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02 Feb 2011 22:08

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World: Did the Egyptian military use indifference as a power grab?

  • Let the military take over and protect you and Egypt. … We have confirmed reports that there are radical elements heading to cause internal strife. They have balls of fire and they want to start fire in the Tahrir (Liberation) Square.
  • A quote from Egyptian state television • Calling the protesters out at Tahrir Square “radicals.” The phrasing suggests that the tactic used against Egyptian protesters today (involving a bunch of pro-Mubarak supporters attacking the protesters that have been out all week, with the military standing idly by) was a ploy designed to give the military leverage over the situation. “The military’s refusal to act is a highly political act which shows that it is allowing the Egyptian regime to reconstitute itself at the top and is highly, utterly against the protesters,” says Kent State professor Joshua Stacher, who happens to be an expert on Egypt. The military is powerful; did they use that power to screw over the Egyptians? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 14:50

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World: Pro-Mubarak surge looks unsurprisingly manufactured

  • So, just who are these pro-mubarak folks? The CNN Wire Staff suggests you’d be right to guess this isn’t such an organic movement. Pro-Mubarak protesters who’ve been captured in the wild melee have fearfully proclaimed that they were paid by the government to show up, while some in plain clothes have been seen to have police identification. Some national petrochemical staff, as well, said that they were ordered to head out to the streets for Mubarak. The bad news here is that these protests have turned violent after avoiding widespread combat for so long. The good news is that if Mubarak’s bold endgame is sending out paid muscle to start fights, it may not last much longer. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 13:16

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World: A glimpse into the mayhem, violence on the streets of Cairo

  • Things are heating up: Here’s some video showing the scene in Cairo, where its been reported pro-government factions have begun attacking and inciting violence in the crowds. Hopefully this is the Mubarak regime’s last gasp. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 09:01

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World: Among the attacked in Egypt: CNN’s own Anderson Cooper

The CNN megastar and his crew were attacked by a crew of pro-Mubarak supporters while they tried to cover the demonstration. Anderson himself was punched in the head. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 08:39

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World: Egypt’s internet returns: Welcome back, everybody!

  • This is what the return of the Internet looks like. A leap. That leap, of course, looks like a victory. To the Egyptians who now have thousands of e-mails to check and thousands of tweets to pore over – we salute you. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 08:11

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World: Egyptian protests: Pro-Mubarak, anti-Mubarak protesters clashing

  • 15+ injured in pro-gov’t and
    anti-gov’t clashes today source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2011 07:59

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World: Pro-Mubarak Egyptians starting to raise some hell with protesters

  • The demonstrations I saw yesterday looked like they were orchestrated. If these people were really pro-Mubarak where on earth have they been the past week? People on the streets were saying these demonstrators were hired by the NDP (ruling party).
  • PR professional Mayan Fawaz • Throwing suspicion at a number of pro-Mubarak supporters (tens of thousands, roughly) that first showed up yesterday not long after the Egyptian president made his speech. The counter-protesters broke through human chains set up by the protesters. They held up signs and chanted things of their own. They got into fistfights with the protesters. People got injured. Are they real? Or is Fawaz right? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

01 Feb 2011 22:38

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World: Egyptian protesters planning another protest Friday. Will they return?

  • I was angry, but now I am enraged. … Only one thing will make the anger go away: His immediate withdrawal. He must leave. That is the only thing that will make these people go back to their homes.
  • Egyptian protester Abdullah Rawaq • Expressing anger about President Hosni Mubarak’s speech today, where he revealed he would not run for re-election this year – which was far less than protesters were hoping for. People were chanting such things as “He must go! We will not go!” and “Get out! Get out!” And in case he’s wondering whether he’s going to get away from today’s protests scot-free, now’s a good time to note that more huge protests are scheduled for Friday. The hard part about all this, of course, is not starting the protests, but keeping them going. Will the huge crowds return on Friday? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2011 21:42

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Politics: Obama on Mubarak: Barack is still speaking in code about Egypt

  • An orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.
  • President Obama • Speaking tonight about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s plan to not run for re-election this year, a decision that his administration pushed – to the point where a diplomat reportedly came to visit Mubarak in Egypt. Obama also had this to say about the country’s forthcoming election process: “Furthermore, the process must include a broad spectrum of Egyptian voices and opposition parties. It should lead to elections that are free and fair. And it should result in a government that’s not only grounded in democratic principles but is also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.” A little clearer than he has been recently regarding Egypt, but our boy’s still speaking in code a little. Criticize the guy if you mean to criticize him! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2011 11:03

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Politics: Top military dude Adm. Mike Mullen: Great work, Egyptian military

  • So far, the Egyptian military have handled themselves exceptionally well. You can see that just from the pictures that have been displayed, in terms of how they have been accepted by their people.
  • Adm. Mike Mullen • Giving the kind of unguarded praise towards something in Egypt that we haven’t really seen lately from the Obama administration. But here’s some praise for the Egyptian military from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, via a podcast. Don’t hide it in code, Obama administration. Say what you mean. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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