Breaking News & LIVE THREAD- Egypt and Middle East

Various on the internet | 28 January 2011

[SE Mom]

From FOX:

DEVELOPING: Loud explosions and gunfire were heard in the Egyptian capital of Cairo Friday, as protesters demanding the removal of President Hosni Mubarak defied a curfew, Al Jazeera reported. Egyptian television reports the ruling party headquarters in Cairo are on fire.

From TWITTER:

WashingtonPost: Clinton: We urge #Egypt authorities to allow peaceful protest, reverse unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications less than 20 seconds ago

[no-to-illegals]

Thanking you for the comic relief...(big smile)

[Uncle Ike]

;~)

[SE Mom]

I did hear Rush today- and he’s right...it’s a relatively small number compared to the 80 million people who inhabit the country.

Beck was pretty intense- he finally came out and said the biggest reason the islamists hate us is because of “our friends”...he believes it’s our inteference in the ME that has caused the hatred- which is what bin Laden says too. Strange bedfellows.

It’s a hell of a thing, really. Of course being a supporter of a man like Mubarak is not one of the more shining things we should be proud of- not as bad as Saddam- but certainly not one of the good guys. But we made a deal with the devil and now we reap what we’ve sown. Mubarak has pretty much kept his side of the bargain- the Suez is safe (as of the moment) and they’ve kept Israel from annihilation..and it’s kind of awful to watch how quickly we’re turning our back on him, the ruthless SOB. And YET regardless of the scale of badness Mubarak fits- there are those thousands of people who seem to be asking for their freedom- and that American spirit in me just applauds and fairly shouts in delight. But the cynic in me wonders if this isn’t a HUGE set-up...

Someone said tonight on one of the shows I was watching it’s a struggle between our interests and our principles/values. Oil drives our economy- without it we are dead. So it is in our interest to protect our sources of oil. But it goes against our American grain - our soul, to side with the oppressor. How to reconcile?

DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!!!!

[no-to-illegals]

only 3% of the population that is rioting

Today (excuse me) still today and near yesterday here in the United States. Once more, today (Egypt) may be a day providing some answers. May today (Egypt) bring calm in Egypt and all of the Middle East.

[HollyB]

Egypt temporarily shutting down the Nestle and Noor plant.

[no-to-illegals]

Any thoughts on the poll, in Egypt, which looked less than favorable. I may not be remembering all of the poll numbers or questions and may not have an actual sense of what the poll was all about. Seems there may have been four, maybe five questions in the poll. Back to the question, does anyone know what I am talking about. I do not.

Never the less the 3% number would come into question (perhaps) when stacked side by side pro/con on the poll. Maybe the poll was faked? Dang it...sorry for the fog, all.

[Uncle Ike]

” How to reconcile? “

Here’s some more information that may help to reconcile your dilemma...
{this is a cross-post}

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2666482/posts

Key military, intelligence assets imperiled in Egypt
washington tiimes ^ | 1/31/11 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on Monday, January 31, 2011 7:58:25 PM by Nachum

U.S. military and intelligence agencies would lose vital air, land and sea assets if Egypt falls into the hands of radical Islamists, as Iran did in 1979, foreign policy analysts say. The U.S. armed forces are entwined with Egypt’s military more than with any other Arab country’s. But if Islamists seize Cairo, as the mullahs captured Tehran, this complex relationship unravels. “Let me count the ways,” said Ken Allard, a retired Army colonel and military analyst. “They are our biggest strategic partner in the Middle East. At that point, you’ve lost your biggest Arab partner. Geostrategically, the mind boggles.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...

---

If I may wax philosophical, for a bit — it seems to me that Spiritual Growth doesn’t come so much from the choice between Good and Evil, but rather in having to make a choice between almost-equal Evils (or Goods), and accepting accountability for the consequences of - and learn from - our choice...

In this case - setting aside all moral judgements about how we got here and whether we should be here, the reality is that the well-being of my family, my community, and my Nation is dependent on Stability in the MidEast, and to ensure that well-being, I’m able to tolerate supporting a Dictator who has a long track-record of being a major force for Stability....

My $0.002

[HollyB]

Proctor & Gamble and Coke have closed till further notice. I’m sure there will be many more.

[no-to-illegals]

DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!!!!

Best thoughts of the Day!

[no-to-illegals]

Ike, I have the same amount in this situation. ($0.002)
I have already stepped over the line, attempting to save
lives with some of the typed words and spoken words
I have shared here, and via other routes.

But the cynic in me wonders if this isn’t a HUGE set-up...
I have to go with SE Mom's comment regarding 'Set-Up'. I too have this question within my heart and mind.

[Uncle Ike]

{this is a cross-post}

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2666494/posts

Coptic Christians Worry About Future Without Mubarak
The Wall Street Journal ^ | * FEBRUARY 1, 2011 | MARC CHAMPION

Posted on Monday, January 31, 2011 8:21:55 PM by MinorityRepublican

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt—Like the protesters who have flooded the streets of Egypt in the past week, the country’s large minority of Coptic Christians worry about joblessness and lack of freedoms. But most want President Hosni Mubarak to stay in power.

Fear of what may follow the removal of Mr. Mubarak, a secular strongman who has ruled the country for the past 30 years, is making reluctant supporters out of the country’s Christians, an estimated 10% of Egypt’s 80 million population. Mr. Mubarak has been aggressive in pursuing perceived Islamist extremist groups, a policy that has endeared him to Coptic Christians, not to mention the U.S.

Many Copts worry that Mr. Mubarak’s exit would leave them dangerously exposed—either by chaos, or to a government that may be more tolerant of Islamist extremists.

Pope Shenouda III, head of the Coptic Church, expressed support for Mr. Mubarak in an interview with Egyptian state television Monday. “We have called the president and told him we are all with you and the people are with you,” he said, according to a transcript of the interview on the state television’s website.

In Alexandria, where the Coptic Orthodox Church was founded in A.D. 42, worshippers slipped through a crack in the gate at St. Mark’s and St. Peter’s Church on Monday morning, for the first service to be held here since Egypt’s anti-Mubarak protests began.

As recently as New Year’s Day, this church suffered a horrific terrorist attack. Twenty-three people died and 97 were injured when a large bomb packed with nails and ball bearings detonated outside just after midnight, as the service was ending.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...

[Eye of Unk]

I would think it is a prime time to rule obamas decisions to stop domestic offshore drilling as to be rescinded due to the nature of an oncoming global fuel emergency.

Its time to over rule obama, its time to fund drilling, oil shale extraction and more domestic refining.

Not ethanol fueled vehicles, not electric cars. To make ethanol we will be using corn, for electric cars we will be dependant upon China for the rare earth materials.

[cookcounty]

The Muslim Brotherhood assassinated Anwar Sadat, gave birth to Al-Qaida, and Islamic Jihad and HAMAS, and as to the Jews is best thought of as a neo-Nazi movement.

[Palladin]

Hurray!

They’ll get back home just in time to shovel out their parents’ driveways!

[no-to-illegals]

Please tell me you have heard from your friend.

[no-to-illegals]

my post was not reference to you last post here.

[no-to-illegals]

you = your ..... has been a long day.

[Uncle Ike]

bttt

Bedtime - turning the thread over to the night shift...

;)

[HollyB]

Wonderful News RR. So glad they are ok. Looking forward to you sharing some of their stories with us! Thanks for keeping us updated. Blessings, HB

(on that note, I’m getting some shut eye - tomorrow is going to be another big day)

[no-to-illegals]

reference #1910 of this thread.