Why is #Egypt trending?

[noises]

PJ Crowley gets a crash course in appearing on a news show that isn't scripted, and on being interviewed by an anchor who isn't just helping him read a press release.

US urges reform in Egypt - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

check out an anchor, disagreeing with and actually questioning a politician. No wonder people want to ban Al Jazeera, they ask the hard questions and challenge weak answers.

[noises]

Chicago, New York, Atlanta, LA, and Washington DC... just some cities where US citizens have protested in solidarity with the people of Egypt, calling for an end to US support of the Mubarak regime.

Two words to everyone at those protests, and any others like it.

...

[Aaron]

fascinating dynamic

PJ Crowley gets a crash course in appearing on a news show that isn't scripted, and on being interviewed by an anchor who isn't just helping him read a press release.

US urges reform in Egypt - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

check out an anchor, disagreeing with and actually questioning a politician. No wonder people want to ban Al Jazeera, they ask the hard questions and challenge weak answers.

"We're seeing a fascinating dynamic unfold..."

LOL, politicians - ridiculous they can never be honest and just answer
the questions.

[noises]

reports now of 150 dead, killed by police who are not protecting or serving anyone, except Mubarak's regime. At least the local (Australian) media is now starting to report the fact there is actually something happening there.

Helping spin the idea it's just a few dangerous activists and they're spreading terror, well, if the Egyptian people succeed in getting 1,000,000 people into and around Tahrir Square tomorrow, it'll be hard to keep telling that lie.

The demands are very, very simple. Mubarak and his secret police and his government cronies are not welcome to participate in Egypt's future. At all. Whoever takes power is not the issue, the ousting of a brutal dictator at the will of the people is the issue, and the only people who should have ANY say in who gets to run Egypt after this should be the people of Egypt. The US state department will just have to suck the result up.

[Aaron]

military joins protesters?

Egyptian Police Stand Down, Army Joins Protest - Chaos reigns in streets of Cairo

Protesters in Cairo once again defied curfew today, but this time the police largely stood by and let them do it, the LA Times reports. The military meanwhile seems to have switched sides; as protesters swarmed over Cairo’s central square, the officers stationed there threw off their helmets and joined them, crying, “The army and the people are one—hand in hand,” according to Haaretz. Protesters hoisted the officers on their shoulders in triumph.

While the mood on the streets was generally joyous, some residents and businesses complained of looting. Some even theorized that the government was intentionally trying to foster anarchy. “The government is trying to transform the people’s revolution into looting mobs so they can justify cracking down,” said one professor. President Mubarak still has allies; Saudi Arabia today condemned the protests, with King Abdullah calling the ring-leaders “infiltrators” who were trying to destabilize the country, the Wall Street Journal reports.

----------------

I'm reading this from multiple sources - are the police really stepping back
and the military are joining the protesters? Change.org - a fake "grassroots"
org since it is a top down organization I believe - is even reporting this
and stating that some of the ruling family members are fleeing the country.

[noises]

I've been following events out of Cairo closely since around the 24th, when I first saw the kid getting shot in the first protests in Alexandria.

For the entire time, it has been a steady "dynamic" at work. One one hand, the protesters who're comprised of many religious, social, economic and ethnic groups who are united across these divides by one common aim, the overthrow of Mubarak and his cronies. On the other hand, the police, who're loyal to Mubarak because they enjoy favorable treatment, good pay and steady jobs in return for imposing an iron fisted rule on the people. The initial clashes between the two groups (civilians and riot police) which I've watched over and over, are brutal. Crowds shout and throw stones, police shot into crowds killing and wounding, as the crowd surges forward until they take a policeman, who would be beaten as visciously as the police themselves have been beating the people for 30 years.

On the 28th, the army mobilised for the first time in three days of open rioting, in three of Egypts largest cities. I sat with a friend, horrified, as sand colored tanks and trucks of the army rolled out. We were certain we were about to witness a massacre live on a web stream. We knew from watching, the police have khaki colored armored riot vehicles, they are not army vehicles, they're the egyptian swat team and riot squad vans.) When teh tanks arrived, it was obvious, it was the army. Nobody knew what was going to happen. Not the media, not the people, not the audience. I imagine around ten million people and I collectively held our breaths...

And then, glimpses of people in civvies, riding on tanks! CHANTING! Punching the air as they cried out "out, out, mubarak go out!" Instantly, it was obvious, or it seemed obvious, the army were not going to harm the protesters. That was around 6pm Cairo time on the 28th. Next, the army quickly deployed and put themselves between the police and the protesters. it then looked like the army had stepped in to act as the police, to keep the two fighting groups (police vs citizens) apart. Peacefully. I'm man enough to admit I cried. Finally it wasn't guns vs martyrs, it was people being protected as they protested. The army, clearly, would not tolerate agitation from the civillians (I saw dozens of rioters ushered bodily back behind APC's by soldiers in uniform, stopping them from throwing stones. Al Jaz reporters on the ground reported suddenly said "I just heard a soldier tell the protesters "the riot is over! you must only protest! We will protect you, we will protect you.")

So whats' been reported is true, but it's been that way for days now. the army didn't suddenly change sides, they're doing what they've done since they turned up on the scene. The soldiers are hand in hand with the protesters. And their role has very obviously been that of an visible deterrent against the molestation of the protesters by the police. That the army has stepped in with the clear intention of allowing peaceful protest should be apparent from the amount of anti mubrak graffiti sprayed directly onto the tanks. I wish I could read arabic to know what it all says.



Egypt Turns Off the Internet. Now What Happens? - Technology Review <source of image.



Egypt: Protesters Videos <second image source (last image on the page)

One of my Friends, a reporter for the times now, asked me a few days ago, 'any good roundups on what's going on in egypt and it's impact on wider mid east affairs?' I had to tell him "No. it was so unexpected, so implausible, that no pundit of note has commented on it yet, because we're still digesting it."

All anyone knows is what's staring us in the face, the people of egypt are tearing apart their own government, with righteous outrage and complete intolerance for any further puppetry or cabinet reshuffles or cabinet firings from Mubarak. The police were trying to stop that from happening, then the army stepped in to make space for the people to make it happen peacefully. yes the police have backed down... Because the army have tanks, not tear gas and shotguns. The police are outgunned. Can you imagine, ten marines, heavily armed, approaching two TSA goons and saying "you may not pat these people down, you will respect their rights *chkchk* let them pass," and shepperding you through airport security? That's what the tanks in the Egyptian protests are doing, exactly. I wish my country had an army like that.

I hope that makes it clear enough, that the army has been on the side of the people since they first arrived as a third player in this incredible drama in Egypt. Sadly most of the footage I watched live to give me my understanding of the protests, if it was even archived, is sadly lost to my resources. If I do see anything floating around, I will certainly post it.

[noises]

Oh and today, i watched Cairo's million man march attract two million people. Chanting the same chant. out, go out, mubarak must go out.

How many million more will it take for the people of the world to hear them?

YouTube - Million Man March - 2m Turned Up!

[life4living]

Will he say what the people want to hear? If it is just that he won't stand for presidential re-election in September then I think things will take a dramatic turn.

Let's hope he simply stands down.

[Aaron]

oathkeepers

And then, glimpses of people in civvies, riding on tanks! CHANTING! Punching the air as they cried out "out, out, mubarak go out!" Instantly, it was obvious, or it seemed obvious, the army were not going to harm the protesters. That was around 6pm Cairo time on the 28th. Next, the army quickly deployed and put themselves between the police and the protesters. it then looked like the army had stepped in to act as the police, to keep the two fighting groups (police vs citizens) apart. Peacefully.

Al Jaz reporters on the ground reported suddenly said "I just heard a soldier tell the protesters "the riot is over! you must only protest! We will protect you, we will protect you.")

Amazing role models for the American military! This is our own military's
obligation to the people if/when this should ever happen in the U.S.

The American Oathkeepers organization I hope would highlight the
Egyptian Military as a fine example.

[life4living]

They are not having it. The Egyptian people are not settling for the patronising drivel that Mubarek just came out with. His masters said "try this, it might work"

It just shows how much these psychopathic rulers underestimate the people when full of spirit.

The people are now chanting at Mubarek **** OFF!!

[redrichie]

And now it is violent......guns, improvised explosives, fighting. Pro gov and anti gov. Either way this is going to end terrible now. Israel should prepare, the US handlers have to step away. They cant be shown to be getting their hands dirty.
People should ask themselves.....Why violence? why now. It was peaceful. Its because the powers that be, NEED to have a violent revolution in order to latch down their controls. They cant do it if the people are peaceful. A mostly peaceful demonstration yielded a dictator stepping down at end of term. (not fast enough for most im sure). But now pro gov supporters?!!! where have they been? Its a rouse. A trick. Its what is needed for the hate to feed on. PAY ATTENTION AMERICA!!!! this is what is coming

[Aaron]

fake television

I caught a glimpse of a news story on TV last night. I like to skim
thru once in a while.

It showed masses of people on the street - reported to be only a
few hundred thousand.

It talked about Obama talking to the Egyptian president and that the
president will not re-run for election in September.

Crowds of people had their hands raised in the air.

-----------------------------

Basically, it was a bogus propaganda piece. It is making it look like Obama
actually had something to do with this and that the people in the streets
were in celebration because Obama got the president to not re-run.

They did not mention that the Egyptians are even more angry at this.
Nor did they mention that any of the military are actually supporting the
protesters.

[life4living]

Redritch and Aaron, brilliant posts. You've got it in a nutshell.

Those so called 'pro mubarak protestors' are so obviously police - young fit men - no older men, women or children.

And how transparent are the likes of Obama these days. These puppets of the those that rule the world - obama, cameron, merkel, sarkosy, netanyahu - they are so arrogant that they don't realise we see right through them.

I hope to god, like so many others, that good will prevail and those Egyptian people demanding freedom will prevail without further violence, and that their victory will inspire the rest of the world to overthrow, by peaceful means, the dark rulers of OUR world.

[redrichie]

Aaron,
Of course its fake. The facade that is the world powers is starting to crumble. Jordan, knowing what was coming decided to announce last night that it will change its form of gov, even though there arent any real protests there.

I belive it will only take an event for the world economy to come crashing down. It will mean the crash and the de-pegging of the dollar. Is this the event? who knows. But let me propose this. Before the economic crisis preceded high oil prices. $147.00 a barrel to be exact. The prices of everything except homes went up due to the price of oil. They have not come back down. We have just leveled out and gotten used to the prices. Well if hardliners take control of Egypt and the suez canal is closed, even for a little while will drive the price of oil to record highs. Hell, as of an hour ago, newscasters were talking of speculators driving up the prices if the Egypt debacle didnt start to wind down. Well if this were to happen then this could be the event. In a very fragile economic world doubled oil prices will be catastrophic. A destabilized middle east will cause elevated oil prices. So what happens when a group called the Muslim Brotherhood, fathers of Osama Bin Laden, and the alleged mastermind behind 9/11 bombings, and a few other real bad individuals, take control of Egypt. Then Israel is surrounded completely by enemies that have expressed publicly they will destroy them. Hmmm...that would def destabilize.

[ashtweth]

People power works ask activist.
I am been one MOST of my life.

NOW try and get the USA,NZ England and Australia to do the same they are living the same conditions as the Egyptians . Yup like Egypt with a corrupt government living on 2$ a day.how? Americans/WEST corrupt government is forcing the public to be living on 2$ a day COMPARED TO THE CEO SALARY WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN HUMAN HISTORY,


different maths

NOW

you think your free?
have fun with the ipod
WHAT have you learned from Egypt?

You living in the same system just adapted to manipulate you more...Can you make a difference?

NO?

Ask the Egyptians what works.
end of story.

Ash