011-02-10 12:07
#1
Catchfire
Egyptian Revolution II
Thu, 2011-02-10 15:29
#2
Hosni Mubarak 'May Step Down'
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112101653445426.html
"Ruling party officials suggest Egypt's president will 'meet protesters demands,' ahead of televised statements.."
Mubarak Left Egypt: Presidential Sources
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164592.html
"Presidential sources say Egypt's three-decade ruler Hosni Mubarak has left the country, noting an address he is scheduled to deliver in a few hours is taped. Essam al-Erian, a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's biggest opposition group, said he feared that the Egyptian military was staging a coup.
'It looks like a military coup...I feel worry and anxiety,' he told Reuters.
People Power V Duplicity in Egypt and Washington - by Stephen Lendman
http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman090211A.htm
"The political parties can do whatever they please because they don't represent us. They've been there for 30 years and done nothing. This is the people's revolution.'
A senior member of the US Marine corps is telling people that 'multiple platoons' are deploying in Egypt, a source tells us.."
Egypt's information minister, however, denied reports that Mubarak intended to step down, insisting that the president 'is still in power. The president is not stepping down and everything you heard in the media is a rumor,' Anas el Fekky told Reuters."
Egypt Army Secretly Tortures Protesters
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164537.html
"The Egyptian Army has been accused of secretly arresting and torturing pro-democracy protesters in the recent revolution demanding President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.."
Thu, 2011-02-10 15:57
#3
What a fool Mubarak is! He is offering nothing!
What happens when three million Egyptians gather to hear him resign, and they have their expectations not met? Expect things to get unpleasant quickly.
Thu, 2011-02-10 16:12
#4
Mubarak: 'I will never leave Egypt..."
28 Hours In the Dark Heart of Egypt's Torture Machine
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/09/egypt-torture-machine-mubara...
"I had 'disappeared' along with countless Egyptians, inside the bowels of the Mukhabarat, President Hosni Mubarak's vast security intelligence apparatus and an organization headed, until recently, by his vice president and former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, the man trusted to negotiate an 'orderly transition' to democratic rule.."
Thu, 2011-02-10 16:15
#5
Boom Boom
Mubarak is clearly out of touch with reality. I predict a military coup next.
Thu, 2011-02-10 17:09
#6
Mubarak's Speech Enrages Egyptians
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164628.html
"Egyptian army, the choice is now - the regime or the people!?"
Thu, 2011-02-10 17:23
#7
Questions:
1. Where do the military general staff's loyalties lie?
2. Does the U.S. have any direct influence on the military - or agents? How about Israel?
3. If Mubarak's value has run out, could the military become the instrument of regime change, allegedly on behalf of the insurgent people and their demands?
These are just running through my mind. I don't expect answers (unless, of course, anyone actually knows!!). I figure if I just wait a few hours, answers will come from the TV images.
Thu, 2011-02-10 17:48
#8
His presidency soon may be terminated with extreme prejudice (preggudice in Egyptian accent).
Thu, 2011-02-10 17:54
#9
Egypt's Army 'Involved in Detentions and Torture'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/09/egypt-army-detentions-tortur...
"The Egyptian military has secretly detained hundreds and possibly thousands of suspected government opponents since mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak began, and at least some of these detainees have been tortured, according to testimony gathered by the Guardian.."
Thu, 2011-02-10 20:12
#10
Stratfor Red Alert: The Egyptian Military's Options
http://www.thestatedtruth.com/?p=15943
"We are now less than six hours from dawn in Cairo. The military faces 3 choices. The first is to stand back, allow the crowds to swell and likely march to the presidential palace and perhaps enter the grounds. The second choice is to move troops and armor into position to block more demonstrations from entering Tahir Square and keep those in the square in place. The third is to stage a coup and overthrow Mubarak.."
Thu, 2011-02-10 20:50
#11
Boom Boom
Fri, 2011-02-11 00:54
#12
Enduro Man
The old prick still tries to stay in power: an American backed asshole who's stolen 70 billion of Egypt's wealth.
You guys need to grow some serious Canadian trailer park boys BALLS on this one.
Quit being so diplomatic. Sometimes smack is justified.
Mubarek was an American backed, torturing fucking tyrant. He should be taken out and fucking shot for all the shit he did.
You can ban me now.
Fri, 2011-02-11 03:04
#13
Egypt's Army Vows 'Action' on Protests
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164652.html
"The Egyptian army has threatened unspecified action if protesters reject transfer of power to Vice President Omer Suleiman while despotic President Hosni Mubarak still remains in office.."
Fri, 2011-02-11 09:18
#14
Tensions are rising in Egypt as tens of thousands of protesters continue to demand that authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak step down despite his announcement that he would remain in office until September.
Egypt's military said Friday that it endorses Mubarak's decision not to resign, which he announced Thursday after widespread speculation that he would announce he was stepping down during a special address to the country.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/02/11/egypt-cairo-protests-mubarak.html#ixzz1DeykdYnH
Fri, 2011-02-11 09:27
#15
Kairos in Cairo: Seizing the Moment of Moral Courage - by Chris Floyd
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2084-...
"the people of Egypt--especially the young people--have shown us what a small, feeble act that 2003 [anti-Iraq war] march really was, and how we all let thuggish leaders play us for fools. We stood up, we marched, we massed--then we quietly went home, back to our lives, and let the brutal machinery of aggressive war roll on.
What would have happened had we possessed the courage and commitment that the Egyptians are demonstrating today? What if we, like them, had refused to go home , and had stood our ground...what if we had stayed?"
Fri, 2011-02-11 09:29
#16
This quote helps to illuminate some of the discussion here:
Middle classes are a nuisance in a revolution. They bring their conservative and "pro-stability" (I went back and re-read what Aristotle had written about the middle class in "The Politics") values with them. In Egypt, they will clash with the working classes and peasants and will resist all radical impulses. Just yesterday, the middle classes and their spokespersons (like Wael Ghonem) were strongly arguing against leaving the square and marching toward the presidential palace. The middle classes have either to step aside or let the revolutionary do their thing, and they can just eat pop corn.
The Angry Arab
Fri, 2011-02-11 10:26
#17
Boom Boom
Egypt’s Mubarak, Family Arrive in Sharm El-Sheikh, Arabiya Says
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his family have arrived in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula, Al Arabiya television and the Associated Press reported today, without saying where they got the information.
Mubarak left Cairo from a military airbase in the suburbs and was accompanied by Lieutenant General Sami Hafez Enan, chief of staff of the Egyptian Army, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported, citing an unidentified airport official.
I guess he's gone snorkelling for the weekend.
Fri, 2011-02-11 10:47
#18
Whether their faces are framed by tightly wrapped black scarves pinned neatly to billowing abayas or by an unruly sweep of curls, these women have found the very streets where sexual harassment and relentless stalking once ran rampant suddenly transformed into safe havens, even amid the violence that has broken out. Partly this is because of sheer courage. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote recently of his own experiences in Tahrir Square where two bold sisters confronted pro-government thugs, even as male protesters balked before the blades and clubs wielded by Mubarak’s heavies to cut the mass movement down to size.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:03
#19
MUBARAK HAS GONE!
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:05
#20
Boom Boom
Army to govern.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:13
#21
"Mubarak Steps Down" is the headline on the al Jazeera live stream:
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/2007829161423657345.html
Suleiman has announced that Mubarak has resigned and that the armed forces will now run things. The al Jazeera correspondent is saying that the people have brought down the regime. I'm still not convinced. Suleiman, the CIA's man in Egypt and a key member of Mubarak's regime, is still in place, and the army hasn't said anything about promoting democracy. Remember that the Egyptian military is allied with the USA and Israel, so I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:15
#22
Protesters Attack El-Arish Police Station
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164755.html
"About 1,000 protesters attacked the police station in El-Arish on Friday in an attempt to free political prisoners held by the regime for their anti-Mubarack stance. More than 20,000 Egyptians have marched towards the City Council in the port city..."
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:22
#23
Have all those western racists who mock the "Arab street" and claim Arabs love authoritarian governments and have no aptitude for democracy noticed how "the street" has risen and tossed dictators off their thrones?
Naw, but how about them Packers?
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:27
#24
Boom Boom
Military Governing Council to make public statement soon.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:32
#25
NOW that the Egyptian People have brought down your appointed dictator we plead with you canadians to lobby your governent to stay out of the country's affairs!
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:34
#26
A woman from the Egyptian resistance just spoke on al Jazeera, with singing and cheering crowds in the background. She said how overwhelming she finds everything, and that now she believes "anything is possible."
Never mind what I said above; my hopes are up.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:37
#27
Boom Boom
CNN: Military to govern only until free and fair elections can be held - will take a while to establish political parties, maybe a year.
Obama to respond at 130 pm EST.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:48
#28
I suppose the USA is still capable of mic-ing up the dustbin of history.
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:48
#29
Bec.De.Corbin
Getting rid of Mubarak was the easy part; now comes the hard part...
Fri, 2011-02-11 11:51
#30
This is great news for the people of Egypt. But i will not jump up and down and celebrate until we see real elections take place. Egypt has been in the control of the army and dictators for at least 50 years if not more. Going back to Nasser, Sadat and now Mubarek.
I hope and pray that one tyrant will not be replaced by another.....
The people deserve better, want better and need better.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:05
#31
and never forget, that right up to the end our national government supported the dictatorship and the wishes of Israel
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:11
#32
Catchfire
Today I will allow myself to feel some hope. Thank you, Egypt, for showing us how it is done.
Imagine a world where the people know what they want, demand it, and persist until it is theirs. Imagine if it could be this one.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:15
#33
This quote helps to illuminate some of the discussion here:Middle classes are a nuisance in a revolution. They bring their conservative and "pro-stability" (I went back and re-read what Aristotle had written about the middle class in "The Politics") values with them. In Egypt, they will clash with the working classes and peasants and will resist all radical impulses. Just yesterday, the middle classes and their spokespersons (like Wael Ghonem) were strongly arguing against leaving the square and marching toward the presidential palace. The middle classes have either to step aside or let the revolutionary do their thing, and they can just eat pop corn.
The Angry Arab
And pop goes the requirement for revolutionaries doing "their thing" rather than eating popcorn. Hell, the impoverished might be able to eat, period! How anticlimactic.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:17
#34
Egypt has been in the control of the army and dictators for at least 50 years if not more. Going back to Nasser, Sadat and now Mubarek.
You could have mentioned the English-puppet kings who came before Nasser.
This still could turn into the greatest tragedy of the 21st century if a new tyrant is installed, but it also has the potential of being the greatest event of this century. What's happened in Tunisia and Egypt could spread throughout the world. The Egyptian people are a model for the rest of us.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:19
#35
The announcement of Mubarak's resignation, as broadcast by Al-Jazeera English:
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:27
#36
Today I will allow myself to feel some hope.
I know what you mean. Despite knowledge of how things have generally come to pass over ten thousand years of human history, I still hope to see the Egyptian people create a new way of doing things.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:44
#37
Boom Boom
Swiss gov't freezing Mubarak accounts. Egyptian military has frozen all Mubarak accounts as well - I hope the bastard goes broke.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:48
#38
Mubarak is gone - ding dong the witch is dead!!
I'm confident that Egypt will evolve into a multi-party democracy not unlike Turkey. It'll be interesting to see what political parties develop. I'd like to see a left-leaning social democratic party with ties to the labour movement such that exists and that supports freedom of expression and freedom of religion. I'm sure other parties will emerge too - there will probably be some sort of a free-market pro-business party, some sort of "confessional party" for religious Muslims that is more socially conservative...the more the merrier.
One thing that has been nice about the Egyptian revolution is that it all seems to be so positive. Its pro-democracy...but I'm not seeing any of the kinds of things we saw in Tehran in 1979 with mobs chanting "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags etc...all of which helped fuel the ugly turn the Iranian revolution ended up taking.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:57
#39
One major reason is that THIS time, the U.S. didn't go ALL OUT to keep the tyrant in power right up until the bitter end.
They did try some questionable backroom moves, and may still be trying them, but it's not the same "we won't LET you have what you want" dynamic that existed in 1979.
It could all still go South, of course.
Fri, 2011-02-11 12:57
#40
I agree, Stockholm (although you could have left out the Iranian comparison - this more closely resembles 1989 to me). This revolution seems more like a joyous expression of human possibility than anything.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:08
#41
The only reason I'm contrasting this with Iran in 1979 - is because so many rightwing commentators and apologists for Mubarak keep claiming that if Mubarak goes this will inevitably turn into "another Iran 1979" and i don't think that's the case.
Actually, I don't think its fair to say that the US "went all out" to keep the Shah in power in 1979. In fact Jimmy Carter didn't really lift a finger to help him and to this day supporters of the Shah hate Carter because they claim he betrayed the Shah and refused to give him any assistance and the neocons still denounce Carter for having "lost" (sic.) Iran.
The big proponent of the Shah of Iran was Richard Nixon (with assistance from Kissinger). If he had been President in 1979 - the US probably would have invaded the country to save the Shah. Carter tried to reverse decades of US meddling in Iran by turning a blind eye to what was going on - unfortunately there was so much hatred in Iran towards the US as a result of the actions of Carter's predecessors - that nothing Carter did could live it down. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:08
#42
The only reason I'm contrasting this with Iran in 1979 - is because so many rightwing commentators and apologists for Mubarak keep claiming that if Mubarak goes this will inevitably turn into "another Iran 1979" and i don't think that's the case.
Ah. My apologies.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:11
#43
The U.S. abandoned the Shah when he lost any shred of usefulness, then installed at least two puppets pretending they were different. Plus espionage and sabotage. Plus financing and directing "oppositional" trends. Plus a failed Keystone cops invasion.
I can only begin to imagine the lengths Obama will go to in order to rob the Egyptian masses of their victory. But today, I am utterly convinced that he will fail, like all the gentlemen who preceded him.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:14
#44
Your summary of hopes for a well-rounded democracy, Stockholm, brought back memories of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson's excellent little TV flick, The Fortunes of War, 1987. Set in the Second World War, an English couplis e trapped, first in Rumania and then in the Middle East while war rages around them. Branagh, responsible for assembling the drama curriculum for Egyptian students at Cairo University, reluctantly introduces a very stuffy English lecturer who is shot by an unknown figure in the audience during his opening sentences. Emma Thompson's figure chuckles quietly, afterward, in quietly embarrased delight at the event, the comedic irony. We shall see if the world's emigre Egyptian community can help to utilize some historical associations in building just such a political structure, Stock.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:31
#45
A member of the Egyptian Armed Forces just gave a statement on al Jazeera in which he said the military is currently assessing their response and will soon bring down their decision on the future course of Egypt. That sounds ominous, although he did say that the decision will take into account the legitimacy of the people in running Egyptian affairs.
Fri, 2011-02-11 13:33
#46
'Egypt Army To Sack Cabinet, Parliament
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164768.html
"The Egyptian army reportedly intends to sack the cabinet of both houses of Parliament after the opposition called for the formation of a civilian government in the country.."
Fri, 2011-02-11 14:32
#47
Boom Boom
Obama to speak in 20 minutes - 3pm EST.
Fri, 2011-02-11 15:08
#48
I heard second-hand that CNN's coverage of the Egyptian revolution today is more-or-less limited to the US response and what Obama will have to say about it. I guess they think that the revolution won't really have happened until it is acknowledged by the POTUS.
Fri, 2011-02-11 15:28
#49
The age of political reason is returning to the Arab world. The people are fed up of being colonised and bullied. Meanwhile, the political temperature is rising in Jordan, Algeria and Yemen.
Fri, 2011-02-11 16:04
#50
Boom Boom
How about Saudi Arabia?
Fri, 2011-02-11 16:10
#51
What have you heard? I haven't heard of anything much going on there yet, although Libyans have been demonstrating. Apparently Ghadaffi joined in the demos himself. He's a man of the people, yussee.