Post-Mubarak revolutionary chances
Egypt's revolutionaries must guard against the army, and the west, adding a veneer of democracy to a military regime.
Israeli media 'fears' the new Egypt
Israel's media presents Egyptian democracy as a threat, with one commentator lamenting the end of colonialism.
Egypt is no longer committed to an alliance with Israel against Iran
Egypt is signaling that it is no longer committed to its strategic alliance with Israel against Iran, and that Cairo is now willing to do business with Tehran. This is precisely what Turkey has done in recent years under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
How Democracy Could be Hijacked
January 25 was the date the Egyptian youth decided to launch their revolution. As the fear barrier was broken, Egyptians throughout the country and from all walks of life joined the protests by the millions. Their main chant for eighteen continuous days was 'The people want the fall of the regime.'
Egypt's media undergo their own revolution
It was a front page few thought they would ever see. After weeks of dismissing pro-change Egyptian protesters as traitors, anarchists and malevolent foreign agents — at one point it was even suggested that demonstrators were secretly receiving free meals from the American fast-food giant KFC — the country's most venerable official daily carried a single headline in the heady hours after Hosni Mubarak's fall. The people have brought down the regime, declared Al-Ahram, triumphantly. As one newspaper vendor remarked, state-controlled media's own revolution had begun.
Egypt's fight for historical memory
In the last few weeks, we have heard in great detail how the Mubarak regime robbed ordinary Egyptians of their political, human, economic and social rights. That is, how an ever-growing number of Egyptians were robbed of their human dignity. Yet parallel to this realisation, and indeed tightly bound up with it, Egyptians have also begun to understand they were also robbed of their past, their sense of history, and their right to a critical historical consciousness.
February 18, 2011
Shafik Gabr: What Egypt's Top Tycoon Fears Most
The well-connected Cairo industrialist Shafik Gabr warns Lloyd Grove that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are trying to destabilize Egypt and the country could descend into anarchy.
'Victory march' fills Cairo square
Thousands gather for celebrations in Egyptian capital's Tahrir Square to mark the toppling of Hosni Mubarak a week ago.
'Victory march' fills Cairo square
Thousands gather for celebrations in Egyptian capital's Tahrir Square to mark the toppling of Hosni Mubarak a week ago.
Minister who led crackdown on protests is among four arrested
Three former ministers were arrested yesterday by Egyptian security forces, including ex-security chief Habib el-Adly, who was widely blamed for the brutality displayed by police trying to quell protests. As the Interior Minister, Mr El-Adly had control of the 500,000-strong security forces, and was the most high-profile of the three to be arrested yesterday as part of an investigation into corruption.
February 17, 2011
Egypt raises pays by15 percent
The Supreme Council of the Egyptian armed forces has decided to raise the pays of civil servants, military personnel and pensioners by 15 percent.
US clueless about Egypt?
Senate hearing turns into farce as American ignorance on Egypt situation revealed; specific agenda of Muslim Brotherhood unclear, top official says, has trouble responding to question on group's attitude to peace with Israel
Cairo Teen Finds Looted Pharaoh Akhenaton Statue
A Cairo teenager found a priceless statue of Pharaoh Akhenaton near a garbage bin after it was stolen from the Egyptian Museum during anti-regime protests, Egypt's antiquities chief said Thursday.
February 16, 2011
Robert Fisk: Three weeks in Egypt show the power of brutality — and its limits
After three weeks of watching the greatest Arab nation hurling a preposterous old man from power, I'm struck by something very odd. We have been informing the world that the infection of Tunisia's revolution spread to Egypt — and that near-identical democracy protests have broken out in Yemen, Bahrain and in Algeria — but we've all missed the most salient contamination of all: that the state security police who prop up the power of the Arab world's autocrats have used the same hopeless tactics of savagery to crush demonstrators in Sanaa, Bahrain and Algiers as the Tunisian and Egyptian dictators tried so vainly to employ against their own pro-democracy protestors.
When "Good" Dictators Go Bad
A standard zigzag of political rhetoric went for a jaunt along Pennsylvania Avenue on Tuesday (Feb. 15) with a speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at George Washington University. "Iran is awful because it is a government that routinely violates the rights of its people," she declared. During the last few weeks, much has changed in the politics of the Middle East -- but not much has changed in the politics of Washington, where policymakers turn phrases on a dime.
Egypt: Social Movements, the CIA and Mossad
The mass movements which forced the removal of Mubarak reveal both the strength and weaknesses of spontaneous uprisings. On the one hand, the social movements demonstrated their capacity to mobilize hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in a successful sustained struggle culminating in the overthrow of the dictator in a way that pre-existent opposition parties and personalities were unable or unwilling to do.
Carter says Egyptian military likely to obey will of people
The Egyptian military won't ignore its citizens' demands for open elections, even if the military has an interest in keeping power, former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday at a University of Texas lecture.
How Egypt's Revolt Challenges Israel
For three decades, Israel's leaders have relied on a combination of an acquiescent Washington and corrupt autocrats in key Arab states, particularly Egypt and Jordan, to maintain a policy of West Bank expansion and repression of Palestinians.
Revolution or Coup in Egypt?
Four days after the stunning departure of Hosni Mubarak from the presidential palace in Cairo, analysts here are still trying to determine whether his ouster represents a revolution heralding the advent of democratic governance or a coup d'etat staged by the already-dominant military.
WikiLeaks: Egypt's new man at the top 'was against reform'
The military leader charged with transforming Egypt opposed political reform because he believed that it "eroded central government power", according to leaked US diplomatic cables.
Egyptians air grievances, ignoring army warning
Cairo airport workers protested for better pay Wednesday, textile workers went on strike to demand a corruption investigation and residents living along the Suez Canal pressed for closure of a chemical factory allegedly dumping toxic waste into a lake in the latest wave of unrest shaking Egypt.
Egyptians reach Italy amid worry about Arab exodus
Nearly 100 Egyptians have arrived in Italy in two boats, international migration officials said Wednesday, as fears rose about a wave of people trying to reach Europe because of turmoil in the Arab world.
February 15, 2011
The Voice of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood
He is a hypermarket of dogma, dispensing advice on subjects ranging from mother's milk to suicide bombing. But few have as much influence on Sunni Muslims as the Muslim televangelist Youssef al-Qaradawi. He says what the Muslim Brotherhood in Egpyt thinks -- and he provides clues to how they might act.t
Has There Been An Egyptian Revolution?
I popped the champagne cork to celebrate the Egyptian people's success in driving out of office the American puppet, Mubarak. However, as I wrote on February 1, Mubarak's departure doesn't guarantee that his successor will not find himself wearing the same American harness. As Gerald Celente puts it, "Meet the new boss, same as old boss."
'Brothers' in Egypt Present Two Faces
Moaz Abdel Karim, an affable 29-year-old who was among a handful of young activists who plotted the recent protests here, is the newest face of the Muslim Brotherhood. His political views on women's rights, religious freedom and political pluralism mesh with Western democratic values. He is focused on the fight for democracy and human rights in Egypt.
Muslim Brotherhood plans political party
Egypt's long banned Muslim Brotherhood said Tuesday it intends to form a political party once democracy is established, as the country's new military rulers launched a panel of experts to amend the country's constitution enough to allow democratic elections later this year.
Where has Mubarak stashed his millions?
(CNN) -- Global efforts are intensifying to seize assets belonging to Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak, following the revolution in the north African nation. The former Egyptian leader may now be residing in Sharm el-Sheikh following his flight last week from Cairo -- but where is his fortune?
CBS news reporter 'sexually assaulted' by gang in Cairo?
I was talking to a friend of mine as I scanned the international news websites starting with Matt Drudge, when the headline blared out the news . As soon as I saw it, I immediately said, I bet it's Lara Logan !.. No I didn't have special powers, or inside info, but I do have a good memory.
February 14, 2011
'Mubarak moves assets from European banks to Gulf states'
Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has reportedly moved his family assets from European banks to institutions in Gulf region after Swiss authorities took steps to freeze his foreign accounts.
Egypt's revolution and Israel: "Bad for the Jews"
The view from Israel is that if they indeed succeed, the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions are bad, very bad. Educated Arabs -- not all of them dressed as "Islamists," quite a few of them speaking perfect English whose wish for democracy is articulated without resorting to "anti-Western" rhetoric -- are bad for Israel.
WikiLeaks: Egyptian Military Head is 'Old and Resistant to Change'
Nothing Egypt's military council has done in its past suggests it has the capacity or inclination to introduce speedy and radical change. Guaranteed its $1.3bn (£812m) annual grant from the US – a dividend from the Camp David peace accord with Israel – it has gained the reputation as a hidebound institution with little appetite for reform.
Army urges Egyptians to end strikes
Military council calls on workers to play their role in reviving the economy after almost three weeks of turmoil.
Is the army tightening its grip on Egypt?
Two days after millions of Egyptians won their revolution against the regime of Hosni Mubarak, the country's army – led by Mubarak's lifelong friend, General Mohamed el-Tantawi – further consolidated its power over Egypt yesterday, dissolving parliament and suspending the constitution. As they did so, the prime minister appointed by Mubarak, ex-General Ahmed Shafiq, told Egyptians that his first priorities were "peace and security" to prevent "chaos and disorder" – the very slogan uttered so often by the despised ex-president. Plus ça change?
Egyptian army delivers ultimatum to Tahrir protesters
Egypt's military delivered an ultimatum to dozens of committed protesters in Tahrir Square, nerve-centre of a movement that toppled Hosni Mubarak, to leave and let life get back to normal or face arrest.
The fate of the revolution lies in the hands of the generals
The actions of the Egyptian Army yesterday, first in clearing Cairo's Tahrir square of demonstrators, then in dissolving the constitution and parliament, throw into relief the degree to which the military control the destiny of Egypt.
What makes a revolution succeed?
While the aspirations are different, Egyptians could take five lessons from Iran's 1979 revolt.
How Wall Street Greed Fueled Egypt's Turmoil
Many reasons have been cited for the runaway food costs that have plagued Egypt's citizens: increased global demand, floods and drought in grain-producing nations, reduced supplies because of biofuel production, Federal Reserve policies. But it's becoming clear that our own dirty little secret -- risky financial derivatives, like those that spurred the U.S. mortgage crisis -- have bubbled up from the toxic Wall Street pavement as a major cause. We need to dig deeper into the dirt.
The toxic residue of colonialism
The overt age of grand empires gave way to the age of covert imperial hegemony, but now the edifice is crumbling.
February 13, 2011
Police demand more rights
Low-level police rally to clear their name and ask for better wages and health care.
Egypt's New Military Rulers To Ban Unions, Strikes
Egypt's new military rulers will issue a warning on Monday against anyone who creates "chaos and disorder", an army source said. The Higher Military Council will also ban meetings by labor unions or professional syndicates, effectively forbidding strikes, and tell all Egyptians to get back to work after the unrest that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt's military dissolves parliament, suspends constitution
Egypt's military dissolved parliament and will run the country for six months or until elections are held, it said in a statement Sunday, two days after President Hosni Mubarak resigned.
Egypt's military rulers dissolve parliament
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.
U.S. Ties and Support for Egyptian Officials Point Toward Still Difficult Path to Realize Egyptian Democracy
For thirty years, Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt with a iron hand, enforcing his will through force and violence, and holding the democratic rights of his people in contempt. In a matter of eighteen days, mass protests brought an end to his rule and called into question the political future of his supporters at the very highest levels of the Egyptian government.
How Israel Misses Mubarak
As Israel's public television aired live pictures of crowds of elated Egyptians celebrating the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, the anchor suddenly had a telling twist of tongue.
Israel's options after Mubarak
Egypt's new rulers will have to be more responsive to the public will and Israel could use this as an opportunity.
Wealthy Egyptians fear change
In a country with deep class divisions, the rich fear they have a lot to lose in the revolution.
Egypt army tries to clear Tahrir
Scuffles break out when soldiers try to remove protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square, days after Mubarak is ousted.
Egypt in transition
After the euphoria of Hosni Mubarak's exit Egypt is beginning a new era but already there are reports of skirmishes between protesters and the army.
Egypt army clears protesters from Tahrir Square
Thousands of protesters streamed back into Cairo's Tahrir Square after the army tried to disperse them and gunfire was heard near the Interior Ministry where police were demonstrating over wages.
Egypt: The key questions answered
After the momentous events that climaxed in the deposing of Egypt's oppressive dictator, "experts" look at where the country goes from here.
UK Government under pressure to freeze Mubarak's assets
The Government was today under pressure to freeze any assets of ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak held in the UK. Business Secretary Vince Cable said that there was a need for "concerted international action" to tackle the issue. He warned that the Government would act against any British bank that was involved in helping Mr Mubarak improperly move funds in order to protect his private wealth.
Egypt cabinet to stay for transition period
Egypt's cabinet, appointed when Hosni Mubarak was still in office, will not undergo a major reshuffle and will stay to oversee a political transformation in the coming months, the cabinet spokesman said on Sunday.
The false anxiety of influence
The pro-Isreali neocons in the United States and their Zionist counterparts in Israel compare the Egyptian and Iranian revolutions because they are frightened out of their wits by a massive revolutionary uprising in a major Arab country that may no longer allow the abuse of the democratic will of a people for the cozy continuation of a colonial settlement called "Israel".
Report: Army told Mubarak to step down or face 'soft coup'
Officials tell Washington Post Egyptian president's initial refusal to resign angered White House, surprised his aides, prompted military to issue ultimatum. On Friday Mubarak was told he must step down, and within hours was headed to Sharm el-Sheikh.
To Mohammad El-Sayed Said
Al Jazeera's senior political analyst pays tribute to the community organisers who made Egypt's revolution possible.
Ruling Egypt After Mubarak: Presidential Contenders Emerge
Even before President Hosni Mubarak left office on Friday, a number of hats were already in the ring to succeed him. Egypt's political future remains in flux, and it's unclear how soon the emerging contenders will get to make their bids for the now vacant presidency. So far, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces - to which Mubarak had ceded his authority – has simply decreed that the current government ministers would continue running things until new elections are held.
Egypt's army vows smooth transition
Military rulers pledge peaceful transfer of power to elected civilian rule a day after uprising ousts Hosni Mubarak.
UK rally celebrates Egypt uprising
Activists and nationals from around Middle East gather in London in solidarity with regional protests.
Post-Mubarak era dawns on Egypt
People power has spoken in the biggest Arab nation just four weeks after Tunisians toppled their own ageing ruler.
Egypt government officials banned from traveling
Airport officials say current and ex-government officials have been banned from traveling without permission from either the state prosecutor or the armed forces.
Egypt's arduous road to freedom
More than 300 people were killed in a treacherous, 18-day journey toward ending Hosni Mubarak's 30-year autocratic rule.
Paris: protest for the democracy in Algeria
At the initiative of the National Coordination for Change and Democracy in Algeria, a peaceful protest took place today in Paris.
WikiLeaks: Suleiman vowed to prevent Hamas rule in Gaza
Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman promised Israel in 2005 that he would prevent Hamas' rise to power in the Gaza Strip, according to a document leaked to the WikiLeaks website and published by Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.
Mass celebrations in Egypt as Hosni Mubarak steps down as president. Fireworks, flares and flag waving mark a new beginning.
Bread and Butter Revolution: Egypt's Workers Mobilize for a New Future They weren't the first to make headlines in Tahrir Square, but Egypt's labor movement made an impressive debut this week in cities around the country. Workers from an array of industries launched demonstrations and wildcat strikes, shaking up some of the country's key industries and defying the state-run union system.
Where next for Hosni Mubarak? Wealth and fears of prosecution will dictate future Former ruler insists on staying in homeland but charges of corruption and human rights abuses may force relocation
Switzerland has frozen all assets belonging to Hosni Mubarak and his family, which could run into hundreds of millions, the government announced. The move came as the former president was reported to have flown to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has previously chaired summits, received guests and enjoyed the winter sunshine well away from the crowds.
How Hosni Mubarak Got So Rich
The mounting pressure from 18 days of historic protests finally drove Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from office, after three decades as his nation's iron-fisted ruler. But over that time, Mubarak amassed a fortune that should finance a pretty comfortable retirement. The British Guardian newspaper cites Middle Eastern sources placing the wealth of Mubarak and his family at somewhere between $40 billion and $70 billion. That's a pretty good pension for government work. The world's richest man--Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim--is worth about $54 billion, by comparison. Bill Gates is close behind, with a net worth of about $53 billion.
Analysis: Military coup was behind Mubarak's exit
It was the people who forced President Hosni Mubarak from power, but it is the generals who are in charge now. Egypt's 18-day uprising produced a military coup that crept into being over many days - its seeds planted early in the crisis by Mubarak himself.
World reacts as Mubarak steps down
Leaders across the globe hail "historic change" and "victory" in Egypt, with many urging reform and stability.
Egypt's military leadership
Brief profiles of country's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces as Hosni Mubarak hands over power to the body.
End of Mubarak era as protests topple president
A furious wave of protest finally swept Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak from power today after 30 years of one-man rule, sparking jubilation on the streets and sending a warning to autocrats across the Arab world and beyond.
Mubarak failed final test
Hosni Mubarak survived assassination attempts and wave after wave of Mideast crises, a solid ally of the West whose stable image reassured many Egyptians.
Democracy protests bring down Egypt's Mubarak
Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square and Egypt exploded with joy and tears of relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni Mubarak with a momentous march on his palaces and state TV. Mubarak, who until the end seemed unable to grasp the depth of resentment over his three decades of authoritarian rule, finally resigned Friday and handed power to the military.
Mubarak resigns, hands power to military
Egypt's Hosni Mubarak resigned as president and handed control to the military on Friday after 29 years in power, bowing to a historic 18-day wave of pro-democracy demonstrations by hundreds of thousands. "The people ousted the president," chanted a crowd of tens of thousands outside his presidential palace in Cairo.
Mubarak and family leave Cairo for Sharm: party official
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his family have left Cairo for the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, proving he is giving up his presidential powers, a ruling party official said on Friday.
Mubarak resigns - live updates
The Egyptian pro-democracy campaigner Mohamed ElBaradei has cheered Mubarak's resignation. "This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated after decades of repression," he told The Associated Press. He said he expects a "beautiful" transition of power.
General secretary of Egypt's ruling party resigns
The recently appointed general secretary of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party of beleaguered President Hosni Mubarak said on Friday he had resigned, saying Egypt needed new parties.
Egyptians hold 'Farewell Friday'
Protesters' new push to force president Mubarak to step down may test the military's loyalties.
Egypt emergency law 'to be lifted'
Military says emergency law, in place for decades, will be lifted, but only "as soon as current circumstances end".
Egypt braces for massive protest
Thousands of protesters are expected to march on the streets demanding his resignation after Mubarak remained defiant.
World sceptical of Mubarak's speech
The Egyptian president's defiant speech announcing that he would not resign but transfer some powers to his vice-president has failed to allay the concerns of the international community and pro-democracy Egyptians.
Egypt: The army's fateful choice
The president's obstinacy puts the military on the spot at a time when the power of the people has spilled across the country's political landscape
Reports: Mubarak Leaves Cairo
Multiple Media Outlets Report Embattled Egyptian President Withdraws from Capital, but Remains in Egypt
ElBaradei: "Absurd" for U.S. to Back Mubarak
Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei says that it would be "absurd" for the United States and other nations to continue to support the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and that he is "humbled" by the bravery and resolve of protesters who continue to stand against the regime.
Crisis Flummoxes White House
President Mubarak's Refusal to Step Down Signals a Loss of Western Influence; Sense of 'Disbelief' After Speech
Obama sharply criticizes Egyptian govt's move
Bristling with impatience, President Barack Obama on Thursday openly and sharply questioned whether Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's pledge to shift power to his vice president is an "immediate, meaningful or sufficient" sign of reform for a country in upheaval.
Barack Obama vents anger as Hosni Mubarak digs in
BARACK Obama has admonished Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for failing to provide a "credible" path towards genuine democracy, in the clearest sign of White House impatience with the ageing leader.
Mubarak, the 'PhD of Stubbornness,' Cannot Imagine an Egypt Without Him
The first sign that something was seriously amiss, that the thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square who had waited joyously for the victory they thought was promised to them had been misled, came when Hosni Mubarak began talking about the punishment he was about to exact on those who had harmed his "sons and daughters," the Egyptian people.
Robert Fisk: As Mubarak clings on... What now for Egypt?
To the horror of Egyptians and the world, President Hosni Mubarak - haggard and apparently disoriented - appeared on state television last night to refuse every demand of his opponents by staying in power for at least another five months. The Egyptian army, which had already initiated a virtual coup d'état, was nonplussed by the President's speech which had been widely advertised - by both his friends and his enemies - as a farewell address after 30 years of dictatorship. The vast crowds in Tahrir Square were almost insane with anger and resentment.
Mubarak's anointed one begins to assume power Among the hundreds of thousands seeking Hosni Mubarak's departure in Tahrir Square over the last fortnight, it has been impossible to find any that were prepared to say they would vote in a free election for Omar Suleiman, the Vice-President who assumed much of Mr Mubarak's power last night. But among the few thousand loyal supporters who took part in a pro-Mubarak demonstration in the Muhandiseen district of Cairo last week, it was equally impossible to find one who wouldn't. Given that Mr Mubarak's son Gamal was no longer a possible candidate, Mr Suleiman was the one they preferred.
Ahmadinejad: Egyptian protests herald new Mideast Iran's president said Friday that Egypt's popular uprising shows a new Islamic Middle East is emerging, one that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims will have no signs of Israel and U.S. "interference."
Comments by Panetta stoke unmet expectations CIA Director Leon Panetta helped touch off an avalanche of erroneous expectations Thursday when he testified that there was a "strong likelihood" that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would step down by the end of the day.
Politics and Nonsense on Egypt When the Dust Settles, US Policies Will Remain the Same
When US politicians are forced to discuss critical Middle East matters, more often than not their remarks either display an ignorance of facts, are shaped more by political needs than reality, or are just plain dumb. Commentary about the popular revolt in Egypt provides a case in point.
Is Egypt's army on the people's side? When Omer Suleiman, Egypt's now ex vice president, spoke on Friday he said two things: Mubarak is going and the army is taking over. It is not yet clear what this means.
February 10, 2011
DEFIANT MUBARAK
CAIRO: Egypt's Hosni Mubarak refused to step down or leave the country and instead handed his powers to his vice-president yesterday, remaining president and ensuring regime control over the reform process. Stunned protesters in central Cairo who demand his ouster waved their shoes in contempt and shouted, "Leave, leave, leave."
Defiant Mubarak refuses to resign Egyptian president vows to remain in office until his term ends in September, and not bow down to 'foreign pressure'.
Rage in Egypt as Mubarak hangs on
President Hosni Mubarak provoked rage on Egypt's streets on Thursday when he said he would hand over powers to his deputy but refused to step down after more than two weeks of protests demanding that he quit.
John Pilger: The Egyptian revolt is coming home The uprising in Egypt is our theatre of the possible. It is what people across the world have struggled for and their thought controllers have feared. Western commentators invariably misuse "we" and "us" to speak on behalf of those with power who see the rest of humanity as useful or expendable. The "we" and "us" are universal now. Tunisia came first, but the spectacle always promised to be Egyptian.
Israel urges U.S. to reaffirm support in light of Egypt unrest Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday stressed the importance of U.S. support for Israeli security in light of the political unrest in Egypt, while Ambassador Michael Oren urged the Obama administration to reaffirm its commitment to that regard.
Cables: FBI trained Egypt's state security 'torturers' Egypt's secret police, long accused of torturing suspects and intimidating political opponents of President Hosni Mubarak, received training at the FBI's facility in Quantico, Virginia, even as US diplomats compiled allegations of brutality against them, according to US State Department cables released by WikiLeaks.
Hosni Mubarak 'may step down' Ruling party officials suggest Egypt's president will 'meet protesters demands', ahead of televised statement.
Profile: Omar Suleiman Former top intelligence chief is Egypt's first ever vice president since Hosni Mubarak came to power in 1981.
Obama and Egyptian Liberation
President Barack Obama needs to stop being two-faced on Egypt. On one side of his public face he gives the impression of pressing Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak to consider his legacy and "leave power in a way that would give his country the best chance for peace and democracy." But then he sent presidential envoy Frank Wisner to Cairo, who later publicly urged Mubarak to remain in power, saying, "President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical."
Workers continue Egypt strikes Doctors and lawyers among thousands of workers joining strike as anti-Mubarak demonstrations enter 17th day.
Why Egypt's progressives win Suleiman considers the business fraternity friendly, but it is the nation's women and youth who are driving the unrest.
US escalates pressure on Egypt The embattled government of Egypt had not met even a minimum threshold of reforms demanded by the people of the country, the White House said on Wednesday, warning that massive protests will likely continue until real reforms are instituted.
Hypocrisy is exposed by the wind of change There is nothing like an Arab revolution to show up the hypocrisy of your friends. Especially if that revolution is one of civility and humanism and powered by an overwhelming demand for the kind of democracy that we enjoy in Europe and America. The pussyfooting nonsense uttered by Obama and La Clinton these past two weeks is only part of the problem. From "stability" to "perfect storm" - Gone With the Wind might have recommended itself to the State Department if they really must pilfer Hollywood for their failure to adopt moral values in the Middle East - we've ended up with the presidential "now-means-yesterday", and "orderly transition", which translates: no violence while ex-air force General Mubarak is put out to graze so that ex-intelligence General Suleiman can take over the regime on behalf of America and Israel.
Europe's betrayal of the Arab awakening As the shockwaves from events in its Mediterranean backyard have reverberated, reaction in Europe has gone through a number of phases. None of it has been edifying and all of it adds up to a lost opportunity. First there was a mortifying silence: during which, presumably, a stampede took place to take down the photos of warm handshakes with the now discredited Ben Ali and Mubarak; the free holidays courtesy of the same dictators to Carthage and Sharm el Sheikh had to be explained, to say nothing of the red faces over offers of French riot police to quell the demonstrations in Tunis.
Protesters gain ground. But have the Western powers forsaken them? The determined mood of the protesters exposed a division between the perceptions of Western governments that Hosni Mubarak will not go until September, and the demonstrators' continued calls – and predictions – for an imminent end to the President's 30-year rule.
Saudis told Obama to back Mubarak (www.thetimes.co.uk) — Saudi Arabia has threatened to prop up President Mubarak if the White House tries to force a swift change of regime in Egypt. In a testy personal telephone call on January 29, King Abdullah told President Obama not to humiliate Mr Mubarak and warned that he would step in to bankroll Egypt if the US withdrew its aid programme, worth $1.5 billion annually.
February 09, 2011
Egypt's Berlin Wall moment The recent uprisings do not exist merely in a historical vacuum, but must be considered within a geopolitical context.
Who's afraid of the Muslim Brothers "Islamism" has been sending jitters through Western political corridors over recent years readily aided and abetted by Arab autocrats who have exaggerated and harnessed the "Islamist" threat to prolong their iron-fisted rule.
Egypt: Why is Israel so Blind? Those of us in the pro-Israel, pro-peace camp do not enjoy being proven right - although we invariably are. Our standard recommendation to Israel is that it should move quickly to achieve agreements with the Arab states and the stateless Palestinians before it is too late. And the Israeli response is that there is no urgency to make peace – except on Israeli terms – because Israel is strong and the Arabs are weak.
Egypt rejects US advice on reforms Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Egyptian foreign minister, has rejected US calls for the immediate repeal of its emergency law and said Washington seemed to be trying to impose its will on Cairo.
Rallying cry from freed online activist galvanises crowds Hosni Mubarak's regime yesterday failed once again to convince the huge crowds in Tahrir Square that its commitment to political reform was sufficiently meaningful for the demonstrations to come to an end.
Robert Fisk: Week 3, day 16, and with every passing hour, the regime digs in deeper Blood turns brown with age. Revolutions do not. Vile rags now hang in a corner of the square, the last clothes worn by the martyrs of Tahrir: a doctor, a lawyer among them, a young woman, their pictures strewn above the crowds, the fabric of the T-shirts and trousers stained the colour of mud. But yesterday, the people honoured their dead in their tens of thousands for the largest protest march ever against President Hosni Mubarak's dictatorship, a sweating, pushing, shouting, weeping, joyful people, impatient, fearful that the world may forget their courage and their sacrifice.
Hague warns Israel to soften rhetoric The Middle East peace process is in danger of falling victim to the revolutionary tide sweeping the Arab world, foreign secretary William Hague has warned.
Labour unions boost Egypt protests Thousands of factory workers stay away from work as pro-democracy protesters continue to rally seeking Mubarak's ouster.
Egypt protests enter their 16th day - in pictures Thousands of Egyptians protest outside the parliament building in Cairo, several blocks from Tahrir Square, in the movement's first expansion out of the area, to demand the assembly's immediate dissolution
The shaping of a New World Order If the revolutions of 2011 succeed, they will force the creation of a very different regional and world system.
Egypt's Youth Will Not Be Silenced "In memoriam, Christoph Probst, Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl" reads the banner at the top of Kareem Amer's popular Egyptian dissident blog. "Beheaded on Feb. 22, 1943, for daring to say no to Hitler, and yes to freedom and justice for all." The young blogger's banner recalls the courageous group of anti-Nazi pamphleteers who called themselves the White Rose Collective. They secretly produced and distributed six pamphlets denouncing Nazi atrocities, proclaiming, in one, "We will not be silent." Sophie and her brother Hans Scholl were captured by the Nazis, tried, convicted and beheaded.
From Stalemate to Checkmate: Meet Egypt's Future Leaders Since he became president in 1981, Hosni Mubarak has been utilizing the emergency law as a club to beat down political activity and civil liberties, as well as a means to sanction abuse and torture. According to human rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Egyptian human rights groups, no less than 30,000 Egyptians have been imprisoned under the law, which allows the police to arrest people without charge, permits the government to ban political organizations, and makes it illegal for more than five people to gather without a permit from the government.
February 08, 2011
Hazards of reporting from Egypt Al Jazeera's online producer recalls the many perils he faced while reporting from the country in upheaval.
Time to change Obama Mideast team Marwan Bishara argues it is time for changing Obama's Mideast team and Washington's policy towards Egypt.
Protests Swell at Tahrir Square Tens of thousands pour into central Cairo seeking president Mubarak's ouster, despite a slew of government concessions.
As Egypt Protest Swells, U.S. Sends Specific Demands Pressure intensified on President Hosni Mubarak's government as the largest crowd of protesters in two weeks flooded Cairo's streets on Tuesday and the United States delivered its most specific demands yet, urging swift steps toward democracy.
Defending a Dictator: US Envoy's Business Link to Egypt Obama scrambles to limit damage after Frank Wisner makes robust call for Mubarak to remain in place as leader.
Frank Wisner, President Barack Obama's envoy to Cairo who infuriated the White House this weekend by urging Hosni Mubarak to remain President of Egypt, works for a New York and Washington law firm which works for the dictator's own Egyptian government.
The Egyptian Mirror One of the most revealing journalistic genres is the effort by establishment media outlets to explain to their American audiences why Those Other Countries -- usually in the Middle East -- are so bad and awful and plagued by severe political and societal corruption (see here and here for examples). This morning, The New York Times has a classic entry, as it unironically details how Egypt is a cesspool of oligarchical favoritism and self-dealing.
Egypt proclaims power transfer plan, protesters wary Egypt has a plan and timetable for the peaceful transfer of power, the vice president said on Tuesday, as protesters called more demonstrations to show their campaign to oust President Hosni Mubarak remains potent.
Mass protests continue in Egypt Pro-democracy supporters hold fresh rallies in Cairo, just hours after the release of a detained Google executive.
Freed cyber activist lauds protests Google executive Wael Ghonim speaks after release from Egyptian custody, sparking outpouring of support from protesters.
It Ain't Just Mubarak -- 7 of the Worst Dictators the U.S. Is Backing to the Hilt Embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, whose regime has received billions in U.S. aid, has been in the global media spotlight of late. He's long been "our bastard," but he's not alone. Let's take a look at the other dictators from around the planet who are fortunate enough to be on Uncle Sam's good side.
U.S. Middle-East Policy "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil -- Just Practice It, Then Act Surprised"
Media Miss the Al Jazeera Story One of the biggest stories of the past few weeks has been the story of Americans discovering Al Jazeera English. It shouldn't have been so hard.
February 07, 2011
On the Egyptian Revolution and the American Strategy
First: We are witnessing a real popular revolution, a real Egyptian national revolution. Muslims and Christians are participating in this revolution, as are Islamic factions, secular parties, nationalist parties, and intellectuals.
Getting Perilously Close to Truth about US Foreign Policy
It started off promisingly enough. Over the weekend, the New York Times' Scott Shane wondered why "the drama unfolding in Cairo" seems "so familiar" if "the United States, as so many presidents have said in so many speeches [is] the world's pre-eminent champion of democracy."
Israel's Army Chief Ashkenazi: Prepare for all-out war In his final days on the job, Chief of Staff Ashkenazi warns about growing radicalization in region; given recent changes across Middle East, Israel must prepare for a battle in several theaters, he says
America: Standing in the Way of Democracy It is pathetic and even laughable to hear American leaders, and the leaders of the other Western democracies in Europe, cautioning that Egypt's revolution needs to move slowly, as they call for a "transition" government that would be gently guided to elections by the very man, Omar Suleiman, who for years has headed the dreaded Mukhabarat, the Egyptian secret police, all under the protective umbrella of the Egyptian military.
Mubarak tactics: Divide and Conquer, Bribe and Co-opt. An article in Business Week shows some of the tactics Mubarak uses to divide the opposition making them less powerful and easier to defeat. Shadi Hamid director of research at the Brookings Center in Doha says:"The regime is really good at what it does," "It's very good at dividing the opposition. That's its skill and we've been seeing it for 30 years."
Suleiman: The CIA's man in Cairo Suleiman, a friend to the US and reported torturer, has long been touted as a presidential successor.
"We're Not Leaving Until Mubarak Leaves" This interview with Egyptian revolutionary socialist journalist Hossam el-Hamalawy was conducted on Saturday, February 5th at 8pm (Egyptian time).
Why isn't the PA supporting the Egypt uprising? The Palestinian leadership has been careful not to support the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and has banned demonstrations in solidarity with the rebelling peoples. Palestinian television has virtually ignored the events in Egypt.
After Mubarak: The Muslim Brotherhood and Democracy in Egypt We are witnessing an extraordinary and potentially historic transformation in Egypt and the Arab world. Sparked by the Tunisian pro-democracy movement and toppling of the Ben Ali regime, the rulers of Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Syria are facing popular demands for reform. As the Gallup World Poll, the largest and most systematic poll of the Muslim world representing the voices of a billion Muslims, reported, majorities in most countries, including Egypt, want democratic freedoms.
What Can We Do to Support Egypt? We have all been moved by the courageous actions of the Egyptian people in recent weeks. In response to their inspiring example, we might ask the following question: What effective steps can we take to support their struggle for liberation, and to support similar struggles throughout the world?
Community Amid Egypt's Chaos United against their president, demonstrators in Tahrir Square have managed to bridge the country's political divides.
Blogger's release 'reignites' Egypt Google executive Wael Ghonim speaks after release from Egyptian custody, sparking outpouring of support from protesters.
Talks fail to end Egypt protests Pro-democracy protests continue at Tahrir Square, a day after government held talks with opposition to end turmoil.
Egyptian Blogger Describes Clashes To call the ongoing people's revolts in Tunisia and Egypt FaceBook revolutions is certainly overstating the case. In both countries, the time was ripe for revolution and social upheaval. Poverty, repression and hopelessness were enforced by greedy U.S.-supported despots who were deaf to the needs of their people.
Egypt approves 15% pay rise for government employees Egypt's embattled regime announced today a 15 per cent increase in salaries and pensions in the latest attempt to defuse popular anger amid protests demanding President Hosni Mubarak's resignation.
Hezbollah backs Egypt protests Leader Nasrallah says protesters are fighting for 'Arab dignity' and slams US for supporting region's 'dictatorships'.
Much of the focus in Egypt has been on the protesters most of whom come from humble backgrounds, but what about the country's wealthier residents? Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland reports from Cairo about how Egypt's powerful elite feel about the instability in their country.
