By the way, the scene today was seen before. In 1953 Operation Ajax, CIA's Kermit Roosevelt did hire armed goons and criminals and let them loose on pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran. But, of course, the US does not do those dirty tricks anymore? Oh, yes the US still can do that. Oh, yes he can. Oh, yes Obama can.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Good and bad dictatorships
"As'ad AbuKhalil, a Lebanese professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus, and curator of the popular Angry Arab News Service blog, said a key trend in the region's media coverage was "the extent to which Saudi-owned media showed panic." "They try to deflect criticisms to their own oppressive government by drawing some imaginary lines between Gulf dictatorships and other dictatorships," Mr. AbuKhalil said."
Obama and Bush
The difference between Obama and Bush is like the difference between Sadat and Mubarak. If you enjoy one, you are certain to enjoy the other.
Stability
So for 30 years, the US government told us that it is important to support Mubarak (or the stability of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty). Are you enjoying the stability now?
Aljazeera Arabic
Has invited me to speak about Egypt. But I could not go to the studio. I have classes. I may explode on the air live if I go.
US-supported terrorism
It is rather ironic that the dictator who has been showered with aid and money and weapons in the name of fighting terrorism is now, like always, resorting to terrorism against the Egyptian people. I bet that this is acceptable terrorism. I bet that the war on terrorism has a blind spot for terrorism that is used by US puppets in the Middle East.
Conspiracy theory
Let me say this: we Arabs have been mocked for resorting to conspiracy theory. I say this: if you look at the Arab world without trying to understand the outside conspiracies, you are dumb and you don't know what you are talking about.
Protesters determined
Aljazeera is reporting that protesters are now about to control all entrances to Tahrir Square. The counter-revolutionary plot of Obama-Netanyahu is way too clear to people.
significance of 1967
Comrade Khalid on the political salience of 1967 in the context of today's developments in Egypt
Saudi propaganda
Even the anchor person of AlArabiyyah TV (who is Egyptian and I don't know his name because people don't know the names of Al-Arabiyyah TV anchors because they don't have the fame of Aljazeera anchors and reporters)--the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law--was visibly upset over news of bombs being thrown at protesters and he interrupted a Mubarak advocate and said: the news of blood should take priority now.
Thus spoke Netanyahu
Al-Arabiyyah TV is quoting Netanyahu as saying that it may "take a while" to take control of the situation in Egypt. It seems he has been briefed about the goons' plan for Cairo.
Who came up with this Orientaliast fantasy picture?
We have to wait for Mubarak's downfall to learn of this crazy scheme (cooked up with full US/Israeli/Saudi support). I mean, who decided that camels should be used? What was the origin of that scenario? I swear but I really smell the dirty smell of an Israeli Orientalist in the background. Did Mubarak ask Israel to form a joint Egyptian-Israeli working group to dream up scenarios? I won't be surprised.
Blame the Shi`ites scenario
A pro-Mubarak goon on Mubarak state TV was railing against Hasan Nasrallah and even found time to talk about how Sa`d Hariri was humiliated.
Jamal Mubarak scenario from 1997
A former analyst in Husni Mubarak's office is speaking to Aljazeera right now. He said that the Jamal Mubarak scenario was prepared as early as 1997. He also said that it is clear that there is a plan to disperse the demonstrators at all cost and by all means necessary.
US/EU military intervention
Drudge Report had a banner saying: developing story: that US and EU readying a plan to use force to remove Mubarak. The headline was then removed. I don't believe it, of course. It is more likely that they would use force against the democratic protesters.
Bombs on the Egyptian museum
Aljazeera reports that tens of molotov cocktails were thrown at the Egyptian museum tonight. Remember King Faruq and the Cairo Fire scenario.
The New York Times cares about the Egyptian people
Today, in an article in the New York Times, the paper assures readers that the Egyptian museum is safe. White Man smiles.
Mubarak state TV
If you watch Mubarak state TV, as I am watching now, you get this picture: that there are demonstrations in Egypt, but they are all pro-Mubarak and that Aljazeera is inventing reality about Egypt and that real Egyptians should not watch it, and that Muslim Brotherhood is paying people to stay in Tahrir Square. I kid you not.
Another Zionist is freaking out
""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. "We are already facing Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the prospect of, God forbid, an autocratic, fundamentalist, Islamic organisation taking over in Egypt is obviously not something we can ignore.""
‘We know that Netanyahu cannot sleep now’
"“Netanyahu is worried about Mubarak”, which he said he wrote because “this is my country and my leader, I don’t want him to care about Israel, only about my country.”"
Arab public opinion
"“After Camp David, all the Arab world sees that we are no longer a leader. Camp David made us a slave”".
White House calls for restraint
The White House has called for "restraint." I meant that the people of Egypt should immediately restrain their pro-democratic urges in order to preserve the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
Can you imagine?
Can you imagine if Castro or Mugabe were doing what Mubarak is doing? Can you imagine the uproar? I believe that the lousy secretary-general of the UN would say something more than his lousy words yesterday that they are "unacceptable." I think the meant to say that revolting against a puppet of Israel is unacceptable.
Mubarak should pray heading toward Tel Aviv now
Every hour of survival that Mubarak will enjoy now he owes to Israel. No question about that.
It is the Egyptian Army, stupid
Some people are calling Aljazeera from Cairo and saying that people dressed like the Egyptian Army are beating up protesters. No, idiot. Those are the real Egyptian Army.
Remember those words of Sen. Kerry
"RAY SUAREZ: When you look two steps to the east, to Amman and King Abdullah firing his cabinet and looking ahead to a regime change there, are you concerned?
SEN. JOHN KERRY: No, I'm not. King Abdullah of Jordan is extraordinarily intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive, in touch with his people. The monarchy there is very well-respected, even revered." (thanks Hussein)
The Obama counter-revolution plot
""Though Mr. Mubarak appeared to have done what people familiar with the diplomacy said the U.S. had asked—declare he won't seek re-election—his speech didn't end tensions in Egypt and didn't put the U.S. on the side of the people in the street...While the swelling protests have raised the pressure on Mr. Mubarak, U.S. officials have played an increasingly prominent role in his deliberations over the past two days...With the prospect of Mr. Mubarak remaining in office until the fall, the U.S. and Egyptian regime appeared to be working together to try to ensure a transition that wouldn't immediately thrust opposition groups into positions of power."" (thanks Jerome)
How Obama "pushed" Mubarak
"Obama officials in Washington were working on his message to Mr. Mubarak: to announce that he would not run for re-election (he did that), and to promise that his son would not run for election (he did not do that)." But Mubarak could not do that anyway. It was unthinkable based on what happened that Mubarak could seem another term or that his son, who fled to London, could dream of ever succeeding his father. This is like saying that Obama asked the captain of the Titanic to not commandeer a ship again.
The thuggery scenario
A Western correspondent in Cairo told me that Mubarak goons targeted many reporters and that they also sexually harassed female protesters. Those goons and criminals are the linchpin of Obama's Middle East policy. When the book is written about what he did to save Mubarak, it should be titled: it is all for you, o Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
This is ironic
A correspondent for the pro-Mubarak Al-Arabiyyah TV (the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law) was beaten up by pro-Mubarak goons.
A plea to the Egyptian Army
Why don't you perform for the us the walk of surrender that you were most famous for in 1967?
Mubarak is hiding in Sharm Ash-Shaykh: ready to be air lifted by Israel
I knew that he was hiding there: this explains why Israel allowed for the deployment of troops in Sinai. (thanks Russel)
Zionist panic
"As Riots and transitions expand in the Middle East, The Israel Project (TIP) is proud to announce the expansion of its Arabic team to cover Arabic social media and web-based initiatives, in addition to its highly successful media outreach and coexistence programs."" (thanks Ben)
Abrams: then and now
"" Elliott Abrams, writing in this weekend's Washington Post argued, "Bush had it right and that the Obama administration's abandonment of this mindset is nothing short of a tragedy... we cannot deliver democracy to the Arab states but we can make our principles and policies clear." Yet when he was deputy national security advisor and democratic change came to the Arab world via elections - albeit in the non-state of the Palestinian Authority - Abrams was a key architect of the ill-considered and anti-democratic policy of promoting a putsch against the elected Hamas government. ""
Thomas Friedman is really upset over the Palestine Papers' revelations
""And thanks to the nasty job that Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV just did in releasing out of context all the Palestinian concessions — to embarrass the Palestinian leadership — it’s now obvious to all how far the Palestinians have come."" (thanks Redouane)
Mubarak's propagandist
`Imad Ad-Din Ad-Dib, the chief propagandist for Mubarak, is on Al-Arabiyyah TV (the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law), and he is saying that the lousy Egyptian Army (famous for its humiliating defeats at the hands of Israel) will now issue a statement to ban demonstrations altogether. They sent goons to the square and now they will say that the clashes in the square require the intervention of the Army. We have seen those scenarios in 1960s CIA coups in Latin America. I did not enjoy the film the first time around, and doubt that Arabs will enjoy it now in 2011.
Zionism is racism, always
"Almost a week has passed since the project launched and dozens of businesses have been asking to receive a certificate attesting that they do not hire Arabs. Netanya pizzeria owner: I'm not a racist, I like more Jews." (thanks Ali)
Israel is freaking out
"According to the media, Israel engaged in backstage efforts to get the West to tone down rhetoric against Mubarak, whose regime it credits with keeping stability and peace. On Tuesday, the U.S. dispatched an envoy to Egypt, Frank G. Wisner, veteran diplomat and former ambassador to Cairo in the 1980s. Israeli media described his mission as negotiating a "dignified way out" for Mubarak with Vice President Omar Suleiman, whose appointment was "too little but mostly too late," according to one commentator. There was little negotiation and the U.S. proposal was rejected. Israel's having -- or thinks it is -- one of those "told you so" moments, which it's trying to be rather mature about. But these are short-lived and one can't bask -- or wallow -- in them for long. Sooner or later, you need to get back to work."
He speaks for Israel
"Tony Blair: Mubarak is 'immensely courageous and a force for good'" (thanks Amal)
Criminal regimes
Arabs have often referred to the tyrannies under which they live as "criminal regimes." It is meant literally: those regimes rely on criminals and goons to stay in power.
class conflict in Egypt: the upper class shows its ugly head
""The poor people think that if Mubarak leaves they will be rich," said Farag, the jeweler. "Will the price of meat drop from $3 [a pound] to 30 cents if he goes?" "These people take four wives and have 15 or 20 kids and then wonder why they are poor," said Hani Farouk, 33, who lives in the wealthy suburb of Maadi."
Obama takes a great stance toward the Egyptian people
Realizing that he has been offensive toward the Egyptian people, Obama is about to reverse policies. I now can report to you (and it will be on front page of the New York Times tomorrow), that Obama will officially ask Mubarak that his grand son not run for the presidency of Egypt. This announcement will surprise many and may really upset Mubarak.
Steven Fish as a Middle East expert
This guy teaches political science at UC, Berkeley. He never studied the Middle East ever. After Sep. 11, there was money for those who study the Middle East: many jumped on the bandwagon, and he was one of them. He recruited many Middle East specialists from among the graduate student pool at Berkeley, and many realized that he was clueless and that his project is rather politically and academically offensive. I knew a few who fled the project. His book is out: some samples: "Gender inequality is more severe among Muslims, Muslims are unusually averse to homosexuality and other controversial behaviors." Make no mistake about it: racism and ignorance are the norms in the Western study of the Middle East. (thanks Fatima)
Another Zionist is freaking out: the dictatorship of Mubarak as the model
"For Israel, then, peace with Egypt has been not only strategically but also psychologically essential. Israelis understand that the end of their conflict with the Arab world depends in large part on the durability of the peace with Egypt — for all its limitations, it is the only successful model of a land-for-peace agreement...Israelis now worry that this fragile opening to the Arab world is about to close." Oh, yeah. It was a great opening. The Egyptian people never accepted peace with Israel and it required the preservation of a bloody dictatorship to maintain it. Opening? Did you see the Arab people "opening up" to Israel? And notice how this writer basically flippantly justified all of Israeli wars, massacres, and murders from 1982 to now: "Since then all of Israel’s military conflicts — from the first Lebanon war in 1982 to the Gaza war of 2009 — have been asymmetrical confrontations against terrorists."
The pages of the New York Times
You read the New York Times and you notice that 1) the policy articles about Egypt largely are focused on debates among American Zionists. It is a debate from which they largely exclude Middle East experts and Arabs. 2) the op-ed pages are open to Israelis to shed tears but not to Arabs to express their aspirations. There was one silly article translated from Arabic by an Egyptian novelists that i never heard of. And today, there is a long article by yet another Israeli freaking out.
Netanyahu to lead Egypt
The Zionist fanatics around Obama who run Middle East policy are now desperate to find a way to come out of this "crisis." I won't be surprised if they suggest that an Israeli should lead Egypt for the time being.
Operation Ajax in Egypt
There are a lot of similarities already between Iran of 1953 and Egypt of 2011. Don't forget what happened in 1953 in Iran? The CIA then hired armed goons and thugs to defeat the pro-democracy movement. This time around, the armed goons are hired by the regime itself. Mubarak state TV is now showing "pro-Mubarak" demonstrations all over Egypt. These scenes will only fool Obama and his team.
Now the idiots come with their racist cultural explanations
"He said that Mubarak’s “royalist, monarchist pretensions, his plan to install his son Gamal as his successor, truly offended a lot Egyptians, who found it humiliating. Humiliation is a powerful motivator in the Middle East.”" What? Humiliation is acceptable for other people? How dumb is that. But then again, what do you expect from Richard Haass?
Lies of Obama
This is one of the most cynical moments in the history of US foreign policy in the Middle East. And the propaganda of the Obama administration is based on the notion that Arabs are idiots and that "we can fool them". I can just imagine the racists around Obama making those arguments. Last Saturday in the New York Times, it was reported that the Obama administration tried to contact the Ministry of Telecommunications in Egypt to protest the cut off of internet and phones but that the land lines were down. I kid you not. Can you imagine how dumb they think we are? If the US wants to deliver a message anywhere in the Middle East about the welfare of Israel and its occupation, they would dispatch a military force to land in one's bed room. And today, in the front page of the New York Times, there is a long article about the diplomatic adventure of Frank Wisner and it said that Obama delivered a message to Mubarak that he can't run for another term. Are you kidding me? This is the issue? This is portrayed as Obama's pressure on Mubarak? As if there was an option after all this for Mubarak to run for another term. This is like Obama telling Mubarak that his last election should not be seen as honest, or that he asked him that Jamal Mubarak, who fled to London, should not succeed him. What is next? I expect to read in the New York Times that Obama has pressured Mubarak to not run for president-for-life position.
This is anti-Semitism that does not bother Israel (and it won't be monitored by MEMRI)
"Anti-Semitism among pro-Mubarak “supporters;” Punching CNN: “People continue to run away from the square. Many of them have got blood wounds. I could saw one man just brush past me carrying a child … there appeared to blood on his chest,” Jack said. One pro-Mubarak supporter yelled “liars and Jews” at journalists. Will this go unnoticed in the US press? Ironic, given Israel’s insistence on Mubarak sticking around…." (thanks Nicholas)
Al-Azhar
If I had anything to do with the protests in Egypt, I would ask the protesters in Cairo to march toward Al-Azhar center for Mubarak-style Islamic propaganda and drag the lousy clerics-for-hire by their beards. It seems their fatwas can only be extracted under pressure, and in support from Mubarak, and for a fee.
The process of reform
Now I understand what Obama and Clinton meant with the "process of reform." They apparently were referring to the use of the criminal elements and goons to prop up the regime of Mubarak. The satisfaction of Israel today is quire visible: there are less frantic statements from the government of the usurping entity.
Al-Arabiyya TV's version of events
The counter-revolutionary plan--as usual--was made in the USA/Israel and funded and supported by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi propaganda machine is now justifying the criminal acts in Tahrir Square. It is saying that "Mubarak supporters advance toward Tahrir Square to take control." I kid you not. But then again: what do you expect from the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law and run by Prince `Azzuz?
Arab TV versus people like you
"MADDOW: Well, let me ask you about one tactical question in this diplomatic dance, I guess. Are American officials making appearances on Arabic language TV channels at this point? Should they be prioritizing doing that right now?
INDYK: Probably. I don't think they are doing a lot of that at the moment, partly because the Arab interviewers are likely to be a lot more pressing than polite people like you.
MADDOW: I think that is a great insult, thank you.
INDYK: No, that was meant as a compliment." (thanks Nasser).
PS But let me say this: I don't understand the point by Maddow. Does she mean that this is the time in which the US should engage in intense propaganda to justify the criminal anti-democratic stance of the US administration? This is the issue now? But I assure you that what Indyk said is true: American Zionists like him don't get gentle treatment on Aljazeera. But what are you afraid of, Indyk?
INDYK: Probably. I don't think they are doing a lot of that at the moment, partly because the Arab interviewers are likely to be a lot more pressing than polite people like you.
MADDOW: I think that is a great insult, thank you.
INDYK: No, that was meant as a compliment." (thanks Nasser).
PS But let me say this: I don't understand the point by Maddow. Does she mean that this is the time in which the US should engage in intense propaganda to justify the criminal anti-democratic stance of the US administration? This is the issue now? But I assure you that what Indyk said is true: American Zionists like him don't get gentle treatment on Aljazeera. But what are you afraid of, Indyk?
Democracy
Can you imagine how disgusted Arabs will feel now anytime an American official utter the word democracy?
Class analysis
An opposition source is reporting on Aljazeera Arabic that the "businessman"--a reference to the billionaires/cronies of the Mubarak regime--are funding a plan to abort the Egyptian uprising.
The Egyptian Army
Of course, the primarily responsibility for the blood in Tahrir Square is that of cynical Obama who decided to heed Israel's advice regarding what is happening in Egypt. The imperial power that is the US requires the existence of one region--the Middle East--ruled largely like colonial settlements of the 19th century. Obama has given license to Mubarak and the Egyptian Army is executing the plan. The dumbest view by the Egyptian protesters is to regard the Army as their protectors or even as being neutral. The Army was a tool for Mubarak and will remain his tool to the last day, unless ordered otherwise by the US. This is not the same Army that overthrew Faruq--and many in that Army were with Faruq which explained the secrecy that Nasser required for his plan prior to the revolution.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Israel in our region
I have been saying this to Arabs for years. Arabs can't live, and breathe, and prosper with Israel in their midst. Look at the developments in Egypt. The removal of the Zionist entity from out midst and the liberation of Palestine from the sea to the river is a matter of national security. We can then have a peaceful state where Arabs and Jews can live together and were Arabs can chart their own destiny away from Israeli dirty plots and conspiracies.
Obama to Mubarak: License to Murder the Egyptian people
As soon as I saw the defiant tone and substance of Mubarak's speech, I realized that he is not speaking for himself but for the US/Israeli sponsors. Israel erred before the Arab people by exposing her intense panic and fear from the prospect of an Arab democracy next door. Of course, Obama would take note and he consulted with his key adviser on the Middle East, Netanyahu. I just read the speech by Obama: it confirmed my suspicion, that basically Mubarak was permitted by the US to do with the Egyptian people as he would like. Every drop of blood that is spilled in Egypt from this day onwards should be blamed on Obama because he has embraced this new strategy of letting Mubarak defy the popular will of the Egyptian people. I don't trust the Egyptian army: the top brass is hand picked by the US/Israel and can be easily bought off by a combination of bribes, gadgets, and perks. They could care less about the Egyptian people. This is part of the ruling group of this tyrant. The speech by Obama was a not-so-coded language that let Mubarak do what he wish: the talk about transition means that he was basically told to stay in power, because Israel really freaked out at the prospect of Egypt without Mubarak. How dare Obama talk about technology for the Egyptian youth when his speech did not utter one word about how Mubarak is silencing and restricting the technology of the youth of people. Make no mistake about it: this could be like the 1953 Operation Ajax in Iran. The US is now arranging for a coup against the will of the Egyptian people. It requires utmost vigilance and steadfastness and thus far those qualities have been abundant among the Egyptian people. This move by Obama towards Egypt can be described as criminal because it will lead to blood on the streets. I wonder if Obama during his talk with Mubarak discussed numbers like: just don't kill more than 50 or 60 a day, or something like that. His unprincipled cynicism reminds me of the conspiracies of the 1950s. I am so glad that I resisted all efforts by my liberal and leftist friends who were urging me to vote for this personification of the Bush Doctrine.
This fanatic Zionist who leads the Inter Rel committee in the House tells Arabs who can qualify to lead them
"“The U.S. should learn from past mistakes and support a process which only includes candidates who meet basic standards for leaders of responsible nations – candidates who have publicly renounced terrorism, uphold the rule of law, recognize Egypt's international commitments including its nonproliferation obligations and its peace agreement with the Jewish state of Israel, and who ensure security and peace with its neighbors,” she said in a statement.""
Another Zionist is freaking out
"For Israel, the popular uprising against the Mubarak regime raises the specter of its worst strategic nightmare: collapse of the peace treaty with Egypt, the cornerstone of its regional policy for the past three decades." (thanks David)
Israeli terrorist army
I bet that Israeli terrorist leaders are fantasizing about dispatching their terrorists to Egypt to massacre all the protesters. They probably fantasize about bombing them from the air.
Reports of clashes in Alexandria
Armed goons are provoking protesters in Alexandria. This is the keep-Mubarak-scenario of Israel/US.
Mubarak's orphans
You have to watch and read Mubrak's orphans. Watch `Imad Ad-Din Adib (a propagandist for Mubarak attributes what is happening to non-Egyptian Arabs in the country and "friendly non-Arabs" and cites the authority of the Daily Telegraph. (thanks Amer)
The US in the Middle East
I say this without any hyperbole, but the US is willing to have millions of Arab oppressed, killed, and tortured to preserve the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. I strongly and firmly believe that.
Two scenarios
1) people would storm that the presidential palaces and TV station and government headquarters; 2) the Army would take over and oust him. He clearly adopted the Netanyahu-Obama option of disregarding the will of the Egyptian people and staying in power at all cost. It is all for you, Israel. I want to see Arab public opinion vis-a-vis the US after this. The US is cooking a dirty plot reminiscent of the 1950s plot, but this time it is much more clumsy.
Mubarak defiant: it is Israel (and US), stupid
He has just given his speech. He is bizarrely defiant. Says that he won't seek another term, as if this was the issue. He hit hard against the protesters and even addressed the "peasants and workers of Egypt" (like when Trotsky gave his first speech in New York City and addressed the crowd in the Bronx as "workers and peasants of the Bronx"). He is so weird: he talks like he is still in control and talks about a process that will last for months. The man is going to leave but with Egypt in flames behind them. The situation only got more tense and more potentially explosive. But I will say this: this defiance does not come out of nowhere. I can't believe that this is the same leader who is rejected by his own people before TV cameras. He even reminded us of his military role: yes brag of the defeats of 1967 and 1973. But I speculate this: Israel so freaked out, and it was so clear and blatant. They realized that peace with Egypt won't survive. So the US scrambled: sent an envoy to Cairo: realized that there is no US puppet to lead the country so the scenario of defiance was adopted. His tone and stance of defiance is matched by the rhetoric of the Obama administration which is clear in its avoidance of the issues of democracy in Egypt. And don't forget that many racists lead the US policy making in the Middle East (people like Feltman at State and Shapiro at NSC) and they concur with Kaplan's racist dictum about the Arabs and democracy. US is digging itself in a bigger hole, as we speak. Aljazeera is now silent: in the sense it is showing the protesters at Tahriri Square and they are in a state of rage that is even scary from my living room. The man is asking for trouble: they will physically push him out if he does not leave. Israel wants him to fight to the last Egyptian. But that won't work.
MEMRI
It is hilarious. MERMI (the outfit of a "former" Israeli intelligence occupier) is peddling the opinions of Kuwaiti tabloid publisher, the sleazy Ahmad Al-Jarallah. To speak of Jarallah as a voice of the Arab people is like considering Larry Flint as the voice of the American people. (thanks Ruba)
For the first time, an accurate report on Fox News
"Mubarak Finds a Strong Ally in Israel". Indeed he has. (thanks Chehab)
Another Zionist is freaking out
"A truly worst-case outcome of the unrest in Egypt is frightening to contemplate. It might go something like this: The current situation leads, through a process of resignations, external pressures and interim governments to free elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest and best-organized opposition group, wins the day. The Brotherhood, which opposes Israel’s very existence, cancels Egypt’s peace treaty with the Jewish state, declares Hamas (an offshoot of the Brotherhood) an ally, denounces the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, demands that international forces leave the Sinai Peninsula and asserts Egypt’s right to send heavy forces into the presently demilitarized territory. The Suez Canal is abruptly closed to passage of Israeli naval ships that have been disrupting Iranian-Hezbollah-Sudanese arms smuggling in the Red Sea." Le me think. For Israel, I cant think of far worse scenarios than this one. Oh, ha ha ha.
Crisis
The news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law (Al-Arabiyyah TV), is still referring to the Egyptian uprising as "crisis."
Aljazeera is back on Nilesat
I am told that Aljazeera is back on Nilesat. Another sign of the collapse of the regime.
Aljazeera is back on Nilesat
I am told that Aljazeera is back on Nilesat. Another sign of the collapse of the regime.
Another Zionist is freaking out
"“The quiet is fragile and the security reality can easily change,” Ashkenazi said on the sidelines of a military exercise in the South. “It is enough to look at what is happening in Egypt to understand this.”"
Another Zionist is freaking out: and he is lying too
Look at this cute clarification: "A day after warning that the dramatic events in Egypt could usher in a radical Islamic government inimical to peace, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu clarified Tuesday that Israel stood firmly behind democratic values, but simply did not want to see them used by those who would then trample them."
To the Jordanian protesters
Those of you who demonstrated in Amman against Husni Mubarak today, can you look onward and protest against that king of yours? Thanks
They are fleeing Egypt
Lebanese News Agency is report that a member of Mubarak's puppet parliament has fled Egypt with his family on a private jet and has just arrived in Beirut.
Nayif Hawatimah denies
He denies that he has sent a congratulatory note to `Umar Sulayman. But his book on the Arab left features a picture of him with Sulayman.
I have no idea if this is accurate
"Lebanese sources claim that a commando forces composed of Lebanon's Hizbullah, Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Palestine's Hamas fighters stormed into the Egyptian prison of Wadi El-Natron, which is located some 120 kilometers northwest of Cairo. The task was to free several thousand prisoners, and especially leaders and members of the "Muslim Brotherhood" and activists of Hizbullah who were detained on charges of planning terrorist operations last year. The sources said that the fighters entered Egypt across the border the Sudanese border. They exploited the security chaos in Egypt amid the popular revolt against the Mubarak regime." (thanks Osama)
PS I am told that this is not true.
PS I am told that this is not true.
Randa Abu Al-`Azm (III)
Randa Abu Al-`Azm (a chief but competent propagandist for the Mubarak regime) covered extensively a small demonstration by Mubarak goons. If you watch it on Mubarak state TV, you can even see a guy leading the goons before the cameras and choreographing the affair. So Abu Al-`Azm covered that and then the goons started cheering to Al-Arabiyya TV and said that they love it. I bet they do. I bet. I just worry about the safety of Al-Arabiyyah TV correspondents once the regime is overthrown.
Mubarak: now it is a comedy show
He is such an idiot. I was expecting him to resign tonight. Apparently, he won't. AlArabiyya (the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law) is reporting that he will announce now that he won't seek a sixth term. Can you imagine the anger of the people on the streets? He is asking for trouble now. They will storm the presidential palace if he stays till Friday.
Frank Wisner
This will be mocked for a long time: that the Obama administration chose this guy to negotiate with Mubarak. This is akin to Ernst Hanfstaengl being sent by the US to negotiate with Hitler. (Of the course, the Nazi Hanfstaengl later worked for the US government as expert on Germany).
I think more Zionists will be freaking out
I am watching New TV's Muna `Ashmawi talking to protesters in Tahrir Square. I heard a lot of denunciations of his ties to US and Israel.
Flash: Nilesat and New TV
New TV today carried live Aljazeera's coverage out of solidarity. The evening news broadcast of Aljazeera now is reporting that Nilesat officials called New TV and warned them against carrying Aljazeera and that they will stop carrying New TV if they continued. New TV obliged.
PS I know of Nilesat threats before to New TV regarding attacks on Saudi Arabia.
PS I know of Nilesat threats before to New TV regarding attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Trial of Mubarak
New TV has scenes from Tahrir Square in Cairo in which they simulated a trial of Mubarak and a death by hanging verdict (which led to the picture below).
`Adil Darwish
He is well-known Egyptian Zionist who worked for the Telegraph (and other UK tabloids) for years. He founded a few years ago a CMERA like organization to monitor and combat sympathy for Arabs in the British press. He is a favored guest in Saudi Arab media (due to the Zionist-Saudi alliance) and is a regular columnist for the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his sons (Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat). He always supported all Arab reactionary regimes. Today on Al-Arabiyyah he supported the Egyptian uprising and used the new silly name of Lotus Revolution. (Please send me past articles of his from Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat in which he had praised Mubarak).
Here is another Zionist freaking out
"The ugly facts are that the two peace treaties that Israel concluded so far - the one with Egypt and the other with Jordan - were both signed with dictators: Anwar Sadat and King Hussein." (thanks Seth)
Waiting until Friday? I need to sleep and work, damn it
Al-Arabiyyah TV is reporting that demonstrators in Tahrir Square will remain there till Friday prayers to ensure that Mubarak leaves. I assure you that Mubarak will be gone before that.
There goes the Middle East
I don't know why, but lately I have been thinking about that book by Alfred Lilienthal, There Goes the Middle East, written in 1956, I think. I am not a fan of Lilienthal: I think that his book the Zionist Connection almost flirts with anti-Semitic conspiracy scenarios and such. But the theme of the book regarding the impact of US policies are relevant just as I think of James Forestal's warnings to Truman in 1948.
I support Jeffrey Feltman for Asst Sec of State for the Near East
I know. I know. I have been critical of this guy, and mock him endlessly. But now that I look at the Middle East, I want to start a petition to call on the US government to make him Assistant Secretary of State for the Near FOR LIFE. Are you kidding me? I even call that his son, Jamal Feltman, should succeed him in office. Absolutely.
Jamal and `Ala' Mubarak have blood on their hands
Those two are not innocent. For me, they committed a terrible crime last year when they both incited the Egyptian people along racist lines against the Algerian people following a defeat by Egypt in a soccer match. Their racist incitement resulted in the death of injury of people, in Egypt and in Algeria.
Another Zionist is freaking out
This will become a regular feature. I ask readers to send me links and materials for this regular feature which I will predict to grow as developments unfold in Egypt.
I am not making this up
The new Minister of Interior announced that the Egyptian Police will henceforth carry a new motto: "The Police is in the service of the People." I am not making this up. It is running in the flash banner of Aljazeera Arabic.
Scare tactics
The new Minister of Interior delivered this news now to the Egyptians: he said that some 17,000 prisoners, many of whom were charged with terrorism, have fled Egyptian jails.
John Kerry's priorities in Egypt: from 2004
""On Egypt, Kerry said that he would not tie foreign aid to greater openness and reform. "I would first want to link it to the warmth of the relationship with Israel and the effort to secure general stability in Middle East," he said. "You have to put your priorities first.""" (thanks Micah--I dont normally thank the people who send me links twice in one day, but this is delicious)
Puppets of Israel and puppets of Mubarak: Abu Mazen appoints `Umar Sulayman as his successor
"The Western-backed Palestinian government in the West Bank said Tuesday it will hold local council elections as soon as possible. The move appeared to be a response to unrest in Egypt."
According to the US
No one can lead Egypt toward democracy better than the head of the secret police, `Umar Sulayman. OK. Thanks for the advice, but can the US be a bit more subtle please?
where is next?
I am getting a lot of questions about where it will hit next: the Arab great tsunami. I am getting a lot of buzz from comrades in Bahrain. But Morocco is ripe in my opinion. The king does not have the shrewdness of his father. And the royal family there is not unified.
Richard Haas paying tributes to Mubarak
He is on alajzeera Arabic and is (through an interpretor of course) paying tributes to Mubarak. By the way, although he was in charge of Middle East at the NSC in the 1st Bush administration, he has no knowledge of the Middle East and never studied the region. It is time that Arab media not be fooled by the credentials and posts of the White Man.
Mubarak TV
it is now showing "pro-Mubarak" demonstrations. I kid you not. It is embarrassing because they look like some secret police members and their families gathered in a small parking lot.
Racism of American liberals: example of Richard Cohen
HE is freaking out too: "My take on all this is relentlessly gloomy. I care about Israel. I care about Egypt, too, but its survival is hardly at stake. I care about democratic values, but they are worse than useless in societies that have no tradition of tolerance or respect for minority rights." (thanks Noor)
Alan Dershowitz is freaking out too
"The first casualty may well be the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians." I never thought I would ever agree with this schmuck.
Jihad Sadat
The one person I don't want to hear from is Mrs. Anwar Sadat. If she speaks, don't tell me.
EDITORIAL: The Egyptians hate us
"The Egyptian people are reentering history. The masses have awakened, swarming in the streets against autocracy, chanting “Yes we can!” It’s too bad they hate America." (thanks Micah)
An outraged anthropologist in Norway sent me this: explaining Egypt
I cite this message from him: "On monday morning two days ago, i Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten contained a piece entitled translated Report from the Inside written by Unni Wikan, a Norwegian professor of social anthroplogy and self-styled Egypt expert. She has written a book about poor people in Cairo but unlike most of us anthropologist she did not live and share the conditions of their lives with them. Instead, she as a professor's wife was above all that and she lived in a hotel. She wrote that two things made her live there: the small of the slums and the constant gossiping of the poor women. Last night she was on the national radio claiming that the demonstrators in Egypt have been "bought and sold" - i.e. they were being paid!!!!
Today I took her piece called Report from the Inside and translated it with Google. The result was quite good and I suspect that you will both laugh and cry while reading this piece of rubbish.
---------------------Here it is , As'ad: the google translation of Rapport fra innsiden
Report from the inside
It was no charismatic president who spoke to his people by Saturday night. So then President Mubarak is not known for his eloquence. Those who
remember President Nasser from his time in power, 1956-1970, can hardly fail to draw a comparison. Mubarak chose a language that is not
"people" language. He did not speak to the people buta little over their heads.
Poor health
President Nasser's strength was that he spoke to people's hearts, he mixed everyday language into more formal literary forms that have a different denomination. Mubarak ran another line, understandably enough. He's not a rhetorician. And he is old, almost 83 years. Many Egyptians wondered in advance if he at all would be able to speak to the people. He is said to be in poor health. In this manner impressed the president. The speech contained all the right elements of freedom, stability and security, constitutional and economic reforms, increased welfare, especially for the disadvantaged. "I'm on the side of the Egyptian people," said Mubarak, and urged to rest and order and national pride as befits a civilized people.
Redeeming
He has a civilized people an almost unimaginable ways have refused to revolt against oppression, corruption and poor social conditions for many. I know the poor quarters of Cairo. I've gone in and out there for 42 years. I have seen them grow as a fangarm, put out over farmland and desert, twist and wriggle as Cairo now covers approx. 20 million people compared with 6 million in 1968, when I came there to study Arabic. You pass Cairo before you see it, how many people live below the poverty line, at least one-third of Cairo's population, can succeed in your daily life. For they have done so in a way, with dignity and humor without parallel - Egyptians are known throughout the Middle East for his sense of humor. They also have a reputation for being the world's most patient of people. Now the regime has learned that there are limits to how far one can curb this patience.
Power in the inheritance
My impression ist more than anything what has triggered outrage against President Mubarak is not that he, like presidents before him, has failed his people's demands for decent living conditions and social justice. Most people have minimal confidence in politicians.
Mubarak is no worse than his predecessors, he is actually considered a very honorable man. The people, ilshaab, hold against Mubarak is that he would break their national pride and relegate them to a type of Syria or Saudi Arabia, by letting power go to heritage: that is,his son Gamal to succeed him. In typical show it was his wife Suzanne who was blamed form things. It is said that this had been the president's own plan, he would long since would have seen that his son, a banker, had military experience. All Egypt's presidents have come from the army.
No despot
It is said further that the president himself is not particularly fond of power: it is the people around him, and his wife, who drives him. Why mention it here? Because it is no small feat in Egypt, for a man who has ruled for 30 years, to get away with such a "pure" reputation. Mubarak is no despot. He is not considered to be corrupt. Weak, weak, are the words used on Mubarak. Many feel a bit sorry for him. The sympathy he could have ridden on, he had not tried to introduce a dynasty. Again, most people do not have a personal concern about his son. Some say he has an advantage, "his stomach is already full." That means he will have less need to enrich themselves than many upstart. "You know what you have, but not what you get," said Mubarak wanted more people to where the pepper grows, but considered that it could cost more than it tasted.
Desperate
And so it has gone. I hold regular mobile contact with families I have known for decades, spread over six poor neighborhood in Cairo. They are now completely desperate. "We pray to God for help, God can help! We are barricaded in our homes with knives and impact weapons to protect ourselves against the criminals that plague in all areas. The police are not watching! Only the army, and they can not protect us, we are 80 million! "Is the desperate message. "We live in terror and fear, our children have no food, shops are closed, banks are closed, we have not taken money! Articles this a few days, our kids will starve to death! "It is terrible to me to be so close and yet so far away. "You must not think of coming here at first, it is dangerous," they say - who has lived in the safest
metropolis.
Muslim Brothers
Cairo has been a mystery even for criminologists. But now the criminals broke out of prison and terrorize much of the city. They have infiltrated the demonstrations. Students said desperately trying to protect the population against robbers and thieves. But it is futile. "They are people who hate Egypt and will destroy the country!" Where are the Muslim Brothers in this? "I ask. "Some are trying to protect us, but others are behind them. Many say it is il-muslimin Ikhwan (Muslim Brothers), which has caused it all. " And if the people wanted democracy, have the chimney is now a completely different sound. People want peace, security, stability, get his life back. Placing a bet Mubarak is no priority in those days. The President has seized the helm and got a new government in place. He has proved worthy of the situation by not giving in to protesters who are out of control. The country stands on the brink of collapse. "Yitkhabbaru ilbalad - they destroy our country," says people in despair.
Horror and terror
And is it something you do not what it is that the Brotherhood will take over power. At my last visit to Cairo, in December 2010, I was knocked over by the power of the people criticizing them. Egyptians, who are a life-happy people do not want sharia ban on singing and
music and football, and niqab-clad women. They look with terror and horror of the situation in Iran and Saudi Arabia. And the prices themselves happy to live in a country with hurriyya, freedom, which they said before hin, day of wrath, 28 January.
Mubarak will stay on
Today, the word freedom has a new meaning. The freedom to live safely in the community, be able to feed their children, send them to school, go to work, look after the daily tasks without fear of criminal hordes and chaos in the country. I believe Mubarak will remain at the helm, with his people's support. Alternatively, his newly appointed vice-president, Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, will take over. We are not going to see an Islamist government in Egypt."
remember President Nasser from his time in power, 1956-1970, can hardly fail to draw a comparison. Mubarak chose a language that is not
"people" language. He did not speak to the people buta little over their heads.
Poor health
President Nasser's strength was that he spoke to people's hearts, he mixed everyday language into more formal literary forms that have a different denomination. Mubarak ran another line, understandably enough. He's not a rhetorician. And he is old, almost 83 years. Many Egyptians wondered in advance if he at all would be able to speak to the people. He is said to be in poor health. In this manner impressed the president. The speech contained all the right elements of freedom, stability and security, constitutional and economic reforms, increased welfare, especially for the disadvantaged. "I'm on the side of the Egyptian people," said Mubarak, and urged to rest and order and national pride as befits a civilized people.
Redeeming
He has a civilized people an almost unimaginable ways have refused to revolt against oppression, corruption and poor social conditions for many. I know the poor quarters of Cairo. I've gone in and out there for 42 years. I have seen them grow as a fangarm, put out over farmland and desert, twist and wriggle as Cairo now covers approx. 20 million people compared with 6 million in 1968, when I came there to study Arabic. You pass Cairo before you see it, how many people live below the poverty line, at least one-third of Cairo's population, can succeed in your daily life. For they have done so in a way, with dignity and humor without parallel - Egyptians are known throughout the Middle East for his sense of humor. They also have a reputation for being the world's most patient of people. Now the regime has learned that there are limits to how far one can curb this patience.
Power in the inheritance
My impression ist more than anything what has triggered outrage against President Mubarak is not that he, like presidents before him, has failed his people's demands for decent living conditions and social justice. Most people have minimal confidence in politicians.
Mubarak is no worse than his predecessors, he is actually considered a very honorable man. The people, ilshaab, hold against Mubarak is that he would break their national pride and relegate them to a type of Syria or Saudi Arabia, by letting power go to heritage: that is,his son Gamal to succeed him. In typical show it was his wife Suzanne who was blamed form things. It is said that this had been the president's own plan, he would long since would have seen that his son, a banker, had military experience. All Egypt's presidents have come from the army.
No despot
It is said further that the president himself is not particularly fond of power: it is the people around him, and his wife, who drives him. Why mention it here? Because it is no small feat in Egypt, for a man who has ruled for 30 years, to get away with such a "pure" reputation. Mubarak is no despot. He is not considered to be corrupt. Weak, weak, are the words used on Mubarak. Many feel a bit sorry for him. The sympathy he could have ridden on, he had not tried to introduce a dynasty. Again, most people do not have a personal concern about his son. Some say he has an advantage, "his stomach is already full." That means he will have less need to enrich themselves than many upstart. "You know what you have, but not what you get," said Mubarak wanted more people to where the pepper grows, but considered that it could cost more than it tasted.
Desperate
And so it has gone. I hold regular mobile contact with families I have known for decades, spread over six poor neighborhood in Cairo. They are now completely desperate. "We pray to God for help, God can help! We are barricaded in our homes with knives and impact weapons to protect ourselves against the criminals that plague in all areas. The police are not watching! Only the army, and they can not protect us, we are 80 million! "Is the desperate message. "We live in terror and fear, our children have no food, shops are closed, banks are closed, we have not taken money! Articles this a few days, our kids will starve to death! "It is terrible to me to be so close and yet so far away. "You must not think of coming here at first, it is dangerous," they say - who has lived in the safest
metropolis.
Muslim Brothers
Cairo has been a mystery even for criminologists. But now the criminals broke out of prison and terrorize much of the city. They have infiltrated the demonstrations. Students said desperately trying to protect the population against robbers and thieves. But it is futile. "They are people who hate Egypt and will destroy the country!" Where are the Muslim Brothers in this? "I ask. "Some are trying to protect us, but others are behind them. Many say it is il-muslimin Ikhwan (Muslim Brothers), which has caused it all. " And if the people wanted democracy, have the chimney is now a completely different sound. People want peace, security, stability, get his life back. Placing a bet Mubarak is no priority in those days. The President has seized the helm and got a new government in place. He has proved worthy of the situation by not giving in to protesters who are out of control. The country stands on the brink of collapse. "Yitkhabbaru ilbalad - they destroy our country," says people in despair.
Horror and terror
And is it something you do not what it is that the Brotherhood will take over power. At my last visit to Cairo, in December 2010, I was knocked over by the power of the people criticizing them. Egyptians, who are a life-happy people do not want sharia ban on singing and
music and football, and niqab-clad women. They look with terror and horror of the situation in Iran and Saudi Arabia. And the prices themselves happy to live in a country with hurriyya, freedom, which they said before hin, day of wrath, 28 January.
Mubarak will stay on
Today, the word freedom has a new meaning. The freedom to live safely in the community, be able to feed their children, send them to school, go to work, look after the daily tasks without fear of criminal hordes and chaos in the country. I believe Mubarak will remain at the helm, with his people's support. Alternatively, his newly appointed vice-president, Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, will take over. We are not going to see an Islamist government in Egypt."
Sen. John Kerry on Mubarak
Nothing in the piece, of course. What do you expect from Kerry. But one thing stood out: Israel was not mentioned. Not once. That is the impact of the Egyptian uprising already. But lest John Kerry thinks of himself as a champion of the Egyptian uprising, I would like to ask my readers to send me past praise by Kerry for Husni Mubarak. Oh, and I want them NOW. NOW.
Obama's envoy to Egypt: Frank Wisner
I received this: "I'd like to remain anonymous on this one. In addition to being close to Mubarak as mentioned in the piece you linked to, Frank Wisner is very close to many of Egypt's oligarchs and his brother Graham, a lawyer, has represented the business interests of several of them. Which is why I chuckled when I read that the State department had said that Wisner "will meet Egyptian officials to urge them to embrace broad economic and political changes that can pave the way for free and fair elections."
Husni Mubarak as an extra in an old Egyptian film
In this old Egyptian film with Kamal Ash-Shinnawi, you can see a very young Husni Mubarak appearing. (I swear, it is really him).
The tune of Aljazeera coverage
Farah and others have been asking about the musical theme that accompanies the Aljazeera coverage of Egyptian events. Comrade Kamal says: "مصر تتحدث عن نفسها ( قصيدة حافظ ابراهيم ) : غنتها أم كلثوم في اكتوبر 51
عندما ألغى مصطفى النحاس معاهدة 36
وبدأت معارك الفدائيين في القنال ضد قوات الاحتلال البريطاني"
عندما ألغى مصطفى النحاس معاهدة 36
وبدأت معارك الفدائيين في القنال ضد قوات الاحتلال البريطاني"
Obama's Envoy to Egypt: on Mubarak
"Wisner on Egypt in 2005: Mubarak would win 65% of the vote in a free election"
Historical perspective
Aljazeera knows the historical background when reporting. Amazingly, they tracked the great grandson of Col. Ahmad `Urabi of the 19th century revolt against the British colonial powers. He was of course supportive of the Egyptian uprising.
The lousy Hamas government
The lousy Hamas government in Gaza yesterday stopped Palestinians in Gaza from demonstrating in support of the Egyptian people's uprising. They even apprehended the protesters for a few hours. So the Palestinian people now live under double oppression: that of Israeli occupation, and that of Fatah in West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.
Meet Frank Wisner
"Since leaving AIG in 2009, Wisner has been active on Egypt policy and is said by several Egypt hands in Washington to have pushed to create a group of scholars and academics in Washington to advocate for strengthening ties to the Mubarak regime. That group, which was never fully formed, was to be a counter weight to the bipartisan Egypt Working Group led by the likes of former NSC official Elliott Abrams and the Carnegie Endowment's Michele Dunne. The Abrams-Dunne group had been pushing for a harder line against Mubarak in the months leading up to the current crisis."
Arab presidents and kings react
Arab presidents, kings, Emirs, and Sultan react to the fall of Mubarak:...............................
the journalists of the new Egypt
Write down those two names. You will hear about them. Hamdi Qandil is a principled long time Arab nationalist. He has been close to Baradi`i and served as the spokesperson of this movement. Has been banned by Egyptian State TV and Saudi TV. I met him once in Beirut: he is married to famed Egyptian actress, Najla' Fathi (I only mention that because I had a strong adolescent crush on her). Also, write down the name of `Abdul-Halim Qandil, a secular Arab nationalist. This man is a hero. Has been the most vociferous critic of Mubarak. Once, Mubarak goons kidnapped him, beat him up, and then left him naked near the pyramids.
Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal
His article in Ash-Shuruq and in As-Safir is rather lame. Too little, too late.
The Foreign policy connotations of the Egyptian Uprising: a message to Netanyahu
It will be over in a matter of hours
I am being asked when this will end: when Mubarak will leave office. I now say: it is a matter of hours.
Husni Mubarak hanged
Al-Arabiyya TV (King Fahd's brother-in-law station) is showing Mubarak being hanged in effigy in Tahrir Square.
`Amr Musa
He was on Al-Arabiyya TV (the station of King Fahd's brother-in-law). He said that he is not seeking any post but that if a post is offered to him he would certainly accept it. There is one post I would offer to you: only one. A clown for Egyptian TV. A real clown in the tradition of the unfunny Egyptian clown, Shukuku.
It is over
When the TV station of King Fahd's brother-in-law, Al-Arabiyya (run by Prince `Azzuz who spent millions on wooing Yasmeen Bleeth), is now showing scenes of Tahrir Square and the large crowds. They seem to be running out of people to host to praise Mubarak.
Solidarity in Lebanon (has been weak)
Al-Akhbar's director, comrade Ibrahim Al-Amin, chides Hizbullah and the Lebanese Communist Party for not showing solidarity with Egypt in Lebanon. In fact, the only ones who have been demonstrating in Beirut in support of the protests in Egypt have been independents leftists and Arab nationalists.
the singing Mahrushah
Egyptian prime minister is talking to Mubarak state TV about plans of his cabinet.This is like the captain of the Titanic talking about future routes and cruise ideas. So he was talking calmly and the anchor woman then interrupted him: these are long term plans. Do you have any short term plans? She almost yelled: you are sinking, you idiot. You have a few hours left. Don't you get it??
You can't say that Israel is not nice to Mubarak: you just can't say
"Responding to a request from Egypt, Israel has approved the deployment of Egyptian troops in Sinai amid civil unrest in Egypt. According to news reports, two battalions -- about 800 soldiers -- are headed for the resort of Sharm el Sheik. This is a first since the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries, which limits the security presence in Sinai to police forces." And you still think that Egypt exercises sovereignty over the Sinai?
Flash
An witness from Tahrir Square reports on Aljazeera Arabic that people are calling for the execution of Husni Mubarak.
Israeli occupation embassy in Cairo
I am told that all markings (not only the flag) on the Israeli occupation embassy in Cairo, have been removed from the building that houses the Israeli embassy. Does that mean that the Egyptian people don't heart Israel?
2 million in Tahrir Square
Many Zionists are fooling themselves and saying that there are no foreign policy elements to the Egyptian Uprising. I am now listening to the mass rally in Tahriri Square live on Aljazeera (Aljazeera is saying the total number is 2 million if you add the people around the square). And I can hear the chant:
يا مبارك يا جبان, يا عميل الأميركان
"o Mubarak, you coward. O agent of the Americans" (it rhymes in Arabic)
يا مبارك يا جبان, يا عميل الأميركان
"o Mubarak, you coward. O agent of the Americans" (it rhymes in Arabic)
Natan Sharanksy
You need to re-read Natan Sharanksy's book, the Case for Democracy. You read it now as a piece of political humor. As is known, Bush read that book (or read a one page summary) and was convinced of its thesis until the elections of Hamas hit him in the face.
Aljazeera
By the way, Aljazeera will soon launch its own satellites to avoid Saudi and Egyptian control over Arab channel transmission.
Titanic (or Al-Mahrusah) is sinking fast
"The U.S. State Department has just ordered all non-emergency embassy personnel to leave Egypt."
Zionist hoodlums are really freaking out:
"Lee Smith: Egyptian protesters are potential Suicide Bombers." This dude wrote a book on Arab culture while he admits that he does not know Arabic. His lousy book was promoted by Jeffrey Feltman. Now we know where Jeffrey Feltman derives his ignorance about the Middle East. (thanks Nicholas)
Sons of Jordan's King
I bet his eldest son has never worked harder in school. I bet he is memorizing his textbook and promising his parents that he will be the best student at school in....Saudi Arabia.
Queen Youtube of Jordan
I can't wait for Queen Rania to tweet this: "we are hated by our people. We were just kicked out of Jordan. On way to Saudi Arabia. Cheers."
Jordanian King is freaking out: How much can Zionists handle in a week???
"Jordan's Royal Palace says the king has sacked his government in the wake of street protests and has asked an ex-army general to form a new Cabinet. King Abdullah's move comes after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets — inspired by the regime ouster in Tunisia and the turmoil in Egypt — and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Samir Rifai who is blamed for a rise in fuel and food prices and slowed political reforms." Now I only harbor ill will toward all Zionists--of all stripes--but this may be too much. How much weeping can Zionists do in one week? They just don't have enough tears left. But all will be well, I assure you. The demise of Israel is certain, and when that is accomplished, all will be well. Just turn off the lights on your way out. I suggest that we start making a big neon sign to rename Ben Gurion Airport the George Habash International Airport. And the new airport would not resort to racism as a security measure.
Salutation to Ben Wedeman of CNN
This may hurt Ben's career in the US, but I want to express admiration and salutation to him. He is a correspondent with a heart. Today he tweeted this: "RT @bencnn Good luck, #Egypt. This is my home. You deserve the best. No less. #Jan25".
PS When I was in Qatar last July, I did my best to convince Aljazeera folks that Ben belongs with Aljazeera English.
PS When I was in Qatar last July, I did my best to convince Aljazeera folks that Ben belongs with Aljazeera English.
Fouad Ajami: the man of many cliches
I mean, how lame is this. How lame? I noticed that he stopped declaring the death of Arab nationalism here and instead invoked the cliches of the Pharaohs. What is next? Write about the sectarian fanfare in Lebanon as "Cedar Revolution"? (thanks Leila)
It seems that Mubarak is an adviser to Obama
"But this did not prevent President Barack Obama from calling Mubarak, at the end of a meeting at the White House in August 2009, "a leader, an adviser and a friend."" (thanks Redouane)
When the dust settles
and given the power of Aljazeera in this crisis, expect all remaining Arab leaders to perform pilgrimage to Qatar and prostrate before its Emir.
Name the dictator?
So a dictator faces public anger over his dictatorship, so what does he do? He names the head of his secret police as his successor. We have to be fools to accept that solution.
Jordanian services to Israel
"Jordan continues to play a central role in fostering Middle East peace and a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Both the King and his Foreign Minister Naser Joudeh have maintained steady pressure on other Arab states to offer modest deliverables to Israel. The King's efforts, which have met with some success, seek tangible steps such as overflight permission for Israeli air traffic, linking telecommunications networks with Israel, and reducing restrictions on travelers who have transited Israel. Recently however, the King has adopted a new approach, pressing PM Netanyahu and President Abbas to initiate immediate negotiations aimed at producing even limited Israeli concessions. Positive progress at the negotiating table, however meager, could provide crucial political cover for Abu Mazen, affording him a measure of maneuverability."
The plot thickens
Things are suspicious. Muhammad Al-Baradi`i should be rejected categorically out of hand. He is being promoted and is officially anointed. I noticed that in his interview with Robert Fisk in the Independent and in an interview with Anderson Cooper (I received a written report on it), he is reassuring Israel and saying that peace is better between democracies. Also, i noticed that the name of an Egyptian-American Zionist, Michael Munir, is being thrown about as a possible candidate for a "Wise men committee" to advise Egypt during transition. I met the guy once at a dinner in Washington, DC and gave him a piece of Angry Arab wrath--or a sample of it.
The opportunists of AlAhram Center
Those intellectuals at Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies should shut the hell up. They now are jumping on the band wagon and speaking for overthrow of Mubarak. I have seen and watched those people defend the Mubarak dictatorship for years. They should hide and let the free people of Egypt speak.
Aljazeera Flash
It is reporting that its reception is being subjected to jamming. Is the US and or Israel helping Egyptian regime in the jamming of Aljazeera? I wonder.
Husni Mubarak on Jamal Mubarak
Here is the passage I wanted: "Mubarak also offered insights into the character of his younger son, Gamal, whom he described as a perfectionist from childhood. "As a schoolboy, if I gave him a notebook with one line that was not straight, he would throw a fit and demand a new one," Mubarak laughed." That is A CLASSIC DEFINITION OF A SPOILED BRAT, NOT A GENIUS. Get it Husni Mubarak? If you want, we can discuss the difference at length during your retirement years. You may call me collect from Saudi Arabia. (thanks Chris)
Shaykh Al-Azhar: the chief Clerical kook
This just in. Egyptian state TV is reporting that Shaykh Al-Azhar has called on Egyptian to favorably respond to the call for dialog with the regime. As is known, no one in the Arab world take the kooks of Al-Azhar seriously except Shimon Peres and Amin Gemayel (both are known for their piety and for preforming pilgrimage to Mecca twice a month).
Husni on his son
Can somebody find me the passage and the link from Wikileak? In it, Mubarak is meeting with a member of Congress and telling him how Jamal has been gifted since childhood. And he tells the story of how even as a kid, he would not use a notebook if it was not perfect. I want to mock it now. Send me the link NOW.
Jamal Mubarak
Jamal Mubarak wanted to feel at home in London. He ordered his goons to kidnap innocent bystanders and subject them to torture. He then slept like a baby.
This just in
There is a severe shortage of Kleenex Tissues in Egypt. There are reports of flooding in several Zionist colonial settlements in Palestine. Zionists have not stopped weeping since January 25th. More on this story.
What the fuck?????
I am losing Aljazeera here: it is going off. And Joseph in New York City reports the same problem.
Flash
I am not making this up. I swear. Mubarak state TV is reporting that the governor of Matruh has visited a factory for filling gas containers and inspected the process. More on this developing story.
AlManar TV
Many people from around the Arab world sent me messages regarding my criticisms of Al-Manar TV and its coverage of Egypt. (See post from yesterday). I am told that I was wrong that Al-Manar is covering Egypt. But I am noticing on its website they are playing it very low key, and I am yet to see an official statement, although deputy secretary-general, Na`im Qasim, has spoken in support. And Ghassan bin Jiddu of Aljazeera (who is friends with Hizbullah) has openly criticized the coverage of Al-Manar on OTV. I know the calculations: that they may be accused of interfering in internal Egyptian affairs if they speak too loudly. But still.
Mubarak state TV
I really encourage you to watch Mubarak state TV. It provides great entertainment by way of denial and crude propaganda. I mean, when you get those propagandists from the media of Jamal Mubarak, and you see them foaming at the mouth, you realize you are watching a regime collapsing in slow motion.
Mubarak has to go NOW
Mubarak has to go for another reason: I don't enjoy waking up at 3:30AM to make sure that he has fallen.
Monday, January 31, 2011
This is really hilarious
I told you about how Saudi media are working hard to support Mubarak at all cost. It has reached comical level. The main headline of Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his sons), says: "And Mubarak Responded to the Demands of the People." I kid you not. I KID YOU NOT.
Al-Manar TV
I hear that Al-Manar TV has been absent from the Egyptian Uprising story. Hizbullah has not issued one official statement in support of the protesters thus far.
O Mubarak: we need to go back to our lives
Get the hell out NOW. And take that `Umar Sulayman with you. I can't take this suspenseful waiting anymore.
Tony Blair: on how to manage democracy in Egypt
""What is necessary is that we try and manage this . . . (It must be managed in a way that) means that they will have a proper democracy, but also means that the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians is not adversely affected"". Is this like the "managed" democracy in Saudi Arabia? (thanks Albert)
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