Internet down, police counterterror unit out in Egypt

[gitana1]

According to some scholars of the Middle East an Iranian-style theocratic regime in turbulent Egypt is very unlikely. Here is a link to a CNN article on this.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/04/egypt.protests.iran.parallel/index.html?hpt=Sbin

That's right. This is a secular movement. If they can hold strong, it should remain so.

 

[gitana1]

The people were so poised for jubilant celebration. Many were already celebrating. They are about to go mad. This is not good.

 

[essies]

The people in Liberation Square are waving their shoes at Hosni Mubarak-not good!! I'm afraid more violence is imminent!!:maddening:

 

[gitana1]

The people in Liberation Square are waving their shoes at Hosni Mubarak-not good!! I'm afraid more violence is imminent!!:maddening:

Me too. These people are freaking out with anger. They thought they were finally going to achieve something significant. The moment I heard his paternalistic tone, as if these people are simply errant children who need a father to care for them, I knew it was over. This means a more sustained and dangerous protest which could possibly lead, if it lasts too long, to extremists being able to take over, as the secular citizenry begin to tire and wear out, which is what happened in Iran, although that is thought to be much less likely in Egypt based on the culture and history there. But in any event, these people are going to blow this thing apart at this time. They are exploding in anger over there right now.
This is horrible. These people are humans and much like us when we fought for our freedom from the British Empire. They want freedom. I think they deserve it like we all do. A 30 year reign of control of the population via secret police, torture, censorship, oppression is far too much of a bad thing. It should not be tolerated.

 

[gitana1]

What concerns me about a democracy in countries like Egypt is the low literacy rate. That leaves voters swayed to what they are told vs what they can read for themselves. Egypt ranks 148 out of 180 nations on literacy, according to a UN report from 2009. To have a "meaningful" democracy, people must make an informed decision.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

Well, the organizers of this protest movement are a highly educated bunch of young people for the most part. If they can stay strong and remain committed, not give up, there is hope. If they start to leave and go to countries where they know their education and willingness to work will be appreciated, the illiterate populous, who are much more likely to follow a charismatic extremist, will be the ones who decide the fate of Egypt. I hope the organizers can stay strong and stay the course.

 

[sherbetjello]

This news, especially the statement from the military, has me thinking. Either another country has influenced the military in Egypt, and that is why that statement was released (military coup, if you will), or the military on their own is trying to induce Mubarak from leaving - and now.

Either way, it's not just inner violence to be worried about - this is where extremism is born and breeds.

 

[legalmania]

Wait NBC is reporting he did transfer all his power, to his vice president. The speech was misunderstood according to Sameh Shoukry, the ambassador of Egypt.

 

[essies]

http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish
Still live streaming from Egypt-
Thousands of protesters have marched to the Presidential Palace
VP Suleiman has told protesters to go home and go back to work
The Foreign Minister has said that a crackdown on the protesters is possibly coming
What will the military do now?
Friday will no doubt be a turning point in Egypt's future!

IMO Mubarak and his regime are out of touch and don't realize the resolve of the young protesters who have known nothing but emergency/martial law since 1981.
Here is a report from yesterday -before Mubaraks non-resignation speech. These protesters are highly educated and aware.
[video=youtube;eRi69_8lyvw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRi69_8lyvw[/video]

 

[belimom]

The people in Liberation Square are waving their shoes at Hosni Mubarak-not good!! I'm afraid more violence is imminent!!:maddening:

bbm

Huge insult in Arabic countries.... A very grave insult to show the bottom of your feet - showing/throwing your shoes is very symbolic. The shoe is symbolic an unclean/dirty thing. That's why it was such a big deal when someone threw their shoe at George W Bush...

(When we moved to Egypt, my husband had to brief me on all the things he knew about such cultural taboos: in meetings, he couldn't cross his legs the way men do b/c the bottom of his shoe would be showing.)

 

[Trino]

They are reporting on CNN that Mubarak is stepping down. This needs to happen soon, businesses are going bankrupt, the tourist industry is stopped. People are going hungry. It's past 10:00 p.m. in Egypt and they are waiting for Mubarak to speak. The tides have changed they are warning the pro Mubarak protesters to stay away or they could get hurt.

Look at this crowd, wow.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/10/egypt.protests/index.html

My step niece and her two young children got out and are now in the US. However, her husband stayed behind to protect their property, etc. Banks have been closed. Now, supposedly, they are open. However, depositors can only draw out a very limited amount.

 

[essies]

Mubarak and his family has left Cairo for Sharm El Sheikh and protestors have surrounded the state tv building. There is an "urgent and important" statement expected from the Presidential Palace shortly.
A police station in northern Sinai has been attacked by 1000 people and one reported casualty.
Live streaming from Egypt-
http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish
[video=youtube;Dnw5S7rMNEE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnw5S7rMNEE[/video]

 

[belimom]

Mubarak and his family has left Cairo for Sharm El Sheikh and protestors have surrounded the state tv building. There is an "urgent and important" statement expected from the Presidential Palace shortly.
A police station in northern Sinai has been attacked by 1000 people and one reported casualty.
Live streaming from Egypt-
http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnw5S7rMNEE

Oh I pity the people who escaped to Sharm from Cairo to get away from the violence... I'm sure protesters will converge upon wherever he is staying. They don't just want him out of Cairo, they want him out of Egypt.

 

[essies]

HOSNI MUBARAK IS GONE-HE HAS STEPPED DOWN!!!!
10,000 people outside the presidential palace!
A senior military official has arrived at the Egypt state tv building!
http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish

 

[belimom]

HOSNI MUBARAK IS GONE-HE HAS STEPPED DOWN!!!!
10,000 people outside the presidential palace!
A senior military official has arrived at the Egypt state tv building!
http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish

CNN headline:

'Egypt is free! Egypt is free!'
Wild cheers erupted from tens of thousands of demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square after word spread that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resigned. Demonstrators chanted "Egypt is free!" upon hearing the news.

 

[gitana1]

I can't believe it! I just turned on the news! Wow!!!

 

[gitana1]

I am stunned. I watched the tape of Suleiman's speech and felt like crying. Wow. I'm very happy for the people of Egypt. I hope they do well.

 

[gitana1]

I guess it was the shoes that did it!

 

[luckyducky]

Egypt's Mubarak steps down: Vice President. Vice President Omar Suleiman said on Friday that President Hosni Mubarak had bowed to pressure from the street and had resigned, handing power to the army, he said in a televised statement.http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/us-egypt-mubarak-idUSTRE71A4CL20110211

 

[luckyducky]

Mubarak’s departure opens the way to a bigger challenge for Egypt

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com...o-a-bigger-challenge-for-egypt/#ixzz1DgLWzSTl​

 

[belimom]

Hey, lucky - there's already a lengthy thread on Egypt. I notified the mods to see if they can merge the two...

Internet down, police counterterror unit out in Egypt - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community