Centralised world in revolt thread

[irishspirit]

Hi Guy's,

with all that has been going on in the World these past view day, I thought that it would be a good idea to have a centralised thread to deal with these issues.

Given the fact that we like to keep a tidy board here at Avalon, may I ask that all post concerning this go to this thread?

Many Thanks


Irish

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Thousands of Yemenis are demonstrating in the capital Sanaa, calling on Ali Abdullah Saleh, president for more than 30 years, to step down.


This comes after mass protests in Egypt and a popular uprising in Tunisia that ousted its long-time leader.
Yemeni opposition members and youth activists gathered in four parts of the city, including Sanaa University, chanting anti-government slogans.


They also called for economic reforms and an end to corruption.
Yemenis complain of mounting poverty among a growing young population and frustration with a lack of political freedoms.


The country has also been plagued by a range of security issues, including a separatist movement in the south and an uprising of Shia Houthi rebels in the north.
There are fears that Yemen is becoming a leading al-Qaeda haven, with the high numbers of unemployed youths seen as potential recruits for Islamist militant groups

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12295864

[irishspirit]

Public Unrest Boils Over in Albania

BUCHAREST, Jan 27, 2011 (IPS) - The Albanian opposition is set to hold another mass rally on Friday, even though three people were killed during an anti-government demonstration last week, allegedly by armed forces of the Ministry of Interior.

On Jan. 21, over 20,000 people demonstrated in capital Tirana against the conservative government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha (opposition estimates go as high as 200,000). Three people were shot dead after hundreds of demonstrators attempted to escalate the police barricade protecting the prime minister’s office.

Following the broadcasting of footage showing a National Guard (army forces under the Ministry of Interior in charge of guarding institutions) officer shooting an automatic rifle at the unarmed demonstrators, the Albanian state prosecutor issued arrest warrants for six commanders of the National Guard.

The warrant has thus far not been carried out. The governing Democratic Party has declared that the arrest warrants are a part of an opposition "well- structured attempt of a coup d’etat".

Both government and opposition had scheduled rallies for this weekend.

"We will continue our protests, our demonstrations, without violence, with the solid power of people’s resistance," declared Socialist Edi Rama, leader of the opposition, calling for a rally this Friday to commemorate one week since the three deaths.

In spite of such insistence on peaceful action, Rama is thought to be playing a risky game: even among the opposition, some argue the leader could have avoided the three deaths as he should have anticipated the demonstrators would be met with violent repression by the government.

Meanwhile, Berisha called off the scheduled pro-government counter- demonstration, following an intervention of EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak this week. Lajcak asked for "an end of violence" and warned that "the European future of Albania depends very much on whether the political leaders choose to do what we’ve asked them to do and do that now."

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54252

[irishspirit]

An uprising in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the country’s 23-year long dictatorship of President Ben Ali. A new ‘transitional’ government was formed, but the protests continued demanding a totally new government without the relics of the previous tyranny. Protests in Algeria have continued for weeks, as rage mounts against rising food prices, corruption and state oppression. Protests in Jordan forced the King to call on the military to surround cities with tanks and set up checkpoints. Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Cairo demanding an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Thousands of activists, opposition leaders and students rallied in the capitol of Yemen against the corrupt dictatorship of President Saleh, in power since 1978. Saleh has been, with U.S. military assistance, attempting to crush a rebel movement in the north and a massive secessionist movement growing in the south, called the “Southern Movement.” Protests in Bolivia against rising food prices forced the populist government of Evo Morales to backtrack on plans to cut subsidies. Chile erupted in protests as demonstrators railed against rising fuel prices. Anti-government demonstrations broke out in Albania, resulting in the deaths of several protesters.

It seems as if the world is entering the beginnings of a new revolutionary era: the era of the ‘Global Political Awakening.’ While this ‘awakening’ is materializing in different regions, different nations and under different circumstances, it is being largely influenced by global conditions. The global domination by the major Western powers, principally the United States, over the past 65 years, and more broadly, centuries, is reaching a turning point. The people of the world are restless, resentful, and enraged. Change, it seems, is in the air. As the above quotes from Brzezinski indicate, this development on the world scene is the most radical and potentially dangerous threat to global power structures and empire. It is not a threat simply to the nations in which the protests arise or seek change, but perhaps to a greater degree, it is a threat to the imperial Western powers, international institutions, multinational corporations and banks that prop up, arm, support and profit from these oppressive regimes around the world. Thus, America and the West are faced with a monumental strategic challenge: what can be done to stem the Global Political Awakening? Zbigniew Brzezinski is one of the chief architects of American foreign policy, and arguably one of the intellectual pioneers of the system of globalization. Thus, his warnings about the 'Global Political Awakening' are directly in reference to its nature as a threat to the prevailing global hierarchy. As such, we must view the 'Awakening' as the greatest hope for humanity. Certainly, there will be mainy failures, problems, and regressions; but the 'Awakening' has begun, it is underway, and it cannot be so easily co-opted or controlled as many might assume.

The reflex action of the imperial powers is to further arm and support the oppressive regimes, as well as the potential to organize a destabilization through covert operations or open warfare (as is being done in Yemen). The alterantive is to undertake a strategy of "democratization" in which Western NGOs, aid agencies and civil society organizations establish strong contacts and relationships with the domestic civil society in these regions and nations. The objective of this strategy is to organize, fund and help direct the domestic civil society to produce a democratic system made in the image of the West, and thus maintain continuity in the international hierarchy. Essentially, the project of "democratization" implies creating the outward visible constructs of a democratic state (multi-party elections, active civil society, "independent" media, etc) and yet maintain continuity in subservience to the World Bank, IMF, multinational corporations and Western powers.


It appears that both of these strategies are being simultaneously imposed in the Arab world: enforcing and supporting state oppression and building ties with civil society organizations. The problem for the West, however, is that they have not had the ability to yet establish strong and dependent ties with civil society groups in much of the region, as ironically, the oppressive regimes they propped up were and are unsurprisingly resistant to such measures. In this sense, we must not cast aside these protests and uprisings as being instigated by the West, but rather that they emerged organically, and the West is subsequently attempting to co-opt and control the emerging movements.

Part 1 of this essay focuses on the emergence of these protest movements and uprisings, placing it in the context of the Global Political Awakening. Part 2 will examine the West's strategy of "democratic imperialism" as a method of co-opting the 'Awakening' and installing "friendly" governments.

The Tunisian Spark

A July 2009 diplomatic cable from America’s Embassy in Tunisia reported that, “many Tunisians are frustrated by the lack of political freedom and angered by First Family corruption, high unemployment and regional inequities. Extremism poses a continuing threat,” and that, “the risks to the regime’s long-term stability are increasing.”[2]

On Friday, 14 January 2011, the U.S.-supported 23-year long dictatorship of Tunisian president Ben Ali ended. For several weeks prior to this, the Tunisian people had risen in protest against rising food prices, stoked on by an immense and growing dissatisfaction with the political repression, and prodded by the WikiLeaks cables confirming the popular Tunisian perception of gross corruption on the part of the ruling family. The spark, it seems, was when a 26-year old unemployed youth set himself on fire in protest on December 17.

With the wave of protests sparked by the death of the 26-year old who set himself on fire on December 17, the government of Tunisia responded by cracking down on the protesters. Estimates vary, but roughly 100 people were killed in the clashes. Half of Tunisia’s 10 million people are under the age of 25, meaning that they have never known a life in Tunisia outside of living under this one dictator. Since Independence from the French empire in 1956, Tunisia has had only two leaders: Habib Bourguiba and Ben Ali.[3] The Tunisian people were rising up against a great many things: an oppressive dictatorship which has employed extensive information and internet censorship, rising food prices and inflation, a corrupt ruling family, lack of jobs for the educated youth, and a general sense and experience of exploitation, subjugation and disrespect for human dignity.

Following the ouster of Ben Ali, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi assumed presidential power and declared a “transitional government.” Yet, this just spurred more protests demanding his resignation and the resignation of the entire government. Significantly, the trade union movement had a large mobilizing role in the protests, with a lawyers union being particularly active during the initial protests.[4]


http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/img_pod_tunisia-revolution-ben-ali-politics-15012011.jpg
Protests in Tunisia

Social media and the Internet did play a large part in mobilizing people within Tunisia for the uprising, but it was ultimately the result of direct protests and action which led to the resignation of Ben Ali. Thus, referring to Tunisia as a “Twitter Revolution” is disingenuous.

Twitter, WikiLeaks, Facebook, Youtube, forums and blogs did have a part to play. They reflect the ability “to collectively transform the Arab information environment and shatter the ability of authoritarian regimes to control the flow of information, images, ideas and opinions.”[5]

We must also keep in mind that social media has not only become an important source of mobilization of activism and information at the grassroots level, but it has also become an effective means for governments and various power structures to seek to manipulate the flow of information. This was evident in the 2009 protests in Iran, where social media became an important avenue through which the Western nations were able to advance their strategy of supporting the so-called 'Green Revolution' in destabilizing the Iranian government. Thus, social media has presented a new form of power, neither black nor white, in which it can be used to either advance the process of the 'Awakening' or control its direction.

Whereas America was publicly denouncing Iran for blocking (or attempting to block) social media in the summer of 2009, during the first several weeks of Tunisian protests (which were largely being ignored by Western media), America and the West were silent about censorship.[6] It should be noted in this regard, that the US based foundation Freedom House was involved in promoting and training the Middle East North Africa Facebook and Twitter bloggers (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=66&program=84) (See also Freedom House) (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=115&program=84&item=87)

Steven Cook, writing for the elite U.S. think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, commented on the lack of attention being paid to the Tunisian protests in the early weeks of resistance prior to the resignation of Ben Ali. He explained that while many assume that the Arab “strongmen” regimes will simply maintain power as they always have, this could be mistaken. He stated that, “it may not be the last days of Ben Ali or Mubarak or any other Middle Eastern strongman, but there is clearly something going on in the region.” However, it was the end of Ben Ali, and indeed, “there is clearly something going on in the region.”[7]

France’s President Sarkozy has even had to admit that, “he had underestimated the anger of the Tunisian people and the protest movement that ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.” During the first few weeks of protests in Tunisia, several French government officials were publicly supporting the dictatorship, with the French Foreign Minister saying that France would lend its police “knowhow” to help Ben Ali in maintaining order.[8]

Days before the ouster of Ben Ali, Hillary Clinton gave an interview in which she explained how America was worried “about the unrest and the instability,” and that, “we are not taking sides, but we are saying we hope that there can be a peaceful resolution. And I hope that the Tunisian Government can bring that about.” Clinton further lamented, “One of my biggest concerns in this entire region are the many young people without economic opportunities in their home countries.”[9] He concern, of course, does not spur from any humanitarian considerations, but rather from inherent imperial considerations: it is simply harder to control a region of the world erupting in activism, uprisings and revolution.

The Spark Lights a Flame

Tunisia has raised the bar for the people across the Arab world to demand justice, democracy, accountability, economic stability, and freedom. Just as Tunisia’s protests were in full-swing, Algeria was experiencing mass protests, rising up largely as a result of the increasing international food prices, but also in reaction to many of the concerns of the Tunisian protesters, such as democratic accountability, corruption and freedom. A former Algerian diplomat told Al-Jazeera in early January that, “It is a revolt, and probably a revolution, of an oppressed people who have, for 50 years, been waiting for housing, employment, and a proper and decent life in a very rich country.”[10]

In mid-January, similar protests erupted in Jordan, as thousands took to the streets to protest against rising food prices and unemployment, chanting anti-government slogans. Jordan’s King Abdullah II had “set up a special task force in his palace that included military and intelligence officials to try to prevent the unrest from escalating further,” which had tanks surrounding major cities, with barriers and checkpoints established.[11]

In Yemen, the poorest nation in the Arab world, engulfed in a U.S. sponsored war against its own people, ruled by a dictator who has been in power since 1978, thousands of people protested against the government, demanding the dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. In the capitol city of Sanaa, thousands of students, activists and opposition groups chanted slogans such as, “Get out get out, Ali. Join your friend Ben Ali.”[12] Yemen has been experiencing much turmoil in recent years, with a rebel movement in the North fighting against the government, formed in 2004; as well as a massive secessionist movement in the south, called the “Southern Movement,” fighting for liberation since 2007. As the Financial Times explained:

Many Yemen observers consider the anger and secessionist sentiment now erupting in the south to be a greater threat to the country’s stability than its better publicised struggle with al-Qaeda, and the deteriorating economy is making the tension worse.

Unemployment, particularly among the young, is soaring. Even the government statistics office in Aden puts it at nearly 40 per cent among men aged 20 to 24.[13]


http://www.globalresearch.ca/articlePictures/Monday_-_Yemen_468842a.jpg
Protest of the Southern Movement in Yemen

On January 21, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Albania, mobilized by the socialist opposition, ending with violent clashes between the police and protesters, leading to the deaths of three demonstrators. The protests have been sporadic in Albania since the widely contested 2009 elections, but took on new levels inspired by Tunisia.[14]

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom stressed concern over the revolutionary sentiments within the Arab world, saying that, “I fear that we now stand before a new and very critical phase in the Arab world.” He fears Tunisia would “set a precedent that could be repeated in other countries, possibly affecting directly the stability of our system.”[15] Israel’s leadership fears democracy in the Arab world, as they have a security alliance with the major Arab nations, who, along with Israel itself, are American proxy states in the region. Israel maintains civil – if not quiet – relationships with the Arab monarchs and dictators. While the Arab states publicly criticize Israel, behind closed doors they are forced to quietly accept Israel’s militarism and war-mongering, lest they stand up against the superpower, America. Yet, public opinion in the Arab world is extremely anti-Israel, anti-American and pro-Iran.

In July of 2010, the results of a major international poll were released regarding public opinion in the Arab world, polling from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Among some of the notable findings: while Obama was well received upon entering the Presidency, with 51% expressing optimism about U.S. policy in the region in the Spring of 2009, by Summer 2010, 16% were expressing optimism. In 2009, 29% of those polled said a nuclear-armed Iran would be positive for the region; in 2010, that spiked to 57%, reflecting a very different stance from that of their governments.[16]

While America, Israel and the leaders of the Arab nations claim that Iran is the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Middle East, the Arab people do not agree. In an open question asking which two countries pose the greatest threat to the region, 88% responded with Israel, 77% with America, and 10% with Iran.[17]

At the Arab economic summit shortly following the ousting of Ben Ali in Tunisia, who was for the first time absent from the meetings, the Tunisian uprising hung heavy in the air. Arab League leader Amr Moussa said in his opening remarks at the summit, “The Tunisian revolution is not far from us,” and that, “the Arab citizen entered an unprecedented state of anger and frustration,” noting that "the Arab soul is broken by poverty, unemployment and general recession.” The significance of this ‘threat’ to the Arab leaders cannot be understated. Out of roughly 352 million Arabs, 190 million are under the age of 24, with nearly three-quarters of them unemployed. Often, “the education these young people receive doesn't do them any good because there are no jobs in the fields they trained for.”[18]

There was even an article in the Israeli intellectual newspaper, Ha’aretz, which posited that, “Israel may be on the eve of revolution.” Explaining, the author wrote that:

Israeli civil society organizations have amassed considerable power over the years; not only the so-called leftist organizations, but ones dealing with issues like poverty, workers' rights and violence against women and children. All of them were created in order to fill the gaps left by the state, which for its part was all too happy to continue walking away from problems that someone else was there to take on. The neglect is so great that Israel's third sector - NGOs, charities and volunteer organizations - is among the biggest in the world. As such, it has quite a bit of power.[19]

Now the Israeli Knesset and cabinet want that power back; yet, posits the author, they “have chosen to ignore the reasons these groups became powerful,” namely:

The source of their power is the vacuum, the criminal policies of Israel's governments over the last 40 years. The source of their power is a government that is evading its duties to care for all of its citizens and to end the occupation, and a Knesset that supports the government instead of putting it in its place.[20]

The Israeli Knesset opened investigations into the funding of Israeli human rights organizations in a political maneuver against them. However, as one article in Ha’aretz by an Israeli professor explained, these groups actually – inadvertently – play a role in “entrenching the occupation.” As the author explained:

Even if the leftist groups' intention is to ensure upholding Palestinian rights, though, the unintentional result of their activity is preserving the occupation. Moderating and restraining the army's activity gives it a more human and legal facade. Reducing the pressure of international organizations, alongside moderating the Palestinian population's resistance potential, enable the army to continue to maintain this control model over a prolonged period of time.[21]

Thus, if the Israeli Knesset succeeds in getting rid of these powerful NGOs, they sow the seeds for the pressure valve in the occupied territories to be removed. The potential for massive internal protests within Israel from the left, as well as the possibility of another Intifada – uprising – in the occupied territories themselves would seem dramatically increased. Israel and the West have expressed how much distaste they hold for democracy in the region. When Gaza held a democratic election in 2006 and elected Hamas, which was viewed as the ‘wrong’ choice by Israel and America, Israel imposed a ruthless blockade of Gaza. Richard Falk, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Inquiry Commission for the Palestinian territories, wrote an article for Al Jazeera in which he explained that the blockade:

unlawfully restricted to subsistence levels, or below, the flow of food, medicine, and fuel. This blockade continues to this day, leaving the entire Gazan population locked within the world's largest open-air prison, and victimized by one of the cruelest forms of belligerent occupation in the history of warfare.[22]

The situation in the occupied territories is made increasingly tense with the recent leaking of the “Palestinian Papers,” which consist of two decades of secret Israeli-Palestinian accords, revealing the weak negotiating position of the Palestinian Authority. The documents consist largely of major concessions the Palestinian Authority was willing to make “on the issues of the right of return of Palestinian refugees, territorial concessions, and the recognition of Israel.” Among the leaks, Palestinian negotiators secretly agreed to concede nearly all of East Jerusalem to Israel. Further, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (favoured by Israel and America over Hamas), was personally informed by a senior Israeli official the night before Operation Cast Lead, the December 2008 and January 2009 Israeli assault on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 Palestinians: “Israeli and Palestinian officials reportedly discussed targeted assassinations of Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists in Gaza.”[23]

Hamas has subsequently called on Palestinian refugees to protest over the concessions regarding the ‘right of return’ for refugees, of which the negotiators conceded to allowing only 100,000 of 5 million to return to Israel.[24] A former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt lamented that, “The concern will be that this might cause further problems in moving forward.”[25] However, while being blamed for possibly preventing the “peace process” from moving forward, what the papers reveal is that the “peace process” itself is a joke. The Palestinian Authority’s power is derivative of the power Israel allows it to have, and was propped up as a method of dealing with an internal Palestinian elite, thus doing what all colonial powers have done. The papers, then, reveal how the so-called Palestinian ‘Authority’ does not truly speak or work for the interests of the Palestinian people. And while this certainly will divide the PA from Hamas, they were already deeply divided as it was. Certainly, this will pose problems for the “peace process,” but that’s assuming it is a ‘peaceful’ process in the first part.



http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22963

[irishspirit]

Mubarak has sent his defense minister Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to Washington with an urgent request for US backing for his embattled regime against the street protest movement which gained in violence on its second day, Wednesday, Jan. 26. debkafile's Washington sources report that in secret meetings, the Egyptian defense minister put the situation before President Barack Obama and a row of top US political, military and intelligence officials. He warned them that by advocating a soft hand with the demonstrators and responsiveness to their demands, American officials were doing more harm than good. Without a crackdown, he said, the regime was doomed.


Tantawi also warned that the radical Muslim Brotherhood, which has stood aside from the opposition protests, was merely biding its time for the right moment to step in and take over. He asked the Obama administration for an urgent airlift of advanced riot control equipment.


The American response to the case presented by Tantawi is not known. Disclosure of his trip to Washington might well add fuel to the fires of disaffection burning in cities across Egypt. The protests are spearheaded by a youth opposition coalition whose members are proud of their Arab and Egyptian identity. Evidence of the regime's collaboration with a foreign power may well heighten their resolve to battle the regime and the million security services agents which Mubarak put on the streets Wednesday.


http://www.debka.com/article/20590/

[DawgBone]

I do feel that there is a change of consciousness happening worldwide.

This will pressure the Elite to move more swiftly toward one-world government. Time to consolidate their power, making change almost impossible. Time to roll out economic collapse, or food shortages, or devastating pandemic. All designed to convince people that centralized government by the Elite is the only rational solution.

I would like to see people in the US and Great Britain and France, etc. take to the streets peacefully. Perhaps national strikes will get their attention.

I feel a change of tide. I think the Elite are worried. Time to be strong.

[Fredkc]

I must be getting old.

Dissatisfaction is probably the easiest of "miseries" to manipulate.
Right after greed, of course.

What rarely works is a flood, following the banner "Something must be done!"

Whats needed is a long groundswell, brought into the fold under the banner of "Here is what's to be done."

Revolutions have a long tradition of throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

You're friendly neighborhood Old Fart,
Fred

[irishspirit]

Fred;

I could not agree more.

Revolt does not work, however, it will show that finally alot of the sheep are waking up!

I agree that there needs to be a master plan put in place, which should avoid violence at all costs. Violence only feeds the beast, allows the beast to make more rules to control people.

What needs to happen, in my view, is for people to suck the breath out of the beast.

Violence does not do this, however, it is the only way that Humans know how!

Again Fred, excellent point!

P.S, DO NOT CLOSE THIS ONE! ;)

[Carmody]

This is due to the lack of understanding, in most cases in history, that the forces that manipulate you.... will manipulate the revolution as well. And in that moment, the revolution is their vehicle, not yours. One should consider the issue of the natural tendency of the underlying animal we are built on ---to desire to centralize power and direction into individuals. This is the unconscious doorway that unwanted influences will seek to manipulate you through.

Avoid long marches/wars that end up centralizing power in a few people. for the manipulators then only need to go after those few people, or, dare I say, propose those people to you in the first place. set them up--knock them down. That's the history in these matters.

Just my experience from looking into it. Your mileage may differ.

[irishspirit]

Disturbing reports of a massacre at the coastal town of Suez, in Egypt, are coming through Raw Story (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/reports-massacre-suez-protests-egypt/) and the Egyptian Association for Change USA (http://www.facebook.com/eacusa?v=wall). From what we can ascertain, the whole city is on lock-down with a complete media blackout. Journalists from Al Jazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net/) and other reputable media outlets have been prevented from getting any where near Suez.


A statement on the Egyptian Association for Change USA Facebook wall reads:


...The situation in Suez copied and translated word for word from an Egyptian living in Suez: Now everything is fully destroyed, it is as if we are in emergency curfew, armored vehicles/tanks are everywhere in the area of 'Irbieen' and in the governerate - and we hear the sound of bombs/grenades every few minutes and there is still live ammunition and the protesters are brave men and women and none of them are afraid nor did anyone run or escape, even though they know that alot of protesters are detained in towers since 9 o'clock and there are no networks to confirm that parents are okay and security forces and fully in charge and we have yet to see the mayor, he hasn't even made a statement about what has happened and to comfort the parents of those who were jailed and the parents are enraged. One of the parents hasn't even received the body of her daughter until now and chaos is filling the place and we do not know what fate will being to us tomorrow with this government...


http://www.activistpost.com/2011/01/further-information-on-suspected.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter


¤=[Post Update]=¤

Carmody;

I agree. Coming from Northern Ireland, I have seen this operation be played out in front of my very eyes. People where divided to hate each other, hate each section and kill each other. BY THE SAME FORCE!

It is amazing what people will do when lead!

[Norsec]

Here is a link for the "live" events going on in Egypt. For those who are interested in.

Ikhwanweb (http://www.ikhwanweb.com/)

[irishspirit]

President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party says it is ready to open a dialogue with the youths who have staged three days of anti-government protests.

Safwat El-Sherif, the secretary general of the National Democratic Party, also called Thursday for restraint by the security forces and protesters during a rally planned for after Friday prayers. (AP)


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4020174,00.html

[irishspirit]

Cairo - A protester was shot in an exchange of fire between protesters and riot police Thursday at a protest in Sheikh Zuwayid, in Egypt's North Sinai, witnesses told the German Press Agency dpa.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/364594,protester-shot-egypt-protest.html#

[irishspirit]

SUEZ, Egypt - Orderly blocks of factory workers' apartments rose along wide, well-maintained roads over the last decade as Egypt's rising economy boosted the fortunes of this flourishing port city.
People migrated to Suez from poor, rural areas to participate in the type of growth cited by the country's longtime ruling party as evidence of its success in improving conditions in Egypt.
But even in a city cited for the success of its growing middle class, people say the improvements have benefited only a small and well-connected elite, leaving the majority struggling to find the money for food and housing. Anger over that imbalance has erupted on the streets more violently in Suez than virtually anywhere else in Egypt, leaving at least three people dead and dozens injured.


http://www.amherstdaily.com/News/Canada%20-%20World/Society/2011-01-27/article-2176487/In-booming-port-city-of-Suez-a-microcosm-of-Egypts-anger-over-inequality-and-poverty/1

[irishspirit]

Egypt unrest: ElBaradei 'ready' to lead transition


Nobel peace laureate and Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei says Egypt must change and he is ready to lead the transition if asked.
Mr ElBaradei, former head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, spoke at Vienna airport as he prepared to return to Cairo to join street protests there.
At least four people have died in unrest which is now in its third day.
The government says the protests are illegal and has launched a crackdown, arresting up to 1,000, reports say.
"If [people] want me to lead the transition, I will not let them down," Mr ElBaradei told journalists at Vienna airport.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12300164

[irishspirit]

http://www.therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=6164

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zza3uOszvKA&feature=player_embedded#

[irishspirit]

Iran cleric: Mideast unrest replay of our 1979 Islamic revolution


Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said protests in Egypt, Tunisia show the era of 'Western-backed dictators' in the Arab world is over.

The "aftershock" of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution was now rocking Egypt and other Arab states, a senior ayatollah said in the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran.

"I herewith proclaim to those (Western leaders) who still do not want to see the realities that the political axis of the new Middle East will soon be Islamic rulership and a democracy based on religion," Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said.

"All these protests in Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Yemen are inspired by Iran's Islamic revolution and these countries are de facto rocked by the aftershock of the Iranian revolution," the ultra-conservative cleric added.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/iran-cleric-mideast-unrest-replay-of-our-1979-islamic-revolution-1.339796

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Thousands in Jordan protest, demand PM step down


In 3rd day of protests, opposition supporters take to streets in Amman to express anger at rising prices, inflation, unemployment.

Talkbacks (9) AMMAN, Jordan (http://newstopics.jpost.com/topic/Amman) — Thousands of Jordanian opposition supporters took to the streets Friday in the country's capital demanding the prime minister step down and venting their anger at rising prices, inflation and unemployment.

It was the third consecutive Friday of protests following Muslim prayers in Jordan, inspired by the unrest in Tunisia and rallies in Egypt demanding the downfall of the country's longtime president.

RELATED:
Arab world unrest has Jordan's king under pressure (http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205623)
Human rights in retreat again in Middle East in 2010 (http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205569)
Protesters demand Jordan's government step down (http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=204694)

About 3,500 opposition activists from Jordan's main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations gathered in Amman's downtown, waving colorful banners reading: "Send the corrupt guys to court."

The crowd denounced Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai's unpopular policies. Many shouted: "Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians."

Another 2,500 people also took to the streets in six other cities across the country after the noon prayers. Those protests also called for Rifai's ouster.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=205641

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Mubarak Sacks Cabinet As Unrest Spreads


Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has refused to quit after four days of protests against his rule - instead he sacked his cabinet and said he would appoint a new one.


(http://adserver.adtech.de/?adlink%7C3.0%7C999%7C2043261%7C1%7C16%7CAdId=5907598;BnId=1;link=http://interactive.news.sky.com/ie9/)http://onlineadtracker.co.uk/adtracker/setCookie.asp?client=Sky&campaign=IE9&strCookie=skyIE9strip.jpg
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http://adserver.adtech.de/adserv/3.0/999/3027803/0/16/ADTECH;loc=300;key=key1+key2+key3+key4;grp=[group] (http://adserver.adtech.de/adlink/3.0/999/3027803/0/16/ADTECH;loc=300;key=key1+key2+key3+key4;grp=[group]) Mubarak Sacks Cabinet As Unrest Spreads


2:51am UK, Saturday January 29, 2011
Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has refused to quit after four days of protests against his rule - instead he sacked his cabinet and said he would appoint a new one.


The 82-year-old president (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hosni_Mubarak) addressed the nation in a live TV appearance, saying its problems should not be dealt with through violence or chaos.
He claimed the anti-government demonstrations were part of plot to destabilise Egypt and destroy the legitimacy of his regime.

The president defended the actions of police, who have fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at protesters across the country, and promised reforms.
Mr Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for three decades, then asked his cabinet to resign and said a new government would be appointed today.
"I assure you that I am working for the people and giving freedom of opinion, as long as you are respecting the law," he said.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Egypt-Thousands-Protest-As-Communication-Lines-Disrupted/Article/201101415914646?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15914646_Egypt%3A_Thousands_Protest_As_Communication_Lines_Disrupted

[irishspirit]

Prince warns S. Arabia of apocalypse (they knew it was coming, look at the date of the article)

Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has warned the country's royal family to step down and flee before a military coup or a popular uprising overthrows the kingdom.


In a letter published by Wagze news agency on Tuesday, the Cairo-based prince warned Saudi Arabia's ruling family of a fate similar to that of Iraq's executed dictator Saddam Hussein and the ousted Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, calling on them to escape before people "cut off our heads in streets."

He warned that the Saudi royal family is no longer able to "impose" itself on people, arguing that deviations in carrying out the religious concepts that make up the basis of the Saudi government "have gotten out of our hands," so that the opposition views our acts as "interfering in people's private life and restricting their liberties."

"If we are wise, we must leave this country to its people, whose dislike for us is increasing," said Prince Turki, advising Saudi officials to escape with their families.

http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/129692.html

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThvBJMzmSZI&feature=player_embedded#

[irishspirit]

Reports: Syria Internet Down As Egypt Blackout Catches On In Middle East

On the same day that Egypt has suspended online activity, Syria has also blocked internet service. Syria is known for a tight control of the internet, which was tightened further after the unrest in TUnisia, reports Reuters (http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE70P18Y20110126). Now, Al Arabiya is reporting (http://twitter.com/#%21/AlArabiya_Eng/status/31002490816167936)that internet services have gone down completely in the country.


http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/82156/Reports%3A-Syria-Internet-Down-As-Egypt-Blackout-Catches-On-In-Middle-East.html

A block on Information perhaps?

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xWiBCIxjIk&feature=player_embedded#


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XnhHzs91MY&feature=player_embedded WARNING, EXTREMELY GRAPHIC


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4OSMFYc9Mc&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O8Q4s-3FgA&feature=player_embedded

[Maria Stade]

Heart breaking ! Thank you !

[mondaze]

firstly i do not think it is helpful to call the unaware sheep. they may be somnambulists but a pejorative term does nothing to help them wake up. i have seen this coming. This is 1991 over again. One card falls and all crash down. Eastern Europe became "free". The western powers have invested all there wealth in propping up tight dictatorships in these so-called 3rd world economies, one has to ask why? As they fall across the Globe, and they will, what next? A vacuum of power? Who will save them? I think we know who will offer salvation...

[Ramdass528]

ThvBJMzmSZI

[bluestflame]

as a curiosity would be ideal time to do some pyramid related activities largely unnoticed amidst the confusion

[irishspirit]

Protesters back on Egypt streets
http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2011/1/29/201112992358122140_20.jpg Protesters in Egypt are calling for "regime change, not cabinet change", our correspondent said [GALLO/GETTY] Protesters are returning to the streets of Egypt, following violent overnight demonstrations across the country staged in defiance of a curfew.
Demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Saturday morning, shouting "Go away, go away!", the Reuters news agency said.
Similar crowds were gathering in the cities of Alexandria and Suez, Al Jazeera's correspondents reported.
In Alexandria, our correspondent Rawya Rageh reported that dozens of marchers were calling on Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to step down.


"They are calling for regime change, not cabinet change," Rageh said.
In Suez, Al Jazeera's Jamal ElShayyal reported that protesters were gathering, and that the military was not confronting them.
ElShayyal quoted a military officer as saying that troops would "not fire a single bullet on Egyptians", regardless of where the orders to do so come from.


The latest protests reflected popular discontent with Mubarak's midnight address, where he announced that he was dismissing his government but remaining in power.


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112974149942894.html

¤=[Post Update]=¤


as a curiosity would be ideal time to do some pyramid related activities largely unnoticed amidst the confusion

Acouple of years ago, maybe. Now? no. they just do that in day light and have nothing to hide, such is their contemned for the people.

[mrmalco]

Thanks for all this irishspirit - Some wears ago I had a hunch that a vast Muslim 'empire of thought' was in the offing. Right across North Africa, through Egypt and the Middle East, into the Balkan Muslim areas, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and the ex-Soviet Muslim states and right to the North West of China, where the Uighurs have beeb suppressed. There are plenty of divisions of course within that list of course but ...
A momentum is building.
It is complicated - perhaps softened perhaps hardened (difficult to know) by the now large Muslim populations in many Western states. Personally I don't object to anyone praying five times a day, going as pilgrims to Mecca and believing the basic Muslim tenets. But I do fear the cultural and fundamentalist attitudes to women, to 'non-believers', to personal freedoms etc.

Yesterday I dropped off to sleep (as old guys do, sitting in chairs) and woke up with a voice speaking to me from inside me saying:'The world is changing'.

[Buchanan561]

Absolutely wonderful thread irishspirit .A lot of information right at our fingertips. No need to have to search. This information is what we need at this point in our game to overcome what has been put before us. It looks like a revolt is happening around the world and it is against those who have caused our enslavement. Nothing we can fight about because the proof is right there in links, writing, and videos. I have been on this thread since getting up. Thanks again. Emma
Best thread I have been on so far. :cool:

[modwiz]

So many protesters so little strategy.

Ever notice the enforcers never seem to be challenged from the rear or their flanks?

The Romans picked a little corner so that Queen Boadiceas' vastly larger Celtic army could not outflank them.

Spartans did something similar to the Persians at Thermopylae (narrow pass on a cliff).....until a rat showed the Persians a mountain pass that allowed them access to the Spartans rear. Game over!

These baton and shield guys are a force to contend with head on for sure. If they had to deal with multiple angles their true colors or color would show.

This is not about dropping anybody, it is about producing the psychology the creates a rout. All bets are off with air involved but infantry has a lot to do with strategy, especially with superior numbers on familiar terrain.

That bridge could have made for a cowards sandwich.

Hope somebody gets them the word. People can really win this thing in a morally superior way. Count coup on them and show them mercy.

(Looks behind his shoulder to make sure he is safe at the keyboard in his bedroom as he opines to people in harms way)

Trust me, I get it.

[Fructedor]

Irishspirit

Thanks for all the work you've put into this - this is indeed an awakening, and it's worldwide. The grievances of people in Tunisia and Egypt are not so different from those of people in the Western world - people forced to revolt against the tyranny of continued exploitation by their 'leaders'. I have a hard job not sneering at people like Hilary Clinton pontificating about justice and freedom - how would the justified American, English, French revolts be handled by the governments there? Answer - violently and efficiently.

The slavery of human beings may appear less extreme in Europe/USA than those in the Middle East, but is none the less slavery. We're now at a point where people can't ignore it any longer. And the Internet/phone server blackout in Egypt which seems to shock many is no different from that imposed by Israel when they drive tanks against schoolchildren in Gaza, or sow landmines all over Lebanon. What was said about that, other than in the 'alternative' media?

Another thought is this - the police used to quell these uprisings are in the great majority brothers, fathers, cousins of the people they're being sent to beat into submission - simply to ensure a pittance and 'job security' - can their hearts be in their work? I don't think so - they're governed by fear, but the moment must come when they're faced with the inevitable realisation that they're fighting themselves.

Best wishes and thanks, man

Fructedor

[modwiz]

Fructedor

Another thought is this - the police used to quell these uprisings are in the great majority brothers, fathers, cousins of the people they're being sent to beat into submission - simply to ensure a pittance and 'job security' - can their hearts be in their work? I don't think so - they're governed by fear, but the moment must come when they're faced with the inevitable realisation that they're fighting themselves.

Your last point is why I stressed not harming the enforcers, they are caught in the same web we are. Good strategy would just push their fight mode into flight mode.

We can all have lunch later, food shortages permitting.

Modwiz

[irishspirit]

Egypt protests: America's secret backing for rebel leaders behind uprising


The American government secretly backed leading figures behind the Egyptian uprising who have been planning “regime change” for the past three years, The Daily Telegraph has learned.


The American Embassy in Cairo helped a young dissident attend a US-sponsored summit for activists in New York, while working to keep his identity secret from Egyptian (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/) state police.

On his return to Cairo in December 2008, the activist told US (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/) diplomats that an alliance of opposition groups had drawn up a plan to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak and install a democratic government in 2011.

[/URL]
The secret document in full (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8289698/Egypt-protests-secret-US-document-discloses-support-for-protesters.html)

He has already been arrested by Egyptian security in connection with the demonstrations and his identity is being protected by The Daily Telegraph.

The crisis in Egypt follows the toppling of Tunisian (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/tunisia/) president Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali, who fled the country after widespread protests forced him from office.



[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8289686/Egypt-protests-Americas-secret-backing-for-rebel-leaders-behind-uprising.html

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Military confrontation between Cambodia, Thai near temple continues


PHNOM PENH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The military confrontation between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border area near Preah Vihear temple continues on Saturday and troops on both sides are still on high alert, said a close military source standby at the area.


"We're still on high alert to defend our territorial integrity, " a senior officer, who asked not to be named, said on Saturday.


Thai side has stepped up their troops on their border side; they attempted to bring their Thai flag to fly at Cambodia's Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple, he said.
"We have warned Thai troops in advance already, if they dare to enter Cambodian territory, Cambodia will use self-defense rights to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
Cambodian Ministry of Defense on Friday has dispatched dozens of tanks and fighting vehicles as well as missiles and ammunition to Preah Vihear temple area. He said that those armaments have arrived at Preah Vihear temple on Saturday morning.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-01/29/c_13712609.htm

[irishspirit]

Thousands of anti-government protesters have returned to the streets in Egypt as President Hosni Mubarak refuses to quit.


Demonstrators in Cairo chanted "go away, go away" just hours after the president fired his cabinet in a bid to quell the unrest.
Ministers met this morning to formally submit their resignations but the move appears unlikely to dull the violent clashes.
A plea by the army urging people not to gather in groups and obey the curfew was being ignored as protesters also met in Alexandria, Suez, Ismailia and Damanhour.
They have vowed to continue rioting across the country despite dozens already being killed and thousands wounded.
Mr Mubarak (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hosni_Mubarak), 82, is refusing to stand down and instead ordered the army into the capital overnight to try and regain control.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2011/Jan/Week4/15917952.jpg Mr Mubarak said in his address he was 'working for the people'
Cairo and along the Nile was a scene of devastation with the ruling party's headquarters set alight and still burning today.
Demonstrators ignored a curfew and stayed on the streets. Daybreak revealed ransacked shops and burnt-out buildings.
[/URL]
Read the Foreign Office advice warning of travel to Egyptian hot spots. (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Egypt-Riots-Travel-Advice-From-Foreign-And-Commonwealth-Office-As-Protests-Continue/Article/201101415918044)


They are now into their fifth day of protests against Mr Mubarak's ailing 30-year regime, which comes after riots in Tunisia.
The president has appealed for a dialogue to avert further chaos but there is little sign his message is having any effect.

[url]http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Egypt-Mubarak-Faces-New-Protests-As-Cabinet-Sackings-Fail-to-Quell-Unrest/Article/201101415918069?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15918069_Egypt%3A_Mubarak_Faces_New_Protests_As_Cabinet_Sackings_Fail_to_Quell_Unrest_

IRISH COMMENTS: Look at that mans eyes, he looks evil. God, I hope this does not get any worse for the people and police down there.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Egypt's state TV says the Cabinet has resigned due to demands made by President Hosni Mubarak. Earlier the parliament speaker said he expected the move to be made within hours. (Elior Levy)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4020654,00.html

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Egypt banished from Chinese Twitter
Beijing blocks searches for "Egypt" from microblogging site following protests there.


China has blocked the word "Egypt'' from the country's wildly popular Twitter-like service, while coverage of the political turmoil has been tightly restricted in state media.
China's ruling Communist Party is sensitive to any potential source of social unrest.
A search for "Egypt'' on the Sina microblogging service brings up a message saying, "According to relevant laws, regulations and policies, the search results are not shown".


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/01/201112991712140318.html

[mrmalco]

Right now watching al jazeera that is the most in depth and thoughtful source so far as my wife and I know.

[fifi]

The Protest Movement in Egypt: "Dictators" do not Dictate, They Obey Orders
by Michel Chossudovsky

The Mubarak regime could collapse in the a face of a nationwide protest movement... What prospects for Egypt and the Arab World?

"Dictators" do not dictate, they obey orders. This is true in Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

Dictators are invariably political puppets. Dictators do not decide.

President Hosni Mubarak was a faithful servant of Western economic interests and so was Ben Ali.

The national government is the object of the protest movement.

The objective is to unseat the puppet rather than the puppet-master.

The slogans in Egypt are "Down with Mubarak, Down with the Regime". No anti-American posters have been reported... The overriding and destructive influence of the USA in Egypt and throughout the Middle East remains unheralded.

The foreign powers which operate behind the scenes are shielded from the protest movement.

No significant political change will occur unless the issue of foreign interference is meaningfully addressed by the protest movement.

The US embassy in Cairo is an important political entity, invariably overshadowing the national government. The Embassy is not a target of the protest movement.

In Egypt, a devastating IMF program was imposed in 1991 at the height of the Gulf War. It was negotiated in exchange for the annulment of Egypt's multibillion dollar military debt to the US as well as its participation in the war. The resulting deregulation of food prices, sweeping privatisation and massive austerity measures led to the impoverishment of the Egyptian population and the destabilization of its economy. The Mubarak government was praised as a model "IMF pupil".

The role of Ben Ali's government in Tunisia was to enforce the IMF's deadly economic medicine, which over a period of more than twenty years served to destabilize the national economy and impoverish the Tunisian population. Over the last 23 years, economic and social policy in Tunisia has been dictated by the Washington Consensus.

Both Hosni Mubarak and Ben Ali stayed in power because their governments obeyed and effectively enforced the diktats of the IMF.

From Pinochet and Videla to Baby Doc, Ben Ali and Mubarak, dictators have been installed by Washington. Historically in Latin America, dictators were instated through a series of US sponsored military coups. In todays World, they are installed through "free and fair elections" under the surveillance of the "international community".

Our message to the protest movement:

Actual decisions are taken in Washington DC, at the US State Department, at the Pentagon, at Langley, headquarters of the CIA. at H Street NW, the headquarters of the World Bank and the IMF.

The relationship of "the dictator" to foreign interests must be addressed. Unseat the political puppets but do not forget to target the "real dictators".

The protest movement should focus on the real seat of political authority; it should target the US embassy, the delegation of the European Union, the national missions of the IMF and the World Bank.

Meaningful political change can only be ensured if the neoliberal economic policy agenda is thrown out.

Regime Replacement

If the protest movement fails to address the role of foreign powers including pressures exerted by "investors", external creditors and international financial institutions, the objective of national sovereignty will not be achieved. In which case, what will occur is a narrow process of "regime replacement", which ensures political continuity.

"Dictators" are seated and unseated. When they are politically discredited and no longer serve the interests of their US sponsors, they are replaced by a new leader, often recruited from within the ranks of the political opposition.

In Tunisia, the Obama administration has already positioned itself. It intends to play a key role in the "democratization program" (i.e. the holding of so-called fair elections). It also intends to use the political crisis as a means to weaken the role of France and consolidate its position in North Africa:

"The United States, which was quick to size up the groundswell of protest on the streets of Tunisia, is trying to press its advantage to push for democratic reforms in the country and further afield.

The top-ranking US envoy for the Middle East, Jeffrey Feltman, was the first foreign official to arrive in the country after president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted on January 14 and swiftly called for reforms. He said on Tuesday only free and fair elections would strengthen and give credibility to the north African state's embattled leadership.

"I certainly expect that we'll be using the Tunisian example" in talks with other Arab governments, Assistant Secretary of State Feltman added.

He was dispatched to the north African country to offer US help in the turbulent transition of power, and met with Tunisian ministers and civil society figures.

Feltman travels to Paris on Wednesday to discuss the crisis with French leaders, boosting the impression that the US is leading international support for a new Tunisia, to the detriment of its former colonial power, France. ...

Western nations had long supported Tunisia's ousted leadership, seeing it as a bulwark against Islamic militants in the north Africa region.

In 2006, the then US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, speaking in Tunis, praised the country's evolution.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton nimbly stepped in with a speech in Doha on January 13 warning Arab leaders to allow their citizens greater freedoms or risk extremists exploiting the situation.

"There is no doubt that the United States is trying to position itself very quickly on the good side,..." " AFP: US helping shape outcome of Tunisian uprising emphasis added

Will Washington be successful in instating a new puppet regime?

This very much depends on the ability of the protest movement to address the insidious role of the US in the country's internal affairs.

The overriding powers of empire are not mentioned. In a bitter irony, president Obama has expressed his support for the protest movement.

Many people within the protest movement are led to believe that president Obama is committed to democracy and human rights, and is supportive of the opposition's resolve to unseat a dictator, which was installed by the US in the first place.

Cooptation of Opposition Leaders

The cooptation of the leaders of major opposition parties and civil society organizations in anticipation of the collapse of an authoritarian puppet government is part of Washington's design, applied in different regions of the World.

The process of cooptation is implemented and financed by US based foundations including the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Freedom House (FH). Both FH and the NED have links to the US Congress. the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and the US business establishment. Both the NED and FH are known to have ties to the CIA.

The NED is actively involved in Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria. Freedom House supports several civil society organizations in Egypt.

"The NED was established by the Reagan administration after the CIA’s role in covertly funding efforts to overthrow foreign governments was brought to light, leading to the discrediting of the parties, movements, journals, books, newspapers and individuals that received CIA funding. ... As a bipartisan endowment, with participation from the two major parties, as well as the AFL-CIO and US Chamber of Commerce, the NED took over the financing of foreign overthrow movements, but overtly and under the rubric of “democracy promotion.” (Stephen Gowans, January « 2011 "What's left"

While the US has supported the Mubarak government for the last thirty years, US foundations with ties to the US State department and the Pentagon have actively supported the political opposition including the civil society movement. According to Freedom House: "Egyptian civil society is both vibrant and constrained. There are hundreds of non-governmental organizations devoted to expanding civil and political rights in the country, operating in a highly regulated environment." (Freedom House Press Releases).

In a bitter irony, Washington supports the Mubarak dictatorship, including its atrocities, while also backing and financing its detractors, through the activities of FH, the NED, among others.

Under the auspices of Freedom House, Egyptian dissidents and opponents of Hosni Mubarak were received in May 2008 by Condoleezza Rice at the State Department and the US Congress. They also met White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who was "the principal White House foreign policy adviser" during George W. Bush's second term.

Freedom House’s effort to empower a new generation of advocates has yielded tangible results and the New Generation program in Egypt has gained prominence both locally and internationally. Egyptian visiting fellows from all civil society groups received [May 2008] unprecedented attention and recognition, including meetings in Washington with US Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor, and prominent members of Congress. In the words of Condoleezza Rice, the fellows represent the "hope for the future of Egypt."

Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=66&program=84 (emphasis added).

Political Double Talk: Chatting with "Dictators", Mingling with "Dissidents"

The Egyptian pro-democracy delegation to the State Department was described by Condoleezza Rice as "The Hope for the Future of Egypt".

In May 2009, Hillary Clinton met a delegation of Egyptian dissidents, several of which had met Condoleezza Rice a year earlier. These high level meetings were held a week prior to Obama's visit to Egypt:

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the work of a group of Egyptian civil society activists she met with today and said it was in Egypt’s interest to move toward democracy and to exhibit more respect for human rights.

The 16 activists met with Clinton and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman in Washington at the end of a two-month fellowship organized by Freedom House’s New Generation program.

The fellows raised concern about what they perceived as the United States government distancing itself from Egyptian civil society and called on President Obama to meet with young independent civil society activists when he visits Cairo next week. They also urged the Obama administration to continue to provide political and financial support to Egyptian civil society and to help open the space for nongovernmental organizations which is tightly restricted under Egypt’s longstanding emergency law.

The fellows told Clinton that momentum was already building in Egypt for increased civil and human rights and that U.S. support at this time was urgently needed. They stressed that civil society represents a moderate and peaceful “third way” in Egypt, an alternative to authoritarian elements in the government and those that espouse theocratic rule. (Freedom House, May 2009)

During their fellowship, the activists spent a week in Washington receiving training in advocacy and getting an inside look at the way U.S. democracy works. After their training, the fellows were matched with civil society organizations throughout the country where they shared experiences with U.S. counterparts. The activists will wrap up their program ... by visiting U.S. government officials, members of Congress, media outlets and think tanks." (Freedom House, May 2009, emphasis added)

These opposition civil society groups --which are currently playing an important role in the protest movement-- are supported and funded by the US. They indelibly serve US interests.

The invitation of Egyptian dissidents to the State Department and the US Congress also purports to instil a feeling of commitment and allegiance to American democratic values. America is presented as a model of Freedom and Justice. Obama is upheld as a "Role Model".

More at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22993

[Lord Sidious]

Interesting. So there is dissent spreading quickly right now and all of these nations are islamic.

[Swami]

Protests Spread To Saudi Arabia


While the biggest threat to the Middle East region is the possibility that the population of Saudi Arabia may try to imitate what has been happening in the area, thereby bringing total chaos to the established regional geopolitical and more importantly, energy, structure, the first protests in the Saudi Arabia city of Jeddah are already in the books. The clip below shows the peaceful demonstrations that have taken place recently, which as Fedupmontrealer explains are "taking place in front of the Municipality in protest of the severe lack of infrastructure, and corruption, that led the city to be inundated this week causing billions of dollars of damages for the second time in two years." That this is even occurring in a state where the average wealth is orders of magnitude greater than in Egypt is remarkable. On the other hand, we expect more news such as those from yeserday that Kuwait is paying its citizens $3,500 plus free food for a year to keep calm. Oddly, visions of money dropping helicopters, infinitely extendable unemployment insurance and tax breaks keep dancing in our head. Those who wish to follows the latest developments out of Jedda which appears could be the lightning rod for Saudi riots can do so by tracking #JeddahProtests on Twitter.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8AJ2V210ag

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/protests-spread-saudi-arabia

[Lost Soul]

You can throw Sudan in the mix. The world is revolting! Link (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41334956/ns/world_news-africa/)

[Charlie Pecos]

I see the puppet.........but where is the puppet master?

[Ramdass528]

I see the puppet.........but where is the puppet master?

within US,UK,France and Germany and probaly elsewhere

[irishspirit]

http://www.mibazaar.com/egypt.html

this will allow you to follow any and all tweets concerning this subject matter.

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpl5LfrtXRQ

Fitting for this thread.

[irishspirit]

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

Live feed

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Israel deploying more troops on the border with Egypt

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRNEd84VZKY&feature=player_embedded

History is being made here.

[irishspirit]

Rep. Ron Paul calls Egypt a "mess" made by U.S. intervention (http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/rep-ron-paul-calls-egypt-a-mes.html)

Rep. Ron Paul (http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Ron_Paul), R-Lake Jackson, is blaming U.S. policy for the upheaval in Egypt. "This is a typical example of what happens when we run on intervention-type foreign policies. We get in the middle of these fights. We've been in the middle of this for 30 years now. We've given Mubarak $60 billion. We're responsible for a lot of the mess that is over there," Paul said this afternoon on FOX (http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/FOX_Broadcasting_Company) News Channel's Your World with Neil Cavuto (http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Neil_Cavuto).
Paul, a potential Senate candidate in Texas next year (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20110126-ron-paul-considers-u.s.-senate-run.ece), is a longstanding critic of foreign entanglements, and probably Congress' leading isolationist. His son, Sen. Rand Paul (http://www.randpaul2010.com/) , R-Ky., caused a stir in recent days by advocating for the cutoff of aid to Israel (http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Israel), in the context of a broader push to eliminate all foreign aid. It's a goal he shares with his father.


http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/rep-ron-paul-calls-egypt-a-mes.html

[irishspirit]

1549: Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa calls for immediate talks between the opposition and the government: "Now the point is how to establish an immediate dialogue, to put things into perspective and to decide how to move on," he says. "The name of the game now is how to create a consensus - a national consensus - on the next steps. The name of the game is reform."




http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

[irishspirit]

President Mubarak has apparently tendered his resignation according to a source. #Egypt (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Egypt) #Jan25 (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Jan25) #Mubarak (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Mubarak)

http://twitter.com/RanjAlaaldin

[irishspirit]

#
1601: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the international community must demand that any future Egyptian government that takes power respects the 30-year peace treaty with Israel, the AFP news agency reports.

A statement like this I feel is confirmation of the above. Isreal is worried.

Also, it is stating that protests in Jordon are calling for an end to the peace treaty with Israel.

Folk's, regardless of faith or your God, please pray for these people in the middle east and ask for their protection.

[irishspirit]

http://fotogaleri.ntvmsnbc.com/1-milyonu-gectiler.html?position=8

The above link will bring you to pictures of today. Note the military and people side by side.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


1612: One of Egypt's leading archaeologists, Zahi Hawass, who has just accepted the post of minister of antiquities in President Mubarak's new cabinet, has praised the combined efforts of the security forces and Egyptians who confronted the looters: "Today I can tell you that I'm so happy... to announce that everything is safe and nothing can happen in the future, because the police appeared today, and the army, and the Egyptian people together. What is unique, that all these people who tried to rob the antiquities, were outlaws, criminals that came out of jail and they don't care, and they began to attack the monuments. But who stood against them? The real Egyptians. If the Cairo museum is safe, Egypt will be safe."

[irishspirit]

Egyptians around the world are watching events in their home country with interest and concern. In the United States there are 200,000 Egyptians, many of whom live in Northern Virginia and the Washington DC area.
The Khan El Khalili superstore in Falls Church, on the outskirts of Washington DC looks, sounds and even smells like a slice of Egypt in America.
Just like its namesake - the famous Khan El Khalili market in Cairo - it stocks an eclectic and vast array of gifts and artefacts.
The choice is immense - here you can buy everything from spices to stuffed camels, hookah pipes to hand mixed perfumes, incense sticks to instruments of all kinds.
Its owner Mohammed Khattab moved to America from Egypt twenty years ago.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12331129

[irishspirit]

1641: The protesters are drawn from all sections of the population, with no clear leader having emerged so far. But a coalition of political opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, is reported to have met. The coalition is said to have told the Egyptian government that it will begin talks on its demands only after President Mubarak has stood down. In a BBC interview, new Finance Minister Samir Radwan appeared to distance the administration from Mr Mubarak. He said he was now taking orders from the newly-appointed vice president and the prime minister.






1645: But Islam el-Tahtawi in Cairo tells the BBC that removing the president could create a political vacuum. "There are no credible opponents, no charismatic figure in exile or a jailed dissident who could legitimately carry the nation's hopes. No-one knows who will eventually emerge to fill the political vacuum. This movement has no leader - it simply happened," he says. "That's why President Hosni Mubarak must stay in power until we can organise a peaceful transition of power to prevent the collapse of the state. Regardless of the curfew, I'm going out to protest again, to preserve my nation and safeguard my future."

[irishspirit]

1648: The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says: "John Kerry has become the most senior US politician to call for President Mubarak to step aside. The influential chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee is close to the White House and his views carry weight. Not only does he want Mr Mubarak, who he describes as a great nationalist, to step aside gracefully to make way for a new political structure, but he is also calling for a new relationship between the US and Egypt. America's public rhetoric has not always matched its private concerns, Mr Kerry says, and Washington has concentrated too much on financing the Egyptian military, with the result that pro-democracy demonstrators have been attacked by tear gas canisters marked 'Made in America', while US-supplied fighter jets swoop over Cairo. For decades, Mr Kerry concludes, the US pursued a Mubarak policy, now it must look beyond the Mubarak era and devise an Egyptian policy."

[aikya]

Jordan is kicking off.

Jordan's King fires Cabinet Amid Protests:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_jordan_cabinet

[irishspirit]

Jordan is kicking off.

Jordan's King fires Cabinet Amid Protests:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_jordan_cabinet

Yeah, they did it before the people could really go at it.

[irishspirit]

Just getting further reports that Mubarak is going to speak tonight. No info on subject as yet

[irishspirit]

Egypt's new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq declared that he would work to fulfill the demands of the regime opposition protestors who demonstrated Tuesday in al-Tahrir Square in Cairo.
In an interview with Egypt's El Mehwar network, Shafiq appealed to the protestors and asked that they give him a chance to make changes in the country that would benefit the population. "We will turn all of the citizens' demands into a reality sooner than they expect," the prime minister claimed. (Roee Nahmias)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4022524,00.html

[irishspirit]

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel'

A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel, according to the Hebrew-language business newspaper Calcalist.

Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.”
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130

[irishspirit]

Iran said on Tuesday the uprising in Egypt will help create an Islamic Middle East but accused US officials of interfering in the "freedom seeking" movement which has rocked the Arab nation.

"With the knowledge that I have of the great revolutionary and history making people of Egypt, I am sure they will play their role in creating an Islamic Middle East for all freedom, justice and independence seekers," Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying on state television's website.


Salehi, who was officially endorsed by the Iranian parliament on Sunday as foreign minister, said the uprising in Egypt "showed the need for a change in the region and the end of unpopular regimes."


"The people of Tunisia and Egypt prove that the time of controlling regimes by world arrogance (the West) has ended and people are trying to have their own self-determination," said Salehi, who also currently oversees Iran's controversial nuclear programme


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.30ff0b57ab72bd5eaa39bfcd8d0f2119.331&show_article=1

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omfQ3eUDE-w&feature=player_embedded

[modwiz]

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel'

A leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam on Monday that he would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel, according to the Hebrew-language business newspaper Calcalist.

Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.”
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130

War against Israel is just stupid. More suffering for the common man and woman.

Israel is collapsing as a state. If they cut of the gas they will do more damage than war would ever do.

As it says, Ghannem reportedly said it,that's media vomit for, "maybe he could have said it but we like the inflammatory tone of it so we're using it anyway".

The poor Egyptian people are doing this unarmed against guns and tanks. They have 'grapes'. War with Israel is the last thing they need after they throw off this NWO stooge.

[irishspirit]

Bolton: If Mubarak falls in Egypt, Israel should bomb Iran


Former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said the ouster of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would speed the timetable for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"Do you think that the Israelis are going to have to strike — they are going to have to take action?" Fox News Republican opinion host Sean Hannity asked the former ambassador on his radio program Monday.
"As you pointed out, ElBaradei ran cover for the Iranians for all those years that he was with the IAEA. And, I just don’t think the Israelis have much longer to wait… they're going to have to act in fairly short order."


"I think that's right," Bolton responded. "I don't think there’s much time to act. And I think the fall of a Egyptian government committed to the peace agreement will almost certainly speed that timetable up."
Bolton chided the protests in Egypt (http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/29/no-caring-democracy-bolton/) last week, saying that "the real alternative is not Jefferson democracy versus the Mubarak regime, but that it’s the Muslim Brotherhood versus the Mubarak regime, and that has enormous implications for the US, for Israel, and our other friends in the region."


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/bolton-israel-bomb-iran-mubarak-falls/

[modwiz]

Bolton: If Mubarak falls in Egypt, Israel should bomb Iran


Former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said the ouster of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would speed the timetable for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"Do you think that the Israelis are going to have to strike — they are going to have to take action?" Fox News Republican opinion host Sean Hannity asked the former ambassador on his radio program Monday.
"As you pointed out, ElBaradei ran cover for the Iranians for all those years that he was with the IAEA. And, I just don’t think the Israelis have much longer to wait… they're going to have to act in fairly short order."


"I think that's right," Bolton responded. "I don't think there’s much time to act. And I think the fall of a Egyptian government committed to the peace agreement will almost certainly speed that timetable up."
Bolton chided the protests in Egypt (http://thinkprogress.org/2011/01/29/no-caring-democracy-bolton/) last week, saying that "the real alternative is not Jefferson democracy versus the Mubarak regime, but that it’s the Muslim Brotherhood versus the Mubarak regime, and that has enormous implications for the US, for Israel, and our other friends in the region."


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/bolton-israel-bomb-iran-mubarak-falls/

If Bolton ever opens his mouth again somebody should put a bomb in it.

[irishspirit]

Egyptian ports and terminals closed; Suez Canal unaffected




Egyptian ports and terminals have ceased operating
Suez Canal is operating as normal

Ports and terminals across Egypts were forced to close yesterday as the political unrest continues to disrupt trade and industry.
The Suez Canal remains unaffected, as we reported yesterday (http://www.porttechnology.org/news/egyptian_crisis_causes_suez_canal_concerns). It remains unclear when ports in Egypt will operate as normal.
"Everything has been suspended except the Suez Canal," said Medhat El Kady, general secretary of the Egyptian International Freight Forwarding Association. "Nobody knows when everything will be back to normal".
A.P. Moller-Maersk has ceased operations at Suez Canal Container Terminal in Port Said, although a skeleton crew is still manning the reefer containers and IT systems at the terminal. The company has also closed the offices of its Maersk Line, Safmarine and Damco subsidiaries in Egypt.
DP World has suspended operations at the Port of Ain Sukhna, 75 miles outside Cairo.


http://www.porttechnology.org/news/port_terminals_and_operations_close_in_crisis_hit_egypt

[Ramdass528]

Latest videos of the protesters http://www.youtube.com/user/citizentube

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4biAiGFubeo&feature=player_embedded#

[Ba-ba-Ra]

IrishSpirit, Thanks for all of the above. It's an easy way for me to keep up on what's going on. I am very interested in this happening and have great hopes for the outcome.

Do you ever sleep?;)

[irishspirit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4bMI4h8mOw&feature=player_embedded

[irishspirit]

IrishSpirit, Thanks for all of the above. It's an easy way for me to keep up on what's going on. I am very interested in this happening and have great hopes for the outcome.

Do you ever sleep?;)

Your very welcome.

It is a massive story. However, I am worried who is behind this? Have you ever noticed that every big sign is in English, that is being broadcast from Egypt?

I sleep for 4 hours a day whilst I medicate, the wife won't let me in beside here, says she doesn't want me upsetting her sleep whilst I go on about the happenings in the world. Haha.

[irishspirit]

http://cc.aljazeera.net/

[irishspirit]

Google tool helps hundreds tweet from Egypt


Hundreds of Egyptian protesters (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3cb5b876-2df7-11e0-a49d-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=66951ab0-1ff6-11e0-b458-00144feab49a.html)have turned to Google’s “Speak to Tweet” tool within hours of its launch, (https://twitter.com/#%21/speak2tweet)allowing them to post messages to Twitter via telephone.
The service, unveiled on Monday night, has allowed demonstrators to get around state restrictions on media and communications in Egypt (http://www.ft.com/indepth/egypt-in-turmoil).



http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3447c40c-2e12-11e0-a49d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1CjawnNfl

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Analysis: Time up for Egypt's Mubarak, but what next?

(Reuters) - As Egypt (http://www.reuters.com/places/egypt)ians poured onto the streets on Tuesday to demand he go, President Hosni Mubarak had already given more ground in a week than ever before in his 30 years in power. His abdication seems to have already begun.


For a man dubbed "The Pharaoh," it is an end of historic proportions. Some recalled the coup of 1952 which killed off Egypt's royal dynasty and urged Mubarak to get on with quitting.
"King Farouk never allowed any of this to happen in this country. He left without leaving havoc," said Cairo shopkeeper Maamoun Saleh, who compared Mubarak to the monarch whose overthrow by the army ushered in the present political system.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/us-egypt-mubarak-time-idUSTRE7106NP20110201

[irishspirit]

Mubarak scheduled to give another speech Tuesday; reports say he is due to announce that he will not run in the upcoming elections #Egypt (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Egypt)

Egypt's US-backed army will prevent Islamists from ever controlling the country's government, US Senator Lindsey Graham says #Egypt (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Egypt) #Cairo (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cairo)

http://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng

¤=[Post Update]=¤

BBC: President Mubarak will say in a speech shortly that he will step down at the next election, but will stay in office until then, al-Arabiya TV reports.

[irishspirit]

1859: Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq appears on Egyptian television without a shirt and tie - an unprecedented event. He says he is worried, but is confident that he can make the country stable again.

[irishspirit]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/OPINION/02/01/roundup.jordan.egypt/t1larg.roundup_arab_world.jpgProtesters rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday. Tens of thousands gathered to demand that President Mubarak step down.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS



(CNN) -- King Abdullah II dismissed his government Tuesday and appointed a new prime minister for Jordan, the latest country to be affected by the calls for reform that have swept across North Africa and the Middle East. Analysts offer their views on what this wave of unrest means for the region and the world.
Parag Khanna (http://www.paragkhanna.com/), author of "How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance (http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400068272)" and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation:


The Arab upheaval, which has been compared to the 1989 collapse of the Berlin Wall, challenges not only the regimes that are falling, but also more fundamentally the entire Arab order that has held since the decolonization of three generations ago. We are witnessing the triumph of people power over the inertia of political power.


Overpopulation and corruption are the twin scourges of almost all post-colonial countries across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan -- and other Arab societies like Morocco, Libya, Yemen, and Syria -- are all pressed to manage global economic forces and channel them into benefits such as jobs and welfare for their citizens. Even the monarchies like Jordan and Morocco won't be considered legitimate unless they deliver the goods.



http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/02/01/roundup.jordan.egypt/index.html?hpt=C1

(NOTE THE PICTURE).

[irishspirit]

1917: Khalid in Saudi Arabia writes: "People in the Arab world are not craving democracy. People in the Arab world are fed up with corruption. In order to eliminate corruption in Egypt, the rioters should not stop in the overthrow of Mubarak but should seek the overthrow of the whole government of Mubarak." Have Your Say (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2011/01/what_next_for_egypt.html)

[irishspirit]

The Egyptian Newspaper Al Youm Al Sabeh reports: In a communication to the Attorney General of Egypt, Dr. Yasser Najib Abdel Mabboud, has accused Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, former Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency and a candidate in the Egyptian presidential elections, of receiving funds exceeding $7 million (US) from Iran’s leadership as support for ‘political reform in Egypt’.


Abdul Mabboud , a candidate of the National Party and who like El Baradei is also running for the Egyptian Presidential election, was informed of the Iranian leadership’s willingness to support ElBaradei financially via an Arab businessman living in Europe. The check in the amount of $ 7 million is said to be meant to cover the financial costs of the election campaign and the activities of the Front for Change.


http://planet-iran.com/index.php/news/23291

¤=[Post Update]=¤


1919: The internet search giant, Google, says its marketing executive for the Middle East, Wael Ghonim, has been missing in Egypt since Thursday, according to the Reuters news agency.




¤=[Post Update]=¤


1921: The Los Angeles Times reports that Wael Ghonim was in Egypt to speak at a forum when he disappeared. He had been detailing his involvement in the anti-government protests on Twitter. On Thursday he tweeted: "Pray for #Egypt. Very worried as it seems that government is planning a war crime tomorrow against people. We are all ready to die #Jan25."

[irishspirit]

Obama Urges Mubarak Not to Run Again


WASHINGTON — President Obama (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html?inline=nyt-per) has told the embattled president of Egypt (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/egypt/index.html?inline=nyt-geo), Hosni Mubarak (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/hosni_mubarak/index.html?inline=nyt-per), that he should not run for another term in elections in the fall, effectively withdrawing American support for its closest Arab ally, according to American diplomats in Cairo and Washington.
Al Arabiya (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/a/al_arabiya/index.html?inline=nyt-org) television, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mr. Mubarak would announce in a nationwide address Tuesday evening that he would not run for another term.


The message was conveyed to Mr. Mubarak by Frank G. Wisner, a seasoned former diplomat with deep ties to Egypt, these officials said. Mr. Wisner’s message, they said, was not a blunt demand for Mr. Mubarak to step aside now, but firm counsel that he should make way for a reform process that would culminate in free and fair elections in September to elect a new Egyptian leader.
This back channel message, authorized directly by Mr. Obama, would appear to tip the administration beyond the delicate balancing act it has performed in the last week — resisting calls for Mr. Mubarak to step down, even as it has called for an “orderly transition” to a more politically open Egypt.



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02transition.html?_r=2&src=tptw

[irishspirit]

I must go for now folks, talking my wife for dinner.

[irishspirit]

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said that he will not stand for re-election in September, as protests against his rule grow.
Speaking on state TV, Mr Mubarak promised constitutional reform, but said he wanted to stay until the end of his current presidential term.
The announcement came as tens of thousands rallied in central Cairo urging him to step down immediately.
The demonstration was the biggest since protests began last week..


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12340923

[fifi]

Thank you very much, Irishspirit, for posting all the up-to-date information here. Your efforts are much appreciated.

[Ramdass528]

Not an update but found this interesting.http://i.imgur.com/tgo9W.jpg
"Real Vs. Fake revolution"

[irishspirit]

SANAA, Yemen – Yemen's president has told parliament he will not seek another term in office or hand power to his son — an apparent reaction to protests in his own country that have been inspired by Tunisia's revolt and the turmoil in Egypt (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/world/egypt.htm#r_src=ramp).
The U.S.-allied Ali Abdullah Saleh (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/politics/president-ali-abdullah-saleh.htm#r_src=ramp), who has been in power for nearly 32 years, spoke Wednesday to lawmakers in both houses of the assembly.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02/02/yemeni-president-says-wont-seek-term/#ixzz1Cn6oESM3

[Fractalius]

Wow!
Thanks for these updates sir. It has been interesting reading about different allegiances etc. Interesting times, I hope everyone just chills the hell out though with their paranoia. (rest of local nations worrying about the reshuffles.)

[irishspirit]

Egypt military calls for end to protests


The Egyptian military has called for an end to more than a week of demonstrations after Hosni Mubarak, the president, said he would step down in September after nearly 30 years in power.


Ismail Etman, a military spokesman, said: "Your message has arrived, your demands became known. You are capable of bringing normal life to Egypt (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/)."

The military statement came as internet service began to return to Egypt, while a night-time curfew was eased, now running from 5pm to 7am instead of 3pm to 8am.

Despite Mr Mubarak's pledge (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8297576/Egypts-President-Hosni-Mubarak-announces-he-will-stand-down.html), crowds were building in Cairo for a ninth day of protests to try to force out Mr Mubarak earlier.



The movement built on the work of online activists is fuelled by deep frustration with an autocratic regime blamed for ignoring the needs of the poor and allowing corruption and official abuse to run rampant.

After years of tight state control, protesters emboldened by the Tunisia unrest took to the streets on Jan. 25 and mounted a once-unimaginable series of protests across this nation of 80 million.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8298021/Egypt-military-calls-for-end-to-protests.html

This could change things. The Military in Egypt is massively respected by the people, because of the part that it has played in their history. This will be one well worth watching.

[irishspirit]

Looters included undercover Egyptian police, hospitals tell Human Rights Watch


CAIRO - Human Rights Watch confirmed several cases of undercover police loyal to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime committing acts of violence and looting in an attempt to stoke fear of instability as demonstrations grew stronger Tuesday against the autocratic leader.

Peter Bouckaert, the emergency director at Human Rights Watch, said hospitals confirmed that they received several wounded looters shot by the army carrying police identification cards.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100903.html

[irishspirit]

Pro- and anti-government protesters in Egypt hit each other with sticks, some injuries - AP http://bit.ly/heJ0Ro

[irishspirit]

Massive clashes are breaking out in Egypt, please pray for these people.

Live feed: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Anti Government protesters have been peacefully protesting for days, now pro government secret police (350000 of them) have shown up and started these riots. BASTARDS! Excuse my language

[irishspirit]

Army has now said that they will not get involved in this!

¤=[Post Update]=¤

it has been confirmed from a number of credible sources that the pro-mubarak supporters are the police

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Tear Gas now being used

¤=[Post Update]=¤

AJE Reporter now: People with concussion, blood on the streets, has herself been hit in the face.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish

[irishspirit]

Anti-mubarak protesters have heard protesters are being attacked and are rushing to the square by the thousands to help.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

One report on skynews has said that there is 20000 secret police on the streets, with plan clothes and therefore, cannot be identified. Military have said that this situation is getting out of hand, and as they cannot tell who is who, they will fire on all and any. Not good folks.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Pro-Mubaraks chanting anti-American slogans. /aljazeera arbic live

[irishspirit]

Aljazeera English - Army moving down side streets to prevent pro government protesters (namely secret police) from entering the square.

[irishspirit]

http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2011/2/1/201121122921912427_20.jpg Jews recount at Passover their own history with the Pharaoh of Egypt - sympathies to the current Egyptian struggle run deep [Getty] Ever since the victory over the dictator of Tunisia and the subsequent uprising in Egypt, my email has been flooded with messages from Jews around the world hoping and praying for the victory of the Egyptian people over their cruel Mubarak regime.

Though a small segment of Jews have responded to right-wing voices from Israel that lament the change and fear that a democratic government would bring to power fundamentalist extremists who wish to destroy Israel and who would abrogate the hard-earned treaty that has kept the peace between Egypt and Israel for the last 30 years, the majority of Jews are more excited and hopeful than worried.
Of course, the worriers have a point. Israel has allied itself with repressive regimes in Egypt and used that alliance to ensure that the borders with Gaza would remain closed while Israel attempted to economically deprive the Hamas regime there by denying needed food supplies and equipment to rebuild after Israel's devastating attack in December 2008 and January 2009. If the Egyptian people take over, they are far more likely to side with Hamas than with the Israeli blockade of Gaza.


Yet it is impossible for Jews to forget our heritage as victims of another Egyptian tyrant - the Pharaoh whose reliance on brute force was overthrown when the Israelite slaves managed to escape from Egypt some 3,000 years ago. That story of freedom retold each year at our Passover "Seder" celebration, and read in synagogues in the past month, has often predisposed the majority of Jews to side with those struggling for freedom around the world.


To watch hundreds of thousands of Egyptians able to throw off the chains of oppression and the legacy of a totalitarian regime that consistently jailed, tortured or murdered its opponents so overtly that most people were cowed into silence, is to remember that the spark of God continues to flourish no matter how long oppressive regimes manage to keep themselves in power, and that ultimately the yearning for freedom and democracy cannot be totally stamped out no matter how cruel and sophisticated the elites of wealth, power and military might appear to be.


http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/2011218490882163.html

¤=[Post Update]=¤

CAMEL CAVALRY CHARGE!!!!

Reports that he Riot police is moving in

[irishspirit]

line of protesters have been hit by them pro government protesters, two have been pulled from horse and god knows what has happened to them.

sky interviewed one person who has said this is the start of a civil war, please god i hope not.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

TWITTER

GAZA

GazaYBO Gaza Youth Break Out
Breaking news: F16s are all over Gaza now

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Suez and Alex erupting into violence - believed to be police and security police led.

confirmed - people on the streets in Gaza

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Jeremy Bowen BBC, the bloodshed, "the army is watching the peoples trust was misplaced"

"more and more violent"

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TWITTER

SUEZ

dadatrew cressida
AJELive say a similar situation in Suez right now. Looks coordinated.Thugs paid by Mubarak posing as 'Pro-Mubarak Demonstrators' #Jan25

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TWITTER

SUEZ

cwpontwit CW Poole
RT @neoxero Unconfirmed news about a Strike between workers in Suez Canal Authority Workers in Port Said , Suez and Ismalila

(again: Unconfirmed)

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One man captured off a horse had a police ID on him - photographed by dozens of journalists aljazeera live arabic

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The office of israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered their counterpart in the Egyptian government, Omar Suleiman, also head of Egyptian intelligence, to send death squad units, the groups of militant zionist murderers who wear Arab civilian clothes also known as “mistaaravim”, to infiltrate the protesters in Egypt in order to assassinate the leaders of the opposition and the revolutionary movement who take part in the protests against the dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak and his thugs.
The israeli hebrew newspaper “Maariv” revealed yesterday that high-level officials in the office of Benjamin Netanyahu carried out in recent days a series of phone calls with Suleiman and advised him about the urgent necessity of “security” coordination on several issues between Israel and Egypt. The newspaper added that the prevention of smuggling weapons through the tunnels on Egypt’s border to the Gaza Strip was only one issue among others which the officials discussed.
The Quds Press agency, quoting Israeli sources, said that the jewish zionist state had offered General Omar Suleiman, now appointed “vice-President of the Republic of Egypt” by dictator Mubarak, to put “all potential resources” at his disposal to “protect the regime in Egypt”, including the implementation of the “specific operations to pre-empt the popular revolution”, and asked him to work together to prevent what they called “smuggling weapon to the Gaza Strip

http://philosophers-stone.co.uk/wordpress/2011/02/israeli-death-squads-to-infiltrate-egyptian-protests/

[irishspirit]

Most amazing scene there is that muslims are doing their afternoon prayers whilst christians are forming lines to protect them

[irishspirit]

1326: The BBC's John Simpson explains the predicament of the army: "It's very difficult for individual soldiers surrounded by thousands of people simply to obey any orders they may have received. It's really down to the individual soldiers simply to try to keep people quiet as best as they can.

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1327: Al-Jazeera TV says its reporters have been shown police ID cards taken from some of the pro-government demonstrators involved in the clashes in Tahrir Square.




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rumours now that the military may split soon and intervene on both sides

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More from Mohamed ElBaradei: he tells the BBC he fears the clashes in Tahrir Square "will turn into a bloodbath" and calls the pro-Mubarak demonstrators a "bunch of thugs".

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TWITTER

SUEZ CANAL

JOC_Talk JOC

US would respond 'diplomatically, economically, militarily,' if Suez Canal is closed, says US CentComm chief.

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Breaking: EU joint statement: Mubarak MUST hand over power as SOON as possible!

He have lost the world symphati

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The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley says President Obama had a 30-minute conversation with Mr Mubarak on Tuesday, but it clearly didn't work. World leaders have now got to balance the pride of President Mubarak with what is happening on the ground.

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Army warns Mubarak supporters from assaulting protesters and assures that interference will be firm: Jazeera

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ElBaradei adds that he has "no interest in holding any position" in any new government, saying: "What I am here for as an Egyptian is to make sure... that Egypt is turned from an oppressive, authoritarian regime into a democracy. That is my first priority. However, if people want me to do whatever I can, I will not let them down."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

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Guy's, sorry this is moving so fast I do not have time to copy links every time of worry about my grammar

[irishspirit]

John Simpson BBC, just mentioned Tiainnomin Square! and said undoubtedly there are plain clothes police in the crowds.

It's pandemonium.

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Nadia El-Awady in Tahrir Square (http://twitter.com/NadiaE) tweets: "Young teenager just emerged seriously injured. Anti-mubaraks marching toward pro-mubaraks. Injured keep emerging from front."

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secret police accused of stabbing protesters

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current interview on AJE said Mubarak said: "Choose safety or me."

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secret police accused of stabbing protesters - confirmed by protesters on AJE


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Arwa Mahmoud in Tahrir Square (http://twitter.com/arwasm) tweets: "The army has unblocked one of the entrances to #tahrir and pro-regime protesters entered. Some with knives. Scores of injured #tahrir protesters carried back into the square."

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Three Israeli journalists covering the events in Egypt have been arrested, Israeli officials tell the BBC. They were accused of working in the country while only having tourist visas. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said Israel was aware of the arrests and had contacted the Egyptian authorities to request their release.

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TWITTER

GAZA

carlesdijous Carles Dijous (AA)
Police in Gaza break up Egypt solidarity rally

[irishspirit]

Egypt's interior ministry has denied that plainclothes security personnel are among the pro-government demonstrators in Tahrir Square, state television says. There have been reports of police ID cards being taken from some of those involved in the clashes.

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CNN journalist Anna Stewart (http://twitter.com/annastewartCNN) tweets: "Anderson Cooper and his crew were attacked by protesters in Tahrir Square #Cairo."

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CNN Shots being fired. Ask where is the military?

The Muslim Brotherhoood say there is "no alternative" to ending Hosni Mubarak's regime, AFP reports. "The people reject all partial measures proposed by the head of the regime," the movement says.

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http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/ - again live feed

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Pro government protesters now attacking army and taking their vehicles

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The BBC website has a new gallery of the latest images from Egypt. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12347185)

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Gulf News reporter Abbas Al Lawati (http://twitter.com/allawati) tweets: "Just saw a foreign journalist being chased by a mob with weapons. He was alone. They got him. God help him."

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Tim Marshall (sky news) reporting seeing dead bodys

[irishspirit]

Tim Marshall reports quoteing a witness that journalists are being killed by mubarak regime

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Anti-government protester Tamier Abbas insists on BBC World that the authorities have been paying people to come to Tahrir Square - something pro-Mubarak protesters have denied.

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AFP quotes Egyptian foreign affairs spokesman Hossam Zaki as saying Egypt rejects any international demands for an immediate transfer of power.

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells diplomats in Washington that they are "all in uncharted territory", according to the Associated Press. The rapidly changing situations in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia require US officials to be "more nimble and innovative and more accountable than ever before", Mrs Clinton adds.

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http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish

go to bottom of page for best stream

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People are using loudspeakers to appeal for calm in Tahrir Square. The army also appears to have parked several lorries across one road near the Egyptian Museum to separate the pro- and anti-government demonstrators. They are still, however, throwing stones at each other. Soldiers have their weapons drawn and one is reportedly firing into the air. The BBC's Ian Pannell says the situation is still very volatile and very dangerous.

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shoots being fired again beside three military vehicles

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More from the BBC's Ian Pannell - he says he saw one person who appeared to be thrown from a tank then attacked by the crowd

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TWITTER

SUEZ ALEX

whygreenberg Yvan Greenberg
Al Jazeera: New, larger demonstrations breaking out in both Alexandria & Suez

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reports:

Journalists are being singled out and killed by secret police
many protestors also reported dead - word in use is "carnage"
exits are being blocked by secret police who are now firing into the square
many protesters refusing to fight back and are sitting in the centre of square saying they will die in peace for freedom

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A journalist in Tahrir Square tells al-Jazeera that one of the pro-government demonstrators has been killed. Hundreds of people have also been wounded, the journalist says.

Pro-mubarak protestors (secret police) using a chemical that burns cloth and skin! /aljazeera live arabic

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heavy firing into crowd and not above! and petrol bombs in use now

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Rights NGO claims that Israeli planes carrying crowd dispersal weapons have arrived in Egypt

The International Network for Rights and Development has claimed that Israeli logistical support has been sent to Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to help his regime confront demonstrations demanding that he steps down as head of state. According to reports by the non-governmental organisation, three Israeli planes landed at Cairo's Mina International Airport on Saturday carrying hazardous equipment for use in dispersing and suppressing large crowds. In the statement circulated by the International Network, it was disclosed that Egyptian security forces received the complete cargoes on three Israeli planes which were, it is claimed, carrying an abundant supply of internationally proscribed gas to disperse unwanted crowds. If the reports are accurate, this suggests that the Egyptian regime is preparing for the worse in defence of its position, despite the country sinking into chaos.


http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2001-rights-ngo-claims-that-israeli-planes-carrying-crowd-dispersal-weapons-have-arrived-in-egypt

[irishspirit]

CNN Live (http://twitter.com/cnnlive) tweets: "CNN's Anderson Cooper describes how he and his crew were attacked amid clashes in Tahrir Square. Video: http://on.cnn.com/dFUR04 #egypt"

[chelmostef]

Thank you Irishspirit for bringing these updates we need to pray for their safety

Perhaps we could send smiles and love and see there is another way other than this violence

[irishspirit]

chemical substance used to burn skin of protesters has now been confirmed

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Thank you Irishspirit for bringing these updates we need to pray for their safety

Perhaps we could send smiles and love and see there is another way other than this violence

I couldn't agree with you more.

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UN Secetary General Ban-Ki-Moon to make an Emergency Statement shortly. Although, with the UN, will it really matter?

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From the BBC's Paul Danahar: "Pro-Mubarak protestors are blocking some entrances into Tahrir square. Despite gun fire and chaos the army are not intervening and are staying in their tanks."

Also, state department worried about the situation, however, are still in contact with the Egyptian Army. Now we see why this has not been halted by the Army.

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The BBC'sKim Ghattas (http://twitter.com/#%21/BBCKimGhattas) tweets: US official tells me "really worried" about clashes in Cairo but Washington still in contact with #Egypt army #jan25

[irishspirit]

hopefully not true, but reports say Israeli aircrafts operating in Egyptian airspace, also running mock raids over Lebanon. Again looking to confirm this


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Carefew Due within 10 minutes and Army have said they want people of the streets. Yeah, thats gonna happen

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The BBC's Jim Muir in Cairo says: "I've just come back from Tahrir square and the atmosphere has changed completely from what it was like over the past few days. Near the national museum, there is a sort of front line that has been established between the protesters and supporters of President Mubarak. A lot of rocks are being thrown. I saw people breaking up the pavements so they could have sharp bits of stone to throw. In the last few minutes, there have been some shots ringing out, though it is not clear where they are coming from. The army is not trying to intervene. Its troops are not trained in how to deal with riots, and I do not know how the situation will be defused."

[irishspirit]

More from Jim Muir: He says he saw several people with head wounds, and he was told that some 40 people had been injured in the last two hours. An impromptu hospital has been set up in Tahrir Square to treat the wounded.

Yasser Ahmad in Egypt (http://twitter.com/YasserAhmad) tweets: "Things are simply out of control and who knows how much time it will take."

[irishspirit]

Ban Ki Moon urges for restraint on all sides and that the partiesneed to listen to the people now and peace and order needs to come in NOW

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The BBC's Wyre Davies in Alexandria says pro-Mubarak supporters have come out on to the streets, emboldened by events elsewhere. The atmosphere is tense and many people are angry at the anti-government protesters - they can't get money out of banks and they can't get to to work.

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Moons statement is massively strong. He has basically accuse the government of unleashing on these innocent and peaceful protesters

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N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon: "I am deeply concerned at the continuing violence in Egypt and once again urge restraint to all sides. This is very much an unacceptable situation. Any attacks on peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable and I strongly condemn it."

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Cameron says that if the regime has been sponsoring the violence seen today this would be despicable and they would condemn this

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http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/ live stream

people on top of building throwing objects

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Ban Ki-moon: "For the last decade, the United Nations has been warning of the need for change. It is important at this juncture to ensure an orderly and peaceful transition takes place. I urge all parties to engage in such dialogue and such process without any further delay. We should not underestimate the danger of instability across the Middle East."

BBC stated we are seeing the beginnings of a Civil War. My heart breaks for these people.

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TWITTER

Violalag Ellie Merton
Israeli Govt now overflying Egyptian airspace

[chelmostef]

Violalag Ellie Merton
Israeli Govt now overflying Egyptian airspace

Why the hell are the Israeli Govt flying over Egyptian airspace???

One hopes its not because they have men on the ground stirring up trouble!

[irishspirit]

More from Ban Ki-moon: "The United Nations stands ready to provide any assistance to such reform efforts by Egypt and any other Arab countries that reflect the will of the people. They should listen more attentively to the genuine and sincere wishes of the people."

And this from British leader David Cameron: "We have been watching the events in Cairo with grave concern and completely condemn the violence is taking place. If it turns out that the regime is in any way has been sponsoring or tolerating this violence, that would be completely and utterly unacceptable. These are despicable scenes that we are seeing and they should not be repeated. They underline the need for political reform."

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Why the hell are the Israeli Govt flying over Egyptian airspace???

One hopes its not because they have men on the ground stirring up trouble!

As I said earlier, I cannot confirm this. I am looking for more sources on this.

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abumuqawama‎ RT @aidaseif: One pro Mubarak demonstrator: Sergeant Yasin Ali Mohamed Ali, from 10th of Ramadan police station. ID 89015191 #jan25 #Egypt

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Ashraf Khalil, a freelance journalist in Cairo (http://twitter.com/ashrafkhalil) tweets: "Soldiers literally just watching this, but protest organisers trying to control crowd's animosity toward the army. One guy grabbed the microphone with a message to the army, "Make a decision now" and defend the Tahrir protesters. But others grabbed the microphone away saying, "We don't want to turn the people against the army.

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Menna Saeed in Cairo (http://twitter.com/Menoun) tweets: "Thanks protesters for what you've done for Egypt. Now it's time to think of change implementation. So let's all go home and think forward".

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The BBC's Arab Affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi: "Unless the Egyptian state starts to act and shoulder its responsibility to bring order to the streets of Egyptian cities, then one fears there will be more polarisation, more violence, and sadly, more bloodshed."

[irishspirit]

Opposition figurehead Mohamed ElBaradei calls once more for President Mubarak to step aside by Friday - when what the opposition is planning what it calls the "Friday of Departure". He was speaking to al-Jazeera.

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pro government supports ramming people with a moving military vehicle. this is worrying!

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Mr ElBaradei had made the same appeal on Tuesday - but that was before President Mubarak promised not to run for another term.

I R in Cairo writes: "I just came back from Tahrir Square, supporting Mubarak to continue his term. I am not an NDP member, never voted and never participated in a demonstration before last week. Ninety per cent of our demands have been met. Enough demonstrations. We need a smooth transition of power.

Ibrahim Zadran, co-ordinator of the opposition National Association for Change and an ally of Mohamed ElBaradei, tells the BBC: "We are asking the army to defend us. It's their job to do that. Today, 15 people were shot in Tahrir Square by government supporters using live ammunition. We are a peaceful group looking for justice and democracy. Nothing else."

[chelmostef]

We need to really focus on what we want to see in egypt and this is a peacefull transition. With the army siding with the people.... I am going to focus on the picture of a demostrator kissing the guy from the army... We need to send love to the egyptions, this seems on a knife edge, lets focus our intent....

[irishspirit]

more warning shoots being fired by Military

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reports that Journalist's have appealed to the Army to stop this, and prevent more bloodshed.

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We need to really focus on what we want to see in egypt and this is a peacefull transition. With the army siding with the people.... I am going to focus on the picture of a demostrator kissing the guy from the army... We need to send love to the egyptions, this seems on a knife edge, lets focus our intent....

Amazing sight earlier today, Muslims where doing their daily afternoon prayers whilst Christians where protecting them from attackers. Muslims have been protecting Christian Churches these past few days always. AMAZING!

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Ibrahim Zadran, co-ordinator of the opposition National Association for Change and an ally of Mohamed ElBaradei, tells the BBC: "We are asking the army to defend us. It's their job to do that. Today, 15 people were shot in Tahrir Square by government supporters using live ammunition. We are a peaceful group looking for j

[irishspirit]

BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, in Tahrir Square, says: "I am among a group of Mubarak supporters. They have been preparing all sorts of weapons - pulling down iron railings, breaking up paving stones - and using them against anti-government protesters. There has been a kind of counter-attack by the pro-Mubarak groups, who are determined to force the remaining protesters out of the square. The soldiers are right here, sitting on their tanks, looking on and occasionally taking shelter, but are not trying to intervene. People know the army is not going to fire on either side, so their presence is not intimidating. The Mubarak supporters are forcing their way into the square through all the main entrances, and trying to force out the protesters gathered there."

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BUILDING NOW ON FIRE

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

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http://www.livestation.com/products/66-cnn-international?gclid=CLbF6Ovm6aYCFQM53godclrBfQ

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US state department spokesman PJ Crowley (http://twitter.com/pjcrowley) tweets: "We reiterate our call for all sides in #Egypt to show restraint and avoid violence. Egypt's path to democratic change must be peaceful."

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Human rights activist Ammar Shaltout from "Put them on trial now" tells BBC World that pro-Mubarak protesters are carrying knives and guns. He accuses government of "state crimes" for releasing criminals from prison, and flying two F-16 jets low over civilian protesters in Tahrir Square. He says protesters want all faces from Mubarak regime to go and a technocratic government to be appointed.

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Mubarak supporters are dropping concrete blocks on opposition protesters from roofs, AFP reports.

I really have to ask. We have seen protests going on for days, not one pro-government supporter, now they say that there are thousands of them?

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In his interview with al-Jazeera, Mohamed ElBaradei calls on the army to intervene "today". He says: "I ask the army to intervene to protect Egyptian lives.

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reports are saying that the anti-government protesters are begging of Obama to step in.

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REPORT: US, EU discussing need for international military intervention to remove Mubarak... Developing...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Now we see what is going on here.


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Can i again beg that you pray for these people?

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Israelis are watching anxiously as anti-government protests continue in Egypt - one of the country's only friends in the Arab world.
"Judgement Day" for President Hosni Mubarak was the full-page headline jumping from the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in Israel on Tuesday.
The implications of regime change in Egypt would be enormous here.
"We are concerned. We are watching this very anxiously," says Dan Gillerman, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
"This is a very, very tough neighbourhood," he says

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12338222

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Azza Raslan in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia writes: "The Arab world watches in shock as the official state-sponsored television in Egypt exercise their monopoly over the air, and spout their poor, biased and shoddy covering of the events. We cannot believe how divorced they are from the pulse of the nation and how oblivious they are of the shameful way they appear. We are all ashamed of what is going on in Egypt."

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From the BBC's Paul Danahar: "There may now be more pro Mubarak supporters surrounding the square than anti-Mubarak supporters inside it. A number of foreign journalists have been roughed up by the crowds."

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Protesters that are being caught on the pro side are starting to say that they are being paid by government to protest

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Twitter

White House statement: 'The United States deplores and condemns the violence

¤=[Post Update]=¤

The White House says it "deplores and condemns the violence that is taking place in Egypt, and we are deeply concerned about attacks on the media and peaceful demonstrators". It adds: "We repeat our strong call for restraint."

[irishspirit]

: Guardian journalist Brian Whitaker, in Cairo, (http://twitter.com/Brian_Whit) tweets: "[Opposition Ghad party leader] Ayman Nour says he's surrounded by govt thugs in Bab el-Louq, Cairo #Jan25 #Egypt

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reports are saying that the museum has been set on fire, after fire bombs throwing into it.

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update, drudge has now remove the US EU Story. Reason unknown.

[irishspirit]

Aljaz Arabic: eyewitness confirms to them 1 Molotov cocktail hitting Egyptian museum.-Unknown which 'side' it was thrown from

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now reports of machine guns being fired. God this is getting out of hand

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Two petrol bombs have landed inside the grounds of the Egyptian Museum, near where pro- and anti-government demonstrators have been involved in violent clashes, according to the AFP news agency

[irishspirit]

IDF has raised their status along the boarder with Sinai.

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: In an interview with BBC Arabic, Egypt's new Finance Minister, Samir Radwan, calls for the opposition to accept the offer of dialogue with the government. "They are afraid to sit and talk because it will appear that they do not have an economics of foreign affairs programme," he says. "But we must sit together in order to avoid any chaos.''

[irishspirit]

A CNN correspondent reports that the petrol bombs are being thrown by supporters of President Mubarak at the anti-government protesters.

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Medical officials tell the AFP news agency that at least 500 people have been wounded in the clashes in central Cairo.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Pro-Mubarak have blocked all exits and are pushing forward

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NBC reporter Richard Engels (http://twitter.com/richardengelnbc) tweets: "Heard several sustained bursts of gunfire .. Lots of molotov at north end of tahrir "

[irishspirit]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells his country's parliament that the unrest in Egypt could destabilise the Middle East "for many years", and spark a battle between democrats and radical Islamists. "There are two worlds, two halves, two views - that of the free world and that of the radical world," he says. "Which one will prevail in Egypt? The answer is crucial to the future of Egypt, the future of the region, and for us here in Israel."

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The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says: "One of the things the Americans have been doing over the years is to try to persuade President Mubarak to allow a genuine secular opposition. The Americans will now be very concerned at what comes out of this melting pot. Clearly it's the Muslim Brotherhood that is in many ways the best organised opposition group."

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military tanks are now on fire

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http://news.sky.com/skynews/

sky news fed for uk residents

¤=[Post Update]=¤

CNN's Ivan Watson in Cairo (http://twitter.com/IvanCNN) tweets: "Nightfall. Bloody battle continues to rage here in Tahrir Square. We are trapped inside with the opposition, who say they'll fight to death."

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Former mubarak secret police general: its not far-fetched army moves to take mubarak out

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Belgium's foreign minister demands the Egyptian authorities release Le Soir correspondent Serge Dumont, whom he says was beaten and then arrested.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

RT @ArabVoicesSpeak: Former #Egypt army general: it will be over soon, the system is seeing its last ours

[irishspirit]

The BBC's Tim Willcox (http://twitter.com/BBCTimWillcox) tweets: "Bursts of gunfire in Tahrir Sq. Reports that foreign media being attacked - including 'vicious beating' of one camerawoman."

[irishspirit]

The Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, has also said that two of its reporters were attacked by an angry mob in a poor area of Cairo, and then detained by soldiers for several hours. One of them, Karin Oestman, said people had spat in their faces and accused them of being from Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad

[irishspirit]

The BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi in Cairo says: "It is virtually impossible to know the extent of support for Mr Mubarak in Egyptian society. Throughout his long time in office there have never been free and fair elections by international standards and opinion polls designed to measure the president's popularity are banned. This leaves most people with guesstimates. There is no doubt, however, that there is a genuine Mubarak constituency - those who stand to lose influence or money. What complicates the picture further is that there is a tradition of paying the poor and the not so politically aware to come out and demonstrate or vote. There is also what you may call the emotional constituency - equally difficult to quantify. In a conservative patriarchal culture like Egypt, there will be those who see Mr Mubarak as a father figure and will mourn his demise. One young man told me it was unacceptable to humiliate a man of his age, let alone the father of a nation."

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Veteran left-wing academic Naom Chomsky tells Democracy Now (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698) that it is the "most remarkable regional uprising" he can remember, adding: "The US has an overwhelmingly powerful role there. Egypt is the second largest recipient of US military and economic aid. Obama himself has been highly supportive of Mubarak… This is one of the most brutal dictators of the region."

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Lara Setrakian from ABC News (http://twitter.com/LaraABCNews) tweets: "This is a clear and brutal siege on what had been a peaceful protest. Sirens in the background, helicopters overhead."

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Azza, one of the anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, tells the BBC that she has seen many injured people. "Lots of people are covered in blood. Lots of people [have broken bones]. They are throwing lots of big, big, big stones."

¤=[Post Update]=¤


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWPCqgilk0

¤=[Post Update]=¤

BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, in Tahrir Square, says: "The stand-off in Tahrir Square seems to be approaching a critical moment. Pro-Mubarak groups, determined and aggressive, have been pushing their way to the edges of Tahrir Square all afternoon. Soldiers, controlling the entrances to the square, have mostly stopped them going further in. But fights have been breaking out and large numbers of missiles - bricks, stones and bits of ironwork, have been flying through the air on both sides. There are too few soldiers here to keep any kind of order. The most they can do is prevent the big numbers of Mubarak loyalists from getting into the square, bottling them up into huge groups on the edges. The net effect of the arrival in force of groups of Mubarak supporters seems to have been to strengthen the resolve of the hard-line demonstrators to stay inside the square. The gradual drift away from the square seems to have stopped. For now, it is the only place where the demonstrators can feel more or less safe."

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Ganzeer from Cairo (http://twitter.com/ganzeer) tweets: "Military&Mubarak against people - Glorious Egyptian Military personnel have confiscated my camera&deleted all images"

[irishspirit]

IDF Spokesperson Announcements
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 02, 201118:40
IAF Strikes Gaza Tunnel in Response to Rocket Fire
A short while ago, the IAF struck a tunnel in the southern Gaza strip. A
direct hit was confirmed.
The site was targeted in response to the recent rocket fire from the Gaza
Strip. Over the past two days two Grad missiles and a Mortar shell hit
Ofakim, Netivot (landing near a wedding celebration) and the Eshkol Regional
Council, respectively, causing damage.
Since the beginning of 2011, over thirty Grad missiles, Qassam rockets and
Mortar shells have landed in Israeli territory.


http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=50926

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MirooMiroo from Cairo (http://twitter.com/MirooMiroo) tweets: "Whether you are pro or anti Mubarak, DON'T FALL INTO A CIVIL WAR. WALK AWAY FROM TAHRIR SQUARE!!

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The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, has expressed "confidence" that Egypt's military can continue to provide security for the country, including the strategically important Suez Canal, according to the AFP news agency. (Reports saying this is his way of telling Army to protect the people)

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Wael Nawara, secretary-general of opposition Ghad party, tells the BBC: "Whatever sympathy [President Mubarak] had from us yesterday, I think this sympathy has totally dried up. We have 500 injured in Tahrir Square just because he wants to stay in power for another few months. Why can't he just step down now?"

[irishspirit]

police have been given orders to kill to restore order

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More criticism of US President Barack Obama, this time from John R Guardiano in the American Spectator: (http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/02/obamas-too-conservative-re-egy)"Obama's strength has also been his profound weakness vis-a-vis Egypt. He has been cautious to a fault. Consequently, he and his administration have consistently been behind the curve, surprised by events, and caught flatfooted by the trajectory of history."

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the word is the army are telling people to "hide" as they are in great danger

[irishspirit]

Mayar Gueissa in Cairo writes: "The so-called new Egyptian government has shown its true colours after three days! By sending thugs as pro-Mubarak protesters to beat and terrorize the ant-Mubarak protesters in Tahrir square. I was there and saw it with my own eyes. How can we trust this man to hand over the country peacefully and establish democracy after 30 years of dictatorship and corruption?

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Eye witnesses say that Egyptian army troops are intervening to stop the violent clashes that have broken out between supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at Cairo's Tahrir Square, the Al Arabiya news network reported.
According to the report, a few people were killed and about 500 were injured during Wednesday's events. Foreign correspondents were also hurt in the clashes, including those sent by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. BBC reported that Egyptian protestors spat on the faces of the Swedish reporters, calling them Israeli Mossad agents. (Roee Nahmias, news agencies)



http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4023103,00.html

[irishspirit]

35 shot in damhour right now in clashes between security forces and protesters Heavy clashes reported

[irishspirit]

I am hearing reports that the Army are moving as many people out as possible, they are planning to remove as many protesters as possible, before they and the police go at it. God, please keep these people safe.

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US state department spokesman PJ Crowley says in a statement: "After days of peaceful protests in Cairo and other cities in Egypt, today we see violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators and journalists. The United States denounces these attacks and calls on all engaged in demonstrations currently taking place in Egypt to do so peacefully. These attacks are not only dangerous to Egypt; they are a direct threat to the aspirations of the Egyptian people. The use of violence to intimidate the Egyptian people must stop. We strongly call for restraint."

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BBC

Cairo archeology museum heavy battle in last half hour

Won by anti Murbarak supporters

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BBC world affairs editor John Simpson, in Cairo, says: "Within the last half hour, the heavy battle outside the Egyptian museum between pro- and anti-government demonstrators has ended. Rather unexpectedly, the confrontation seems to have been won by the pro-democracy protesters. All through the day they have been under attack by supporters of President Mubarak, and this represents an important turnaround in the situation. The opposition has now regained control of Tahrir Square, the centre of the last nine days of protests."

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TWITTER

SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
by Liam_Fox

BBC: Clashes near the US Embassy in Cairo.

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Robert Gibs saying Mubarak should step down immedeatly "transission should take place NOW

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A senior US official tells the Reuters news agency that the violence on the streets of Cairo has triggered a debate within President Mubarak's inner circle about whether he needs to do more to meet the demands of the protesters.

[irishspirit]

CNN's Ben Wedeman in Cairo (http://twitter.com/bencnn) tweets: "State TV showing urgent banner warning everyone in Tahrir square to evacuate immediately. (or else?)"

[irishspirit]

Asked at a news conference if President Obama considers Mr Mubarak a dictator, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says: "The administration believes that President Mubarak has a chance to show the world exactly who he is by beginning the transition that is so desperately needed by his country

[irishspirit]

sky news reporting all people have been order to leave the square (more than likely by military)

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sky saying protesters from each side are meeting up and talking with each other, he states he has seen hugs offered.

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Mr Gibbs adds: "We're planning for a full range of scenarios. I think it would have been hard to imagine even several days ago the events that happened yesterday. We're watching those events. We're planning for further events."

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Suha Al Nakkash, Nile TV reporter, resigns over pro-Mubarak biased news coverage

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Sky now says8ing it could be that the pr-o government mob is nothing more than a rent a mod.

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ournalist Ethar El-Katatney in Cairo (http://twitter.com/etharkamal) tweets: "Doctor in Demerdash updates: burns from molotov cocktails&sulfuric acid (mayet nar), wounds from sharp&blunt objects,&many concussions"

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monasosh in Cairo (http://twitter.com/monasosh) tweets: "The doctor here confirms that 3 at least are dead #Jan25"

[irishspirit]

anti-government protesters putting out call for reinforcements on twitters

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: The White House Correspondents' Association has criticised US President Barack Obama for providing too little information and access to the media during the crisis in Egypt. "Prior to the president's statement Tuesday night, the press corps had not received a substantive update from the White House all day on the situation in Egypt," a letter says. "In addition, the press corps did not have an on-camera briefing, or an off-camera gaggle, with you yesterday to ask the White House about its decision-making process during this major foreign policy crisis."

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The Egyptian Commission on Human Rights has been meeting to discuss the situation in Cairo. Its president, former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali, has told the BBC that it wants an investigation into the deaths of anti-government protesters. "We are asking that an inquiry must be done and must be clearly done to know what was behind this crisis, what happened."

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US President Barack Obama discussed Egypt's crisis with Jordan's King Abdullah, Reuters is quoting White House spokesman Robert Gibbs as saying.

[irishspirit]

A close adviser to President Hosni Mubarak has told the BBC that the president is determined to "tough it out", and will not give in to demands that he step down immediately. He was speaking to our correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, who went to the wealthy Cairo suburb of Heliopolis to meet him - and was then detained by Egypt's secret police.

[irishspirit]

I am gone now for tonight, please feel free to keep the information coming

[Fractalius]

I particularly liked this post from the twitter link of Ethar El Katatney.

"To the Egyptian media: I am not stupid, ignorant, or illiterate & I am not naive. I have the ability to think and to do so critically."

[Ramdass528]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2011/02/20112613152324529.html

Thai and Cambodian soldiers have exchanged gunfire at a disputed area of land around the site of a 900-year-old Hindu temple.

Sunday's clash is the third in three days around the temple - known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand - despite a ceasefire declared by Thai officials a day earlier.

Wayne Hay, Al Jazeera's correspondent, reporting from the Thai-Cambodia border, confirmed the fighting.

"We can see the artillery fire streaming across the night sky ... [and] we've seen some ambulances heading towards the area," he said.

The AFP news agency quoted a Cambodian military commander as saying: "We are fighting now, they [Thai troops] started firing at us first."

But Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, a Thai army spokesman, accused the Cambodian side of reigniting the violence.

There were no immediate reports of casualties but later Cambodian authorities said that part of the temple had been damaged by fire from the Thai side of the border.
Al jazeera live is still giving great coverage and insights on Egypt, and recapping the events regulary.
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[ktlight]

Massive protests held in Morocco


Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Morocco to call for political reform and demand the King give up some of his powers.


The protests took place in the capital, Rabat, and several other cities including Casablanca on Sunday.

Protesters say that the ruling monarchy must make changes to the way it is running the country.

The protesters want an end to corruption, prison tortures, and unemployment.

Massive rallies have been held since protests began back on February 20.

The king has already announced many reforms in an effort to silence protesters.

The Monarchy is desperate to avoid an Egyptian- or Tunisian-style revolution.

The developments come as popular revolutions continue to sweep US-backed autocratic regimes across the Middle East and North Africa.

source
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/176480.html