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05 Feb 2011 21:47

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World: Is this Google’s Wael Ghonim getting arrested in Egypt?

  • As you might remember, we expressed serious concern for Wael Ghonim, the head of Google’s Middle East marketing, in a post last week. He hasn’t been heard from since the end of January. This video, however, might provide a clue. It shows someone getting arrested by the Egyptian police who looks A LOT like Ghonim. Hopes and prayers, people. In other news, he’s been named the spokesperson of the April 6 opposition movement in absentia, in an attempt to get Egyptian authorities to release him to them. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

05 Feb 2011 20:24

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World: ElBaradei: Egyptian protests could get bloodier in coming days

  • It might not be every day but what I hear is that they might stage demonstrations every other day. The difference is that it would become more angry and more vicious. And I do not want to see it turning from a beautiful, peaceful revolution into a bloody revolution.
  • Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei • Warning that the current spate of protests could get worse if things don’t change soon. While claiming the protests overall weren’t running out of steam, it may be tougher to do them every day as the workweek begins. This is what the Egyptian government appears to be hoping for – that the protesters, facing economic turmoil, will eventually go away. Up next: Omar Suleiman plans to meet with opposition leaders tomorrow. We’ll see what comes of that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Feb 2011 11:34

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World: How the U.S. hopes to shape Egypt’s transition from Mubarak

  • before Despite growing protests, the U.S. publicly showed in the past that it favored Hosni Mubarak to stay as Egyptian President.
  • now With growing pressure, Mubarak has possibly stepped down as his party’s leader*, but keeps his position as president, which the U.S. supports.
  • later The U.S. hopes to push for Omar Suleiman’s rise to power as part of a gradual transition, led by Suleiman, leading up to an election. source
  • » Update: There are conflicting reports on whether he actually stepped down from his party or not. We’ll keep you posted when we learn more.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Feb 2011 10:53

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World: In Egyptian “Rock Paper Scissors,” “human chain” beats “tanks”

The protesters, united in a line, effectively blocked the tanks from getting into Tahrir Square. Awesome. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Feb 2011 09:41

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World: Hillary Clinton: Transitioning to democracy can be risky

  • There are risks with the transition to democracy. (The) transition can backslide into just another authoritarian regime. Revolutions have overthrown dictators in the name of democracy, only to see the political process hijacked by new autocrats who use violence, deception, and rigged elections to stay in power, or to advance an agenda of extremism.
  • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Regarding the pitfalls that Middle Eastern countries could face as they fight for democracy. This is true, yes, but is she saying it to convince others to be careful, or to dissuade less-committed democracy fighters in the region? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

05 Feb 2011 09:30

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World: Egypt pipeline explosion: Terrorism, sabotage or something else?

  • Was this terrorism or something else? This unexpected pipeline explosion in northern part of the Sinai Peninsula has disrupted the gas flow from Egypt to Jordan, and some suggest it might be meant as a larger message to other Middle East countries (namely Israel). Egypt supplies Israel with nearly 40 percent of its natural gas supply. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Feb 2011 17:04

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World: Experts: Volatile Egypt unlikely to fall into Iran-style regime

  • No representative system can take root in Egypt without the Brotherhood’s participation. But, after spending the last half century battling Islamist political forces, the military leadership will have trouble overcoming its deep disdain for the Brotherhood.
  • Center for Strategic & International Studies’ Middle East program deputy director Haim Malka • Discussing the deep divide between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood which may make Democracy in the region difficult – but at the same time, make it hard for an Iran-style regime to take hold in Egypt. With the military holding so much power over the country, many scholars see such a result as unlikely, due to their lack of power in the region and the dissenters being less radical than those in Iran. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

04 Feb 2011 13:05

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World: Interesting: Some Mubarak-tied officials joining with protesters

  • I am participating in the protests and I have issued statements that support the revolutionists as far as they go.
  • Al Azhar spokesman Mohamed Rafah Tahtawy • Explaining that he’s taking part in the Egypt protests, rather than continuing at their state-sponsored job. Al-Azhar, a Sunni Muslim educational institution, is the largest state-tied religious institution, so it’s a notable switching of sides. But he’s not the only one: Amr Moussa, the Arab League‘s secretary-general and a former Mubarak staffer, was also in the crowd. Signs of fracturing support for Hosni Mubarak are notable since today’s protest is intended to push him out of office. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Feb 2011 21:33

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World: Obama administration eyeing exit strategy for Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak

  • last week The Obama administration, despite protests, was showing that it continued to favor Hosni Mubarak as Egyptian leader.
  • this week After huge protests, shows of violence and growing discontent, the Obama administration is now trying to push him out. source
  • » But he doesn’t wanna go: In his interview with Christiane Amanpour today, he said this key phrase to Obama regarding his possible exit: “You don’t understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now.” Does it matter that this his how he feels? If Mubarak were to leave, his newly-appointed vice president, Omar Suleiman, would likely take over.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Feb 2011 14:27

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World: Egyptian pro-government forces try to intimidate foreign press

  • The Egyptian strategy is employing a strategy of eliminating witnesses to their actions.
  • Middle East Director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, Mohamed Abdel Dayem • Speaking on the increasingly apparent targeting of journalists by pro-government forces (CNN’s Andersen Cooper reports being attacked for the second time in two days), the director suggests a broad strategy by the Mubarak regime to minimize the media’s ability to bear witness to what’s happening in Cairo. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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