Egypt leaves the Internet, citizens revolt. Update: Internet's back, still revolting.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Igottago

What's "the norm"? Political, social and economical situations are always constantly in a state of change and are sometimes a delicate balance that could snowball once disrupted. It may not have gotten to the point of western intervention or civil war yet but that doesn't mean its some blip on the radar.

Anyhow, feel free to place as much importance on the matter as you want to, no point in arguing about it. I'll continue to watch it with interest.

Hey, I'll watch it with interest too. I'm not suggesting we shouldn't pay attention, but I think people should temper their expectations .

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Let's look into the future. Waaaaaay into the future. Like, 6 months from now. Are these mind blowing events still reverberating around the globe? Or has everything calmed down and returned to norm?

You have this power?

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

I'm not inflating the importance of the event because of my interest in it. But thanks for the warning.

We are seeing a growing uprising against the powers that be in Islamic countries. In case you haven't been paying attention to the little events on the news, a lot of Western foreign policy has been associated with that area of the world (the Middle-East, although on the map that part is little -- look close).

It's not every day a country of Egypt's size, with Egypt's importance in the Mid-East has a revolution. Believing a revolution is doomed to inevitable failure because prior revolutions around the world have failed is a fallacy, and, frankly, small-minded.

I'd caution against that.

Fair enough. I doubt this uprising has long term staying power, but that isn't for me to decide. In any event, it makes for some compelling TV / tweets.

[HPLovecraft]

No promise it will succeed, or what it will lead to in other areas of the Middle-East, or the world, but one revolution already has succeeded recently -- Tunisia. It hasn't gotten similar coverage, though . . .

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Lot of gunshots going on now. Probably government forces in the distance trying to freak protesters out.

Edit: Tank moving now, military firing into the air.

It always worries me when people fire a lot of bullets into the air indiscriminately, those bullets usually come back to earth in a hurry.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Fair enough. I doubt this uprising has long term staying power, but that isn't for me to decide. In any event, it makes for some compelling TV / tweets.

That is another point, and an interesting one. I've been watching a lot of this on CNN HD and its hard not to think they are trying as hard as they can to sensationalize certain aspects of whats going on. They just had a clip of Anderson cooper getting caught up in one of the mobs and the camera shaking around and it was almost like this was exactly what they were hoping for when they sent him in there. Its kind of surreal to watch. Is it just a byproduct of the communications and technology we have at our disposal today?

The revolution will be televised.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Igottago

That is another point, and an interesting one. I've been watching a lot of this on CNN HD and its hard not to think they are trying as hard as they can to sensationalize certain aspects of whats going on. They just had a clip of Anderson cooper getting caught up in one of the mobs and the camera shaking around and it was almost like this was exactly what they were hoping for when they sent him in there. Its kind of surreal to watch. Is it just a byproduct of the communications and technology we have at our disposal today?

The revolution will be televised.

For the last couple of hours before day break, Liberation Square has been packed full of people chucking molotov cocktails at each other, with raging gunfire the entire time. This was live.

It's not like people are going home at night, then coming out and having a peaceful protest for an hour or two before work. It's pretty intense right now.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

No promise it will succeed, or what it will lead to in other areas of the Middle-East, or the world, but one revolution already has succeeded recently -- Tunisia. It hasn't gotten similar coverage, though . . .

Egypt is a much bigger and a strategically more important country. It has thousands of years of history.

Tunisia has no history. Most people have probably never heard of it.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Egypt is a much bigger and a strategically more important country. It has thousands of years of history.

Tunisia has no history. Most people have probably never heard of it.

Well, the land has lots of history, but, no, not the country in name, I suppose.

I understand why it hasn't gotten the attention; I was just mentioning it as it not having been brought up.

[Tinordi]

Tunisia has no history?

Ever heard of Carthage?

[SebC]

Well, looks like the protesters have won. The Internet's back!

Renesys, the Internet monitoring service which first reported that Egypt’s Internet had effectively been cut last Friday, reported that it had largely been restored at 11:34am local time—5:34am EST.

Egyptian Internet providers returned to the Internet at 09:29:31 UTC (11:29am Cairo time). Websites such as the Egyptian Stock Exchange, Commercial International Bank of Egypt, MCDR, and the US Embassy in Cairo, are once again reachable.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...t-in-cairo.ars

[browna]

Originally Posted by SebC

Well, looks like the protesters have won. The Internet's back!



http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...t-in-cairo.ars

All well and good...but...is it now UBB?

Watched the Cooper thing...as a poster said above, CNN got exactly what they wanted out of dropping him in the middle of chaos. Al Jazeera at least seems to be trying to get a wider perspective (shocking to think that) then what CNN and other Western media outlets are taking, rather just looking for that 20 second clip that they can show on tomorrow's morning news.

[HPLovecraft]

Holy, the wide shot really shows the number of protesters out there. It's LOUD.

They're barricading Tahrir Square today. They've formed barriers at all entrances and have been reinforcing them all day preparing for tonight. They've been ripping up pavement leading the to Square and have been hoarding projectiles. They search people as they enter the square, and they're not allowing knives or guns inside.

Apparently the big protest is being prepared for tomorrow after Noon prayers.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

This isn't directed at you personally but i do find it funny that all of the sudden everyone and their dog seems to be an expert on Egyptian politics whereas two days ago I'm sure 80% of these people couldn't name their president.

More importantly, why does it seem like their are only two options, Mubarak and radical Islam, isn't there a healthy medium like Elbaradai. How much of this fear of radical islam is propaganda for the anti-revolution camp?

Elbaradei is hardly a happy medium. He is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood which is the foundation for Hamas and Al Qeada. Elbaradei has no history of being a democrat or being in Egypt at all for the past decadeS.

I hope democracy will take hold but with recent events I think it will be a contest of despots.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Egypt is a much bigger and a strategically more important country. It has thousands of years of history.

Tunisia has no history. Most people have probably never heard of it.

Honestly what are you talking about? Did I miss something in the thread? Yes Egypt is important. Panama times a billion!!!! Most North Americans have not heard of Tunisia but Europeans sure have. Probably your Grandparent will remember Tunisia!



********
Little tidbits about both....

How many times has Egypt been conquered? 9 or more times if you count upper and lower Egypt. They are the only large former British colony that NEVER became a democracy.

Tunisia used to battle the Roman Empire. Ever hear of Hannibal? That was a name that used to scared the bajeebers out of any Roman legionnaire.

[worth]

ElBaradei is not even fully backed by the protesters, but what other option is there?

Can you please provide sources for ties with the Muslim brotherhood to Al Qaeda and Hamas? I just don't see this connection.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by worth

ElBaradei is not even fully backed by the protesters, but what other option is there?

Can you please provide sources for ties with the Muslim brotherhood to Al Qaeda and Hamas? I just don't see this connection.

It runs fairly deep with all kinds of cross-connections, but this article simplifies it pretty well.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...cial/sala.html

[worth]

Interesting, thank you. I will need to read that over when I get home.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Tunisia used to battle the Roman Empire. Ever hear of Hannibal? That was a name that used to scared the bajeebers out of any Roman legionnaire.

Not to mention the major battlegrounds and naval battles in and around Tunisia during WW2. I hope they still teach WW2 history in schools these days.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Not to mention the major battlegrounds and naval battles in and around Tunisia during WW2. I hope they still teach WW2 history in schools these days.

As a off topic, I was talking to the education coordinator at the Miltary museum a few months ago, and she mentioned that Alberta schools would no longer be studying WW1 and WW2 and Korea.

Pretty sad if you ask me.