A few rambings...war, strife and bugger all...

I'm incredibly lucky, I know that. I was raised and continue to live in a society where people are treated with a bit of respect (though I suggest you read a few other posts of mine).Our country & society has certain values that we seem to think inviolable, even for the potential repressors. But....like an idiot, I turn on the TV news like an idiot....looking for answers....looking...looking......................Did I mention I'm optimistic ?

See, you're not as dumb as me !!

In Libya, they just found a morgue containing some 50-100 bodies. Now this building isn't in the middle of some freakin' never-never land. This was in Tripoli !! The bodies had apparently come in to a hospital as wounded people and they were left to, or expected to expire. So there they sat, rotting. I don't know who was in charge of the hospital, who controlled that "sector" of the city. I don't pretend to understand the level of chaos in the area but at the end of the day, someone left them there and didn't even bother with a burial, a card and likely even a freakin' sheet to cover the gore. From what little I know of Islam, this is a VERBOTTEN !

Then we have Mubarak (the last pharoh he thought of himself apparently) who is now laying on a gurney in a courtroom. The media is barred from accessing or covering the proceedings lest they make a mockery of justice. Sorry........I can't come up with better irony than that. It's priceless.

I saw on the BBC, the new interim finance minister of Tunisia who was reluctant to answer a question of "just how much money have you identified in other countires" (relating to the amount the frmr President "stole"). Sheesh, stupid question, cause you know you ain't gonna get a truthful answer and yet at the same time, a question the Tunisians want answered !! (By the way, the Ali family had squirreled away an apparent $5B according to the interview)

My point is this. We're replacing strong-men with newer-strong-men. Tunisia was a template, Egypt was a template and now Libya is the template. Let's all just sit back and watch as the money changes from one ruling elite to the new usurpers. After a time things will settle down and we'll be back to secret prisons, stifling speech, backroom deals with the West and Business As Usual.

I wonder if that guy who started this all by immolating himself in Tunisia ever imagined that his personal revolution would rest in the hands of sell-outs satisfied with platitudes and a few coins.

Google's Translate Whoopsie...

Go to http://translate.google.com and translate this text from english to arabic 

"Jews are terrorists. Americans are terrorists. Arabs are terrorists"

Copy the arabic translated text and translate it back to english.


Impressive!


SRW

Time Magazine's - Revolution by 0's and 1's

Next week's Time Magazine features several stories about the revolution in Egypt and the people who helped make it happen. Recognition well deserved.

Gettysburg Address - Then and Now.

I came across this earlier this evening and I thought I would share it. Considering the events currently underway in North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf States, this is rather poignant, at least I think so.


First, the text so you can read it, then the actual document as displayed at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C and lastly, a copy currently being circulated on the internet amongst the various protesters.


SRW

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincon

November 19, 1863

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Latest Unemployment Roll

I'm guessing these guys are out of work and looking for their next paycheques.


Egypt
Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments
Date of Information: 2/2/2011


Pres. Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK
Vice Pres. Omar Mahmoud SOLIMAN
Prime Min. Ahmed Mohamed SHAFIK
Min. of Agriculture & Land Reclamation Ayman Farid Abu HADID
Min. of Awqaf (Religious Affairs) Mahmoud Hamdy ZAQZOUQ
Min. of Civil Aviation Ibrahim Ahmen MANNAA
Min. of Communications & Information Technology Tarek Mohamed KAMEL
Min. of Culture Gaber El Ahmed El Sayed ASFOUR
Min. of Defense Mohamed Hussein TANTAWI, Fd. Mar.
Min. of Education
Min. of Electricity & Energy Hassan Ahmed YOUNIS
Min. of Endowments Abdallah el Husseini HELAL
Min. of Finance Samir RADWAN
Min. of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Ali ABOUL GHEIT
Min. of Foreign Trade & Industry Samiha FAWZI
Min. of Health Ahmed Sameh Hosni FARID
Min. of Higher Education Hani HILAL
Min. of Housing, Utilities, & Urban Communities Ahmed El-MAGHRABI
Min. of Information Anas El-FIQQI
Min. of Interior Mahmoud WAGDY
Min. of Intl. Cooperation Fayza ABOUL NAGA
Min. of Irrigation & Water Resources Mohamed NASR EDDIN
Min. of Justice Mamdouh MAREI
Min. of Legal Affairs & Parliamentary Councils Moufed Mahmoud SHEHAB
Min. of Local Development Abdel Salam al-MAHGOUB
Min. of Manpower & Immigration Aisha ABDEL HADI
Min. of Military Production Mohamed Hussein TANTAWI, Fd. Mar.
Min. of Petroleum Sameh FAHMY
Min. of Planning Osman Mohammed OSMAN
Min. of Public Business Sector Mokhtar KHATTAB
Min. of Social Security Ali MOSELHI
Min. of Tourism
Min. of Transport Alaa El-Deen Mohamed FAHMY
Min. of State for Admin. Development Ahmed DARWISH
Min. of State for Economic Development Osman Mohammed OSMAN
Min. of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George Elias GHATTAS
Min. of State for Family & Population Affairs Moshira KHATTAB
Min. of State for Local Development Abdel-Rahim SHEHATA
Min. of State for Military Production Sayed MESHAL
Min. of State for Scientific Research Hani HILAL
Min. of State for Shura Council Affairs Yehia Abdel MAGUID
Governor, Central Bank Farouk Abdel Baky El-OKDA
Ambassador to the US Sameh Hassan SHOUKRY
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Maged ABDEL FATTAH


Posted: May 03, 2007 12:53 PM
Last Updated: Feb 07, 2011 10:34 AM
Last Reviewed: May 03, 2007 12:53 PM

Taken from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-e/egypt.html on Feb 13, 2011 @ 6:00am GMT

Free Ayman Mohyeldin

UPDATE
Ayman has been released by Egyptian Security forces at approx 15:00EST. This was reported by @AJEngish on Twitter. 

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Ayman Mohyeldin (his blog) is a correspondent for the Al Jazeera English network. 

Reports have come in that they he has recently been arrested by the Egyptian Army and are being detained.

Over the last two weeks, it is people like him who have devoted themselves to providing all of us with the "on the ground" news and reporting out of Egypt. Not an easy task given the attitude displayed against journalists recently by the Mubarak regime. 

Sherine Tadros (her blog), another Al Jazeera English correspondent had also been detained by the Egyptian Army but thankfully, she has been released.

Below is a live Twitter feed (feed disabled as of 16:00EST) with news about Ayman from his friends and colleagues. Please, if you're a Twitter User, RT the #freeAyman and help spread the word to get this man released immediately.

Freedom Song from Tahrir Square, Cairo

Here's the freedom song from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. 

(Subtitled)

Jan 25, 2011 - ??

The loudest quiet revolution

Just a rant but read on...please.


There's one lesson that I've been taught in the last 45 days by the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt. I may be a citizen of my home country but I am also a citizen of a much larger, more diverse and more powerful nation. And this nation is undergoing a seismic revolution.


This other nation doesn't have a capital but it does have embassies after a fashion. It certainly doesn't have a government in any traditional sense of the word but it does have it's own un-codified charter of rights. It doesn't have a defined police force or laws for that matter but it is policed from within (sometimes harshly). There are no elections, no taxes (well there's a cost of admission) and yet this nation generates vast wealth, directs foreign and domestic policy and can even conduct wars of a sort.


It is the internet.

You, me and everyone else who is able to use a cell phone, a computer or even watch TV is a citizen of this nation...Automatically. That is the price of admission. You need the technology, the gadget, the ISP / Cable / Cellular contract to get in and that's your passport. Once you're in, you have the same rights and freedoms of any other citizen provided that your home country doesn't revoke or curtail those rights.


During the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt we've heard a lot about the Internet and it's impact (large or small) on the events there. Without intending any disrespect to the citizens of Tunisia or Egypt, theirs were the first spectator-sport revolutions. Everyone, involved or not had an opinion or an analysis (me included). The #hashtag became a banner to which people would flock for the latest news. Facebook, Twitter and WikiLeaks were the latest town-criers. Print and broadcast journalists relied more and more on a new toolset for getting their reporting out, the Tweets and Blogs. Things were happening so fast that there was simply no way they could limit themselves to scheduled updates "On-Air" or with your morning coffee. 24 Hour Cable News was too damn slow....


A new voice in journalism; Al Jazeera; had it's first starring role during these revolts providing the first and some would argue best coverage of events there. They caught many of their older, larger and more "established" international peers completely flatfooted. Sure, they've been broadcasting for quite some time and we'd all heard of them but it is only recently that they reached such a wide audience and they did it primarily online, at least here in the west.


The TV broadcasts of Al Jazeera aren't widely available where I live for a variety of reasons, most of them having to do with the fact that in today's post 9/11 world, they are seen as politically taboo. I mean seriously, how can you have an Arab media outlet providing us westerners news, from their point of view, in such a volatile region of the world ? Especially without the benefit of a western "spin" on things... But online, AJ and AJE have proven to be HUGE successes to the tune of a 2500% increase in traffic.  


Now with the advent of streaming broadcasts over the internet, citizens in Cairo could watch events unfold that weren't available on State run TV. Audiences everywhere had almost real-time access to the sounds and sights of events a world away. Immediacy of reporting seemed to trump the careful, spoon fed analysis that many of us were used to. A phrase I heard mentioned by one journalist several times was the desire "....to get the facts out and let the audience decide for itself". Finally, someone was treating me like an adult, capable of collating facts and drawing my own conclusions.

Haraam - It's time to STOP

Haraam (Arabic: حرام‎) is defined by Wikipedia as an Arabic term meaning "forbidden". I'm not a Muslim but I did spend the early part of my childhood in Muslim countries so I do have a small understanding of the word. To quote Seyyed Hossein Nasr a prominent Islamic Philosopher

"Islamic Law opposes all uses of force in this sense except in the case of war or for punishment of criminals in accordance with the shari'a. Even in war, however, the inflicting of any injury to women and children is forbidden as is the use of force against civilians......"

This word certainly applies to the actions of the Pro-Mubarak forces in Egypt who've taken to acts of calculated violence against their own countrymen. Protesters are getting shot, set alight by molitov cocktails, pelted by rocks, assaulted by roving gangs and NOBODY is doing a damn thing about it.

The people in Egypt who are engaging in acts of violence must stop. The governments in the West who are wringing their hands hoping for the status quo to resume must stop. Mubarak who is inflaming both sides by not accepting the people's resounding demands must stop. Israel who is helping to arm the Egyptian Security Forces must stop.


It's time for the world to recognize that when One Million Citizens march together, they represent the will of the people....PERIOD !! Their will must be accommodated. This is not some marginal group of radicals demanding something fanciful, this is everyday people demanding the basic rights that we are all entitled to. Jobs, security, freedom, liberty, pride and self determination.


Mr. Obama, Mr. Cameron, Ms. Merkel, Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Putin & Mr. Medvedev, Mr. Harper, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Mr. Hu Jintao and yes, even Mr. Netenyahu it's time to stop wringing your hands and make it clearly known that this is enough and that Mr. Mubarak has to go NOW. 


You've all said as much recently (read statements here) but actions are now required. You have it in your power to effect change immediately and it's time for you to lead.


SRW

Crazy as a Fox ?

(warning...A rambling tirade brought to you by too much BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Twitter, WikiLeaks and WikiPedia. Not to mention a lack of sleep because of the fact that back to back revolutions take a lot out of an armchair observer)

I've been following the events in Egypt for the last week and am a bit troubled, confused and in fact, worried that maybe, just maybe, Mubarak is going to last through the contest between he and his country buying himself enough time to put the pieces in place for a continuation of the status quo.


You see, the way I see it unfolding is in one of two ways and they both hinge on the actions of the Egyptian Army.


Option 1
Under increasing popular pressure and with assurances of a continued relationship and support from the USA and the west, the Egyptian Army forces Mubarak to step down. Basically doing to him what they did in 1952 to King Farouk. Force a resignation of the dictator, this time re-establish the republic and call for free elections.


The Egyptian people have the time, the momentum and the desire to form a truly representative government. Over time the world governments learn to deal with the newly represented Egyptian Nation as equals and not just geo-political tools to further their own interests. 


Option 2
In the absence of concrete western assurances but not necessarily fully supporting Mubarak, the Army does nothing. The Army doesn't depose Mubarak but doesn't crack down on the protesters either, thus creating a stalemate. Egypt which has been effectively shut down for the last week is literally starved into returning back to their lives. This would be the end of the "revolution" and a waiting game would begin to see if any of Mubarak's promised reforms actually get enacted, including his leaving office in September and the inclusion of Opposition Parties into the power structure.
_________________________________________________________________


Remember one thing though, regardless of which Option (if any) actually transpires, people the world over are watching closely. There are quite a few countries, not just in the region, with oppressive regimes and people who are getting sick of living under the yoke of some strongman who doesn't represent their interests. Whatever results from events in Egypt will serve as a lesson to other fledgling democracy / freedom movements. 


Of these two options, it's clear that the Egyptian people would prefer Option #1, most western governments would prefer Option 2. I KNOW Israel would prefer #2 because they think that this gaurantees their security. Problem is, I think that Option 2 actually leads to......


Option 2 (The Aftermath)
The people return to work, warily keeping an eye on Mubarak who, for the first few months makes all the right moves..Publicly at least. The western governments, the UN and everyone else within earshot of a microphone and camera praises the Egyptian people and Mubarak for their "Embrace of Democracy". Then September 2011 comes around and the promised free elections are anything but. The people are cheated once again but the regime has had 7 months to get it's plans in order and any new protests are crushed without mercy. This leads to all out civil war only this time, what started out in late January as a mostly secular and peaceful revolution becomes a very radicalized uprising and this time, the people are so sick of lies, politics and politicians that the more radical or fringe elements appear as attractive alternatives.


Israel is now seriously threatened..Directly. The west has lost any remaining influence and goodwill, not only in Egypt itself or the region but the world over. People everywhere are more polarized than they were in January 2011 and the body count rises on all sides. 


Isn't it time for countries to actually practice what they preach ? There's a saying that insanity is defined as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". When will the world recognize that the game of Real-Politik that our governments have been playing for 60 years is not improving things and maybe it's time to try something new. 


Six days of of protest in Egypt has done more for freedom and democracy in that country than 30+ years of diplomatic / government efforts. A lesson I hope is not lost on others, myself included.


SRW

Million to One

Tomorrow, Feb 1-2011 will see an estimated 1,000,000 people descend on Tahrir Square in Cairo in what many hope will be the culmination of 6 days of protests in a bid to force permanent change in their government. It's been a long 6 days with the Egyptian people becoming more bold and assertive in their demands for freedom, hope and change in their country. 30 years of sometimes brutal dictatorship has taken it's toll, the people have had enough and with almost a single voice they are demanding that Hosni Mubarak step down.


Regardless of what happens tomorrow in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and all the other towns and cities throughout the country, the people of Egypt have taught us all what citizenship means. They have shown us that the will of the people is a powerful force. A force that can inspire citizens the world over and intimidate the governments who would ignore them. They have shown us the dignity of a people and the pettiness of our leaders.


Whatever the outcome tomorrow, we all owe a debt to the people of Egypt and Tunisia who've reminded us of what we take for granted everyday.

In sha Allah (God Willing)

A single word says it all

Truth is Relative

Scenes of protest as reported by Al Jazeera

Scenes of protest as reported by Egyptian State TV

Scene of protest as hoped for by everyone 

Lost in Transit - USA & Media

The graphic above says it all when it comes to the USA & it's media response to events unfolding in the Islamic world. Look closely and tell me where YOU think Egypt should be on the map....Look closely...now think back to grade 7 geography. 

After 8+ years of war, Billions of dollars, thousands of wounded or dead, and umpteen hours of broadcast, FOX News has misplaced managed to forget where Iraq is, misplaces Egypt and merrily presents the graphic above to millions of Americans as News? This is freudian I tell you. I mean how cosmically stupid are these people ? But that's not the scary part. The real scary thing is that this very type of information and reporting is being passed on a "news" to inform their US audience. Don't forget folks, this is the very same news network that employs Sarah Palin, is a favorite of the Republican party (Bush, Cheney et.al) who control their Congress and is watched by millions of Americans over their morning cups of coffee.

Now to be fair, there are plenty of good American journalists covering the events in Egypt and the rest of the region with fair and honest reporting but when you consider the lead in viewership that FOX holds, this is a scary breakdown.

Now moving on to the political side of things, we have the Obama Administration's pleas for "restraint" blah blah blah. As events have unfolded since Jan 25th they've tried to position themselves in the middle of the situation. Obama & Clinton have been urging "political reform and restraint" but have stopped at that. It would seem that they would rather Mubarak regained control and threw a few minor concessions at the people. But at the same time, we're being told that Obama has been pressing Mubarak hard for the last 2 years to enact these same reforms...to no effect it seems. After 8 years of Bush AND 2+ years of Obama both asking/demanding/suggesting/cajoling for reform nothing is accomplished but 5 days of protest by the Egyptians themselves are forcing a regime change.

Seems like either the USA has no influence in spite of Billions of dollars spent OR the US hasn't really been trying very hard to influence change. You tell me. In the meantime, read this and make up your own mind.

My personal advice to CNN, FOX and the other media outlets. I know it's more work and is not always pleasant but.... you're in the news business, not the entertainment business. Put people on the ground and bring the audience you claim to serve the facts on the ground and provide some context so they can interpret things for themselves. If you are unable or unwilling to risk your own people, at the very least work with the other media outlets that are willing or get out of the business altogether. 

SRW

Rally in support of Egypt - Toronto, Canada Jan 29, 2011

Egypt Revolution