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The latest reports (or should we call them all rumors?) point to the Egyptian military planning to assume at least transitional power in Egypt. What this means for the people and their demands is hard to predict.
Al Jazeera points to the significance of the open-ended Supreme Council meeting announced just a few hours ago along with a buildup in Cairo:
6:49pm: Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera correspondent, notes the military’s Supreme Council has only ever held three open sessions in its history. 1967, 1973 – and today.
6:44pm: Al Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros reports the military presence in downtown Cairo has increased in recent hours, with greater numbers of tanks making a highly visible presence.
At the same time, AJE is reporting that Mubarak is still meeting with Suleiman suggesting the situation remains very fluid. Mubarak’s speech in a few hours is expected to be live and no one can be certain what he will say.
While this may all be a positive development, remember that Human Rights Watch issued a report last night that:
The US-based Human Rights Watch alleged in a detailed statement on Wednesday that at least 119 people were detained by the army and at least five cases were tortured. By other estimates those numbers are well into the hundreds.
The group documented that the released detainees said “they were held incommunicado, did not have access to a lawyer, and could not inform their families about their detention.”
“Arrests by military police of journalists, human rights defenders, and youth activists since January 31 appear intended to intimidate reporting and undermine support for the Tahrir protest,” said Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. “These arrests and reports of abuse in detention are exactly the types of practices that sparked the demonstrations in the first place.”
UPDATE 12:50 EST – From Egyptian Chronicles, Zeinobia reports what Egyptians are hearing:
Statement no.1 : Army respects the people and will do its best to protect it .. etc.
More statements to come and people are going crazy from happiness…
Rumors circulating that Mubarak has left the country, places of destinations are Dubai and Jordan.There are rumors that Cairo international airport is being evacuated to let Mubarak leave now. Another rumor that that he is being detained at a military airport.We misinterpreted the movement of the army in Cairo last night when huge forces moved to the Presidential palace in Orooba and the ETRU building , these were clear signs but we did not understand, nobody understood this because of the neutral position of the army !!
We are being ruled now by that army council which is in permanent meeting status.
Al jazeera claims that the army intervened when Mubarak was going to transfer some of his powers to Soliman, in fact this was what Mubarak was going to announce allegedly tonight. Already now we are hearing that officers tried to killed Soliman in that assassination attempt.
More people are saying that the man who is going to be our transitional president is General Sami Anan.
UPDATE 1:15 EST – As we all wait for Mubarak’s speech, We are all Khaled Said expresses the mood:
Mubarak is so slow. Slow in understanding our demands, slow in listening to the people telling him to go, slow in running away like Ben Ali & he is now even slower in playing his recorded departure speach.
Ben Wedeman reporting live on CNN tells us that the crowds continue to grow in Tahrir Square – with long lines waiting to get in. His latest tweet:
bencnn
It’s all excitement now in #Tahrir as people wait for Mubarak’s speech, but what about tomorrow? Too many questions, NO answers. #Egypt
It’s unclear what the reaction will be if the military takes over but then again, the protesters have no desire to have Suleiman in charge since he is simply a continuation of the regime. Just seeing Mubarak and his regime go would be a historic victory but the protesters will insist on a real transition, not a simple military coup.
Al-Masry Al-Youm reports on the military moves:
The statement was labeled “communiqué number 1,” a phrasing that suggests a military coup.
Footage on state TV showed Defense Minster Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi chairing the meeting of two dozen stern-faced top army officers seated around a table.
At Tantawi’s right was military chief of staff General Sami Anan. Not present was Mubarak, the commander-in-chief and a former air force head, or his vice president, Omar Suleiman, a former army general and general intelligence chief assigned to his current post after the uprising erupted on January 25.
UPDATE 1:45 EST – Obama is speaking in Marquette now – talking about the young people in the forefront of the Egyptian democracy movement. “We want those young people to know we will do everything we can to support an orderly transition.” And then moves along ….
Mubarak was due to talk now but no word from him yet.
We are all Khaled Said reports:
The minister of information (Anas El Fiki) has said that everything the world media is saying are just rumours and Mubarak is not stepping down!!!
We will never stop until he goes & regime falls. If it is not for us, it’s for Egypt and for those who died to let us live in freedom.
CNN is reporting the Minister’s statement as well.
BBC’s Lyse Doucet tweets:
bbclysedoucet RT @BBCWorld: BBC Fergus Nicol #Tahrir Square: “Everybody’s on tenterhooks. If something dramatic happens place will go bananas” #Egypt
bbclysedoucet Mood electric in Cairo. Palpable sense of anticipation. What will Mubarak say tonite? #jan25 #egypt
bbclysedoucet Driving thru Cairo traffic.People already beeping horns & waving V for victory signs. #jan25 #egypt
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Here is New York Times’ report, the Washington Posts’ report, the Independent’s report on the Putsch, if that’s what it is.
This is crazy!
So the king is dead? And the Egyptian military will form some sort of transitional government of ‘national salvation’? Tricky business, to be sure, but I hope it actually works. I guess one of the major tests for a new government/regime will be to uncover corruptness and atrocities committed by that *same* military. A truth commission and complete house-cleaning should be in order, no?
Music to the ears.
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for these desirable goals to happen.
I’m sticking with AJ. I suck at multitasking, so if I skip around from source to source, I just get confused & don’t learn anything.
So I appreciate the snippets from others who are better at it than I am.
Indeed. The irony strikes me: Wouldn’t it be neat if the Egyptians could deliver such a ‘teachable moment’ to Barack Hussein Obama?
The key is for whoever winds up in power to select an effective prosecutor for the Truth Commission. The person selected for that role will speak volumes about the seriousness of that effort.
I’m getting very jerky signal from AJ..I wish I could hear it.
hmmmm, sounds familiar :D
And claw back the billions that will undoubtedly be looted from the treasury, and everything else that was stolen if it wasn’t nailed down….
Egypts info minister – Mubarak not leaving CNN
The administration is no doubt on the phone telling the Egyptian military what the Amerikans expect from them should they take power. Telling them Nike will build a new factory where they can pay workers $2 a day or less.
this is Nabokov’s magic vs. the brute on a dramatic stage for all to watch
brute has been winning everywhere, including here, forever .. numbingly, prettied up [obama], by whatever means necessary ..
this is the battle of humanity with itself
we’ll see
Have you tried youtube? Mine is good.
Good call :)
Thanks, I’ll try that.
Citizen eCAHNomics:
I’m with you…our house has had AJZ on “favorites” for a week. How long do you think it will take Olbermann and his new “Current Events” gig to pick up a franchise for AJZ?
WOW – are they implying that the assassination attempt that the State Dept tried to float as coming from a jihadist element and then quit talking about at all, was really a MILITARY attempt (and presumably that’s why everyone shut up about it)? That would be big new – I understand everything so far is just fluid and rumors, but that’s an interesting bit.
I’m with you on the caution about military rule, Siun, but it’s also a case where someone/some entity has to step in and so far the military is the entity a lot of the Egyptians feel most comfortable with – I’m really hoping for a success here. If it is Sami Anan for a bit, I think there will be less belligerency from Israel (whatever its faults, it has some legitimate reasons for fear and fear makes a dog bite) which would help keep the process from being derailed.
This piece from back in Jan by The International News seems to have (and things may change in an hour and I’ll eat these words) called it
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=3652&Cat=13
They said in the end that Sami Anan would make the call (and also the implication of Suleiman being ailing and the CIA role in announcing/leaking makes you wonder if part of the deal was getting their torturer, as well as Mubarak, someplace “safe”
Wisest comment of the day.
Good comment.
CNN is all confused and in a tizzy, because of conflicting reports..Egypt national teevee saying Muby not stepping down.
The reports on the Army picking up protestors, some let go, some tortured, some disappeared…have worried me too, Siun.
I wonder if it could be that different factions might be, or were, going a bit rogue.
The explanations that the Army runs many of its own businesses are interesting, too. Early on, Martha Raddatz had said the the Army will above all look out for its own interest. Again, Officer Corps v. common soldiers must come into play.
The rumors are flying thick and fast.
Nobody seems to know exactly what is happening.
lotsa tweets yesterday about Suleiman/Anan battle – with widely respected, now retired journalist (and Gamal Nassr homie) Haykal calling this
Everything I’m reading about the army says it’s very fragmented. This could well be the case.
just now guffawed when cruising a thread of tweets mentioning “Tahrir Square” – american TradMed bobbleheads anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour behind everyone else on confirmed facts – still giggling
Citizen Sharkbabe:
A wonderful way of puttin’ it…and all of this is happening while the US government and Israel are increasingly isolated from direct influence. Maybe ObamaRahma and Mrs. McClinton can convince the banksters to foreclose on the oilagarchs and throw in with the populist movement in the ME.
Interesting read:
Ripples, spreading
Even the oil-rich Gulf monarchies are feeling the Egypt effect
Saudi announced support for Mubarak yesterday or the day before if Obama cut off our aid to him. Disquieting, to say the least; another middle finger to the US.
Meanwhile, finding out the military isn’t so neutral as the protesters thought is also disquieting, although the people seem to trust them more. I hope that trust isn’t misplaced
Gotta love it. It’s because nobody is including them in the news. Folks overseas are getting info on the ground, and the US is reading their tweets to try to keep up :)
Our media has proved to be completely inept during all of this.
I hope the Egyptian people can party tonight (or tomorrow morning) to celebrate the change. If a coup is underway right now, well, I hope there isn’t blood.
Most used phrase on the teevee today: “What does it mean if..”
On a much lighter note, this has been hilarious today.
I eagerly await all the wikileaks showing the collusion between the Saudis & Israel.
SOP.
Real investigative journalism has been dead in this country for years.
I’m excited about the BofA release expected sometime this month. Can’t wait to see a TBTF get pantsed on the international stage.
They’d be right on top of things if any of what is going on involved 1 or more of the airhead actresses in the gossip media.
They’re probably still getting their nooz from HuffPO
We all could wait and see what actually happens. Just sayin!
Dood! I just figured it out! We make Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian our remote correspondents in Egypt!
I eagerly await any and all Wikis,esp now that the rape case against Assnage is frickin’ falling apart
“I’m melting…oooooo….what a world!”
The hell you say. ;)
That is what I am trying to do, watching the talking heads running around like chickens without one is always entertaining though.
Any reaction from the OilBomber administration?
Yeppurs. There’d be woodies galore at CNN.
O’s up in about 6 minutes. From somewhere in Michigan.
Other than shitting their pants, you mean?
Fuck Obama.
Luv me some Assange. (While not hesitating to report that my idols often turn out to have feet of clay.)
You don’t like watching train wrecks? You don’t rubber neck at traffic accidents? You’re a better person than I am. *g*
Especially if they include memos that date back to 2001.
Boom! There it is.
Yes, there would be that.
Yes it is. :)
Nope, don’t rubberneck at car crashes. Honk at rubbernecks. Most of those folks are hoping to see a body so they can tell everybody at work the next day.
Denial by the Ministry of Information is a reliable indication that something is true. ;)
the media is only “inept” think of the trillions spent by US Intel Establishment and it’s ABJECT failure to call this !
have I ever regaled you with my tales of the Tehran InterContinental Hotel and a whole bunch of spooks, swilling single malt, assuring us lil american girlies that “the Shah is safe” . . . 3 days before he left the country
thought we’d evolved somewhat in the ensuing decades, and wouldn’t continue to bring our Euro Centric prejudices to the game – I was waaaaay wrong
I agree. I just couldn’t figure out how to phrase your sentiment without using the terms “fucking liars” and “complicit criminals”.
Sorta like Shrub and Obama.
It would be striking and a teachable moment, but an Egyptian Truth Commission would also sully those who held power after Mubarak, the Egyptian bourgeoisie, the Egyptian Army, the Israelis, the Americans, etc. Unless the Egyptian Army intends to disarm or to allow civilian authorities to conduct a purge of those officers guilty of crimes, two large ifs, we’re not likely to see an Egyptian Truth Commission.
I’ve never heard that story! I know you were there right before the Shah left. You’ll have to tell me about it sometime.
OT, Kristen and I are starting to look for rental homes :)
AJE has nothing on this. Interesting.
Where does the House of Saud jet to when it finds itself in hot water?
Obama speaking now.
They announced earlier that he was due to show up at hlf past. He’s on stage on CNN. Just arrived.
O is up.
$64,000 Q!
Aww, shit, Obama on AJE. JHFC on a crutch.
Ha, AJE switching otherwheres until Obama brings Egypt up in speech.
Stranger things have happened. Three weeks ago no one would have predicted that Mubarak would fall so swiftly, and yet he did.
From Martha and the Vandellas:
Dancin’ In The Streets!
NM
So yins is sayin’ that if da nuuuz was “sexed up” like Downing Street more members of certain aspects of da public wood pay ahtenshun?
News ya can schmooze … it’s all in the “presentation”, substance smubstance, we want news worth watchin’.
Good thing Americans live in a vacuum … SD, otherwise they’d be taken to the cleaners.
Mention “America” anywhere in the world, the “battlefield” as “Homeland” America would have it, and them what don’t swear will laugh. The empire is kaput … all it can do is flail around doing as much damage as possible until it expires, finally, of its own absurdity.
DW
Ding! Ding! Ding! I think you are absolutely correct. I hate to sound like such a cynic, but the show would probably be a whitewash. Same if it ever happened here, I’m afraid.
(Sidebar: I don’t consider myself a cynic, or a Debbie Downer, or whatever. A friend told me I was worse than a hopeless romantic, I was a hopeful one.)
Does OBL tag along as one of the bellhops?
Gag. Seen enough of the O train wreck.
Heh.
Wow! This is very exciting news. Go Egypt!
and o/t does anyone think AJ’s logo in the vid above looks a bit like the proposed FDL logo? Or is it just me?
Dead Empire Walking.
Hmmm. That does not seem to be “good” falling.
Looks more like a bad sinking sensation.
Did you have time for any thoughts on the way down, eCAHN?
DW
On buses leaving for overnight trips through the Andes in SA, the attendants walk down the aisles passing out barf bags. Once should also be kept within easy reach for all of O’s locutions.
I wonder if this is what Rome looked like, in the end.
At one point, the student protesters had demanded that a transitional government appointed by a coalition including the military:
That’s from the following article from the Guardian, worth reading for a glimpse of how the protesters have been organizing themselves within Tahrir Square:
Cairo’s biggest protest yet demands Mubarak’s immediate departure
Now, today, the army has said to the square:
So, it is at least feasible that the army has consented to this kind of arrangement of a temporary government including representatives from Tahrir Square that would then make possible the writing of a new constitution and ultimately elections.
Even if that were to happen, as Paul Amar wrote in another must-read article,
The “setting the terms and agenda” part is the key, I think.
I predicted 2& a half weeks ago he would be gone by last weekend and I was wrong too!
Maybe yes. Maybe no. Egypt is a waaaaaaay older civilization, so it might take us a bit longer. Lord knows, ’cause I sure don’t.
Won’t let anyone blow it out, No!. I’m gonna let it shine.
I think Obama’s running out of speechifying.
“We are watching history unfolding.”
Didn’t he say that in his speech on Election night in 2008?
Just think, if all goes well maybe in a few short years Egyptians will have their own corrupt Congress and an asshole President like ours selling them out.
Good advice.
Funniest barf bag story I ever heard: Someone brought some fruit to eat on a plane. For some reason, transferred the leftovers to barf bag to carry them off. Flight attendant at departure door very politely & gently told passenger she didn’t have to take that with her & offered to dispose of it for her.
Citizen SouthernDragon:
At ease Dragonman…ObamaRahma is doin’ what he does best and, in fact what is best for America to do right now, and that is to use a lotta feel-good words to say absolutely nuthin’. This is a “moment” not only for the people of Egypt but for us also…if we, the US, don’t get on the right side of this thing when the people of Egypt get it worked out, then we’re lookin at a new 12th century reality here in the old USofA.
In the unofficial FDL Mubarak-gone pool, phred has dibs on every Friday night.
A Republicans wet dream.
Moldering away … step by bloody awful step … inch by corrupt, dishonest inch … desperately clawing at the pitiless sky and seeking to take all down with it.
What an empty, rotten husk.
Crumble away and appear no more.
Begone vile conquest … begone you “chosen ones” … bedevile life and humanity no more.
No more.
DW
Ancient Egypt’s empire collapsed for the same reasons the US empire is collapsing. Corrupt, ineffective govt. Same shit, different day.
Smooch.
CNN reports Egyptian Govt official, Army take over not a coup but will “outside constitutional authority”.
:) Same back.
Wonderful tone poem!
“Would a dictator-free Middle East be bad news for Lockheed, Boeing and Raytheon shares?” Why yes as it’s USG provided corporate welfare laundered through US dictatorships. Meanwhile the numbers of jobs in the US is unchanged for the last 10 years. On food stamps as a result? How JP Morgan still makes bank on you and hires workers in India with your tax dollars (more here).
What words, man. On your hiatuses from the Lake, I always imagine that you are writing away. That’s just my imaginings.
You paint really well with those words, dear.
Citizen SouthernDragon:
Yeppers BrotherDragonman…the end of America’s empire and of course the end of the oil-backed dollar and now we will look at which side our military will take: the banksters or the oilagarchs.
Citizen DWBartoo:
Truth as only Brother BW can bring it!
Meanwhile, last week the best pro golfers in the world held court in Qatar, and this week they’re at Dubai.
Support one and the other is supported. A modern Medusa.
I wish I could write like that. Shit, I wish I could think like that.
I would not be so sure, szielinski. Whatever we see, it will be creatively Egyptian in its approach. I prefer to take the John Kennedy attitude from his October showdown with Kruschev – in the presentation of conflicting messages from the USSR about the situation in Cuba he decided to go with the most positive one, and that’s how the crisis was safely brought to a peaceful conclusion. That is entirely what the savvy protesters have done with respect to the army from the very beginning of this confrontation. They have shown respect, and the army, the elements on the square, gave evidence back that the people could build on.
As long as there remains that critical element of mutual respect, the country can move forward in positive fashion.
Doubtless, Kris.
The world and humanity have seen this before.
If EMPIRE continues, in whatever form, both the world and humanity will suffer until they die.
It is time for change.
Real change.
And the people, humanity itself, is bone weary and sick of greed and the lust for power.
Only the fearful, the sociopathic and the blood-thirsty insane embrace greed and unlimited power, the rest of us suffer the consequence and pay the true cost.
My sense is that we are presented the possibility of change from what is, essentially, a tribal consciousness to somethinmg far larger and more healthy.
More human beings understand this today than understood yesterday.
Time is our ally, it does not go backwards.
DW
Back to work. Damn.
Namaste
And who says the slave labor markets won’t shift from China to the (cough) emerging (cough) democracies of the Arabic/Islamic (cough) nations?
Citizen SouthernDragon:
We, the US government, gotta just get used to shuttin’ up and lettin’ the Egyptians work it out…we don’t say or do anything except get our corporate thugs outta there and do what the people of Egypt want us to do and when they want us to do it.
Ppppppppshaw!!!
DW
Citizen AitchD:
Welcome Citizen, when did you get wireless connection from that side a the moon?
“Mubarak’s speech in a few hours is expected to be live and no one can be certain what he will say.”
He will say that he has figured out how to get his billion$ out of the country.
Amen.
DW
There’s no “or” .. they’re on the same side and they have since the bbegining of the industry before the turn of the 19th century. The Saudis, however, may have no further utility though if their reserves are overstated by 40%. They have been lying about it for 3 years now.
Here since 07, maybe sooner, could be more specific if weeks had names like years, months, and days have names.
You are right about that!
Citizen mzcheif:
Yep, but in our country how we suffer the end of the empire of oil will depend upon where the banksters and the US military come down. The whole of the Ancient Regime is fallin apart and with it the value it gave to the trillions of dollars the banks are sittin on…there is a very large crack in the oligarchy and how it gets resolved will determine our future for the next 100 years at least. Have a nice day and see you in the street.
Continued thanks to Siun for the a.m.a.z.i.n.g reporting on Egypt the last few weeks.
Eliminating a dictatorship surely is a good enough outcome of all of this political activity. A Truth Commission would be welcomed, but the key goal is regime change, to resurrect a debased idea.
Our number 1 source of fuel oil is Canada; number 3 is Mexico.
Thanks to AlJazeera.
Most excellent short essay on the importance of “mutual respect” in civil society, Juliana.
The coherency and depth of your comments be truly appreciated.
DW
Also, too.
You may be right. But I don’t trust Armies. They are meant to break things, not govern, seek justice, etc.
Bye bye Mubarak! Get it over with!
Yes. Egyptians have been brave and peaceful. I admire them greatly.
Norske you are a fine historian and a most superb advocate for humanity.
Your comments are, very often, more than golden and always deep and powerfully honest.
Always a pleasure to read your words and comtemplate your thoughts and visions.
In the streets, among the courageous, with the human beings.
DW
“The minister of information (Anas El Fiki) has said that everything the world media is saying are just rumours and Mubarak is not stepping down!”
Anas El Fiki sounds like Baghdad Bob. Next he’ll be saying the protestors’ bellies will be roasting in hell.
But maybe the real crisis comes when Mubarak steps aside?
cbl on twitter -
Citizen DWBartoo:
Back atcha companero…now when do we join the revolution?
Norskey, your energy, your heart your mind Are the revolution. That and David’s, Richard’s, oldnslow’s….many good souls here are.
LOL!
To be placed in the company of those you mention is deeply humbling.
Look what happened in the couple hours I let myself leave the computer today! And I’m having a meeting here at my house in 5 minutes, just when Mubarak is supposed to speak. Y’all tell me what happens, hear?
at approximately 1:45 PM CST, a CNN moron actually said that the Egyptians want to go back to work and go to the banks and go shopping, which is why the moment is being forced to a crisis. (moron must be nameless cuz I had to go in to my appoitment.)
Why brother Norske, we, you and I, have been moving the conversation along for years, talking with people and learning and understanding.
We are not separate from the revolution, we have lived and breathed it for many decades you and I, and SD, and many, many others here.
Timing, as you realize is a big part of it, but, so too, are narratives, such as yours and others yet unfinished that convey the essence of what kind of world we all seek.
Before we can do as the Egyptians have done, we must build a more civil society of human beings, who agree upon certain things, such as the fundamental need of the rule of law to civil society, for without such law, by law, not by men, there can be no justice.
Justice is little appreciated until one has lost it and the implications sink in.
The same holds true with genuine, actual freedom, which is not just a word or the choice of a thousand TV programs, but the actual determination of what one’s life will be, the decisions concerning life and death which belong to no Caesar but only to individuals.
True freedom suggests that the world belongs to the people, and the other life forms with which we share it, not to the few, the would-be rulers.
I think, Norske, that human-humane revolution is now world-wide and unstoppable … and that we’ve much to learn from those who are “doing” it … our job, if you will, is to, somehow, ready our fellow citizens for the tasks ahead.
I imagine that you and Thomas Paine would get on rather well (and do) with that “readying”.
As you know, my prejudice is that THIS revolution must be non-violent (as the Eqyptians understand) or a new tyranny will simply replace the old.
The revolution is not apart from people, it is within them, within their understanding … within their power.
We, all of us, are the revolution.
And we are here, now …
DW
I was thinking the same thing about you :) and clapping inside.
DW, as much as many here would love to see a peacefull revolution in the West, in my opinion it would never happen as in Egypt. There is too much division here of left/right, conservative/liberal, and the political leaders have grown discord to unbelievable proportions. Both sides blame each other, instead of the rich and corrupt liars that have supplied this kabuki.
NOt sure if this is already old, but LAT about an hour ago putup this piece that the Generals are going to support Suleiman.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/02/egypt-generals-support-handover-to-suleiman.html
They are getting it from Al-Aribya – sounds to me like a feeler to see what reaction there would be
<blockquote<The network reported that Egyptian generals plan to support the handover to Suleiman, a 74-year-old former intelligence chief who has maintained a good relationship with Washington and Israel.
Mubarak would announce constitutional procedures before handing over powers, Al Arabiya said. If protesters reject the plan, the military would take action, the network reported, citing unspecified sources. The report did not elaborate on what type of action the military would take.
Not bloody likely, as you know. Still, if the Egyptians pull this off, it could have a galvanizing effect on our young people. In my more sanguine moments, I think of the early 60s returning in the guise of the present generation of young people. One lives in hope.
I saw a body once, in fact two of them crushed by a semi. I threw up, and never forgot it.
Never is a long time, cb, and time and consequence do have a way of getting people’s attention, you know, like a two by four and an inattentive mule …?
As long as things appear to “work” the false divisions will obtain.
When things no longer “work” America will either come to its senses and find its humanity or everyone else in the world will instruct us on how to get there.
Will you or I live to see this?
I dunno.
But it will come to pass, for the forward path of humanity requires that we move beyond our infantile grasps and reach a deeper understanding of life, its meaning and its worth.
The rest of the world is seeking that path … woe shall betide us if we persist in denying its very existence.
Ultimately, the rest of the world’s people are not going to allow the world and their lives to be destroyed by a bunch of spoiled, ignorant, and badly behaved children.
I’ll put my faith in humanity, not in death and destruction.
I’ll wager that the day is already here when most human beings on this planet already understand.
There is light in the world. It cannot be extinguished or destroyed.
The people of the lie are no longer respected, soon they will no longer be obeyed.
Change is upon us. It is within us.
DW
Rome in the end gave its country over to its mercenaries. They simple assigned them the tax revenues and let them take over from the old elite. In many ways it was fairly smooth, until the mercenaries began to fight amongst themselves and then things fell apart. Leading up to all this (with a 200 year lag) was the replacement of a citizen army by paid mercenaries, increasingly foreign. Does that strike a bell?
I sure don’t like the sound of that. The whole world is watching, and if they take some kind of aggressive action all hell will break lose…everywhere. (except here)
I have been saying for a while, change will come from outside this country. And then Egypt happened….
word has it, Mubarak not stepping down and giving power to Suliman.
AJ: Citing al Arabia & Reuters: Mubarak won’t step down. Will rescind some of the emergency laws, pass power to Sulieman but stay as prez, whatever that means.
Everybody better brace themselves…
On!
Speaking now! Doesn’t sound like he’s planning to leave.
Hmmm…he looks weird…breathless and very nervous.
Nevermind. He just looks evil.
Taking no orders from outside.
Will not accept orders from “outside” no matter the source. Will not run in elections.
He ain’t leavin’…
Brace, brace, brace..
Will continue to shoulder his responsibility.
This ain’t gonna make the crowd happy. Now what?
Things gonna blow up (in some fashion) now.
He better be running…really, really fast.
This should be called “Egypt’s what does it mean if I keep saying I’m not leaving Revolution”. Unfuckingbelievable.
Supposedly the way it works (from what I’ve been hearing – no expert) under the Egyptian constitution, if the President is leave-leaving (permanently) then the Speaker of Parliament becomes President/assumes Presidential powers.
If the President is “temporarily” leaving, power goes to the Vice President.
So – if you tell the people he’s GONE, then he’s leave-leaving and someone has to explain why the Speaker isn’t assuming the powers. And apparently no one wants the Speaker. Why is something that isn’t getting much press, but he is from Mubarak’s party as well as being a weaker figure politically than some of hte other names.
The main way you get around the Speaker assuming the Presidency while at the same time reinforcing Mubarak is gone-gone, is to basically make it a coup – which seemed to be what might have been in the works earlier and with the televised address.
Obamaco, it’s torturer Suleiman, and Mubarak seem to be wanting to waltz around to try to make people happy by thinking Mubarak is GONE GONE, while at the same time getting the power to Suleiman. There’s no way to do those things without a blatant disregard of the constitution or a coup. So they don’t want Mubarak to actually, formally, step down and have the speaker as President. As long as Mubarak is technially head of state, they think he can stay President, leave, but delegate to Suleiman and that everyone will go home happy that he’s gone.
The fact that some faction of the military beat them to the press-punch and, before Mubarak made it to having his talk, the military council went on air and laid expectations for Mubarak to be gone-gone – - – that has made it even more complex. Bc now that the crowds are geared up, they will react even more negatively to Mubarak’s kabuki than if the military had not set a different expectation.
Next move?
Ahmad Fathi Sorour is 79, has degrees in crimminal law, was a deputy Att. General from ’53 to ’59 … and as you say, it is not clear why he is not wanted as an Egyptian President … or by whom, specifically.
Clearly, the Egyptian military intends to play a significant role in Egypt’s future, at least short-term, and, it is to be hoped that the military does as you’ve suggested, Mary …
Their “first communique” seems to suggests as much.
DW
Mubarak gone – Egypt’s emergency police powers act ending before
the US’s Patriot Act – 3 military man council takes over -
Egypt has a great beginning to a potential wonderful ending.
Meanwhile Hamas rejects elections that might remove them from power in GAZA – but the PA calls for elections this year. Seems it is hard to remove some of those in power once elected. Guess the 2006 elections will be the only ones that count in GAZA in 2011. Does sort of kill the mantra that Hamas represents the people of GAZA.