Archive

Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and revolution in MENA

  • ptown_trojans_1
    Belly35;663522 wrote:Are you sure of that or is that just passive speculation?
    What colors are the different players wearing? The plain cloth guys are the bad guys and the other plain cloths guys are the other bad guys..

    See PT1 what going on in the street is secondnary just a smoke screen to get attention off the real force behind the actions.
    When anti- government demonstrator have signage written in English, chanting English slogans there is more to this than just street violence and demonstration.

    I would let the street fighting continue ..if they want to kill themselves let them . Sooner or later reality will come full circle …. Weed out the bad and thin out the radical

    Muslim Brotherhood and Elbaradei just does not set real good in the area of “ friendly and freedom”
    FatHobbit;663543 wrote:I thought that too when they had protest signs in English. Not that they couldn't have someone write the signs in English, but they were obviously targeting a non-egyptian audience.

    How do I know? Read every press report from yesterday and today from journalists on the ground. Every press report has them as pro-Mubarack government thugs who wielded weapons.
    I somewhat agree on the smokescreen. The real actor is the military, which is staying neutral. One report I've read from Nightwatch (a contractor in the DC area), has the military taken control of the country at the end of the week since it is is the most popular organization in the country. Like Lebanon in the early 1990s, the military can unite the country and end the bloodshed.

    As to the English. Egypt was a British colony up til 1946 and there is the American University in Cairo. English is pretty much known by everyone. The signs were obviously to the West, but also many sings were in Arabic as well.

    Letting it continue is not a good idea. Instability does not work, especially with Israel next door. Also, we had that theory in Lebanon in the 70s and 80s and it failed as well as Iraq in 2003-2004 and that failed. Letting it work itself out makes no sense in the region.

    The Brotherhood in power (which will not happen, at best they would have partial control) is not a good thing, agreed. But, Elbaradei is Western educated, well respected in the region and is a known diplomat. He would be an ally to the U.S., much like Mubarack was, just not with the repression.
  • QuakerOats
    The 'religion of peace' again ..........

    http://abcnews.go.com/International/abc-reporter-threatened-beheading-covering-egypt-uprising/story?id=12832774
  • ptown_trojans_1

    Were the men protesters or plain cloth police?
    Because, those would be government officials-taking Islam out of the equation.

    Also, CBS reporter, from 60 Minutes, Lara Logan was arrested and is apparently still detained by police.
    http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/03/time-exclusive-cbss-lara-logan-and-crew-detained-in-cairo-as-violence-escalates/

    This is getting Iran level now.
  • CenterBHSFan
    ptown_trojans_1;663551 wrote:But, Elbaradei is Western educated, well respected in the region and is a known diplomat. He would be an ally to the U.S., much like Mubarack was, just not with the repression.
    So was Chamberlain.
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Moving to Lebanon, John Bolton had a rare Op-Ed today where I largely agree. Lebanon is on edge, but is obviously overshadowed by Egypt.
    http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-bolton-lebanon-20110203,0,5785695.story
  • ptown_trojans_1
    CenterBHSFan;663662 wrote:So was Chamberlain.

    And Churchill. Your point lol.
  • majorspark
    ptown_trojans_1;663551 wrote:Elbaradei is Western educated, well respected in the region and is a known diplomat. He would be an ally to the U.S., much like Mubarack was, just not with the repression.
    But is he respected by those opposing the government? He spends a lot of time outside of Egypt. I believe he was outside of the country when shit started going down and flew in to jump on the bandwagon. I think the people opposing the government see him as a political opportunist who is to cozy with the West.
  • ptown_trojans_1
    majorspark;663686 wrote:But is he respected by those opposing the government? He spends a lot of time outside of Egypt. I believe he was outside of the country when shit started going down and flew in to jump on the bandwagon. I think the people opposing the government see him as a political opportunist who is to cozy with the West.

    True, very true. He is having a hard time uniting the opposition.
    As I said, in my view, the military will continue to rule the country with Mubarack gone eventually (this weekend or September). Then, I could see Elbaradei, Christians and the Brotherhood moving into Parliament, but still the military holds the power and unites the country.

    Like Lebanon, Egypt is so large that no one group, other than the military, can really unite and rule the country.
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Man, hopefully both get well soon and get out of there.
    Fox News Channel foreign correspondent Greg Palkot and FNC producer Olaf Wiig have been hospitalized in Cairo, Egypt after being attacked by protesters. Palkot was beaten badly and Wiig may have a broken jaw.
    http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fox-news-greg-palkot-producer-hospitalized-after-being-attacked-while-covering-egypt-protests_b51536
  • ptown_trojans_1
    ABC News interview with Mubarack:
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/egypt-abc-news-christiane-amanpour-exclusive-interview-president/story?id=12833673

    I'm not sure if he leaves there will be chaos. There could be, but him staying in power is also resulting in chaos.
    The key is to ensure a peaceful transition. How that occurs is still up in the air.
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Apparently, there are no more live feeds from the square as the government has cracked down on all feeds.
    Gotta love Mubarack.

    A friend of mine, who studied in Egypt and did her PhD on this very issue, sent this note to me:

    The military seems to be doing a good job of keeping it's interests at heart, ensuring no dynastic succession (they can't stand Gamal Mubarak), and staying neutral-ish.

    I do have to say... I think now that Obama & others seem duped by Hosni's crap line about stepping down (which we all pretty much knew was going to happen anyways) and are taking it as this big revelation and "look, change has come to Egypt"... the protesters stand very little of a chance now I think. I think that whatever happens between now and Friday/Saturday is going to be key. This has been going on for a bit more than a week, and the banks are getting ready to reopen... this could be interesting. Keeping up protests much longer, esp once the rest of the country tries to get going again, is likely going to be *very* difficult...
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Looks like the Obama administration is working with Egypt trying to get Mubarack to step down. According to the NYT, VP Sulieman would become President, with backing by the military.
    Also, more groups will be invited to participate in the Parliament, something Mubarack has cracked down on.

    Will be interesting to watch.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/world/middleeast/04diplomacy.html
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Ok, I was wondering how they would do this with the blackout, but CNN is showing Anderson Cooper in Egypt, in an undisclosed location, hiding from Egyptian authorities doing his show.

    Amazing.
    Said he is scared as he has no idea what is going to happen to him and his team.
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Holy Shit, CNN has footage of Egyptian officials, police cars and fire trucks literally running down protesters.

    This is straight from the Iranian playbook.
  • O-Trap
    ptown_trojans_1;664111 wrote:Holy Shit, CNN has footage of Egyptian officials, police cars and fire trucks literally running down protesters.

    This is straight from the Iranian playbook.

    Wow ...
  • ptown_trojans_1
    Cooper is interviewing now Shahira Amin, one of the lead anchors from Nile TV, the state run news agency. She resigned her post due to the recent censorship issues. She is providing a behind the curtain view of how the Egyptian government wanted to cover up what was going on.
    This is amazing stuff.
  • majorspark
    ptown_trojans_1;664111 wrote:Holy Shit, CNN has footage of Egyptian officials, police cars and fire trucks literally running down protesters.

    This is straight from the Iranian playbook.
    Hard to watch people being run over like that.
  • september63
    ptown_trojans_1;664111 wrote:Holy Shit, CNN has footage of Egyptian officials, police cars and fire trucks literally running down protesters.

    This is straight from the Iranian playbook.

    It is exactly like the Iranian playbook. Lets hope the next 8 years dont follow the Iranian playbook?
  • september63
    Expect Friday (here) Sat (there) to be very ugly!! The protesters have said they plan to be much more aggressive. Ugghh, this is ugly and maybe getting worse!!
  • dwccrew

    Please quote one statement in the article you linked to us in which any religion is mentioned. Don't let your prejudice get in the way of the facts, please. No where did anyone mention any religion or make any religious remarks.

    Also, while I believe that these foreign reporters are being harassed, I think some of them are grossly exaggerating. Cooper didn't look like he was beaten or punched several times in the face. These reporters are just sensationalists trying to get their story some ratings IMO.
  • Belly35
    Hello Obama … do as I say

    This is perfect the Public Servant is taking direction via phone calls from the Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. This is an example of how incompetent, out of touch Obama Administration is and the uncommitted dedication to our allies. Flip flopping and wishy washy in time of crisis is an example of a nation of weakness, lacking leadership and an administration that is over its head. Obama has thrown others politicians under the bus but in a World crisis everyone is watching. Obama you can throw polititians under the bus however in a World crisis everyone is watching and it does sit will.

    What next Muslim Brotherhood calling to renew membership support.

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/09/source-saudis-tell-obama-humiliate-mubarak/
  • ptown_trojans_1
    1. It is nothing new the Saudi royal family is scared as it sees it was the next target for overthrow.
    2. Obama has bipartisan support for his Egypt policy as is still pushing transition.
    3. The key is a responsible transition that does not leave a vacuum, like Iraq 2003.
    4. Leaders of state call each other all the time, and even though the Saudi king called does not mean Obama has to follow whatever he says.
    5. How this is any worse than the Bush's close relationship with the Saudis?
  • majorspark
    Looks like the military has taken control and Mubarak will resign.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41506482/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/
  • majorspark
    Mubarak is out. Replaced by a military council. Time will tell how this plays out, who secures power, and if the people are given major freedoms.

    http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/10/egyptian-official-mubarak-step-transfer-authority-armed-forces/
    The source pointed out that the transfer of power will occur "outside of the constitutional framework" because under the Egyptian constitution, Mubarak's resignation ordinarily would mean that the speaker of the house would become president and elections would be held within 60 days. In this case, the military council will "not be governing under the constitution or any legislation," the source noted. "So they will have to define the format under which they are taking power."

    The source did not know how long the military would reign nor what mechanism or timetable would be put in place to end the military's administration of power, but said that "when (the transfer of power from Mubarak) does happen, they will presumably indicate the direction of the country."
    Interesting.
  • Belly35
    Looks like one Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is going to pissed off ..... Obama don't answer the phone