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

[PIF]

Well said Ditto!

[swarthyguy]

>Was Mubarak vacillating because we wouldn’t back him?

I think that’s abundantly clear now. Leadership, a unified(from us) response, support for our longterm ally, warts and all....but we got inanities and cliches and hectoring masquerading as clear eyed strategic thinking.

Now we, the USA, are at the mercy of events.

[KevinDavis]

Well I suggest you all enjoy the Pyramids and stuff, I have feeling they will be blown up like the Taliban blew up the ancient Buddha Statutes..

[Gabrial]

PressTV is reporting in Cairo as of 2:00 PM US Central

8 confirmed dead
900 wounded
1000 taken into custody

[sunmars]

if its Obama coming to the briefing, does he have to be announced as a special guest, what is this American Idol duets week.

[jeltz25]

So, was Mubarak on Palin’s map?

[swarthyguy]

Well, they’ll just get ‘em via the Saudis as they have for decades, lol.

That is lousy spin by Fox. Pathetic.

[SE Mom]

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/258322/some-revolutions-are-more-equal-others-andrew-stuttaford

Some Revolutions Are More Equal Than Others

January 28, 2011 2:59 P.M. By Andrew Stuttaford
The mullahs may not be so keen on uprisings at home, but abroad, well …

Via Iran’s Fars news agency:

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran‘s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said the popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Yemen signify creation of an Islamic Middle-East.

“Incidents that are happening in the Middle-East and the Arab world should not be regarded simply,” Ayatollah Khatami said, addressing a large and fervent congregation of people on Tehran University campus.

“To those who do not see the realities I clarify that an Islamic Middle-East is being created based on Islam, religion, and democracy with prevailing religious principals,” Ayatollah Khatami stressed.

He was referring to the recent historic revolution in Tunisia and massive protests in Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen.

Regardless of the circumstances of their birth, these revolutions are likely to have some very sinister stepfathers.

[mewzilla]

Egyptian officers in US amid protests back home Pentagon decided to go ahead with scheduled talks with senior Egyptian military officers

[ColdOne]

I thought Clinton was in Davos? I bet it is obionemackdaddy?

[Uncle Ike]

” ....but we got inanities and cliches and hectoring masquerading as clear eyed strategic thinking. “

Okay - you asked for it, you got it.... (is a /sarc tag really necessary??)

Clinton urges Egypt to restrain security forces
Reuters ^ | 1/28/11 | Arshad Mohammed and Deborah Charles

Posted on Friday, January 28, 2011 1:05:53 PM by markomalley

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egypt on Friday to rein in its security forces and allow peaceful protests, escalating pressure on an important ally as demonstrations raged across the country.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak imposed a curfew and ordered troops to back police as they struggled to control crowds who flooded the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities to demand that Mubarak step down.

“We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications,” Clinton told reporters in Washington, referring to the blocking of Internet social networking sites.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2665004/posts

[Smogger]

Well it's simplistic to say that this is simply an organized campaign by the Muslim Brotherhood to bring down the government. There is a volatile mix of protesters there, and we have no idea what percentage are hard core Islamists, just don't like Murbarak, or are just run-of the mill anarchists. The protests had already been going on for days when calls to join them were made by the MB.

It has been speculated that Mubarak let the protests play out in the hopes that they would peter out after awhile.

[PIF]

I heard last nite that someone had asked someone in the State Dept that very question and the reply was they had no contingency plan whatsoever...

[Padams]

CNN reporting Mubarek’s headquarters has been torched and ransacked.

Gibbs has just started speaking at briefing.

[McGruff]

[SE Mom]

Mubarak presidential guard unit heads toward state TV station in Cairo - Al Jazeera #Jan25 #Egypt
less than 5 seconds ago via breakingnews.com

[Smogger]

Gibbs on now.

What is that on his face? A cold sore?

[ResponseAbility]

Al Jazeera: People form Human Shield to protect Egypt Museum from looters.

[Gabrial]

8 confirmed dead
900 wounded
1000 taken into custody

Also saying that Police has been unable to control crowds.

Army has been ordered to enter city. Dozens of tanks have rolled in.

PressTV is reporting on the “False Promises” of the American President Obama made in Cairo last year.

[t-dude]

knock it off, you’re being an a$$