Archive for February 8, 2011
Le Monde
Le Monde cites staunch allies in the Hariri and Saudi media to refer to the role of Muslim Brotherhood. In fact, there is a chant in Tahrir that goes: “No Ikhwan (MB) nor Parties. We are Revolt of the Youth.” (It rhymes in Arabic). (thanks …
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Friedman on the Nile
Mohannad sent me this: “Reading today’s NYT piece by Friedman, I was struck by a statement attributed to protest signs: There are signs everywhere asking about Mubarak, a former Air Force chief. Questions such as: “Hey Mr. Pilot, where did yo…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
And now Libya
Farag, a comrade from Libya sent me this: “Protests are scheduled for Feb. 17 in Libya around the country…..get this…there is a rumor floating around that Gadhafi said he will join in the protest because he is “one of the people”. The websi…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Revolutionary momentum
The momentum of the Egyptian uprising is most impressive.
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Comparing Lebanese and Egyptian protesters
Amer sent me this: “”And [Egyptian protesters are] more authentic and individualistic and natural, they do not attempt to perform for the West as much as the Lebanese. They are also less organized and directed, unlike both sides in Lebanon, they do n…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Translate this for Thomas Friedman
From Tahrir Square: The lower sign says: “Let Israel benefit you.”
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Wael Ghoneim
My sources in Cairo tell me that the role of Wael Ghoneim has been exaggerated by the media–desperate for the face of a hero or a leader. Al-Baradi`i just does not cut it.
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Syrian censorship
I have received word that Syrian censorship of the internet has increased this week.
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
boils down
“Ever since the Egyptian uprising began on 25 January, the United States government and the Washington establishment that rationalizes its policies have been scared to death of “losing Egypt.” What they fear losing is a regime that has consistently …
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Here you go, Jeffrey Feltman
“Yemen is not Tunisia or Egypt,” he said. “Yemen has its own different situation… Yemen is a democratic country. Through all the stages, elections took place. And therefore this is a democratic regime.”" (thanks Hussein)
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
From Argentina with Love
In support of the Egyptian uprising. (thanks Sara)
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
The Egyptian Army: also known as the surrenderers
“”Although many of the protesters, foreign governments, and analysts have concentrated on the personality of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, those surrounding the embattled president, who make up the wider Egyptian regime, have made sure the state…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Dumbest comment of the day
“Andrew McGregor, author of a 2006 military history of Egypt, said mixed messages coming from the Obama administration are not a surprise. “It was predictable that the U.S. response would be confusing at first,” said Mr. McGregor, of the Jamestown …
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
UAE reforms
A UAE citizen is arrested for declaring support for Egyptian protesters. (thanks Tony)
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Lebanese and Egyptians
I have to say that Egyptian protesters are far more amusing and funny than Lebanese protesters (both sides).
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
This is it
“Also at stake is the U.S. relationship with Israel, nervous about the possibility that a new Egyptian government might want to revisit the 1979 Camp David peace accords — or abandon them altogether.”
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Sons of…Zayid
“Mubarak met the Emirati minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan — brother to the current Emirati president, Abu Dhabi’s emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahayan — at the presidential palace in Cairo, an AFP journalist saw.” (thanks David)
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
Bahraini dictator
Fawzi sent me this: “The bahraini dictator is blatant in his piblic support for mubarak, every day he is either calling him or sending him an envoy or somthing, he is sweating with Feb 14 approaching”.
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
mastering a city
Comrade Fahd sent me this: “Found in Guy Debord’s Societe du Spectacle: And he who becomes master of a city used to being free and does not destroy her can expect to be destroyed by her, because always she has as pretext in rebellion the n…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad
The opportunists
“But Mr Mubarak was dealt a significant setback as the state-controlled Al-Ahram, Egypt’s second oldest newspaper and one of the most famous media publications in the Middle East, abandoned its long-standing position of slavish support for the regi…
Posted on February 8, 2011 by As'ad