Falastin's Egypt links - 2011-02-06
Arabist reader Falastin is compiling links on Egypt for Mondoweiss — and now also for Arabist. There may be some duplication with other links on the site.
Developments
Huge crowds occupy Tahrir Square demanding president Mubarak's resignation as the government seeks to restore stability. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201125232637371987.html Egypt pipeline blast affects Jordan Investigation into explosion at a North Sinai pipeline that has crippled gas supplies to Jordan. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/20112514224368313.html Israel to sell back gas to Egypt at $12b profit - report Israel could make a 600% return on the resale of gas to meet a shortage in Egypt. Egyptian daily "Al Shaab" reports that the Egyptian government is seeking to buy back 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas sold to Israel as part of the deal signed in 2005, under US pressure, and whose price per cubic meter was set at a level that in retrospect was significantly lower than the market price. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000583803&fid=1725 Leadership of Egypt's ruling party resigns; opposition groups resist meeting with vice president The top leadership of the National Democratic Party resigns, including Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal. An Obama administration official says major opposition groups fear losing leverage if they attend talks before Hosni Mubarak steps down. The top leadership of Egypt's governing National Democratic Party, which has long been synonymous with corruption and rigged elections, resigned Saturday as the regime struggled to convince the country it was instituting change while still holding onto power. World leaders have been keeping a close eye on the ongoing events in Egypt. US president Barack Obama spoke about the situation in Egypt, on Friday, urging Mubarak to consider his legacy and reminding him that the world is watching. Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports from Washington. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeGXKD9IwPE&feature=youtube_gdata US disowns Egypt envoy comments Washington distances itself from remarks by a US envoy sent to Egypt, who said President Mubarak should oversee a power transition. http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-12374753 U.S. moves to soften envoy's remarks on Mubarak The Obama administration has moved to distance itself from remarks made by Obama's special Egypt envoy Frank Wisner Saturday that Hosni Mubarak needs to stay in power as president to approve certain constitutional reforms. "The president must stay in office in order to steer those changes through," Wisner told a Munich security conference via videolink, according to Agence France-Presse. "President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical." An unnamed U.S. official, however, later told the AFP that Wisner was speaking in his capacity as a private citizen about Mubarak's future role -- and not for the administration which sent him to Cairo last week at Hillary Clinton's suggestion. U.S. expects Egypt to keep peace with Israel regardless of who is in power The Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel were signed by former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and have remained in place under Mubarak, who is widely viewed as a source of stability in the region. Brotherhood 'to join Egypt talks' Egypt's influential Muslim Brotherhood says it will join other opposition groups in talks with officials following weeks of protest against President Mubarak's rule. http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-12375426 ElBaradei: US support for Suleiman would be setback NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - It would be a "major setback" if the United States were to support either Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak or Vice President Omar Suleiman to lead a transitional government, Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday. http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/elbaradei-us-support-for-suleiman-would-be-setback ElBaradei: Egypt protests could get "more vicious" NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday it would be a "major setback" if Washington backed Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak or his deputy to lead a new government and warned that protests could grow "more vicious." ElBaradei, a veteran diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leading opposition activist, was asked about remarks from senior U.S. officials that Washington could support Mubarak or his new Vice President Omar Suleiman to lead a transitional government in Egypt. http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/elbaradei-criticizes-us-approach-to-egypt Egypt uprising brings tourism to a standstill Despite one estimate that the country has lost $1 billion in tourism revenue because of the rebellion, some Egyptians whose livelihoods depend on the tourist trade are sympathetic to the protesters' cause. The tourist camels are idle. The trinket shops are empty. The gates of the pyramid complex are locked up tight. Egypt feels the cost of protest A report released Friday estimates that Egypt is losing $310 million daily from the protests. On Cairo streets, concerns range from tomato prices to the future of tourism and jobs. http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/3BKDqKzJlPc/Egypt-feels-the-cost-of-protest Traversing Cairo's tense neighborhood patrols On January 30, amid a nearly complete internet blackout in Egypt, an Al Jazeera web producer traveled with friends from an office with internet access toward Tahrir Square. On the way, the group had to navigate a series of tense checkpoints manned by armed civilians attempting to defend their neighborhood. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQLVbFRBRg&feature=youtube_gdata Egypt not up for discussion at UNSC With the protests against Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, showing no sign of abating, many observers are looking to the United Nations to step in. But at the UN Security Council, the issue is not even up for discussion. So what to make of the fact that the world body does not seem inclined to address the events unfolding in Egypt? Al Jazeera's Scott Heidler has the story from New York. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0sYpcB6kB4&feature=youtube_gdata Protests/Protesters/Attacks Against Them & Eyewitness Accounts Protester Shot And Killed In Alexandria, Egypt (GRAPHIC VIDEO) Graphic footage has surfaced of what appears to be a protester shot in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt by secret police. The birds-eye view video shows seemingly peaceful activity until about 1:30, when what looks to be a tire on fire falls to the ground. A few moments later, an individual approaches what looks to be police forces and opens his jacket, facing them. The forces then shoot the protester, who collapses instantly. An English-language description of the video on YouTube says, "Most likely killed on Friday the 28th of January in the Manshya District in Alexandria. Video by Moustafa Mahmoud." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu2s0LQXLyI&feature=youtu.be http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/protester-shot-killed-alexandria-egypt-video_n_819152.html Egypt Protests: Anti-Mubarak Activists Bruised, Tired, Hungry CAIRO - After nearly two weeks of going head-to-head with Egypt's authoritarian regime, anti-government protesters are bruised, battered, sleep-deprived and hungry. But the tens of thousands massing daily in Cairo's Tahrir Square remain fired with enthusiasm -- at times a euphoric fervor seems their only fuel -- and vow they will not back down in their demands for President Hosni Mubarak to step down and end his nearly 30-year rule. How long they can hold out has become a crucial question in the crisis gripping Egypt, as the government appears to be digging in, reckoning that it can ride out the wave of unrest. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/egypt-protests-anti-mubarak-activists-bruised_n_819189.html Tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square have held their ground after Friday's "Day of Departure", continuing to demand that Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, stand down. The government, meanwhile, is attempting to wait protesters out, with Ahmed Shafiq, the prime minister, saying that things are returning to normal in the country. Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher has more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZexNc_BoiE&feature=youtube_gdata Protesters tell army general "We won't go, Mubarak has to go" General Hassan El-Rawani, the head of the army's central command, speaks to the masses in Tahrir Square urging them to leave the square, they chant back at him "We are not leaving, He [Mubarak] is leaving". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxQP6hAb6M8&feature=youtube_gdata Egyptian protesters hold Tahrir Square Ahmed Shafiq, the Egyptian prime minister, has said that "stability" was returning to Egypt on Saturday, but tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square continue to demand that President Hosni Mubarak step down. In the latest reaction to the protests from the ruling party, its top leadership resigned en masse, including Gamal Mubarak, the son of the president. Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher has more. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjfnm306XgI&feature=youtube_gdata Egyptian Government Figures Join Protesters Cairo - With signs of fracturing within Egypt’s ruling elite, hundreds of thousands of people packed Cairo’s central Tahrir Square on Friday, chanting slogans, bowing in prayer and waving Egyptian flags to press a largely peaceful campaign for the removal of President Hosni Mubarak. On this, the 11th day of the uprising, there were few signs of the violent Mubarak supporters who the protesters said were organized and dispatched by the Mubarak government over the last two days in an effort to capture the initiative. Lurking fears among the opposition that their movement may have lost momentum were banished by the sheer numbers of the protesters and the level of their passion. http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m74617&hd=&size=1&l=e http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNXWk7JCkU The day of rage. A complete compilation of all the days of the protest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HGfFyqJMrk The injured in Tahrir won't leave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN6bFPkECWk&feature=player_embedded Other protest videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLWaAf0oSgk&feature=player_embedded Video by Phil Rizk: we don’t ask anyone for our freedom. we will get our freedom Egyptians are expressing their frustration on the walls of the country Egyptians are expressing their frustration on the walls of the country. A wave of protests is also sweeping through Yemen and Sudan. And a site remembers the Shoah with thousands of photos available to view online. http://www.france24.com/en/20110201-egypt-protests-graffiti Egyptian women lead march to 'liberated territory' CAIRO -- Dozens of Egyptian women spilled out of a mosque in the Dokki neighborhood Friday, only their eyes visible from black veils that flapped in the breeze. Marching in formation, they set off for downtown Cairo, where they hoped to join hundreds of thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square who were calling for the removal of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Picture: A wedding and honeymoon at Tahrir Square, the world salutes this beautiful couple! Man sleeping next to Twitter graffiti A protester humorously asked for his photo to be taken, shouting: “I hate Mubarak! I hate Mubarak!” http://www.arabawy.org/2011/02/06/photography-jan25-i-hate-mubarak/ Famous faces lend voice to Egypt's protests (Reuters) - Egypt's cultural glitterati have joined thousands of protesters from all walks of life calling for an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak 30-year-rule. Khalid Abdalla, a British-Egyptian actor known for his lead role in the 2007 adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner," was among the crowd on Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) square Saturday. "They are trying to suffocate us..." "... One protester, Moustafa Mohamed, said the army was now preparing to push protesters out of the square. "It is very clear that they are trying to suffocate us. This shows ill intent. But we are not moving until our legitimate demands are met," he said....... the army tightened access into the zone on Saturday, limiting people's ability to join in. A cordon of soldiers created a space in the middle of the traffic hub, separating the protesters near the Egyptian museum from the rest." http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/02/they-are-trying-to-suffocate-us.html Robert Fisk: Gutless U.S. Reaction to Egypt Observations from Tahrir Square Democracy NOW! DN! - Robert Fisk, a British Journalist speaks to us from Cairo on the heroic revolt by the people of Egypt. He talks about the gutless response from the U.S. Administration, who are using a clutched fist against the people of Egypt, while they are attempting bring democracy to their country. Published with written permission from democracynow.org. http://www.democracynow.org Provided to you under Democracy NOW creative commons license by a volunteer. Democracy NOW!, an independent non-profit user funded news media, recognized and broadcast world wide. http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/3/robert_fisk_obama_administration_has_been Moor: Television fails to capture the wider experience of Tahrir, Ahmed Moor I just wanted to write a quick note about media coverage of what's been going on here in Cairo. I haven't had much access to outside media over the past eleven days, but I managed to watch a few hours of BBC and CNN coverage last night. Most of the coverage highlighted the ongoing clashes between demonstrators and Mubarak's goons. The footage, the commentary, the anchor's questions to correspondents on the ground all seemed focused on the violence. But what wasn't communicated on either network while I watched was that there were more than one hundred thousand people in Tahrir Square at the time. http://mondoweiss.net/2011/02/television-fails-to-capture-the-wider-experience-of-tahrir.html ‘My friend, Mahmoud Maher, a doctor, was killed at Tahrir Square’, Parvez Sharma At 1:15 am Cairo time on Saturday morning I spoke to my friend Ghassen. His friend was killed at Tahrir Square during the 24 hours of horrific violence we all saw on Feb 1st and 2nd. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time someone has been able to put a name and back-story to a person killed by the regime during this unfolding revolution. English is not Ghassen’s first language so I have taken the liberty of creating complete sentences from our fragmented conversation, partially in Arabic, to enable easy reading. I have no way to confirm the details of this death, but I know Ghassen revealed his friend’s name after some hesitation. (With confirmed reports I have from friends now that the regime is “trolling” the internet, I am also changing his name. Ghassen is not his real name) http://mondoweiss.net/2011/02/my-friend-mahmoud-maher-a-doctor-was-killed-at-tahrir-square.html Matthew Cassel, "'Day of Departure'" And this is a banner hanging from a building at Tahrir listing protesters’ demands, you can find them translated below (thanks Hicham): 1) Bringing down the President; 2) Dissolution of both houses of parliament; 3) Immediate end to state of emergency; 4) Formation of a transitional government of national unity; 5) Elected parliament to undertake constitutional amendments to hold presidential elections; 6) Immediate trials of those responsible for the murder of the revolution's martyrs; 7) Expedient trials of the corrupt and thieves of the country's wealth. Before we enter the phase of intense politicking to game a post-Mubarak order, the deals being made to contain the public’s unequivocal demand to choose their leaders, I want to express love and awe of all those average people who said enough. Enough repression. Enough thievery. Enough rotten ideas about the apathy and inaction of the people. I have no doubt that the grim realities of elite politics will soon overtake events, as they always do. But I’ll never forget how ordinary citizens completely upended the best laid plans of the rulers in Cairo, Washington, and Tel Aviv. They forced Hosni Mubarak to ditch his dynastic project, posthaste, and to openly express his hatred of the Egyptian people. They forced the Americans to yet again confront the folly of building alliances with loathed dictators. And they reminded Israelis that Arabs want to rule themselves, whether Israel likes it or not. No amount of muddled theories or elite compromises will ever mask the extraordinary clarity of what happened in Egypt this winter. I'm happy to be alive to see it. http://baheyya.blogspot.com/2011/02/to-egypt-with-love.html The Dictator's Abuse Amnesty International: Egypt must investigate activists' detention Amnesty International calls for investigation after 35 human rights activists and journalists, including two staff members from the organization, are freed following almost two days in military custody.Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the detention of some 35 human rights activists and journalists, including two Amnesty International staff members, who were freed after spending almost two days in military custody. http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/egypt-must-investigate-activists-detention-2011-02-05 Human Rights Watch: Egypt: Foreign Rights Activists Freed; Egyptian Activists Still Held (New York, February 4, 2011) - Egyptian authorities on February 4, 2011, released researchers from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and two foreign journalists, but should immediately free Egyptian colleagues who are still detained, Human Rights Watch said today. Outrage and a Facebook Page That Gave It a Voice The death of Khaled Said by the police led to a rare forum in which to bond over outrage about government abuses. http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=7d8881b4540f28ec6f80e6d31692b7d9 Detentions, and a Mubarak Aide’s Role in Them, Anger Egyptians The detentions have been a hallmark of President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year dictatorship and a central grievance of the protesters in the streets. http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=84ce236263385177ddbcee5b9b757708 World Solidarity Palestinians march in support of Egyptian protesters Ramallah - Several hundred Palestinians marched to Ramallah's city centre Saturday in support of the uprising in Egypt, where protesters have demanded the ouster of President Hosny Mubarak. The protest was called by different Palestinian groups, but those absent included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and its rival, the Islamist Hamas. A Call for Solidarity With The Egyptian People Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi calls for Palestinian solidarity to respect the will of the Egyptian people and their demands for democracy. http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1676 Palestinians feel solidarity, and unease, with uprising in Egypt Palestinians identify with an uprising that also puts their leadership — which has benefited from Egypt's largess — in an uncomfortable position. Demonstrations sympathizing with Egyptians have been suppressed in the West Bank and Gaza. It's been a first for many Palestinians. Protesters rally in Ramallah in solidarity with Egyptians RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Protesters rallied in Ramallah on Saturday in solidarity with the Egyptian people's uprising against their government. Residents, students and civil society representatives raised Egyptian flags and posters calling on the Egyptian president to resign. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=357234 Anti-wall protests take on Egyptian theme BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces suppressed on Friday the weekly demonstration in Al-Ma’sara village south of Bethlehem. Demonstrators held Palestinian and Egyptian flags in solidarity with the Egyptian people. The demonstration was filled with banners supporting Egypt. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=356996 Balad activists hold anti-Mubarak protest MKs Hanin Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka attend Nazareth demonstration in support of Egyptian anti-government protestors. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024222,00.html February 4, 2011 Bilin Protests for Egypt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sybDrIAcaA&feature=player_embedded Bil'in protest in solidarity with Egypt attacked by Israeli troops Several hundred Palestinians, along with international and Israeli supporters, gathered in the village of Bil'in on Friday for their weekly non-violent protest. This week's protest called for national unity, and in solidarity with the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings. Israeli troops attacked the march with tear gas and concussion grenades. http://www.imemc.org/article/60582 Demo in support for egypt in Ramallah 5 Feb - PA arrests 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HTEmUCti-U&feature=player_embedded http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/3671 Supporters of Egyptian protesters rally in Columbia http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13949686 Dublin solidarity protest with the Egyptian people 4-02-2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALX1vlAKbM8 Egypt Solidarity Rally In Los Angeles Hundreds gathered at the Federal Building in Westwood this Saturday morning to show solidarity with the protests in Egypt. The large crowd of Egyptians and Egyptian-Americans were joined by labor and anti-war activists, some of which were there to protest the United States' foreign aid to the Mubarak government. Right now, America hands over $1.5 billion to Egypt annually, $1.3 billion of which is marked for the military. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/egypt-solidarity-rally-in-los-angeles_n_819171.html Protesters around the world rally against Egypt's Mubarak Egyptians and activists around the world took to the streets Saturday demanding the immediate resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/05/egypt.world.protests/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhE61nVGe_M&feature=youtu.be Arabian Knightz and Lauryn Hill have laid down the first track in honor of Egypt's uprising. Rebel A lot of songs were played in Midan Tahrir in the last few days — any suggestions to what might make it to a soundtrack playlist? /blog/2011/2/4/jan25-the-soundtrack.html A Tribute to Gamal Abdul Nasser http://ikhras.com/2011/02/a-tribute-to-gamal-abdel-nasser/ Departure Day, a poem by Naomi Foyle Media Suppression/Repression Egypt's cyber-crackdown aided by US company When the uprising there began nearly two weeks ago, there was a near-total internet blackout. But exactly how was access cut off? An American advocacy group called Free Press says it's uncovered a link to a California-based technology company which allegedly sold the Egyptian government equipment allowing it to track online activity. Rob Reynolds reports. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uODOBCgNhZc&feature=youtube_gdata Anderson Cooper announced on Saturday that he is leaving Egypt after a week in which he and his crew were repeatedly targeted by supporters of President Hosni Mubarak. He tweeted, "It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave #Egypt. CNN continues to have many teams in place. It was a hard decision to leave." Cooper was attacked twice by pro-Mubarak forces. On Tuesday, he was punched in the head repeatedly. On Wednesday, the window of the car he was in was smashed through by a rock. He was forced to go into hiding and report from a secret location. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/anderson-cooper-leaves-egypt_n_819140.html Friends of the Dictator Cheney Calls Mubarak A Good Friend, U.S. Ally SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Saturday called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak a good friend and U.S. ally, and he urged the Obama administration to move cautiously as turmoil continued to shake that nation's government. Cheney's comments came a day after President Barack Obama pressed Mubarak to consider his legacy and exit office in a way that would give his country the best chance for peace and democracy. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/06/cheney-calls-mubarak-a-good-friend_n_819196.html Peres praises Mubarak for his contribution to peace In Jerusalem conference president thanks his Egyptian counterpart for 'saving many people's lives by preventing war'; expresses concern over possibility of Muslim Brotherhood's rise to power. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4024283,00.html Report: Pahlavis Seek Shelter for Mubarak Press Roundup provides selected excerpts of news and opinion pieces from the Iranian and international media. Click on the link to the story to read it in full. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The inclusion of various opinions in no way implies their endorsement by Tehran Bureau. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the stories in perspective. You can follow other news items through our Twitter feed. As`ad Abukhalil's Commentary Egyptian Uprising: danger of stagnation (II) The US Counter-Revolution is shaping up. The statement by Frank Wisner has said it all. The US needs Mubarak to solidify control of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty--sorry, I meant Egypt. The Youth in the Tahrir Square are now at a crossroads. The US and Mubarak will stubbornly refuse their demands: and the most captivating and chanted slogan in Egypt speaks about the the downfall of the regime--not only of Mubarak. The Counter-Revolution is now forming clearly: they need to get out and storm the Bastille. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/egyptian-uprising-danger-of-stagnation.html So basically, if you take Mubarak and his head of the secret police, `Umar Sulayman, the US would have been satisfied if only Hitler had appointed Himmler as his deputy. That would have pleased Washington regarding the reform agenda of Hitler. (Of course, the analogy is not far off because the US government had no qualms about recruiting many Nazis to work with it after WWII). http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/hitler-and-himmler.html Hillary insists that only the Himmler of the Egyptian regime can lead toward democracy "But she also warned that if the transition is not carried out in an orderly, deliberate way, there are forces "that will try to derail or overtake the process, to pursue their own specific agenda" - an apparent reference to the Muslim Brotherhood - "which is why I think it's important to support the transition process announced by the Egyptian government, actually headed now by Vice President Omar Suleiman." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/hillary-insists-that-only-himmler-of.html "Mr. Sharansky says that in a 2007 meeting in Prague, President Bush told him that the U.S. supports Mr. Mubarak—to the tune of nearly $2 billion in annual aid—because if it didn't, the Brotherhood would take over Egypt." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/bush-doctrine.html This is the leading headline from Al-Akhbar (not to be confused with the leftist, Al-Akhbar newspaper in Beirut): "To our sincere youth that possesses legitimate demands: With Documents...The most Dangerous foreign conspiracy to Strike at Egypt: The details of the plan to occupy Masperao and the governments buildings and burning of police stations and information about the involvement of Iranian elements; Hizbullah commandos stormed the prison of Wadi An-Natrun, and the battalions of Hamas snuck through the tunnels for sabotage." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/headline-of-mubarak-daily.html Shown above. The picture was taken days before the Israeli terrorist assault on Gaza. He issued a fierce statement in response to the speech by lousy Iranian supreme leader. He was so indignant because he refused any outside interferences and comments about domestic Egyptian affairs. That was hilarious. US officials are making hourly comments about Egypt, and members of Congress are charting the future of Egypt in their speeches, and he would not dare even squirm in silence. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubaraks-foreign-minister.html Saudi Mufti has spoken: The chief clerical kook of House of Saud It was a matter of time before he speaks on Egyptian developments, and the Wahhabi chief Mufti of Saudi Arabia, has spoken. He said that the demonstrations that are now going on in some Arab countries are "planned and pre-mediated by the enemies of Islam to fragment the Islamic Arab countries, and to transform them from big, strong countries to small backward countries." He concluded by ordering Muslims to obey their rulers and cites a hadith, saying that Muhammad had said: "Whoever obeys me, has obeyed God, and whoever disobeyed me, disobeyed God, and whoever obeys the ruler, has obeyed me, and whoever disobeyed the ruler, has disobeyed me." PS Note that the comments under the article are largely critical of the Mufti. Don't stereotype the Saudi people. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/saudi-mufti-has-spoken-chief-clerical.html Al-Arabiyyah's coverage has become inconsistent: as the correspondents of the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law suffer attacks and harassment from government goons, the reality on the ground speaks against the strong ally of House of Saud. But the editorial and general studio-based coverage is still solidly pro-Mubarak. When the gas pipe line was bombed yesterday, the station was at pains to insist that this targeted pipe line carries gas to Jordan, not Israel. But they still could not explain why the gas to Israel has been halted. Explain it, you tools of the Saudi royal family. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/al-arabiyyah-tv.html When the dust settles, the Egyptian people will realize that the only enemies of Mubarak in the Arab world have been the Syrian and Qatari government, and Hizbullah. This is significant in more ways than one. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-more-point.html Qatar: a new regional super power There will be regional re-alignment in the wake of the Tunisian and Egyptian uprising. The prominent role played by Aljazeera will catapult the regional role of Qatar. I basically expect that all Arab countries would clamor to build excellent ties with the Qatari government and to avoid upsetting the Emir. They saw first hand how the Mubarak's feud with the Emir of Qatar led to such an intensive and emotional coverage of the uprising (although aljazeera's coverage in the first two days was rather low key following a mini-rapprochement between Mubarak and Emir after a visit to Qatar by the former in December). http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/qatar-new-regional-super-power.html Analysis/Op-ed On the day the people decided to sever their final links with the days of the pharoahs, the rebirth of a nation began. 25 January is a date that will be forever remembered in Egypt. That was the day when the Egyptian people decided to end the country's last pharaonic dynasty with a people's revolution. Egyptians, it seems, were ashamed that Tunisians did it first and were determined to have their revolution too. Young Egyptians joined the "Khaled Saeed" Facebook group to launch the call for an uprising against tyranny, oppression, torture, corruption and injustice. The group was named after a young Egyptian man beaten to death by police. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/05/egypt-rebirth-of-a-nation Inside Story - Egypt's army: Standing on the sidelines There have been dramatic scenes in Cairo's Tahrir Square as pro-Hosni Mubarak supporters clashed with opposition demonstrators. In the ensuing carnage, several people were killed and hundreds were injured. The country's military is increasingly being criticised for standing on the sidelines and watching the bloodshed unfold. So what is the army's role in this crisis and for how long can they stand aside and watch Egypt descend into chaos? Inside Story discusses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icHo5s73Rt8&feature=youtube_gdata Egypt's military treads carefully in Cairo As rumors circulate that the army is going to take down barricades protecting Tahrir Square, a crowd faces off with a general in the gentlest of confrontations. The rumors had buzzed all morning. The Egyptian army was taking down the barricades that sealed off the main boulevard into Tahrir Square from violent supporters of President Hosni Mubarak. Listening Post - The media battle for Egypt Despite the best efforts of Hosni Mubarak's government, images of millions of Egyptians protesting on the streets of Cairo, Alexandra and Suez have been beamed around the world. But while the clashes between anti- and pro-Mubarak protestors dominated the airwaves, the journalists covering the fighting became targets themselves. Many were harassed, arrested and beaten while others had their equipment confiscated, but they continued to cover the story. The government pulled the plug on the country's internet connection, cut the phone lines for a time, poured propaganda out on state-controlled media but the momentum of the demonstrators was unstoppable. We trail the coverage of one of the biggest political protests in Arab history, one that came together online, dominated the headlines and sent tremors all the way from Sanaa to Washington. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZUVbTfMrZw&feature=youtube_gdata Egyptian unrest and US media bias The coverage of Egyptian uprising in the TV Channels across US have been criticised for being both pessimistic and superficial. Since the pro-democracy protests began, the mainstream American media has focused sharply on what it all means for the U.S. and its allies in the region. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62UXBr6wqAA&feature=youtube_gdata Social media gives voice to Egyptian people SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Habib Haddad, 30, had an idea. As Egypt shut down the Internet, he believed that the voice of the Egyptian people needed to get out to the world as they demonstrated in Cairo. He volunteered to assist Google and Twitter to locate more than 1,000 Arabic translators across the globe. As Egyptians call a Google Voice number, Haddad's army of translators swing into action to provide quick translations into English, Spanish, German and French. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=7938015 Why Facebook Should Do More to Help Egypt's Protesters An image making the rounds features an Egyptian protester carrying a sign that reads "Thank you Facebook" in Arabic. Thank Facebook for what? Facebook has done as little as possible to help Egypt's protesters. It should do more. http://gawker.com/5752904/why-facebook-should-do-more-to-help-egypts-protesters Counting the Cost - The economic battle for Egypt As Cairo and its people come under attack, we explore life under Hosni Mubarak's regime - the numbers and the analysis. We also look at the knock-on effects as one of the world's important oil routes comes under pressure and the price per barrel rockets. And we ask: Can Israel's economy weather the battle for its closest Middle East ally? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI9srukhbqo&feature=youtube_gdata Egypt and the Palestinian question The Mubarak regime has been a tool with which Israel and the US have pressured Palestinians. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/20112512042978473.html Robert Fisk: Mubarak is going. He is on the cusp of final departure The old man is going. The resignation last night of the leadership of the ruling Egyptian National Democratic Party – including Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal – will not appease those who want to claw the President down. But they will get their blood. The whole vast edifice of power which the NDP represented in Egypt is now a mere shell, a propaganda poster with nothing behind it. Uprising in Egypt: A Two-Hour Special on the Revolt Against the U.S.-Backed Mubarak Regime http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/5/uprising_in_egypt_a_two_hour The day a nation's fear dissolved The tide turned Jan. 28, when a surge of protesters confronted police and left them in disarray. If police had held their lines that day, the outcome might have been much different. Police radios crackled with panic the day President Hosni Mubarak's grip on the nation was shattered. As the world watches Egyptian society transform, various interest groups jockey for position in the new political order. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/20112310511432916.html As Mubarak clings to power, Egypt suffers CAIRO - Nearly two weeks of political turmoil have taken a toll on Egypt's infrastructure and economy, with most businesses shuttered, banks closed and tourists avoiding the country as the crisis drags on. http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=1254f9131d13d847305879acb42e273f President Husni Mubarak Steps Down As Head of NDP News just arrived that President Mubarak has resigned as the head of the NDP (the ruling National Democractic Part), as part of a series of arrangements intended to separate the ruling party from the state. Along with Husni Mubarak, his son Jamal Mubarak was also removed from his post in the party as Head of the notorious Political Bureau, formed in the early 2000's largely to prop up Jamal. In fact, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the changes, resignations, and replacements that are taking place right now within the NDP. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/559/president-husni-mubarak-steps-down-as-head-of-ndp RIP, old guard, Issandr El Amrani An addendum to my last post on the NDP shuffle. The last week has marked the end of an important semi-secret group that has had an important impact on Egyptian political life over the last 40 years: the tanzim tali'i, or Vanguard Group, which was recruited in the 1960s by among Nasserist youth to be groomed to handle the country's political affairs and continue the legacy of the Free Officers. These people were meant to be the front for Egypt's deep state, the politicians who regulated public debate while the big decisions were made elsewhere. What Mubarak must do before he resigns, Hossam Bahgat and Soha Abdelaty As Egyptian citizens and human rights defenders, we have been on the streets here, including in Tahrir Square, since Jan. 25 to demand dignity and freedom for all Egyptians. There is nothing we want more than an immediate end to the Mubarak era, which has been marred by repression, abuse and injustice. We are heartened by the international community's shift from demanding "restraint" and "responsiveness" to echoing our call for Hosni Mubarak to step down and for an immediate transition toward democracy. Mubarak: the father of all killjoys Maria Golia on a wily strategist who is sowing division as his palace crumbles – and the protesters holding firm against his will. There was a joke going around Cairo for the last few months. God informs Egypt’s elderly and ailing president, Hosni Mubarak, that the time has come for him to bid his people farewell. ‘Really?’ Mubarak says, ‘where are they going?’ http://www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2011/02/04/mubarak-the-father-of-all-killjoys/ Scholar: Mubarak's Departure Won't Lead To Chaos Or Theocracy There is no reason Americans should accept the premise that President Hosni Mubarak is the only thing standing between chaos and/or Islamic theocracy in Egypt. So says Bruce Rutherford, a political science professor at Colgate University. Everyone seems to be imagining what post-Mubarak Egypt will look like these days, but Rutherford gamed it out years ago for his 2008 book, "Egypt after Mubarak: Liberalism, Islam, and Democracy in the Arab World." Mubarak's insistence that there would be chaos if he resigned is, in fact, "a very inaccurate portrayal of contemporary Egypt," Rutherford said. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/05/mubarak-departure-wont-lead-to-chaos_n_819144.html Riz Khan - Tariq Ramadan and Slavoj Zizek on the future of Egyptian politics The revolutionary chants on the streets of Egypt have resonated around the world, but with a popular uprising without a clear direction and an unpopular leader refusing to concede, Egypt's future hangs in the balance. Riz Khan talks to Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan and Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek about the power of popular dissent, the limits of peaceful protest and the future of Egyptian politics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=29NffzEh2b0 Tariq Ali, "Plan B for a Post-Mubarak Egypt?" A post-Mubarak Egypt is difficult to predict with exactitude. What we can say is that it won't be a repeat of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The iron will of the Ayatollah doesn't exist in Cairo. Instead there is a decent, amiable technocrat, Mohamed El Baradei, more known abroad than at home, as a possible Plan B for the White House. Lurking behind El Baradei is the Muslim Brotherhood. It, too, is divided, with a dominant wing composed of young, modernist Muslims who want to mimic Turkey. If the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's favorite Islamists in Istanbul can do business with Washington, why not their Egyptian equivalents? They have been engaged in private discussions with informal emissaries from the U.S. for more than a decade. Nonetheless, a regime propelled into office via an uprising from below can't be as cavalier in disregarding public opinion, and nor is this a time for the U.S. to start preaching the virtues of liberal capitalism: The recent fate of Iceland, Ireland and Greece should be enough on that score. http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/ali050211.html Top Ten Accomplishments of Egypt Demonstrators The protest movement in Egypt scored several victories on Friday, but did not actually succeed in getting President Hosni Mubarak to step down. Their accomplishments include... The west should cheer, not fear, this cry for freedom in Egypt | Andrew Rawnsley Our values and our long-term self-interest demand that we back the struggle for democracy in the Middle East. One of the most precious attributes of democracy is freedom of expression, the ability to say what you think about anything you like. Yet as the people of Egypt strive for that right – some of them sacrificing their lives for the cause – there has been a strangulated sound coming from the throats of those who ought to be the clearest advocates of liberty. I am being generous when I say that Barack Obama, David Cameron, Nicolas Sarkozy and the rest of the soi-disant "leaders of the free world" have often struggled to articulate a principled and coherent response to the popular revolts that have spread from Tunis to Cairo. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/06/andrew-rawnsley-egypt-mubarak-democracy Egypt: Exchanging a Dictator for a Torturer, James Ridgeway The United States appears content to contemplate exchanging Hosni Mubarak for Egypt's new Vice President, Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian spy master--that is, one dictator for another-- to maintain the status quo. Of course, Israel must sign off on this deal. The Egyptian Revolution: First Impressions from the Field Never has a revolution that seemed so lacking in prospects gathered momentum so quickly and so unexpectedly. The Egyptian Revolution, starting on January 25, lacked leadership and possessed little organization; its defining events, on Friday, January 28, occurred on a day when all communication technologies, including all internet and phones, were barred; it took place in a large country known for sedate political life, a very long legacy of authoritarian continuity, and an enviable repressive apparatus consisting of more than 2 million members. But on that day, the regime of Hosni Mubarak, entrenched for 30 years and seemingly eternal, the only regime that the vast majority of the protesters had ever known, evaporated in one day. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/561/the-egyptian-revolution_first-impressions-from-the-field- Mubarak told Christiane Amanpour that Egyptian “culture” was anarchic in nature—and that chaos would break out if he stepped down. So, Egyptians are barbaric and can be tamed only by the strong hand of a loving father—what else is new? This is not just what Lord Cromer used to say, it is exactly what the autumnal patriarch has been saying for twenty years now, channeling the stark (and false) choice once proposed by Matthew Arnold, "culture or anarchy." The slogan analog appeared on signs carried by Mubarak’s goon squads this week: “Thirty years of stability, Nine days of chaos.” While “culture” has little to do with the underlying demands of the people who have risen up against Mubarak’s bloody rule, “culture talk" will continue to play prominently in the rhetoric of counter-revolution—from al-Misriyya to Fox News to NPR. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/558/state-culture-state-anarchy Too late for reform, Issandr El Amrani I like Michele Dunne — she has been consistent for a decade on Egypt, and strikes the right tone here. I remember we sat together a couple of months ago and she laughed at the idea that Omar Suleiman could be a transition figure for Egypt. Here she argues that the US should not be backing Suleiman, it should be backing bottom-up transition. /blog/2011/2/6/too-late-for-reform.html SHUT THE FUCKING ECONOMY DOWN! Whatever you do, do not stop the demonstrations! Do not evacuate the streets of Egypt! Do not clear the roads for private cars to go to school or work! This is the only weapon you have! And more importantly, it is the only weapon you need to bring down the regime! Al Jazeera: Egypt's 24-Hour Revolution, James Gundun – Washington, D.C. Somewhere Gil Scott-Heron must be reveling in the scene at Tahrir Square. African-Americans may not be pouring into U.S. streets looking for a brighter day, but millions of Egyptian spirits have brought Scott-Heron’s prophetic words to life. “You will not be able to stay home, brother,” he predicted 41 years ago... “You will not be able to plug in, turn on, and cop out... The revolution will be brought to you without commercial interruption... NBC will not be able to predict the winner at 8:32 PM... The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat... The revolution will be no re-run... The revolution will be live.” http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16622 The Awakening of Egypt, Mohamed El Mokhtar What we are witnessing is no less than History in the making: a revolution is now underway on the shores of the Nile. Yes, a revolution and a real one. Under the majestic shadows of the Pyramids, the wind of freedom is, at last, blasting. A mesmerizing popular uprising is occurring live before our eyes. Its venue is a memorable land. It is the place of the Holy Mount; the birthplace of Moses; the glorious home of Joseph; the Crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. It’s the cradle of many civilizations; the source of many cultures and traditions; the receptacle of many beliefs and religions; the country of many peoples. It is the graveyard of the Pharos; the burial place of countless Emirs and Queens. http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16623 The Egyptian Tinderbox, Ellen Hodgson Brown Underlying the sudden, volatile uprising in Egypt 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. Analysts estimate that food price inflation in Egypt is currently at an unsustainable 17 percent yearly. In poorer countries, as much as 60 to 80 percent of people’s incomes go for food, compared to just 10 to 20 percent in industrial countries. An increase of a dollar or so in the cost of a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread for Americans can mean starvation for people in Egypt and other poor countries. http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/02/the-egyptian-tinderbox/ For Mideast Regimes, U.S. Backing Means Absolute Power, Fadi Elsalameen “America’s horse” is the Arab leader who is backed by the United States and given a license to rule however he deems appropriate, as long as he doesn’t threaten Israel’s security or other American interests in the region. In return, he is allowed to abuse human rights and deny his people economic and political rights. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/in-mideast-u-s-backing-means-absolute-power-1.341180 The Fake Moderation of America's Moderate Mideast Allies, Asli Bali and Aziz Rana Washington’s response has departed little from its original script. This script involves repeatedly invoking the language of “moderation” and order and stability. http://www.fpif.org/articles/the_fake_moderation_of_americas_moderate_mideast_allies Arab uprisings: why no one saw them coming | Mariz Tadros The west failed to 'see like citizens' and missed the signs that people in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen were at breaking point. Why did diplomats, policymakers, analysts and academics fail to see and understand the growing popular unrest in Tunisia, Egypt and other Arab countries? It seems that the reasons why we thought a revolution impossible were wrong, our identification of the agents of change was misguided and our understanding of how collective mobilisation happens was too narrow. We need new ways to capture what is happening on the ground through the eyes of these countries' people. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/05/arab-uprisings-egypt-tunisia-yemen Egypt, the US and the Israel Lobby, ALISON WEIR Minimally explored in all the coverage of the momentous Egyptian uprising taking place over the last 10 days are the Israeli connections. A central and critical reality is that it is US tax money that has propped up Hosni Mubarak’s despotic regime over the past 30 years, and that this money has flowed, from the beginning, largely on behalf of Israel. Israel is generally a significant factor in events in the Middle East, and to understand ongoing happenings it is important to understand the historic and current Israeli connections. http://www.counterpunch.com/weir02042011.html Mubarak's Last Gasps, ESAM AL-AMIN According to the CIA's declassified documents and records, senior CIA operative, Kermit Roosevelt, paid $100,000 to mobsters in Tehran, in early August 1953, to hire the most feared thugs to stage pro-Shah riots. Other CIA-paid men were brought weeks later, on August 19, into Tehran in buses and trucks to take over the streets, topple the democratically elected Iranian government, and restore Shah Reza Pahlavi to his thrown. It took the people of Iran 26 years, enormous sacrifices, and a popular revolution to overthrow the imposed, corrupt and repressive rule of the Shah. http://www.counterpunch.com/amin02042011.html America is about to begin a love affair with the Arab world, Philip Weiss Like you I have spent the last ten days glued to the screen, and the only way to convey my joy and excitement is: these are the greatest public events of my adult life. I wasn't around for the civil rights movement, the counter-culture had its hedonistic side, and I was too walled in by maleness and straightness to understand feminism and Stonewall for what they were. Eastern Europe seemed inevitable. Obama's election was 8 on the Richter scale. This is 11, this is Pompei, it's buried the old world. http://mondoweiss.net/2011/02/america-is-about-to-begin-a-love-affair-with-the-arab-world.html The Egyptian Uprising: Facts and Fiction, Ahmed Amr As hundreds of thousands of Egyptians entered Tahrir Square on Friday, they were welcomed by a human corridor of young men clapping and chanting “keep the faith countrymen – freedom is being born.” The protest was billed as “Yom El Raheel” – a farewell party for Hosni Mubarak. There was something obviously different about the crowd that showed up to participate in what turned out to be the largest demonstration since the uprising began. For one thing, they came without their children and there were fewer women in the crowd. That was to be expected. Fear of violent attacks by the hired thugs of the Mubarak’s ruling party haunted the event and the square was littered with stones and debris from the battles on Wednesday. Many of the veterans of those attacks were limping or walking around with blood soaked bandages. http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/02/the-egyptian-uprising-facts-and-fiction/ Preparing Tomorrow's History Lessons Last night, my husband Michael Kennedy and I wrote an essay for Jadaliyya suggesting that the Polish Round Tables of 1989 might present a model for those hoping to move the Tahrir protest movements forward. He is an academic who works on Central and Eastern Europe, I on the Middle East. The difference in our world regions, I often tell him, is in your part of the world, the US supports protest movements; in my part of the world, the US stands in their way. I’d hoped Egypt’s June 25 movement would be an exception, would represent a change not just for Egyptians but for US relations with the Arab world. Whatever the outcome of the protest movements in Egypt will be, the hope that the Obama administration will embrace and support them is quickly fading. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/564/preparing-tomorrows-history-lessons The God That's Failing, ALEXANDER COCKBURN Turn on the tv and you hear the predictable bray from predictable types like Mort Zuckerman, Zbigniev Brzezinski, John Bolton and the Israel Lobby passim that, say what you will, Mubarak and Tunisia’s ejected president Ben Ali and other prospectively tottering tyrants are “our sons of bitches”, as FDR put it, and we should stand by them in recognition of decades of useful service to the Empire. Republicans will be hammering Obama for “losing” Tunisia and maybe Egypt etc., through this coming election cycle. Tunisia and Egypt Ripples Felt Throughout Arab World Clamor for change now reaches Iraq Protests against poor government services break out in Baghdad and other cities. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki announces he'll cut his pay in half and later vows not to seek a third term. Why the Palestinian Authority Is Worried About Egypt On the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas may not qualify as a sovereign government. But it is moderate, U.S.-backed, and behaving of late like one of the region's brittle and freshly vulnerable autocratic regimes. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2046508,00.html#ixzz1D9a9knu7