Is Egypt a Microcosm for 2011?

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Topic: Is Egypt a Microcosm for 2011?

Posted By: Mahshadin
Subject: Is Egypt a Microcosm for 2011?
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 9:16am

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8290181/Egyptian-protesters-regroup-after-day-of-rage.html -

Egyptian protesters regroup after day of rage

President Mubarak is clinging to power in Egypt as groups form demanding an end to his 30-year-rule.

Mubarak ordered troops and tanks into the capital Cairo and other cities overnight and imposed a curfew in an attempt to quell protests that have shaken the Arab world's most populous nation, a key US ally, to the core.

Despite dozens of deaths in Friday's clashes, people turned out in the streets Saturday in defiance of security forces and said they would carry on protesting until Mubarak quits.

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Replies:

Posted By: Universal
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 12:39pm

Will the US stand on the side of countires whose people want freedom and not dictatorship or will it stand on the side of its political interest?

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 1:50pm

USA Political Interests (Egypt is a big one)

USA and other Western Interests are actually a pretty big deal here. Between the Suez canal and the Sumed pipeline both in Egypt which account for the movement of over 7 Million Barrels of Oil A Day (Black Gold), not to mention a crucial transport route for the US Navy.

Another noteworthy fact:

Egypt is and has also been for some time on the Top 5 List of Foreign Aid Dollars along side Israel (Over a Billon A Year).

I would imagine their are many nervous people and politicians around the world waiting and wondering what do and waiting to see what will unfold in this key area of the World

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 5:59pm

I think it goes far deeper than that Universal.

If Egypt falls, who then takes control?

If Egypt falls, what happens to the Suez Canal? Take into account that a quarter to a third of all the energy in the world flows through there.

The Egyptian people are angry at a range of issues, some are easily fixed, i.e. Democracy/Representative Government. Others are more difficult, i.e. cost of food, jobs, cost of education, etc. which the Government has no, and can't have control over outside of not overinflating currency (Take heed Mr. Obama) What's going to happen when these issues continue or are made worse?

If Egypt falls, understand that they are really the only area ally Israel has. Will the new leadership be as intelligent as the current one? By that I mean averting a nuclear exchange or worse, a regional arms race culminating in a full exchange. The last time the Arab world seriously tangled with Israel, they got curbstomped. (The Six Day War. The deal where they shot up Lebanon was not serious)

So, knowing this, the U.S. has to weigh the options and go with the least of evils. My take is that we should stay out of it and see what happens, for good or bad.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 6:42pm

Trubo is correct...if the Suez Canal falls into the wrong hands get your bikes out. I lived through the oil embargo it was a mess and today it would be 1,000 times worse. I thank the lord that I have a car that gets 28 miles to a gallon, I work 3 miles from my house, the grocery store is 3 blocks away as well as my grocery store, Walgreens, and my son's job and school.

I will get baskets for our bikes and lose weight as I bike everywhere, except in winter when I use my 28mpg car!

I do not believe Obama and his advisors will handle this well, we will be in trouble soon I fear.

Posted By: TipKat
Date Posted: January 29 2011 at 8:20pm

All good points everyone! Thank you all!

I also want to mention that there are other nations/countries in the middleast that are having problems of their own with their government. First it started with the uprising in Tunsia, Yemen, Egypt and now Algiers has started their own protests. This might be a start of something too huge to calm and how this will affect all intrests around the globe well....ONly time will tell. TipKat

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: January 30 2011 at 6:59pm

WOW

Still spiralling out of control on Sunday, tomorrow should be interesting. People in the streets with baseball bats and kitchen knives defending their homes. Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei (IAEA) shows up on Sunday to rally the crowd at Liberty Square and call for Mubarak to step down.

I guess this would qualify as the first major International Problem for 2011.

Worst case Scenario

Islamic Fundamentalists (Muslim Brotherhood) take control of Egypt and ends Peace Treaty with Israel, and takes control of the Suez canal/Sumed pipeline with 4 to 6 million barrels of oil moving through daily.

Wo, am I just being paranoid?

___________________________

How much will the Market Tumble Tomorrow?

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: January 30 2011 at 10:24pm

Mahshadin wrote:

WOW

I guess this would qualify as the first major International Problem for 2011.

Worst case Scenario

Wo, am I just being paranoid?

___________________________

How much will the Market Tumble Tomorrow?

All good questions.

No easy answers.

My guess is that the market will drop maybe 100, oil prices are going to jump around $4/barrel.

I'll add to your worst case scenario that the Islamic Fundamentalists side with Iran and ignore the whole Arab vs Persian thing to get at Israel.

I'd get a kick out of watching Israel whip all comers at the same time.

Current Oil Price per barrel = $89.55

Minimum buy-in for crude is $10,000 worth.

Hypothetical:
So let's say we all pitch in and buy $10,000 right this second. We'll get 112 barrels, give or take. We sell tomorrow night. Any guesses on whether we make or lose money? This should be interesting!

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: coyote
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 6:45am

I do not believe Obama and his advisors will handle this well, we will be in trouble soon I fear.

I agree with you flumom...I think that the xxxx is starting to hit the fan..

Clinton convenes mass meeting of US ambassadors

www.google.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is convening an unprecedented mass meeting of U.S. ambassadors.

The top envoys from nearly all of America's 260 embassies, consulates and other posts in more than 180 countries will be gathering at the State Department beginning on Monday. Officials say it's the first such global conference.

(visit the link for the full news article)

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Long time lurker since day one to Member.

Posted By: Universal
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 7:13am

Coyote, Clinton is most likely meeting with amabassadors over the Wikileaks fallout.

TG, I don't think it's simple at all. Do we support the seemingly democratic revolution against a government we support in the war with terror or not? if we do, other Middle East nations wil see us as backstabbers. We can't afford that. I think Obama has been doing a decent job so far of balancing these issues. He should tell Muraback to step down soon if the tension escalates. I heard that the top military brass of Egypt was meeting at the pentagon when the crises happened and were told by their pentagon counterparts to exercise restraint. That seems to be what's happening now. The military is playing it calmly. And I believe its because their military listens to us as we are there number one contributer of military aid. If the military does nothing and the uprising continues, with or without muraback willing to step down, the people will eventually take over.

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 10:08am

Universal wrote:

Coyote, Clinton is most likely meeting with amabassadors over the Wikileaks fallout.

Doubtful. I think that boat has sailed. Unless Wikileaks releases something else interesting, they're going to get back burnered.

Universal wrote:

TG, I don't think it's simple at all. Do we support the seemingly democratic revolution against a government we support in the war with terror or not? if we do, other Middle East nations wil see us as backstabbers. We can't afford that. I think Obama has been doing a decent job so far of balancing these issues. He should tell Muraback to step down soon if the tension escalates. I heard that the top military brass of Egypt was meeting at the pentagon when the crises happened and were told by their pentagon counterparts to exercise restraint. That seems to be what's happening now. The military is playing it calmly. And I believe its because their military listens to us as we are there number one contributer of military aid. If the military does nothing and the uprising continues, with or without muraback willing to step down, the people will eventually take over.

Ahh, but that's the rub, Universal. I remember a bunch of Muslim youngsters doing exactly what's happening in Egypt, in their country back in the seventies. They wanted jobs, they wanted expanded freedom, and especially represenative government.

That country is Iran.

Rarely, very, very rarely does a country that topples their government through what's happening now, or through violence, become more free. I can think of only one example, and we're in it, and that's only because George Washington had a concience. They invariably wind up under a dictatorial style of leadership, and in Muslim countries, under a fundamentalist Islamic dictator. Now that the Muslim Brotherhood is in this mess the likelihood of reform for the better is dwindling. My prediction is that if it falls now, they'll be a second Yemen/Iran. Either unable to squash the cancer of extremist Islam, or will be an antagonistic force in the area.

Now I'm not saying we should interviene, not at all, no matter which way it goes, unless they get the idea it'd be fun to close the Suez Canal, which some are talking about doing if they get their way. Now my personal preference is that I want Egypt to fall, turn hardline extremist, close the Suez Canal, run oil to $300 a barrel, and gas to 15/gallon so I can watch the cities burn when the welfare checks run out and there's no food on the shelves to buy it with. I doubt that's going to happen though. There's enough players around the world that might take offense to this that will interveine.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Universal
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 12:57pm

Just to understand you better TG; when you say cities, you are referring to our own or Egypts? Can you clarify?

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 3:04pm

Ours.

If the bribery to not riot checks run out (Welfare) and there's no food on the shelves to buy it with, American cities will burn. We've concentrated our poor into just about 3% of America, and those are the cities.

Last time oil was high, gas only got to $4.75 or so. If it jumps to $200 to $300 a barrel it's going to be $7 or $8 a gallon if $200/barrel oil, and if $300/barrel it'll be closer to $17 a gallon. That is an economic killswitch. $4.75 a gallon gas just about knocked our economy out. At $17 much less $7 a gallon trucks can no longer haul and our food stores absolutely rely on trucks to get the grub from the train station to the supermarket. If that is even slightly curtailed, say 10%, the store starts running out of food.

Considering that most poor in the cities have maybe, MAYBE, a day or two of food in their houses, if there's any supply interruption or slowdown, people are going to run out of food, and the cities will burn.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 4:28pm

http://www.chevrolet.com/volt/">http://www.chevrolet.com/volt/

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 5:51pm

Well

Stocks up, Gold Down, Oil Up

__________________________________

Boy there are no good choices as of yet, other than just staying on the sidelines not giving a clear American Choice which would more than likely en-flame the masses considering the 30 year shaking of hands and looking the other way

________________________________________________

Estimate 50,000 to 75,000 or more Americans Living in Egypt

American Evacuation begins: 900 today flown out (in addition to commercial flights), 1500 or more tomorrow, and more flights to other cities in the next few days, with 2 Navy ships on standby in the red sea which could be used for evacuation efforts if needed.

Marines and agents sent on security mission to American Embassy In Egypt

(How would you like to be on that mission TG?) (Could still go either way)

___________________________________________________________

What A Mess

Doesnt matter how you flip it (Its Still A Mess)

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 8:44pm

Ok, why are Americans leaving Egypt by the droves if there is no huge problem. There has been another travel advisory about terror attacks in Britan and other countries. Clinton is not worried about Wikileaks...give me a break. Clinton is meeting with the Ambassadors because Egypt is a real threat to the U.S. economic stability.

This overthrow could mean huge hikes in gas prices which means any recovery for the U.S. economy is dead in the water. I lived through the Oil Crisis in the 1970's and this was a very dark time for the economy.

You young kids out there in your 20,30's and 40's are you willing to sit in a gas line for 2-4 hours and pay $5-7 or more for a gallon of gas. Think about how much plastic will go up, cost of food, cost of clothing, just to name a few things that "oil" will affect. Inflation was out of control in the 1970's with the Oil Embargo. You kids think things are bad now, LOL you ain't seen nothing yet!

Egypt has no oil but it protects the tranportation and shipping of oil in the whole region. So if they close the Suez Canal we are in a world of hurt! We should have been drilling on land in all the oil pools in Texas, the Baken Oil pool and Alaska to have our own oil. We are fools!

I am going to stock up in the next two weeks since we are in for a very bad ride and anyway...Dec. 21, 2012 is coming up fast. So I am prepping on many levels.

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: January 31 2011 at 9:37pm

Tomorrow gonna be a gamebreaker I think

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 5:03am

Mubarak has Barbed Wire Barrier put up around his residence in Cairo

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 8:28am

Mahshadin wrote:

Mubarak has Barbed Wire Barrier put up around his residence in Cairo

If I were in his shoes, I would too.

Razorwire, and claymores maybe.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 8:56am

Jordons Monarch (King)

Fires the Government and asks EX Army General to form a new Cabinet after similar protests in the streets

______________________________________________________

Sound Familiar?

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Universal
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 9:25am

Ok TG, I don't know about your analyses but the more important question is why you want to see our cities burnt to the ground? Bored?

FM, Time to buy an electric car or a hybrid, time to take the bike to do the shopping. Hopefully if things like plastic become more expensive people won't use them and will force a more green alternative.

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 9:48am

Universal wrote:

Ok TG, I don't know about your analyses but the more important question is why you want to see our cities burnt to the ground? Bored?

Combination of boredom and a desire to get to see defecation hit oscillation. Oh and I want to see how people handle themselves when their milk ticket is cut. There's just too many leeches sucking off the system. It's about time.

We've been forced to pay bribery to these people so they won't riot. I want them to. They'll burn themselves out of their own homes, and have no place else to go and then they'll cease to be a problem.

When it happens I'll be the guy on my roof wearing a pair of socks, a star wars tee shirt and a viking cap shooting off bottle rockets!

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Joe Neubarth
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 12:41pm

As of now, it looks like Mubarak may have headed off the enemy at the pass. By promising to step down in the Fall, he puts his adversaries in the position of planning What If strategy. There is less impetus to riot. Hopefully it works. Riots will only result in Radical Islam taking over the country. The Western World can not have that, so you would see some sort of dollar brokered military takeover.< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="ifofjsCall==''jsCall;elsesetTimeout'jsCall',500;" id="jsProxy" ="">

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Total truth at all times. Why do people have problems with the truth?

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 12:51pm

From the Media... reports are that the Muslim Brotherhood is the only opposition group with organizational skills to run Egypt if Mubarak steps down. If this is true I fear for the world and its global implications.

A global Caliphate, ruled by sharia law. The Muslim Brotherhood has had as their stated goal since 1925.

The Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday announced its support for El Baradei as a "transitional" president. Both El Baradei and the Muslim Brotherhood are backed by Iran.

Taquiya.....what is it about deception to achieve a means to an end.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/elbaradei-tells-abcs-amanpour-muslim-brotherhood-are-in-no-way-extremists/comment-page-2/#comments - ElBaradei Tells ABC’s Amanpour: Muslim Brotherhood are ‘In No Way Extremists’ | The Blaze#comments

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/elbaradei-tells-abcs-amanpour-musli - http://www.theblaze.com/stories/elbaradei-tells-abcs-amanpour-musli

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Muslim Brotherhood: 'Prepare Egyptians for war with Israel'

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130 - By mailto:yaakovl@jpost.com - YAAKOV LAPPIN

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130 -

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130 - http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=206130

02/01/2011 02:00

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

Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease “in order to bring about the downfall of the Mubarak regime.” He added that “the people should be prepared for war against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.”

Ghannem praised Egyptian soldiers deployed by President Hosni Mubarak to Egyptian cities, saying they “would not kill their brothers.” He added that Washington was forced to abandon plans to help Mubarak stay in power after “seeing millions head for the streets.”

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 1:44pm

Ask the Egyptians how that whole attacking Israel thing worked out for them back in that whole "Six Day War."

To put it simply: They got the holy bajeezus shot out of them. Round two would be an even better curbstomping.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Universal
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 6:04pm

Cool, can I hang? I'll be the guy with the buck antlers, only wearing a tie, and the sign that says " Obamacare is a gateway drug"

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 6:11pm

Hosni Mubarak's Speech to Egypt on February 1

(FULL TEXT)Translation

Fellow citizens, I speak to you in very difficult times - /topics/detail/426/egypt/ - Egypt and its people were tested and we were thrown into the unknown. The homeland is undergoing critical events and difficult tests, which have started with honest young people and citizens. They have the right for peaceful demonstrations to express their worries, but they were exploited very quickly by those who wanted to manipulate the situation to create chaos and destroy the constitution.

These demonstrations moved from a civilized expression of practicing freedom of speech to sad confrontations which were organized by political groups who wanted to throw fire on the oil and to threaten the stability, and provoke, and create looting and destruction and fires, and to block roads, and to attack national possessions and public and private possessions, and attacks on some diplomatic missions on /topics/detail/426/egypt/ - Egypt .

We are living together in difficult days, and what hurts our hearts the most and the fear which has overtaken most Egyptians and the anxiety which has overtaken them regarding what tomorrow will bring for them and their families and the future and destiny of their country.

The events of the last few days impose on us all, as people and as a leadership, choosing between chaos and stability and brings in front of us new circumstances and a different Egyptian reality, which our people and our army must deal with in the most wise ways in order to protect Egypt's interests and its children.

My brother and sisters, citizens, I have initiated the formation of a new government with new priorities and initiatives which will respond to our young people's demands and their anxieties. And in dialogue with all political forces, we have discussed all the issues that have been raised regarding democratic and political reforms and constitutional changes -- which will be required in order to fulfill these legitimate demands and the restoration of stability and security.

But there are political forces who have rejected this invitation for dialogue, holding on to their private agendas, and without concern for Egypt's situation, and with their rejection for my invitation to dialogue -- which still stands.

I will directly speak to my people, from its peasants, workers, Muslims, and cooks, its old people and its young people, and to all Egyptian men and women in the countryside and in the cities across the land, and in all the districts. I never wanted power or prestige, and people know the difficult circumstances in which I shouldered the responsibility and what I have given to the homeland during war and during the peace.

I am also a man of the army, and it is not in my nature to give up responsibility. My first responsibility now is to restore the security and stability of the homeland, to achieve a peaceful transition of power in an environment that will protect Egypt and Egyptians, and which will allow for responsibility to be given to whoever the people will elect in the forthcoming elections.

I will say with all honesty -- and without looking at this particular situation -- that I was not intent on standing for the next elections, because I have spent enough time in serving Egypt, and I am now careful to conclude my work for Egypt by presenting Egypt to the next government in a constitutional way which will protect Egypt.

I want to say in clear terms that, in the next few months that are remaining of my current term, I will work very hard to carry out all the necessary measures to transfer power to the authorized legitimate.

The constitutional articles 67 and 77 should be changed to allow very specific periods for presidency, and in order for the parliament to be able to discuss these constitutional changes and the legislative changes which -- of the laws linked to the constitution, and in order to guarantee that all political powers will contribute to these discussions, I ask of the parliament to commit to speed up the elections.

I will pursue the transfer of power in a way that will fulfill the people's demands and that this new government will fulfill the people's demands and their hopes for political, economic and social progress, and for the provision of employment opportunities and fighting poverty and achieving social justice.

And in this context, I want to ask the police to carry out their role in protecting the citizens honestly and to respect their rights and freedoms and their dignity.

I also want to ask censorship authorities and legislative authorities to carry out immediately every measure to pursue those who are corrupt and those who have been responsible for what has happened of all the destructive acts and looting and fires that have taken place in Egypt. This is my promise for the people during the next few months that remain of my current leadership. I ask of God that he will help me to do my job in a way that will be satisfactory to God and to my homeland and its people.

Egypt will come out of these difficult circumstances stronger than it used to be before, more confident, more united, and more stable. Our people will become much more aware of its own self- interests and more careful not to sacrifice its destiny and its stability.

Hosni Mubarak, who's speaking to you today, is proud of all the long years he's spent in the service of people of Egypt. This dear country is my country, just like it is the homeland of every Egyptian man and woman.

I have lived in this country. I have fought for it. I have defended its sovereignty and interest, and I will die on its land, and history will judge me and others.

The homeland will remain, and people will disappear, and Egypt will always remain, and its flag will always be high. And it is our duty to achieve this with dignity and honor, generation after generation.

May God protect this homeland and its people, and peace be upon you, and God's mercy and blessings.

END

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/107709/20110201/mubarack-speech-feb-1-full-text.htm - http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/107709/20110201/mubarack-speech-feb-1-full-text.htm

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 6:56pm

< =480 => < = =text/>

/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121191413252982.html -

/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121191413252982.html -

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 01 2011 at 9:14pm

Clever

Opposition has played their largest card

Followed by A Proud Egyptian Speech

Next Up Pro Mubarek Protests

This has been a crazy week+

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 5:18am

Violence Breaks Out between Pro and Opposition Protesters

Getting Ugly!!

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 6:15am

Universal wrote:

Cool, can I hang? I'll be the guy with the buck antlers, only wearing a tie, and the sign that says " Obamacare is a gateway drug"

You God damn right you can!

I'd specifically expect it!

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 7:11am

Mahshadin wrote:

Violence Breaks Out between Pro and Opposition Protesters

Getting Ugly!!

Yeah Mahshadin, I don't think this is going to end well.

I'm starting to suspect that we're going to have another extremist Muslim country on our hands when all is said and done.

Then we're going to have to worry what they're going to do in regards to Israel...

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: endman
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 1:51pm

Egyptians are saying that they are sick and tired on one party roll that has lost the touch with common people. The news is saying that the other Arab governments should be taking notice and maybe start implementing reforms. And what about us we are in no better shape here either. Two party governments are not a solution and people are getting sick from it too. If oil goes up above $300 and dollar falls we will see people on the streets too.
And yes Chevy Volt, dose anybody knows who makes the main component for this car no not the engine
The battery?

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 3:34pm

GM Fires Up Its Chevrolet Volt Battery Factory

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/01/chevrolet-volt-battery-production/ - http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/01/chevrolet-volt-battery-production/

More detailed inforamtion (Battery Manufacturing)

http://wot.motortrend.com/made-in-usa-gm-to-produce-2010-chevrolet-volt-batteries-in-michigan-3424.html - http://wot.motortrend.com/made-in-usa-gm-to-produce-2010-chevrolet-volt-batteries-in-michigan-3424.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 4:04pm

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he won't run in 2013 elections

Before a day of planned protests, Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he won't seek another term and his son won't be his successor.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-yemen-president-20110203,0,4058776.story?track=rss - http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-yemen-president-20110203,0,4058776.story?track=rss

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 4:21pm

Turboguy wrote:

Mahshadin wrote:

Violence Breaks Out between Pro and Opposition Protesters

Getting Ugly!!

Yeah Mahshadin, I don't think this is going to end well.

I'm starting to suspect that we're going to have another extremist Muslim country on our hands when all is said and done.

Then we're going to have to worry what they're going to do in regards to Israel...

______________________________________________________

If we could only convince them to add to their Constitution:

SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Real Democracy or Freedom Without That

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 7:10pm

Molotov cocktail battles on the streets

Sustained Gunfire in and Around Liberty Square

Pro and Opposing forces fight for high ground overlooking Liberty Square

People being taken into custody on the street and interigated

Some fires still burning

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 7:53pm

Mahshadin wrote:

Turboguy wrote:

Mahshadin wrote:

Violence Breaks Out between Pro and Opposition Protesters

Getting Ugly!!

Yeah Mahshadin, I don't think this is going to end well.

I'm starting to suspect that we're going to have another extremist Muslim country on our hands when all is said and done.

Then we're going to have to worry what they're going to do in regards to Israel...

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If we could only convince them to add to their Constitution:

SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Real Democracy or Freedom Without That

QFT (Quoted For Truth)

FunFact - That clause isn't in our Constitution either! It simply states that there'll be no ESTABLISHMENT of religion, i.e. telling everyone they MUST be Protestant.

In a Muslim country it is ABSOLUTELY necessary or you have morons like the Taliban in Afghanistan blowing up statues made a millenia before Islam because they wrongly believe that noting predates Islam! They're like those 6000 year old Earth Christians. Or Hassidics howling that they don't need weapons, yet at the same time howling that they be protected by the IDF and THEIR weapons...

While I'm glad they wrongly attribute the Separation of Church and State to our Constitution, I think the ACLU and others are taking that little deal a bit too far. That's a debate for another thread, however.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 3:48pm

Looks mlike the press is now being restricted. Went from 2 or three live feeds 2 days ago to short clips today, coulnt find a live feed anywhere.

HMMM

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 6:43pm

Interesting article/not sure on website

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Thursday, February 3, 2011

Israel beefs up troops on Egyptian border

Israel's military has increased its presence on the border with Egypt over fears that terrorists and migrants will take advantage of the unrest in Egypt to cross into Israel.

The army and border police also are concerned that large groups of Bedouins living in the Sinai will attempt to flee into Israel.

Egypt moved 800 troops into the Sinai on Jan. 31 to quell Bedouin riots, the Israeli daily Ha�aretz reported, part of the demonstrations throughout the country calling for the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The movement of troops into Sinai, which is a violation of the peace accord between Israel and Egypt, reportedly was undertaken with Israel's permission. --jta

http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/60724/israel-beefs-up-troops-on-egyptian-border - http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/60724/israel-beefs-up-troops-on-egyptian-border

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 7:29pm

Grand Theft Auto Cairo!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a8f_1296761547 - http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a8f_1296761547

This is a great video. I'll bet this person gets at least fifteen confirmed in this bowling strike!

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: endman
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 8:12am

.S., China Firms To Make Electric-Car Batteries in Ohio

California-based electric-car startup Coda Automotive plans to build a factory in Ohio that it said could employ more than 1,000 workers and that will use Chinese technology to produce automotive-grade lithium-ion batteries for an all-electric car Coda plans to launch in California later this year.

The deal is a rare example of a U.S. auto maker having to tap a Chinese company for advanced technology. Another unusual facet of the venture is the planned creation of manufacturing jobs both in China and the U.S.

Closely held Coda, which announced the move Tuesday, will final-assemble the electric car at a facility in the greater Los Angeles area with component modules produced in China. It will initially make the car available only in California, where it is targeting sales of 14,000 electric sedans by the end of 2011.

Initially, Coda plans to bring in batteries from Tianjin, China, where Coda recently opened a battery plant it jointly owns and runs with Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co. That plant has capacity to produce more than 20,000 battery packs a year, but because electric-car-grade, lithium-ion batteries are heavy and expensive to ship across the Pacific, Coda has been searching for a production site in the U.S..

The Santa Monica, Calif., company said it is still considering several sites within Ohio for the facility. Construction of the facility is also "contingent upon finalizing an incentive package with the state of Ohio and the approval of an application for a loan from the Department of Energy," which the company said it plans to submit soon.

Few details are known about Coda's financials; the company said in March that together with Lishen it had raised $100 million in committed capital for its joint venture in Tianjin. Its board of advisers includes Henry Paulson, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary and CEO of Goldman Sachs, who also has taken an undisclosed stake in the company.

While the basic technology for lithium-ion batteries have been around for a while, technology to make batteries safe enough to be used to power cars has proved elusive. A few years ago when Coda began designing the all-electric sedan, "there were no U.S. suppliers of [large, vehicle-grade] battery systems, period," Coda Chief Executive Kevin Czinger said in an interview in Tianjin over the weekend, prompting Coda to look to China.

"We found luckily a great partner that was very open-minded and said let's work together on your technology," he said.

Lishen, already an established supplier of lightweight batteries for Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iTouch devices, "fully supports our decision" to build a manufacturing plant in the U.S. rather than producing those batteries in China and exporting them to the U.S., said Mr. Czinger, who like Mr. Paulson has a professional past at Goldman Sachs.

"We are really an example of how to do this: how China and the U.S. can work together and accelerate the creation and adoption of a new technology and build jobs in both places in a balanced and harmonious way."

Mr. Czinger said Coda will be the controlling shareholder of the battery-production venture in Ohio. Lishen, he said, is expected to take a "small minority interest" in the venture.

The knowhow involved in coming up with an automotive-grade battery is one of the most critical in making an electric car attractive to everyday consumers by giving it a relatively long driving range. Coda said its compact all-electric sedan will have a driving range, depending on individual driving habits, of 100-120 miles on a single, full charge.

Coda said that at a price of around $35,000 after about $7,000 to $7,500 of federal tax incentives, it expects the car to compete with electric battery cars like the $32,780 Nissan Leaf sedan, which Japan's Nissan Motor Co. plans to launch in the U.S. in December.

Mr. Czinger said Coda aims to "replicate" in Ohio the Coda-Lishen manufacturing plant in Tianjin, which he showed off this weekend to visiting U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. The proposed U.S. plant is expected to eventually create "thousands of jobs," he said.

"Energy is a $6 trillion global market," said Mr. Locke in a news conference in Tianjin Saturday. "The United States and China are leaders in clean energy, and we simply must work together more than we have ever before, so that we can sustain long-term economic growth in each of our countries and create more jobs."

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 2:06pm

Can there be Freedom and Democracy for all in Egypt without seperation of Church & State ?????

How about the people below

I f Islam takes control politically then one mans morality will be legislated over another (Is that Freedom)

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Egypt's Coptic Christians fear life without Mubarak

By Edmund Sanders, Los Angeles Times February 3, 2011

The Copts have protested the harassment directed at them under the Egyptian president's rule, but worry that things would be far worse if Islamist extremists gained power.

Coptic Christian pro-government supporters march in Cairo, Egypt. (Patrick Baz / AFP/Getty Images)

Reporting from Alexandria, Egypt —

The morning bells of All Saints Church beckon worshipers a little later these days, and Mass is celebrated more frequently.

The schedule shift for the early service has come in response to the government-imposed overnight curfew. The extra services? Coptic Christians in http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/egypt-PLGEO00000078.topic - Egypt's second-largest city say they have a lot of reasons to pray amid the nation's ongoing turmoil.

But in a surprise even to them, many Copts say they now find themselves praying for President http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/hosni-mubarak-PEPLT007537.topic - Hosni Mubarak 's government to last as long as possible.

It's not that the Copts — who make up about 10% of Egypt's population of more than 80 million — see the autocratic three-decade president as a great friend. Far from it, they say. As recently as last month, Christian youths in this coastal city protested what they called the government's failure to root out growing anti-Copt harassment, which culminated in a http://www.latimes.com/topic/arts-culture/holidays/new-years-day-EVFES000168.topic - New Year's Day bombing that killed 24 worshipers outside All Saints.

Weeks before anti-Mubarak demonstrators in Cairo began their occupation of Tahrir Square, Copt protesters in Alexandria were choking on tear gas as they faced down government police.

But now, many say they're rethinking their opposition to Mubarak's government, fearing its collapse might spur an anti-Christian backlash if the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamist groups gain a foothold.

"He's the best of the worst," said Sameh Joseph, a church worker at the Patriarch of the Orthodox Christians Church in Alexandria. "Whoever comes after him might want to destroy us."

So when more than 100,000 anti-government protesters took to the streets here Tuesday, most Copts steered clear.

"Everyone is scared about what is happening," said Samya Hammoui, who lost two sisters and two nieces in the Jan. 1 bombing. Government officials blamed the attack on a Palestinian terrorist cell from the http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/gaza-strip-PLGEOREG0000028.topic - Gaza Strip .

"If one of the Islamic extremists took over, things for us would be much worse," she said.

In contrast to their criticism of Mubarak after the bombing, Christian leaders in Egypt have more recently been stressing the need to maintain order.

On Sunday, Coptic Pope Shenouda III said on government-run television that Egyptians should "safeguard the security and stability of the country."

The government began beefing up security around churches after the bombing, but when the pro-Mubarak police walked off the job last week, church officials scrambled to fill the void.

At All Saints, guards check worshipers at the door and an ambulance stands ready in the courtyard, parked under a poster of Jesus.

There have been no reports of attacks on Copts in Alexandria since the http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/activism/protest/egypt-anti-government-protests-%282011%29-EVGAP00001.topic - anti-government protests began, though after the Jan. 1 bombing, Christians and Muslims clashed briefly on the streets.

The recent unrest may actually be working to bring the two sides together, officials of the church said, at least in the short term.

Outside the Patriarch church near the city center, a vigilante squad of mostly Muslims is now protecting the facility at night. Similar teams are set up at churches around the city.

"Muslims and Christians are brothers," said Mohamed Elnokary, 40, holding a wooden club as he inspected cars this week at a checkpoint outside Patriarch. "No one is going to divide us."

Working by his side was Mina Fakhry, 25, a Coptic Christian who owns a nearby clothing shop. The two men say they've had no problems working together, despite the fact that they disagree fervently about whether Mubarak should quit.

Elnokary wants to see the president leave, blaming him for the country's economic stagnation. Fakhry shrugged and said: "I guess he's not so bad. He could stay."

Several Copts acknowledged that their newfound appreciation for Mubarak was based largely on their confidence in his ability to maintain order and keep Islamist extremists at bay.

Nevertheless, Copts have faulted the government for failing to stop a string of attacks over the last year, which also included a Christmas Eve drive-by shooting that killed six of them. A bishop has also been threatened, and Christians have been publicly derided for allegedly holding converts to Islam "hostage." They've also been blamed for bringing swine flu to Egypt.

"All this kept happening and the president did nothing," said Mena Grace, 22, an engineer in Alexandria. Grace, a Copt, recalled how members of one extremist group defaced a picture of the Coptic pope by stepping all over it in public.

"Now Egyptians are doing the same thing with Mubarak's picture," Grace said. "It's like God is getting even with him."

Does he want Mubarak to leave?

"No, stay," Grace said. "He's better than anyone else."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/religion/la-fg-egypt-coptics-20110204,0,2113331.story?track=rss - http://www.latimes.com/news/local/religion/la-fg-egypt-coptics-20110204,0,2113331.story?track=rss

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 9:25pm

Is this another Microcosm for 2011-12

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Food Prices Hit Record High, Respite Unlikely

Reuters
05 February 2011 08:28:37 Oman Time

MILAN/WASHINGTON: Global food prices tracked by a United Nations agency hit their highest level on record in January, a problem set to worsen after a massive snowstorm in the United States and floods in Australia.
The UN said on Thursday its Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index rose for the seventh month in a row to reach 231 in January, topping the peak of 224.1 last seen in June 2008. It is the highest level the index has reached since records began in 1990.
“These high prices are likely to persist in the months to come,” FAO economist and grains expert Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement. Wheat underscored the problem affecting commodity prices around the world, settling on Thursday slightly lower after hitting a two-and-a-half-year high earlier in the day. Corn and soybeans, which also have been hovering near long-term highs, also declined.
Global food inflation is a mounting worry for world leaders. It has contributed to political unrest in countries with high poverty rates and unemployment, as evidenced in the toppling of Tunisia’s president in January. That unrest has spilled into Egypt, Yemen and Jordan.
In response, some countries are increasing food imports and have built stockpiles to meet their domestic needs. Among them is Algeria, wary after food riots in early January. It has made huge wheat purchases to avoid shortages, and on Thursday it announced plans to lift a 19-year-old state of emergency in a bid to avert spreading protests.
In Central America, Honduras has frozen prices on many basic foodstuffs despite complaints from farmers. El Salvador is increasing anti-poverty programs by 30 per cent, and Guatemala is considering slashing import tariffs on wheat and is handing out food and cash vouchers to landless peasants.
Supply the key
World Bank president Robert Zoellick urged world leaders to ‘wake up’ to the dangers of rising food inflation, a problem said he sees no relief from.
“We are going to be facing a broader trend of increasing commodity prices, including food commodity prices,” he said.
Catastrophic storms and droughts have slammed the world’s leading agriculture countries in recent months, including flooding and a massive cyclone in Australia and a powerful winter storm that swept across the United States.
Dubbed ‘Stormageddon’, one of the biggest snowstorm in decades dumped up to 20 inches (51cm) of snow in some parts of the US grain belt this week, paralysing the shipment of grain and livestock.
A deep-freeze forecast for the Midwest, the bread basket of the United States, threatens the region’s winter wheat because it may lack sufficient insulating moisture to withstand the cold.
Sugar prices also have surged to three-decade highs on fears of damage Cyclone Yasi would bring to the Australian cane crop. Prices for Malaysian palm oil, a cooking staple in the developing world, hit 3-year highs on flooding.
Big companies have had to adjust to higher raw material costs. Kellogg, the world’s largest breakfast cereal company, said it has boosted prices on many of its products to offset rising costs for ingredients such as grains and sugar. - Reuters
“Today’s announcement by the Food and Agriculture Organisation should ring alarm bells in capitals around the world,” said Gawain Kripke, a policy and research director for Oxfam America, an international development group.
“Governments must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past when countries reacted to spiraling prices by banning exports and hoarding food. This will only make the situation worse and it is the world’s poorest people who will pay the price,” he said.
Janis Huebner, economist at Germany’s DekaBank said inflation partly fueled by increasing food prices could in turn trigger interest rate rises in several countries this year. “This could mean a slowing down of growth in the countries which raise their interest rates,” he said. “This could involve Asian countries and other regions, this would somewhat brake growth but I do not expect a hard landing.”
Stock building
Some countries, particularly where food prices loom large in household budgets, have been building up food stocks to contain prices — and to limit the political and social fallout.
During the last food price crisis, the World Bank estimated that some 870 million people in developing countries were hungry or malnourished.
The FAO estimates that number has increased to 925 million.
“The year 2008 should have been a wake-up call, but I’m not yet sure all the countries in the world that we need to support this have woken up to it,” Zoellick said.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, last week bought 820,000 tonnes of rice, lifting rice prices, while suspending import duties on rice, soybeans and wheat. Algeria bought almost 1 million tonnes of wheat, bringing its purchases to at least 1.75 million since the start of January, and ordered a speeding up of grain imports.
On a day of bloody confrontation in Egypt, where protesters are demanding an end to the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, the UN World Food Programme’s executive director Josette Sheeran said the world was now in an era where it had to be very serious about food supply.
“If people don’t have enough to eat they only have three options: they can revolt, they can migrate or they can die. We need a better action plan,” she said.

http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=41451 - http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=41451

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: coyote
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 2:45am

This isn't good....

Report: Saboteurs attack Egypt-Israel gas pipeline

www.ynetnews.com

Saboteurs blew up a pipeline that runs through Egypt's North Sinai and supplies gas to Israel, state television reported on Saturday, although it was not immediately clear what impact the blast had on gas flows.

(visit the link for the full news article)

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Long time lurker since day one to Member.

Posted By: coyote
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 2:49am

Update...

Natural gas supply to Israel cut off after blast at Egyptian terminal

JERUSALEM -- Egypt temporarily suspended its natural gas supply to Israel as a security precaution after an explosion at a terminal in the northern Sinai Peninsula, Israel radio said Saturday.

The Egyptian regional governor told Nile News TV that he suspected "sabotage" at the el-Arish gas terminal but did not elaborate, the Associated Press reported. The blast set off a fire that could be seen for dozens of miles.

Gov. Abdel Wahab Mabrouk said the fire was brought under control by mid-morning, the AP reported. Technicians had to shut off valves controlling the flow of gas from the terminal into pipelines transporting gas to Israel, Syria and Jordan.

Israeli radio said the explosion damaged a pipeline to Jordan, not to Israel, but the supply to Israel was cut off as a temporary precaution.

In recent days, Israelis have worried about the possibility of a cutoff of natural gas shipments from Egypt as a result of the turmoil and political uncertainty there.

"Following the pipeline explosion in [Egypt], the security establishment has taken steps to beef up security at all installations related to the supply of gas to Israel," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's office said in a statement Saturday.

Israel's main electricity company said service to homes would not be interrupted.

Egypt sells Israel 60 billion cubic feet a year under a 15-year deal that started in February 2008, according to the AP.

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Long time lurker since day one to Member.

Posted By: Joe Neubarth
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 7:28am

Universal wrote:

Will the US stand on the side of countires whose people want freedom and not dictatorship or will it stand on the side of its political interest?

Actually both and neither depending upon the situation. Having a government of Radical Islam is not freedom. Ask the women who have been sentenced to death for minor transgressions.

Once Radical Islam takes over there is no freedom for the masses. The US has tried to set countries in the region on the path to democracy, but it looks like the experiment on the low IQ uneducated masses has failed.

The only form of government that can control the insanity of the unwashed and uneducated masses appears to be a king or king-like government. Short of that all you can have is anarchy.
< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="ifofjsCall==''jsCall;elsesetTimeout'jsCall',500;" id="jsProxy" ="">

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Total truth at all times. Why do people have problems with the truth?

Posted By: Joe Neubarth
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 7:48am

Mahshadin wrote:

Is this another Microcosm for 2011-12

___________________________________________________

Food Prices Hit Record High, Respite Unlikely

Reuters
05 February 2011 08:28:37 Oman Time

Sugar prices also have surged to three-decade highs on fears of damage Cyclone Yasi would bring to the Australian cane crop. Prices for Malaysian palm oil, a cooking staple in the developing world, hit 3-year highs on flooding.
Big companies have had to adjust to higher raw material costs. Kellogg, the world’s largest breakfast cereal company, said it has boosted prices on many of its products to offset rising costs for ingredients such as grains and sugar. - Reuters

http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=41451 - http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=41451

The reality of the situation is that massive gouging is taking place. Just like the Gasoline refining industry that has been claiming that fires or a fire in one small refinery has forced them to raise the price of gasoline by 25 cents to 50 cents a gallon, (They have been pulling this crap for the past fifty years.) There is no correlation between cause and effect when the refineries are operating at 60 percent of capacity. Total corruption from the top on down.

If you believe the lies of the oil refining industry you will probably believe anything, so now the food suppliers are trying outrageous lies.

Consider the palm oil. That comes from mature coconuts. They are harvested, husked, split in two and the white meat of the coconut is removed and stored as copra (white coconut meat that has started to turn rancid and brown. It can be shipped that way and sent to processing plants where the brown copra is ground up and squeezed so that the juices from the copra flow out. A large percentage of that juice is Palm Oil. Palm trees can do fine in standing water from monsoon like floods that always dissipate in a few days. There is nothing to interrupt the process of harvesting the mature coconuts, thus there is no interruption in the supply of palm oil. In reality there is a surplus, but commodity traders who make their money manipulating the market to their advantage start the outrageous rumor and then bid the price of cooking oil up. The only thing that we need to do to correct the situation is stop the illegal practice of the traders. China has a darn good program for dealing with corrupt people like that. They try the scoundrels in front of three judges who are experts in commodity trading, find them guilty of defrauding the public and shoot them........

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Total truth at all times. Why do people have problems with the truth?

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 9:25am

US expert: Egypt army to dump Mubarak, retain role

By WILLIAM MACLEAN, Security Correspondent

MUNICH, Feb 5-Egypt's Army is working with the West to remove President Hosni Mubarak from power in return for keeping its behind-the-scenes dominance of the political system, a leading Western expert on the Egyptian armed forces said.

Robert Springborg, Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, said the army was dragging out a resolution of the crisis to "exhaust" the energy of a 12-day-old revolt against Mubarak 30-year-old rule.

The tactic would also focus the anger of the uprising against Mubarak, and not against the military-based system.

"Its political jujitsu on the part of the military to get the crowd worked up and focused on Mubarak and then he will be offered as a sacrifice in some way," he said by telephone.

"And in the meantime the military is seen as the saviors of the nation."

Mubarak, who has pledged to step down in September, said on Thursday he believed Egypt would descend into chaos if he were to give in to almost two weeks of demands by an unprecedented popular revolt that he quit immediately.

He has styled himself as a bulwark against Islamist militancy and essential actor in maintaining a peace treaty Egypt signed with Israel in 1979.

Springborg said the United States and Europe appeared to be willing to go along with a continued powerful military role, at the risk of dashing the uprising's hopes for democracy, because they feared the consequences of turmoil in the Arab world's most populous nation.

"The military will engineer a succession. The West-the U.S. and EU-are working to that end.

"We are working closely with the military ... to ensure a continuation of a dominant role of the military in the society, the polity and the economy."

"The demands (from the West) are not for the removal of the military from power and to establish a civilian-led democracy. The demands have been for the military to organise a transition."

Speaking at a security conference in Munich, the leaders of Germany and Britain said on Saturday they wanted Egypt to change its leadership rapidly and start political reforms, but to take its time holding elections, saying traditions of tolerance and fairness had to be built to make democracy work.

Opposition 'outplayed'

Springborg said he did not know whether Mubarak was involved in all the dealings between the army and Western governments, and he suspected the veteran leader would like to stay in office until his mandate expires in September.

"But what he must have is what the military must have, and that is a continuation of military rule" because only continued military influence in the apparatus of power would guarantee that Mubarak and his family and associates would not be persecuted by a future government after his resignation.

Egypt's large armed forces--the world's 10th biggest--have been at the heart of power since army officers staged the 1952 overthrow of the monarchy.

Egyptians tend to respect the military, which is less linked with daily repression than police and security agencies.

Springborg said he expected divisions to appear in the ranks of the uprising when it became apparent that it had failed to bring about a democratic transformation of the country. But this would not lead to significant instability in the short-term.

"So what are the people who did all this left with? The feeling that they got rid of Mubarak. Some will congratulate themselves. Some will feel they got outplayed in the endgame. But they will be fragmented for some considerable period of time."--Reuters

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/212345/us-expert-egypt-army-to-dump-mubarak-retain-role - http://www.gmanews.tv/story/212345/us-expert-egypt-army-to-dump-mubarak-retain-role

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Joe Neubarth
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 8:15pm

Turboguy wrote:

Ask the Egyptians how that whole attacking Israel thing worked out for them back in that whole "Six Day War."

To put it simply: They got the holy bajeezus shot out of them. Round two would be an even better curbstomping.

Actually, Egypt remembers 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973.....

In 48, the Egyptian army with tanks and artillery and planes could not defeat a bunch of Jewish teenagers in the Negev. The teenagers had old hand guns, hunting rifles (Mostly .22 caliber or similar) and gasoline in bottles and with those weapons managed to defeat the Egyptian army in every confrontation. The Egyptians pulled back as did the Arab armies of Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, Syria and Iraq. All were defeated by teenagers and old men fighting with weapons that should have been no match for the modern weapons of the Arab armies. Hell, the Trans-Jordanian forces were officered by British Officers. The Jewish kids still kicked ass.

In 1956 Egypt committed an act of war by moving their massive army up to the border with Israel and threatened to kill all of the Jews and drive them into the sea. They then sealed off Sharm el Sheik to Israeli shipping (another overt act of war.) Israel counterattacked and destroyed the entire Egyptian army in a drive towards the Suez Canal. It was a slaughter because for the first time the Israelis had some old World War Two tanks. After the fighting was over, the UN decided to put "Observers" in the Sinai to keep the Egyptians from foolishly putting their entire army up on the border with Israel as they had.

In 1967 the Egyptians loaded with Russian weapons and cannons and artillery and jets and bombers ordered the UN out of the Sinai and moved their army up to the border with Israel. Talk about grossly stupid ineptitude! They then started saying that they were going to kill all of the Jews and drive them into the sea. Their radio stations played martial music and their mullahs issued fatwas that said it would be OK for Egyptian soldiers to rape Jewish maidens in time of war. Their soldiers were eager for this opportunity to taste the fruits of Paradise as Allah had promised them. They sealed off Sharm el Sheik, AGAIN, thus committing an overt act of war. Israel responded, of course, and in a few hours of air battle, destroyed the Egyptian Air Force. For the most part the most modern weapons in their air force were French Mirage Jets, but they were well trained and knew how to use them to advantage. The secret Egyptian attack plan had been for Syria and Jordan to attack Israel in their joint effort to drive them into the sea. While the Israeli Army was racing towards the Suez canal AGAIN, Syria attacked the border with Israel and Jordan attacked the middle of Israel in an effort to drive to the sea. All of the Arab armies were defeated and driven back by the Israeli Army even though the Israeli's were outnumbered in overwhelming fashion. Those reservists called up to active duty performed as if their lives and the lives of their wives and children depended upon it. I guess they did.

In 1973, Egypt with more new weapons from Russia decided to break a UN armistice and attack across the Suez Canal and kill a bunch of reservists who were guarding Israeli positions miles east of the Suez Canal. Well, at least this time they did not start broadcasting that they were going to kill all of the Jews and drive them into the sea. In violation of UN agreements, the poured their army across the Suez into their bridge head they had established while Israel was calling up all of the reservists. Once the reservists were assembled in their units the Israelis counter attacked against Egypt, crossed the southern Suez Canal and drove up the western bank and completely cut off the Egyptian Army and were in a position to destroy it totally when they agreed to an armistice. The feeling in the Israeli Army was that they finally needed to give the Egyptians a break. Sure, they could have totally destroyed an army and all of its men with artillery, but they would gain nothing from it. In the Golan Heights Syria attacked (another secret agreement with Egypt) and made some advances while the Israeli Army was fighting up the west bank of the Suez canal. Once the Egyptian army was defeated and completely contained to their amazement, the Israelis counter attacked the Syrians and were well on their way to Damascus when an agreement was reached to stop the fighting. In both Egypt and Syria the Israeli Army could have marched on the Arab capitals (Cairo and Damascus), but they saw nothing that could be gained by totally embarassing the enemy armies.

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Total truth at all times. Why do people have problems with the truth?

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 9:05pm

Mubarak meets cabinet as Egypt uprising rolls on

Ali Khalil February 6, 2011 - 6:49AM

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak huddled with his new government for the first time on Saturday, and the executive committee of his ruling party quit en masse on day 12 of the protests against his regime.

The turmoil in Cairo loomed large over a meeting in Munich, Germany of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet, where US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that the Middle East faced a bumpy road on the transition to democracy.

At the same time, Clinton praised the "restraint" shown by the Egyptian security forces during a mass demonstration on Friday, billed as the "day of departure" for Mubarak by protesters.

In Munich, US President Barack Obama's special envoy Frank Wisner said Mubarak should stay in office during a democratic transition.

"The president must stay in office in order to steer those changes through," Wisner, who met Mubarak this week, told the Munich Security Conference via video link. "President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical.

"It's his opportunity to write his own legacy. He has given 60 years of his life to the service of his country, this is an ideal moment for him to show the way forward."

At least 300 people are believed to have been killed and thousands injured since the protests began on January 25, according to the United Nations high commissioner for human rights.

With big crowds swelling anew in Tahrir Square, epicentre of a stubborn campaign to get Mubarak to stand down immediately, the veteran president met for the first time with the government he had sworn in five days earlier.

Present were his new prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, the ministers of petroleum, trade, finance and social solidarity, and the head of the central bank, state news agency MENA reported.

Later in the day, state television said that the executive committee of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), which includes his son Gamal Mubarak, had resigned en masse.

"The members of the executive committee resigned from their posts," it said, adding that Hossam Badrawi -- reputed to have good relations with opposition figures -- would take over as NDP secretary general and political bureau chief.

"We view this as a positive step toward the political change that will be necessary, and look forward to additional steps," an Obama administration official said in Washington.

In northern Sinai, a pipeline sending Egyptian gas to Jordan was attacked, officials said, prompting gas supplies to Israel to be halted as well. It was unclear if the attack was linked to the anti-Mubarak movement.

A blast followed by a fire was also reported at a Coptic church in Rafah bordering the Gaza Strip, although a local official denied an explosion was the cause.

Gunfire was heard in Tahrir Square early on Saturday as several thousand protesters spent a chilly night alongside Egyptian army tanks, regarded as protection from riot police or pro-Mubarak militants.

Witnesses said warning shots were fired by soldiers on the nearby October bridge over the River Nile to prevent a clash between pro- and anti-Mubarak groups.

France on Saturday said it suspended sales of arms and riot police equipment to Egypt two weeks ago after the outbreak of the mass protests which have produced deadly clashes with police as well as between rival supporters.

In the latest reported fatality, Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mohammed Mahmud died on Friday of gunshot wounds sustained during clashes between Mubarak supporters and anti-government protesters, the state-owned Al-Ahram daily said.

Despite a return to relative calm, Egypt's stock exchange will not reopen on Monday, as previously announced, MENA reported. Banks, however, were due to resume business on Sunday.

Mubarak, 82, whose three decades as leader of the Arab world's most populous nation had gone unchallenged until now, has said he is "fed up" with his job, but prefers to stay in power until September while calm is restored.

But protesters -- inspired by the downfall of Tunisia's long-time president last month -- want Mubarak out immediately, while the European Union and the United States are stepping up pressure for a transition to begin.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is refusing to negotiate with the government, has kept a low profile because it does not want the revolt to be seen as an Islamic revolution, a leader said in an interview to be published on Monday.

"It is an uprising of the Egyptian people," Rashad al-Bayoumi, a spokesman for the influential group, told the German weekly Der Spiegel.

George Ishaq of the opposition group Kefaya ("Enough" in Arabic), speaking on Al-Jazeera television, said on Saturday his secular group was opposed both to a religious state in a post-Mubarak Egypt and to foreign intervention.

The head of the pro-democracy group denied any rift between the uprising's secular and Islamic strands. "The opposition has demands which should be taken into account... The demands are united and we will hold on to them," he said.

Citing unnamed US and Egyptian officials, the New York Times reported that new vice president Omar Suleiman and senior Egyptian military leaders are exploring ways for Mubarak to make a graceful exit.

Rather than go immediately, they said, Mubarak's powers would be scaled back, enabling the creation of a transitional government headed by Suleiman, the former intelligence chief, to negotiate reforms with the opposition.

In Munich, Clinton warned that a transition in Egypt could "backslide into just another authoritarian regime."

"Revolutions have overthrown dictators in the name of democracy, only to see the political process hijacked by new autocrats who use violence, deception, and rigged elections to stay in power, or to advance an agenda of extremism."

But she told her Quartet partners that "the status quo is simply not sustainable... Across the region, there must be clear and real progress toward open, transparent, fair, and accountable systems."

The Quartet -- comprising Russia, the United States, the European Union and United Nations -- was meeting to explore ways of reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

In a new blow to Egypt's tourist industry, Russia's federal tourism agency Rostourism called on the 28,000 Russians now on holiday there to return home, even if most are at relatively calm Red Sea resorts.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/mubarak-meets-cabinet-as-egypt-uprising-rolls-on-20110206-1ahz7.html - http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/mubarak-meets-cabinet-as-egypt-uprising-rolls-on-20110206-1ahz7.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 9:16am

Joe Neubarth wrote:

<Awesome Information Snipped>

AWESOME POST MAN!

Very, very, very rarely have I chanced upon a post like that. I was riveted to that one.

I've got firsthand experience with the laughable disaster that is Muslim military affairs.

Unlike, say, the U.S. military, their officers are 100% to a man nobility. The social distance between enlistedmen and officers in their militaries is far beyond that which you could imagine. The officers live in amazing wealth, the best of food, nicest vehicles, etc. The enlistedmen live in squalor, their food wouldn't even be considered garbage to U.S. Servicemen.

While over there our Iraqi trainees loved us because we'd bring them to eat in our chowhall. To them eating there was akin to a Thanksgiving dinner every meal of the day. They couldn't believe that enlisted and officers in the U.S. military eat shoulder to shoulder, not only in the same area, but the same food!

Further you have a major problem with knowledge transfer! In the U.S. military teaching as many people as possible your skills is not only suggested, it is EXPECTED! Muslim militaries are diametrically opposed to this practice. I would teach one guy to strip, load, fire, and perform work on a M240 GPMG. This person was supposed to be a trainer of others, but he'd only train them to load and fire the weapon. Removing barrels, gas system work, etc he'd keep to himself so he could be the "Go To" guy and ensure his usefulness. He would jealously guard his new knowledge to the point that when in frustration I printed off a couple hundred weapon system manuals, had them translated, and handed them out, I found them, *ALL* of them in his office later that day. He'd ordered them all turned in.

If the guy with the knowledge gets killed, nobody else can fill his role, and not only is his squad affected by his loss, the entire FORCE might be affected if he's guarded his knowledge well enough! If someone in charge got killed the rest of the people under his command were completely unable to regain cohesion and could be easily wiped out.

Enlisted people have just about zero responsibility. They're peons and that's about it. Even their lower officer ranks have about as much responsibility as U.S. Military Lower Enlisted ranks! Their O1- O4 were about equivalent to our E3 - E4's! All of the responsibility was at the top and nothing could happen without the head guy's say so. Orders are slow to make it to frontline guys and have to be signed all the way to the top. It's about the most unweildy system the world's ever known. I'm an E6 and I'd regularly be ordering an Iraqi O5 or O6 around like they're a child! It's seriously that bad, but we're curing them of that problem every day. (It's really hard telling someone where to go and what to do when he gets tehre but still call them "Sir.")

The Iraqis operated like this, and the Jordanians and Saudis still do. I don't see any reason that the Egyptians don't too. The IDF is modeled after the U.S. military and our forces mesh the second best out of all other country's forces I've ever worked with outside the Diggers. (Australians) I never understood this. The British are purported to be our greatest ally, but the Australians and Americans got along by far the best! The integration of Australians and Americans was so seamless in some instances that we could literally have an American and an Australian working together on each other's systems. That level of integration couldn't even be hoped for with the British.

If Egypt, or heck, the rest of the Muslim world decides to attack Israel, I'm pretty sure Israel will be able to easily whip them all at the same time.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 10:43am

GO PACKERS

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 6:19pm

Oh nobody likes you and your stinking cheese eaters.

My boss lives in River Falls. He hasn't stopped talking about them for four weeks now...

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 7:08pm

YEAH!!!! PACKERS WIN SUPER BOWL

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259409 - Pro-Brotherhood CAIR lobbied against Mubarak

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259409 - http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259409

Pro-Brotherhood CAIR lobbied against Mubarak

Egyptian envoy rebuked Washington-based group over 'interference'

Posted: February 03, 2011
11:00 pm Eastern

© 2011 WorldNetDaily

Muslim Brotherhood symbol

A U.S. front organization for the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has lobbied the State Department in recent years to pressure Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to open national elections to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a book reveals.

The radical Muslim Brotherhood has organized rioters demanding the ouster of Mubarak, a U.S. ally. Its leaders are in talks with opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei to form a unity government to replace Mubarak's regime, which has honored the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace deal. The Brotherhood vows to end the treaty.

The Washington-based Council for American-Islamic Relations, which describes itself as a domestic "civil-rights advocacy organization," took the unusual move of interfering in Egyptian politics after Mubarak made it harder for the Brotherhood to seize power.

In a 2007 letter to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, CAIR blasted the relatively secular Mubarak government for instituting measures separating mosque and state, according to the bestseller http://superstore.wnd.com/books/WND-Books/Muslim-Mafia-Inside-the-Secret-Underworld-Thats-Conspiring-to-Islamize-America-Hardcover_2 - "Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America," which exposes the Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups in America.

That same year, coincidentally, the Justice Department named CAIR a front group for Hamas and its parent the Muslim Brotherhood.

"From its founding by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, CAIR conspired with other affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood to support terrorists," wrote assistant U.S. attorney Gordon Kromberg in a 2007 federal court filing.

Mubarak outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood because it assassinated his predecessor Anwar Sadat and plotted to kill him, as well. Egyptian authorities have kept the Brotherhood, which advocates violent jihad and funds Hamas and al-Qaida terrorism, on a tight leash.

http://superstore.wnd.com/books/WND-Books/Muslim-Mafia-Inside-the-Secret-Underworld-Thats-Conspiring-to-Islamize-America-Hardcover_2 - Read "Muslim Mafia," the definitive exposé on the radical Muslim Brotherhood and its front groups in America.

CAIR was upset that Mubarak was further suppressing the Brotherhood, which is based in Cairo, and took the extraordinary step of lodging a formal protest with the secretary of state. The Mubarak government at the time had amended Egypt's constitution to ban religious-based parties.

Egypt's constitutional amendments further restrict the outlawed Brotherhood movement, which has been trying to turn Egypt away from secularism and toward an Islamic government based on strict Islamic law, or Shariah – something CAIR's own leaders say they'd like to see happen in this country.

"I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future," CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper let it slip out to a Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter in 1993, before CAIR was formed. Hooper spent a number of years working in Cairo.

CAIR's founding chairman Omar Ahmad wants Islamic law to replace the Constitution. "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant," he told a Muslim audience in Fremont, Calif., in 1998. "The Quran should be the highest authority in America."

The Justice Department in 2008 named Ahmad an unindicted co-conspirator in a Brotherhood scheme to raise millions of dollars for Hamas suicide bombers and their families. The department also listed Ahmad as a leader of the U.S. branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR also was blacklisted, prompting the FBI to cut off ties to the group.

The Muslim Brotherhood credo is: "Allah is our goal; the Prophet is our guide; the Quran is our constitution; Jihad is our way; and death for the glory of Allah is our greatest ambition."

The Egypt-based Brotherhood proposes an Islamic theocracy overseen by a mullah council.

In 2007, it drafted a party platform under the banner "Islam is the solution." The Brotherhood called for establishing an undemocratically selected board of religious scholars with the power to veto any legislation passed by the Egyptian parliament and approved by the president that's not compatible with Islamic law. It also called for banning women and Christians from high office.

When Mubarak's anti-theocracy amendments were passed by a majority of Egyptian voters, CAIR's chairman at the time, Parvez Ahmed, fired off a complaint to the State Department charging the referendum was rigged and "would essentially lock out any meaningful political opposition" – that is, the Muslim Brotherhood – to challenge the more secular Mubarak regime. In his critical letter to Rice, Ahmed chided the U.S. for its "tepid" response to what he characterized as the Egyptian government's "backsliding on promised democratic reforms."

"CAIR is a domestic-based nonprofit organization, not a registered foreign agent," said terrorism analyst Paul Sperry, co-author of "Muslim Mafia." "For its chairman to go out of his way to write the secretary of state about a foreign election speaks volumes about CAIR's vested interest in the radical Brotherhood."

The Egyptian Embassy in Washington learned of the complaint and rebuked CAIR for its "interference," reminding it that democracies are supposed to separate religion and state.

"I find this interference rather hypocritical," Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy told Ahmed in a letter obtained by the authors of "Muslim Mafia," "since I assume you are aware of the notion of separation of church and state as enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which governs your own country."

He closed by advising CAIR to "to focus on its core mission" in America, and butt out of foreign affairs.

"It's a sad commentary when an Arab nation has to lecture an American 'civil-rights group' about Western jurisprudence and liberties," Sperry said.

CAIR refused comment.

Read more: http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=259409#ixzz1DEoZZaj1 - Pro-Brotherhood CAIR lobbied against Mubarak http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=259409#ixzz1DEoZZaj1 - http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=259409#ixzz1DEoZZaj1

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 9:24pm

This is most interesting...here in Phoenix we have the father who mowed down his daughter with a car because she was “too Westernized” and he wanted to restore honor. He’s claiming he wants to be judge by Sharia law. MN is so liberal, I doubt most folks there would even think this is a concern. Wow. The implications of this down the road are what’s scary.

Please see this video.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0vItJqpQ8U&feature=player_embedded - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0vItJqpQ8U&feature=player_embedded

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: February 06 2011 at 10:02pm

Islam has no regard for women...and liberals in MN will be dumb enough to allow Sharia Law to rule in this case. We are going to lose our freedoms through our stupid elected officials, and liberal judges. Sad but true!

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 08 2011 at 4:16pm

Egypt protests draw biggest crowd yet

February 9, 2011 - 7:44AM

AFP

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have flooded Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square and towns across Egypt in the biggest show of defiance towards President Hosni Mubarak since the revolt began.

In Cairo on Tuesday the immense crowd hailed as a hero a charismatic cyber activist and Google executive whose Facebook site helped kick-start the protests on January 25 and who was released after being detained and blindfolded for 12 days.

AFP journalists overlooking the square confirmed it was the biggest gathering yet in a movement which began last month. Witnesses in Egypt's second city Alexandria said a march there also attracted record numbers.

Many protesters carried the symbols of the internet social networks Facebook and Twitter, which have become vital mobilising tools for the opposition, thanks to online campaigners like the Google executive, Waeli Ghneim.

"I like to call it the Facebook Revolution, but after seeing the people right now, I would say this is the Egyptian people's revolution. It's amazing," Ghneim said, after he was mobbed by adoring supporters in the crowd.

"Egyptians deserve a better life. Today one of those dreams has actually come true, which is actually putting all of us together and ... believing in something," he said.

Ghneim has become a hero to many in the protest movement, having started one of its Facebook sites and having been seized by the regime on January 27.

"I'm not a hero, you are the heroes, you're the ones who stayed on this square," Ghneim told the crowd that surged around him, many weeping, clapping and shouting: "Long live Egypt, long live Egypt!"

Earlier, the regime had issued a decree forming a committee to oversee constitutional changes ahead of elections due later this year.

"The president welcomed the national consensus, confirming we are on the right path to getting out of the current crisis," said Vice President Omar Suleiman, whom many now see as the power behind the throne.

"A clear road map has been put in place with a set timetable to realise a peaceful and organised transfer of power," he promised in a televised address.

The vice president has begun meeting representatives of some opposition parties - including the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, but not some of the street protest groups - to draw up plans for a democratic transition.

Mubarak has vowed not to stand for re election in September, but opposition groups say any vote to replace the 82-year-old strongman would not be fair under Egypt's current constitution.

While larger crowds gather daily to protest, several thousand occupy Tahrir Square day and night, sleeping under plastic sheets or army tanks.

"Patriotic songs about the country used to sound exaggerated, but we own the country now," said 34-year-old doctor Isamu Sheba na, who came back from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to staff a makeshift clinic in the square.

"Yesterday, one man in his 60s said: 'We were cowards. We kept quiet all these years, but you've done it.' It's inspiring. It's a rebirth," he said. "I never thought I'd sleep on asphalt with rain on my face and feel happy."

Massive crowds again defied a curfew - the hours of which have been gradually shortened as life in Cairo returns to normal - to remain in Tahrir after 8:00 pm (0500 AEDT).

The mood was festive, with one young couple even getting married in the square. Abdullah al-Qadir, 31, waved an Egyptian flag to the beat of celebratory music as his smiling bride, 28-year-old Sonia al-Bea li, looked on.

On Monday, Mubarak tried to appease the protesters, pledging to raise public sector wages by 15 per cent and ordering a probe into deadly violence that has left at least 300 people dead in the course of 15 days of protests.

"They announced a pay increase. They are trying to fool us. This is a political bribe to silence people," snorted 36-year-old demonstrator Mohammed Mizar as he queued patiently to join the crowds in Tahrir.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said it was "critical" the Egyptian government fulfil its promises and move ahead with an orderly democratic transition after days of mass street protests.

Vice President Joe Biden telephoned his Egyptian counterpart and discussed a number of steps that Washington supports, including "broadening participation in the national dialogue to include a wide range of opposition members," the White House said.

Western capitals have generally stopped short of calling for Mubarak to go, urging instead cautious reforms, but French Defence Minister Alain Jupp said it was now time to "bet on the emergence of democratic forces".

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-world/egypt-protests-draw-biggest-crowd-yet-20110209-1alv2.html - http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-world/egypt-protests-draw-biggest-crowd-yet-20110209-1alv2.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 09 2011 at 6:58pm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Coat_of_arms_of_Egypt_%28Official%29.svg">

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Egypt - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Egypt

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 09 2011 at 8:08pm

Egypt threatens crackdown but protesters stay put

by Sara Hussein

CAIRO (AFP) -- Egypt's government warned of a military crackdown as massive rallies against President Hosni Mubarak spread and reports surfaced that the army had detained and tortured pro-democracy activists.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched on parliament from the epicentre of the uprising in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, a day after the largest protests since the revolt began, as unrest spread across the nation.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit warned the army, until now a mostly neutral force, would intervene if the protests against Mubarak's 30-year-old US-backed rule escalated.

"If chaos occurs, the armed forces will intervene to control the country, a step... which would lead to a very dangerous situation," the official MENA news agency said, paraphrasing Abul Gheit's interview with Arabic-language satellite television channel Al-Arabiya.

His remarks came after newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman warned of a possible "coup" in the absence of a peaceful transfer of power.

Abul Gheit slammed the United States for "imposing" its will on Egypt by demanding immediate reforms.

"When you speak about prompt, immediate, now, as if you are imposing on a great country like Egypt, a great friend that has always maintained the best of relationship with the United States, you are imposing your will on him," he said.

Shortly after his comments, Washington renewed its calls on the Egyptian army to show restraint.

The protesters however showed no sign of backing down on their demand for Mubarak to go as tens of thousands of people filled Cairo's Tahrir Square well into the third week of a revolt.

Around a thousand marched on parliament to demand its members' resignation, vowing to remain until the legislature -- widely seen as unfairly dominated by the ruling party -- is dissolved.

Meanwhile, rights groups and demonstrators told Britain's Guardian newspaper that the army had secretly detained hundreds of anti-government protesters, some of whom were tortured.

"Their range is very wide, from people who were at the protests or detained for breaking curfew to those who talked back at an army officer or were handed over to the army for looking suspicious or for looking like foreigners," Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights in Cairo, said.

"It's unusual and to the best of our knowledge it's also unprecedented for the army to be doing this," he added.

"They put me in a room... then soldiers started kicking me. They got a bayonet and threatened to rape me with it.

"They said I could die there or I could disappear into prison and no one would ever know," he added.

In Tahrir Square, volunteers built portable toilets, indicating the protesters have no intention of leaving the "liberated" area, now a sprawling tent city with sound stages, flag vendors and a mobile phone charging station.

On Wednesday, unrest gripped the remote oasis of Kharga, where at least five people were killed and 100 wounded when security forces opened fire on demonstrators, a security official told AFP.

In the Suez Canal city of Port Said, some 3,000 protesters stormed a government building, torching office furniture and the governor's car. There were other protests across the country.

The 82-year-old Mubarak has charged Suleiman, his longtime intelligence chief, with drawing selected opposition groups into negotiations on democratic reform before elections due in September.

Some parties have joined the talks, but the crowds in Tahrir Square insist that Mubarak must go before they will halt the

protest.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the country's best organised opposition group despite a half century of illegality, meanwhile moved to reassure observers who fear an Islamist takeover should Mubarak's regime be toppled.

"The Muslim Brotherhood does not seek power. We do not want to participate at the moment," senior leader Mohammed Mursi told reporters, adding that the movement would not field a presidential candidate.

The United States is watching events in the most populous Arab country with great concern, hoping the transition to elected rule can take place without a descent into violence, or an Islamist or military takeover.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the government had yet to meet the "minimum threshold" of reform demanded by Egyptians.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110210/wl_mideast_afp/egyptpoliticsunrest_20110210033746 - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110210/wl_mideast_afp/egyptpoliticsunrest_20110210033746

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 09 2011 at 9:07pm

Constitution committee agrees to amend 6 articles of national charter

The constitutional amendments committee, which was formed by presidential decree, agreed to amend six articles of the Constitution during its first meeting on Wednesday,.

The committee, which is headed by Serry Seiam, president of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council, agreed to amend Articles 76, 77, 88, 93, 179 and 189, in addition to any other articles that the committee may deem necessary to amend in subsequent meetings.

Article 76 pertains to candidacy requirements for presidential elections; Article 77 pertains to the number of terms allowed for the president to stay in office; Article 88 pertains to supervision of elections; Article 93 pertains to parliament�s authority to determine the validity of its memberships; Article 179 allows for interfering with the practice of certain freedoms set forth in other articles under the pretext of combating terrorism; and Article 189 concerns the means of amending the Constitution.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/constitution-committee-agrees-amend-6-articles-national-charter - http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/constitution-committee-agrees-amend-6-articles-national-charter

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 10 2011 at 9:04am

Protesters have built Tent City's in Libeeration Square and in front of the Parliment

Military steps in and takes control of Egypt today with official announcement on State TV.

Mubarak looks to be stepping down sometime today, he will address the nation later today

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 10 2011 at 1:38pm

Another Amazing Day In Egypt

The Tug Of War Continues

Mubarak Will Not Step Down (Deligates Some Authority to Vice President)

Protesters Call For 10 Million in the streets

_________________________

Something Has To Give Soon!!!!

_________________________

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 11 2011 at 7:05am

Blast From Past

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHngF_b3NuE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHngF_b3NuE

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 11 2011 at 8:05am

The Tug Of War Ends

Mubarak Steps Down as Egypts President--- handing control to the Military

A Facebook Revolution Succeeds

We Live In Interesting Times

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 11 2011 at 4:49pm

Who is in Egypt's High Military Council?

February 12, 2011 2:50 AM AEST

/topics/detail/426/egypt/ - Egypt ian vice President Omar Suleiman announced on Friday that President Hosni Mubarak had stepped down and was handing over power to the /topics/detail/426/egypt/ - Egypt Supreme Council of Armed Forces.

Some of the officials on the council, according to pan-Arabic news network /topics/detail/84/al-jazeera/ - Al Jazeera , include:

- Omar Suleiman, 74, who was promoted by Mubarak as VP less than two weeks ago from his previous position as intelligence chief. He is among the retired or serving military officers in the council.

- Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, 75, who became the minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed forces in 1991, according to the network.

On the Egypt Armed Forces website, Tantawi is listed second on the list of commanders behind the "Supreme Commander," Hosni Mubarak.

- Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Anan, 63, who holds the title of Armed Forces Chief of Staff, according to the network. Anan is listed third on the armed forces website, behind Tantawi.

- Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed, 58, the air force chief, is also on the council, /topics/detail/84/al-jazeera/ - Al Jazeera reported.

- Lt. Gen. Abd El Aziz Seif-Eldeein, the commander of air defense

- Vice Admiral Mohab Mamish, chief of the navy.

The council issued a statement on Friday ahead of the announcement of Mubarak's resignation, the Associated Press reported.

The council said it would guarantee the implementation of several steps.

The first step included ending the state of emergency law "once the present circumstances end," an "outcome of the (court) appeal against the parliamentary elections and the measures that will follow, and "implementation of the constitutional amendments and holding a free and fair presidential election in line with the agreed constitutional amendments."

The second step included "shepherding the legitimate demands for the people "with firmness and accuracy to ensure their implementation within a definitive timetable until the realization of a peaceful transition that produces the democratic society to which the people aspire."

The third included a promise not to detain "the honorable sons of the nation who rejected corruption and demanded reform," and stressed the importance of "resuming work at government's services, the return of normal life in order to preserve the interests and the achievements of our great people."

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/111640/20110212/egypt-high-military-council-egypt-supreme-council-of-armed-forces.htm - http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/111640/20110212/egypt-high-military-council-egypt-supreme-council-of-armed-forces.htm

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 13 2011 at 8:10am

Military dissolves Egypt's parliament

Updated: Sunday, 13 Feb 2011, 9:57 AM EST

CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's military leaders dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution Sunday, meeting two key demands of protesters who have been keeping up pressure for immediate steps to transition to democratic, civilian rule after forcing Hosni Mubarak out of power.

The military rulers that took over when Mubarak stepped down Friday and the caretaker government also set as a top priority the restoration of security, which collapsed during the 18 days of protests that toppled the regime.

The protesters had been pressing the ruling military council to immediately move forward with the transition process by appointing a presidential council, dissolving the parliament and releasing detainees.

"In a country like Egypt, with a pharaonic legacy, having no president and no head of state is not easy," said Amr el-Shobaky, a member of the Committee of Wise Men � a self-appointed group of prominent figures who are allied with the protesters and helping mediate in the crisis.

In their latest communique, the ruling council said it will run the country for six months, or until presidential and parliament elections can be held. It said it was forming a committee to amend the constitution and set the rules for popular referendum to endorse the amendments.

Both the lower and upper houses of parliament are being dissolved. The last parliamentary elections in November and December were heavily rigged by the ruling party, virtually shutting out any opposition representation.

The caretaker Cabinet, which was appointed by Mubarak shortly after the mass pro-democracy protests began on Jan. 25, will remain in place until a new Cabinet in formed � a step that is not expected to happen until after elections. The ruling military council reiterated that it would abide by all of Egypt's international treaties agreed in the Mubarak era, most importantly the peace treaty with Israel.

Full Story

http://www.wavy.com/dpps/news/world_news/egypt-parliament-dissolved_3718047 - http://www.wavy.com/dpps/news/world_news/egypt-parliament-dissolved_3718047

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 14 2011 at 4:08pm

Monday after the dust settles brings more unrest

Many Thousands of People in the streets

Iran (Not Peacful) (Shuts down phone and Internet)

Yemen (Somewhat Peaceful)

Bahrain (Somewhat Peaceful)

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 14 2011 at 9:56pm

I'm surprised that Bahrain is rioting/protesting.

They're the only paradise in the Muslim world worth visiting! Muslims go there and actually act like human beings instead of religious fanatics.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 16 2011 at 11:04pm

Turboguy wrote:

I'm surprised that Bahrain is rioting/protesting.

They're the only paradise in the Muslim world worth visiting! Muslims go there and actually act like human beings instead of religious fanatics.

___________________________________________________

Im with ya on Bahrain, I would have guessed a few others before Bahrain.

______________________________________________________

Things getting NASTY in Bahrain as Government launches suprise night time attack on protestors where thousands have camped out at Pearl Square.

_________________________________________________________

New protests in Iran after Deaths

Violence breaks out in Lybian Day Of Rage Protests (Deaths) (Police Stations Burned)

More Violence and deaths in Yemen (6th Day of People in the Streets)

Deaths and Violence in Iraq protesters attack government buildings

Iran will send 2 Navy Ships through Suez Canal (First in Many Years) (Israel Calls it a Pravocation)

Palestinian Cabinet Resigns in wake of Egypt Events

Algerian Anti Government Protesters plan March on Saturday

Egyptians start asking where are the many dozens maybe more people who dissapeared during protests

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 17 2011 at 6:08am

Mahshadin wrote:

Iran will send 2 Navy Ships through Suez Canal (First in Many Years) (Israel Calls it a Pravocation)

Whether you agreed with the Niall Ferguson post, this line above is pretty much exactly a scenario he talked about!

Whenever they have a problem, Iran and the other regimes try to pick a fight with Israel, for better or worse, because they desperately need to divert public attention from what they're doing to a potential war with Israel or America, or someone, anyone.

Venezuela regularly does this. The last one was during the dustup between Colombia and Ecuador when Colombia's Special Forces killed a bunch of FARC badguys.

I have a sneaking suspicion that many of these countries might decide to attack Israel, then say the fight is all Israel's fault. Iran in particular is likely to pull this.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 18 2011 at 8:34am

Summary of anti-government protests in Arab world

By The Associated Press The Associated Press Thu Feb 17, 3:20 pm ET

Here is a summary of Thursday's developments in the Arab world, as anti-government protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia spread in the region.

BAHRAIN:

Troops and tanks lock down the capital of Manama after uprooting a protest camp in a central square, beating demonstrators and blasting them with sprays of birdshot and tear gas. Medical officials say four people are killed. The military bans all gatherings.

The protesters want the ruling Sunni Muslim monarchy, a key U.S. ally in the Gulf, to give up its control over top government posts and all critical decisions. Shiite Muslims make up 70 percent of Bahrain's 500,000 citizens but say they face systematic discrimination and poverty and are effectively blocked from key roles in public service and the military.

While Shiites have clashed with police before, growing numbers of Sunnis have joined the latest protests.

LIBYA:

Libyans demonstrate in five cities, defying a crackdown by security forces. Reports emerge that at least 20 demonstrators have been killed in two days of clashes with pro-government groups and security forces. A U.S. rights group says at least 14 people have been arrested. In the capital of Tripoli, government supporters stage counter-demonstrations.

The anti-government protesters demand that Moammar Ghadafi, who has ruled for more than 40 years, step down. Ghadafi has met with tribal leaders, offered to double salaries and released 110 suspected Islamic militants in an attempt to defuse public anger.

YEMEN:

Several thousand protesters march in the capital of Sanaa, clashing with police and government supporters swinging batons and daggers. Witnesses say municipal vehicles ferry sticks and stones to the pro-government side.

Protesters have marched for seven straight days in Sanaa and other cities in Yemen. They demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a U.S. ally, who has ruled the Arab world's poorest nation for 32 years. The demonstrators' main grievances are poverty and official corruption. Saleh's promises not to run for re-election in 2013 or to set up his son as an heir have failed to quell the anger.

EGYPT:

At least 1,500 Egyptian workers from the Suez Canal Authority protest for better pay in three cities straddling the strategic waterway, one of the world's major transit routes for shipping and oil transport. The protests are part of growing labor unrest sparked by the 18-day uprising that toppled longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last week.

The country's new military rulers have appealed for calm. They say they need to be able to ensure security in order to move ahead with the rapid democratic reforms protesters are demanding.

IRAQ:

Hundreds of Kurdish protesters rally in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah, demanding political reforms from the regional government in the semiautonomous territory. Security forces open fire, killing at least two people. Demonstrations also take place in three southern cities.

Iraq has seen several small-scale demonstrations almost daily in recent weeks, mainly centered in the impoverished southern provinces and staged by Iraqis angry over a lack of basic services like electricity and clean drinking water.

JORDAN:

Protesters have been staging marches for the past six weeks, including Wednesday, demanding that Jordan be transformed into a constitutional monarchy in which the prime minister is elected. Currently, King Abullah II retains the power to appoint and dismiss prime ministers and parliament and rule by decree. Protesters also want the government to tackle high unemployment and inflation.

The marches have been largely peaceful. Earlier this week, the interior minister said demonstrators would no longer have to seek government permission for public gatherings, provided public order is not disrupted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_mideast_protests_glance_1 - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_mideast_protests_glance_1

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 18 2011 at 10:14pm

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71H1ZR20110218?sp=true - UPDATE 3-Egypt says Iran ships can use Suez Canal -source | News by Country | Reuters

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71H1ZR20110218?sp=true - http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFLDE71H1ZR20110218?sp=true

UPDATE 3-Egypt says Iran ships can use Suez Canal -source

Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:00pm GM

* Request an early test for Egypt's military rulers

* Israeli minister has called Iran's move a provocation

* Ships not scheduled to pass through canal on Saturday

(Adds vessels not scheduled to sail through canal on Saturday)

By Marwa Awad

CAIRO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Egypt has approved the passage of two Iranian navy ships through the Suez Canal, an army source said, a move that could annoy Israel, whose foreign minister has called Iran's actions a provocation.

"Egypt has agreed to the passage of two Iranian ships through the Suez Canal," the army source told Reuters.

State television and Egypt's official news agency subsequently reported the news, without giving sources.

Iran's request was an early diplomatic test for Egypt's interim military government, which has close ties to the United States and has been ruling since Feb. 11 when President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in the face of a popular revolt.

Egypt's Western allies are watching for hints of any shift in policy towards its Middle East neighbours, especially Israel with which it has a peace treaty.

The two ships would be the first Iranian military vessels to transit the canal since Iran's 1979 revolution.

To navigate the strategic waterway, naval vessels need the approval of Egypt's foreign and defence ministries.

It was not clear when the ships would enter the canal. They were not on the list of vessels scheduled to sail through on Saturday, a Suez Canal Authority official said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Wednesday that Iran's plan to send the ships through the canal en route to Syria was a "provocation".

Israel's state-funded Channel One television said later Lieberman, a stridently far-right partner in the conservative coalition, had spoken out of turn and the Defence Ministry "had preferred to ignore" the ships' approach.

There was no immediate comment from Israel after approval was given.

Egypt's military said the request stated the Iranian ships did not carry military equipment or nuclear or chemical cargo. It said they were in the Red Sea, at the canal's southern end. (Writing by Edmund Blair and Tom Pfeiffer; editing by Andrew Dobbie)

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 9:50am

At Least 173 Dead in Libya's Crackdown on Protest

VOA News February 20, 2011

Protesters%20demonstrate%20against%20Libyan%20Leader%20Moammar%20Gadhafi,%20shown%20on%20placard%20at%20left,%20in%20the%20Mediterranean%20port%20city%20of%20Alexandria%20in%20Egypt,%20February%2020,%202011

Photo: AP

Protesters demonstrate against Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi, shown on placard at left, in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria in Egypt, February 20, 2011

Libyan security forces have opened fire again on anti-government protesters, while a U.S.-based rights group has raised Libya's death toll to 173 from five days of unrest.

Witnesses Sunday in Libya's second-largest city, Benghazi, said the security forces shot at mourners attending a funeral for protesters killed a day before.

Human Rights Watch issued its higher death toll report Sunday, as sources at hospitals in Benghazi said the violence there has killed at least 200 people and wounded hundreds of others.

Libyan security forces also fired Saturday on crowds gathering for the funerals of activists.

Arab media reports said at least 15 protesters were killed in Saturday's shootings, which some Benghazi residents described as a "massacre." Witnesses said snipers opened fire after the mourners tried to storm a military building.

The demonstrations have been largely confined to Benghazi and other cities in eastern Libya since they began last Tuesday. They represent an unprecedented challenge to the four-decade rule of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, whose supporters have staged small rallies in the capital, Tripoli, in recent days.

There was no independent confirmation of Libyan witnesses' accounts of the violence, as the government has barred local and foreign journalists from covering the unrest.

The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to Americans to stay away from eastern Libya, saying more demonstrations and violent incidents are possible in the coming days. It also said even peaceful protests can quickly become unruly and foreigners "could become a target of harassment or worse."

Libyan authorities also cut off Internet services in the country Saturday, denying cyber activists a key tool to mobilize demonstrators.

Gadhafi has tried to defuse the protests by doubling the salaries of state employees and releasing 110 suspected Islamic militants. He took power in a 1969 coup and has built his rule on a cult of personality and a network of family and tribal alliances.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Rights-Group-Death-Toll-Rises-to-104-in-Libyan-Protest-Crackdown-116559368.html - http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Rights-Group-Death-Toll-Rises-to-104-in-Libyan-Protest-Crackdown-116559368.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 10:42am

Ex-President's Daughter Arrested at Iran Protest

February 20, 2011 VOA News

Faezeh%20Hashemi,%20daughter%20of%20former%20Iranian%20President%20Akbar-Hashemi%20Rafsanjani,%20gestures%20during%20a%20news%20conference%20%28file%20photo%29

Photo: Reuters Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former Iranian President Akbar-Hashemi Rafsanjani, gestures during a news conference (file photo)

Iran's state-run news agency says authorities have arrested the daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani for taking part in a banned demonstration called by opposition leaders.

IRNA says Faezeh Hashemi was identified and arrested while making "blunt statements" and "chanting provocative slogans" in Tehran. Iran's Fars News Agency, which also reported the arrest, later said that Faezeh Hashemi was released after claiming she had been "out shopping for clothes."

Iran's opposition Green Movement had called for demonstrations Sunday, and opposition websites said protests were under way in a number of squares and streets in Tehran.

The New York-based group International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said security forces dispersed the crowds with gunfire and tear gas. It said that one person was believed to have been killed in Tehran - a claim denied by a senior official of the capital region.

Other reports say the security forces had a heavy presence in Tehran. The Tehran police chief said there had been no significant incidents.

Iranian authorities vowed to crack down if opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi went ahead with the protests.

Iran's interior minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, said protesters will be "confronted."

The government describes Mousavi and Karroubi as "seditionists." Conservative lawmakers have called for both to be tried and executed.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Ex-Presidents-Daughter-Arrested-at-Iran-Protest-116563248.html - http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Ex-Presidents-Daughter-Arrested-at-Iran-Protest-116563248.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 11:14am

http://debka.com/article/20686/ - DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security

http://debka.com/article/20686/ - http://debka.com/article/20686/

Cairo and Tehran connive to slip Iranian warships through Suez after fake delays
DEBKAfile Special Report February 19, 2011, 12:37 AM (GMT+02:00)

Tags: http://debka.com/search/tag/Egypt/ - Egypt

http://debka.com/search/tag/Iran/ - Iran

http://debka.com/search/tag/Israel/ - Israel

http://debka.com/search/tag/Suez%20Canal/ - Suez Canal

http://debka.com/search/tag/warships/ - warships

Iranian Kharg with missiles for Hizballah

Cairo and Tehran connived to slip the two Iranian warships through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sunday, Feb. 20, after a series of fake delaying tactics agreed between them to cover the flotilla's movements. Egypt's military rulers approved the passage of Iranian flotilla through the Suez Canal without inspecting their freights for banned cargo, taking advantage of the sandstorm over the region which obscured them from spy satellites and helped them to give monitors the slip. Tehran marked this landmark event with an official state TV statement Sunday that the ships had entered the Mediterranean and were on their way to Syria. Sunday, Cairo was still saying they will only reach Suez Monday.

From earlier debkafile reports: Cairo's approval for Iranian warships transit of the Suez Canal has brought Israel and Iran closer than ever before to a naval collision at sea. debkafile reports: Israel has learned that the Iranian cruiser Kharg is carrying long-range missiles for Hizballah which it plans to unload at a Syrian port or Beirut harbor.

US State Department spokesman P.J Crowley said he was "highly skeptical" of the Syrian claim that the two ships' visit was for training. "If the ships move through the canal, we will evaluate what they actually do. It's not really about the ships. It's about what the ships are carrying, what's their destination, what's the cargo on board, where's it going, to whom and for what benefit," Crowley told a news conference.
He was responding to questions in the wake of debkafile's disclosure that the Karg was carrying missiles for Hizballah and indicating that the US and all other UN members were authorized by UN sanctions against Iran to board and search Iranian ships suspected of carrying illegal weapons.

Heavy US and Israeli pressure failed to dissuade Egypt's military rulers from letting the Iranian flotilla through Suez. So now the waterway has been opened wide for Iran to consign heavy weapons deliveries to Syria and Lebanon - in the first instance, and eventually to try and break Israel's naval blockade on the Gaza Strip and bring Hamas the heavy munitions that were impossible to transport through smuggling tunnels.
Israel was closely monitoring the Iranian flotilla, whose visit to the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah on Feb. 6, preparatory to transiting Suez, was first revealed exclusively by DEBKA-Net-Weekly 481 on February 10.

Up until now, Saudi Arabia, in close conjunction with Egypt and its President Hosni Mubarak, led the Sunni Arab thrust to contain Iranian expansion – especially in the Persian Gulf. However, the opening of a Saudi port to war ships of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the first time in the history of their relations points to a fundamental shift in Middle East trends in consequence of the Egyptian uprising. It was also the first time Cairo has permitted Iranian warships to transit Suez from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, although Israeli traffic in the opposite direction had been allowed.
Iran made no secret of its plants to expand its naval and military presence beyond the Persian Gulf and Red Sea to the Mediterranean via Suez: On February 2, Iran's Deputy Navy Commander Rear Admiral Gholam-Reza Khadem Biqam announced the flotilla's mission was to "enter the waters of the Red Sea and then be dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea."

However, Israeli military intelligence which failed to foresee the Egyptian upheaval and its policy-makers ignored the Iranian admiral's announcement and its strategic import, just as they failed to heed the significance of the Iranian flotilla's docking in Jeddah.
debkafile's military sources report that Iran is rapidly seizing the fall of the Mubarak regime in Cairo and the Saudi King Abdullah's falling-out with President Barack Obama ( http://www.debka.com/article/20650 - see debkafile of Feb. 10, 2011 ) as an opportunity not to be missed for establishing a foothold along the Suez Canal and access to the Mediterranean for six gains:

1. To cut off, even partially, the US military and naval Persian Gulf forces from their main route for supplies and reinforcements;
2. To establish an Iranian military-naval grip on the Suez Canal, through which 40 percent of the world's maritime freights pass every day:
3. To bring an Iranian military presence close enough to menace the Egyptian heartland of Cairo and the Nile Delta and squeeze it into joining the radical Iranian-Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish alliance;
4. To thread a contiguous Iranian military-naval line from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal and the Gaza Strip and up to the ports of Lebanon, where Hizballah has already seized power and toppled the pro-West government.
5. To eventually sever the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, annex it to the Gaza Strip and establish a large Hamas-ruled Palestinian state athwart the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.
By comparison, a Fatah-led Palestinian state on the West Bank within the American orbit be politically and strategically inferior.
6. To tighten the naval and military siege on Israel.

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 11:56am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3WRKoZPPao&feature=player_embedded - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3WRKoZPPao&feature=player_embedded

Protesters in Bahrain get gunned down as they approach a Bahrani military roadblock.

A line from "V for Vendetta"

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001291/ - Dominic : What do you think will happen?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001653/ - Finch : What usually happens when people without guns stand up to people *with* guns.

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 3:26pm

A good interview about The Muslim Brotherhood.

Walid Shoebat's Interview on Lou Dobbs Radio Talk Show [02/15/2011]

http://www.shoebat.com/audio/loudobbs021511.php - http://www.shoebat.com/audio/loudobbs021511.php

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 4:20pm

Nothing new under the sun here! Except of course we're living in the nuclear, and a segment of people who don't believe in MAD!

The River War by Winston Churchill
http://www.archive.org/stream/riverwarhistoric00chur#page/n0/mode/2up - www.archive.org/stream/riverwarhistoric00chur#page/n0/mode/2up

Posted By: HappyHeart
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 7:28am

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE71J0PP20110220?sp=true - Libyan tribe threatens to cut oil exports soon | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE71J0PP20110220?sp=true - http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE71J0PP20110220?sp=true

Libyan tribe threatens to cut oil exports soon

Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:43pm GMT

TRIPOLI Feb 20 (Reuters) - The leader of the Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern Libya threatened on Sunday to cut oil exports to Western countries within 24 hours unless authorities stop what he called the "oppression of protesters".

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Shaikh Faraj al Zuway said: "We will stop oil exports to Western countries within 24 hours" if the violence did not stop.

The tribe lives south of Benghazi, which has seen the worst of the deadly violence in recent days.

Akram Al-Warfalli, a leading figure in the Al Warfalla tribe, one of Libya's biggest, told the channel: "We tell the brother (Gaddafi), well he's no longer a brother, we tell him to leave the country."

The tribe live south of the capital Tripoli. (Reporting by Souhail Karam in Rabat; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Jon Boyle)

< =text/> #marketUpdateTab4{ display: none; }

Posted By: Turboguy
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 7:54am

Gaddafi fled Tripoli and maybe the country!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358972/Libya-protests-Gaddafi-flees-Tripoli-parliament-building-set-alight.html - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358972/Libya-protests-Gaddafi-flees-Tripoli-parliament-building-set-alight.html

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Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. - William F. Buckley

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 9:03am

Libya (Large Oil Exporter to Europe and US)

Gaddafi may have fled Tripoli (Rumor--May be en-route to Venezuela)

Government Building on Fire including Parliament as protests and violence spreads to the Capital (Tripoli)

Gaddafi son warns there will be rivers of blood in Lybia (Civil War)

Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern Libya has threatened to cut off oil exports (Eastern Lybia)

Protesters have apparently seized control of Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city

Libya Minister of Justice and Ambassador to Arab League resign over violence

Over 225 are dead possibly as many as 400

Internet has been blocked as well as most phone services

International Press Banned from Entering Country & broadcasting events

Gaddafi seems to be loosing support from within

Senior Military Officials included in Libian Military flights (Defections to Island-Malta)

Europe and US call for Non Emergency Personel to Evacuate Lybya

Oil Companies planning Evacuation of Employees

Bahrain

Thousands of Anti Government Protesters retake Pearl Square in the Capital City after being ousted days ago by Government forces.

Yemen

10 straight days of Anti Government Protests

11 Dead and many Injured (More Gunfire Today)

Thousands protest in several Cities

President Defies calls to step down, says he will only step down through the ballot box

Egypt

British Prime Minister Arrives in Egypt to Discuss Democratic Reforms with Military Leader and will attempt to meet with Egyptian Political Groups (Not Brotherhood)

Many business have re-opened including Banks to the Great Pyramid tourist attractions.

Egyptian man names child (Facebook) in honor of Role in Revolution

Iran

Massive Security ad Police Forces deployed in streets of Tehran to squash Anti Government Protests before they begin (Clashes Elsewhere)

Morroco

30+ Thousand March in Anti Government Protests (New)

Arrests and violence (5 dead many injured)

Tunisia

Thousands march on Capital to demand ouster of interim Government who have dragged their feet on reforms and election dates

Djibouti

Anti Government Protesters March and demand Regime Step Down

Government releases some Activists after classes and arrests

Algeria

Algerian Officials insist Tunisia—Egypt Revolts will not overtake Algeria

IRAQ

At least eight people, four police and four civilians, were reported wounded when clashes erupted during a rally in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.

JORDAN

King Abdullah tries to usher in speedy Government Reforms in an attempt to respond to limited Anti Government Protests

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 10:14am

Unconfirmed reports that Libyan Military Airforce is bombing Anti-Government Protests in Capital (Tripoli)

Will Libya's (40 Year) Dictatorship fall by the end of the day? (That was a bit premature)

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 8:14pm

Defient Libian Strongman Gadaffi and A Official Government Spokesman goes on Libiyan national TV and blames Qatar, Aljazeera TV, UK, US, and young people on hallucinogenic drugs.

Part Of Gadaffi Speech (Kookoo----Kookoo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRbV8HO4AnQ&feature=player_embedded - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRbV8HO4AnQ&feature=player_embedded

Some of Eastern Army switching sides (With Anti-Government Protesters)

A US Government chartered ferry will depart Tripoli from the As-shahab Port in central Tripoli 2-23 (First Come First Serve)

Abdul-Fatah Younis, the Interior Minister and an army general, announced his renunciation of his post and support for the "February 17 revolution"

A Libyan warship has arrived off the coast of Malta after its Captain refused orders to shell Benghazi. A second Libyan ship has also reportedly been sighted in the area.

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 4:59pm

Libya future 'an open question': Gates

Wed Feb 23, 1:55 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Libya's future is an "open question" with strongman Moamer Kadhafi potentially able to cling to power through violence, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates was quoted Wednesday as saying.

"Whether he's able to re-establish control through extraordinarily bloody repression, whether the army boots him out... I think it's really an open question at this point," Gates said in an interview published by the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard.

Gates said that the Libyan military was "fragmenting" and had never been as cohesive as armed forces in other countries, a likely reference to neighboring Egypt where the army took charge after protesters toppled leader Hosni Mubarak.

The US defense chief mused that if Kadhafi were to fall, Libya could return to its structure before 1963 when it was made up of three provinces -- Cyrenaica bordering Egypt, a western coastal region and a section oriented toward sub-Saharan Africa.

In the interview, which the magazine said was conducted Tuesday by several US commentators, Gates indicated that the United States may find it difficult to implement a proposed no-fly zone over Libya.

"The French -- I don't know what the British have in the area -- but the French and the Italians potentially, I suppose, could have some assets they could put in there quicker," he said.

Witnesses say that Kadhafi has turned air power on demonstrators in a bid to crush the uprising, which has killed hundreds of people.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110223/pl_afp/libyaunrestusmilitary_20110223185507 - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110223/pl_afp/libyaunrestusmilitary_20110223185507

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 8:34pm

Libyan Oil & Gas Production Maps (Fairly Up-Dated)

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 23 2011 at 10:45pm

Skeliton comes out of Gadaffi Closet

Libyan Justice Minister who flipped sides to Anti-Government Protesters gives astonishing interview with Swedish Web Outlet (Expressen)

Translated to English (Google Translate)

________________________________________________________________________

Minister: I saw the devil in Gaddafi
Al Bayda. Muammar Gaddafi gave himself ordered the Lockerbie bombing.
It now reveals the renegade Justice Minister Mohamed Mustafa Abud Al-Jalil - in an exclusive interview with Expressen.
And the former minister said that it can only end in one way.
- He will do what Hitler did - he should kill himself, "said Abud Al-Jalil.

Expressen met yesterday jumped Libyan Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil in the city of Al Bayda.
He gets there alone in a white Toyota to speak at a meeting in the local parliament building.
He is dressed in a dark winter suit and a burgundy Libyan hat and greeted by hundreds of demonstrators.
He believes that Gaddafi will soon be overthrown - and that there is only a given end.
A suicide - just about Hitler during the final days in Berlin.
In the Expressen interview, which lasted 40 minutes, "says Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil for the first time that there was a dictator Muammar Gaddafi personally who was behind the terrorist atrocity at Lockerbie 1988th 270 people were killed when a bomb exploded in the plane and crashed over Lockerbie community in southern Scotland.
- I have information that is one hundred percent sure, that Gaddafi is behind the tragedy at Lockerbie, said Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil.
- There is nothing I think - it is something I know and are 100 percent sure.
- He gave the orders for intelligence officers and to Magrahi (bomber) to carry out the Lockerbie attack.

Tried to get home to the offender
According to Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil was Muammar Gaddafi also deeply involved in the process of getting home Abdelbaset al-Megrahi who was convicted of the attack.
- He did his best to get back to the offender for the terrorist attack from Scotland to Libya. Al-Megrahi is one of the few people who have been key to the riddle. The answer to the riddle is that Gaddafi gave the orders.
More to Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil did not say in front of all the people who surround us.
- It is not the time to say everything now, but it will, he says, adding:
- I do not want to reveal the names involved, for the sake of the country.
Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil was minister for the first time in 2007.

Jumped out of three times
- My goal was to reform the legal system and replace the Libyans whose property and assets confiscated regime. I also wanted to sort out the massacre of Boslim prison since 1200 prisoners were executed in a single day.
The regime refused to accept his decision, because he quit.
Next time he left his post was in 2009 when Gaddafi gave amnesty to convicted murderer who was released without murder victims' families agreed to it.
Even last year he became Minister. On 19 February 2010, he jumped off for the last time. When he left his post, he chose to join the people.
- I knew that the regime had mercenaries long before the uprising. In several cabinet meetings the government decided to grant citizenship to people from Chad and Niger. I protested, and it is documented. I have demanded that instead would give citizenship to children whose mothers are from Libya but married to foreign nationals.
The renegade minister also has a long career behind her convictions. He is known for his fair judgments, and is referred to as "the man with the white hand."
When he became a minister he had access to top secret information on prisons and the people who were executed by the regime.
- There is a small group within the regime that knows it. There are secret prisons located in Tripoli and Benghazi in. There are all kidnapped and imprisoned as no one knows anything about. There are people whose families believe they are dead.
It's about people from Libya but also foreigners who lured from his exile in countries such as Morocco or Egypt, and executed.

"I saw the devil in him"
- It was mainly the opposition leaders, such Izaad electricity Mkariaf and Jballa feeder that lived in the United States. They were tricked into Morocco, which in turn handed them on to the regime, "said Mustafa Mohamed Abud al-Jalil.
He adds:
- I saw the devil in him. Now is the time for all diplomats in Sweden and all over the world to distance themselves from murderous regime. I ask them to remain at their posts but they go out and declare their stand on people's side.
Before he leaves the main hall of the parliament building, he answers a final question, how he thinks it will end on Muammar Gaddafi.
- Mr Gaddafi's days are numbered. He will do what Hitler did - he should kill himself, "said Abud Al-Jalil.

http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.2342040/ministern-jag-sag-djavulen-i-khadaffi - http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.2342040/ministern-jag-sag-djavulen-i-khadaffi

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 27 2011 at 12:39pm

Army of Gaddafi bombarded pro-democracy demonstrators near Tripoli

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) source: P.TDate: 2011/02/27

- Forces loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi have bombarded pro-democracy demonstrators, who are zeroing in on the capital, Tripoli.

The heavy bombardment was reported in Zawiyah, some 50 kilometers west of Tripoli.

The violence act came hours after demonstrators took control of the strategically important town.

Two thousand people have been reported killed in the weeks-long violence.

The embattled regime has recently used aerial attacks and poison gas against the peaceful protesters.

Reports also say forces and foreign mercenaries loyal to Gaddafi have surrendered parts of Tripoli to pro-democracy protesters.

The residents of some neighborhoods in the capital have barricaded their streets and proclaimed open defiance.

The anti-government demonstrations continue across Libya as more cities fall under protesters' control.

Protesters have already seized control of several cities including Libya's second largest city, Benghazi. They are calling for an end to the long-time rule of Colonel Gaddafi.

Meanwhile, Libyan protest leaders have established a transitional national council in cities seized by anti-regime forces.

Gaddafi has recently announced plans to arm his supporters to fight his opponents.

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on the Libyan regime and has referred Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court.

http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=228613 - http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=228613

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 8:44am

Is it time for USA to intervene Militarily in Libya???????????

Any Thoughts

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 3:37pm

I say we stay the hell out of that fly-trap, as far as deploying US troops go! Let Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Dubai step up to the plate!

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 9:12pm

US Military Moves Forces for Possible Libya Mission

"We have planners working various contingency plans, and I think it's safe to say as part of this we are repositioning forces to provide for that flexibility, once decisions are made,"

Whole Article

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/US-Military-Moves-Forces-for-Possible-Libya-Mission-117086358.html - http://www.voanews.com/english/news/US-Military-Moves-Forces-for-Possible-Libya-Mission-117086358.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 5:21am

Yemen's President Blames US, Israel for Arab Unrest

Speaking Tuesday, Saleh accused the United States and Israel of working together to cause uprisings in Yemen and other parts of the Arab world, saying the alleged plot is orchestrated in Tel Aviv under U.S. supervision.

Whole article

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Yemens-President-Blames-US-Israel-for-Arab-Unrest-117142538.html - http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Yemens-President-Blames-US-Israel-for-Arab-Unrest-117142538.html

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 12:21pm

mrmouse wrote:

I say we stay the hell out of that fly-trap, as far as deploying US troops go! Let Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Dubai step up to the plate!

I am with you mr, sept not sure any of the countries (Saudi Arabia, Jordon, and Bahrain) could intervene. Maybe Saudi Arabia who just gave their population a 15 % raise to pre-empt their own problems, Bahrain is scrambling to keep things together and Jordon is also experiencing some protests.

Europe should bear the brunt of this one I believe, especially if Military intervention is needed to stop an all out shoot-out, and being how they recieve 80+ % of the crude from Libya. Perhaps we could assist in a No Fly Zone to keep his airforce grounded. From what I understand about Libya it is very Clan oriented still and Gadaffi's clan controls the Airforce. Not sure we could just sit back and watch someone like Gadaffi all out bombing his own cities and people for long without doing something.

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: coyote
Date Posted: March 02 2011 at 6:17am

# Gadhafi warns 'thousands of Libyans' will die if U.S. or NATO intervene in protest-torn country - AP http://apne.ws/f4aSsK 9 minutes ago via breakingnews.com

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Long time lurker since day one to Member.

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: March 02 2011 at 8:27pm

Sorry, I say "NO WAY" to doing anything in any of these countries. Let Europe be the "bad guys". We have paid our dues with 9/11 and Iraq, Afganistan and Bosnia. We need to keep out and let the people of these countries fight their own civil wars.

I am usually a Hawk but I know when to stay out. These people do not want our help!

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 10:21am

When is enough, enough? I thought Obama was the antithesis of George Jr., so much for Hope and Change!

14 Potential Justifications For An Invasion Of Libya By The U.S. Military That Are Currently Being Floated In The Mainstream Media.

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/14-potential-justifications-for-an-invasion-of-libya-by-the-u-s-military-that-are-currently-being-floated-in-the-mainstream-media - endoftheamericandream.com/archives/14-potential-justifications-for-an-invasion-of-libya-by-the-u-s-military-that-are-currently-being-floated-in-the-mainstream-media

Posted By: Mahshadin
Date Posted: March 05 2011 at 8:07am

Update

Libya

Libya at this point has become a failed State with Anti-Government Protesters now armed and in control of Eastern Libya and parts of the west while Pro Gadaffi forces in control of the West. Some 75+% of oil production facilities are in control of Anti-Government forces while Gadaffi continues attacks to on these areas to regain control. In the past 24 hours Gadaffi forces have surrounded the City of Az Zawiyah just to the southwest of Tripoli and have been firing heavy artillery from all sides and using heavily armored vehicles in an attempt to break through Anti-Government forces who shakely hold control.

Yemen

Tens of thousands protest across the country calling for the Presidents Resignation after a day earlier when Government forces opened fire on protester killing four and wounding many more. Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years has rejected an opposition proposal for him to step down by the end of 2011.

Bahrain

Many thousands continue to protest in the tiny nation which is approaching its third week. Government has agreed to meet to discuss reforms days after violence broke out between pro and anti Government protesters.

Jordon

Thousands pour into the streets after Government rejects calls for a Constitutional Monarchy which would strip the executive powers from the current King Abdullah. The Government is rejecting calls for any change.

Iraq

Thousands of protester converge on the capital and other locations around the country demonstrating against Governmental Corruption and for better Public Services.

Iran

70 plus activists arrested in protests the Iranian Government insists is not happening. Massive police and security forces have been mobilized to put down protests using tear gas and force to disburse protests.

Oman

Protests break out against Government Corruption but not there leader. Oman Leader has spent much of the Countries Wealth on Healthcare, Infrastructure, and other major projects to improve the Country. This nation also has extended Women’s rights well beyond most other Gulf States.

Sudi Arabia

Bans all protests and marches in the Country. This after last week’s announcement to raise wages by 15 percent and allocating several hundred billion dollars to be spent across the country to improve education, housing, healthcare, and other national projects.

Egypt

Fresah protests and marches now focusing in on Justice for those who have commited crimes against the people of Egypt. Travel bans on Mubarak and others as well as some arrests and charges have begun. New Transitional Prime Minister addresses huge crowd in Tahrir (Liberation) Square claiming if he can not bring democratic reforms he will resign and join them.

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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." G Orwell

Posted By: quietone
Date Posted: March 05 2011 at 11:36am

http://debka.com/article/20733/ - DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security

http://debka.com/article/20733/ - http://debka.com/article/20733/

Gates on urgent mission to Cairo as military rulers lose grip
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report March 5, 2011, 8:56 PM (GMT+02:00)

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates

President Barack Obama Saturday, March 5, asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to set out for Cairo without delay on an emergency mission as the unrest in Egypt veered out of control, debkafile's exclusive sources report from Washington. Friday night, thousands of protesters seized control of the headquarters Egyptian security police (Mahabis Namn El Dawla) in Alexandria, Cairo and the nearby 6 of October town, shutting down its operations across the country.

In the last hours, information reaching Washington indicated that control was slipping out of the hands of the Egyptian military junta ruling the country since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow; anti-American elements energized by Iran appeared to have strengthened their hold on the protest movement, causing deep concern in the White House.
The capture of the three Mahabis centers opened to disaffected elements the secret files on every political and military leader in the country, confidential information once accessible only to ex-intelligence minister Gen. Omar Suleiman before the uprising.

While the Obama administration has a better inside picture of Egypt's opposition groups than it has about Libya, intelligence is still inadequate about the shape of the local leadership of those groups and to whom they defer.

Last Wednesday, March 2, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Iran of stirring the pot when she addressed the House Appropriations Committee: "They (the Iranians) are using Hizballah… to communicate with counterparts… in (the Palestinian movement) Hamas who then in turn communicate with counterparts in Egypt," she said.
debkafile's sources report that large sums of Iranian petrodollars have reached the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and radicalized its message to the Egyptian people. Military young leaders are believed to have executed a coup and displaced the veterans. The Palestinian Hamas has turned its well-oiled smuggling machine into a channel for transmitting Iranian cash to keep Egyptian Islamic extremists on the march.

The Israeli government is the only one in the region to show no concern about violent mayhem spurting up across its border, and has apparently shrugged off the key role played by the Palestinian rulers of Gaza in stirring up trouble in Egypt at Tehran's behest ,and the rising strength of the Muslim Brotherhood - both of which have a dangerous impact on Israeli security.

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Swish

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: March 05 2011 at 11:56am

It's like it 1979 all over again, like when the Shah fell!

egyptian air force
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8x5vCBmDrQ&feature=related - www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8x5vCBmDrQ&feature=related

Jewish Response to the Obama Cairo Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImmsxXoLO0 - www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImmsxXoLO0

Posted By: mrmouse
Date Posted: March 06 2011 at 8:25am

8 British troops captured in Libya
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168409.html - www.presstv.ir/detail/168409.html

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