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

[DownInFlames]

I hope this isn't a fata, but I just saw this video of a diplomatic van plowing through a crowd of protesters. Words cannot describe how disturbing this is.

NSFW!

[FiftyBelow]

That is incredibly saddening and disheartening watching that. I'm just speechless and don't know what to say.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not sure why so many keep picking on him for what happened. He wasn't the only journalist assaulted by those thugs, and at the time he was out walking around and that happened, there had been NO violence of any sort yet. There was no reason to be fearful. I am no AC fanboy whatsoever, but I completely fail to see what he did wrong and more importantly think what he and so many of his colleagues were trying to do was and is extremely imoprtant.

To me it seemed like they were fishing for something like that. It came across as trying to grab some flashy and exciting sensational footage for their network. Maybe that's not fair of me, but thats what it seemed like. Maybe its my general mistrust of major news networks and their reporting style acting up.

[Travis Munroe]

who has a conscience to even hit the peddle like that
Disgusting

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Igottago

To me it seemed like they were fishing for something like that. It came across as trying to grab some flashy and exciting sensational footage for their network. Maybe that's not fair of me, but thats what it seemed like. Maybe its my general mistrust of major news networks and their reporting style acting up.

Of course you are free to believe what you wish, but in this instance i think it is completely misguided. Reporters mulling through a crowd to get footage and report what is happening is hardly "sensationalizing" things IMO. Particularly when you realize that reporters from across the globe were all doing the same thing.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said it had 100 reports of attacks on journalists. Al Jazeera, the influential Arabic channel, said government supporters stormed the Hilton Hotel in Cairo, searching for journalists, and two of its reporters were attacked. A Greek journalist was stabbed with a screwdriver and others were beaten and harassed.

Again, this is a page right out of the "oppresion by tyranny" playbook. Doesn't matter who it was or where they were from, they were getting assaulted all over the city, and in many instances hunted down. All while doing nothing more than trying to tell the story of what was happening.

[FlamesAddiction]

I haven't read this whole thread, so maybe it was talked about, but I read a news story today that claims that many of the anti-Mubarek protestors are against him because they feel that he is too easy on Israel and they want a leader who will be tougher on them.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I haven't read this whole thread, so maybe it was talked about, but I read a news story today that claims that many of the anti-Mubarek protestors are against him because they feel that he is too easy on Israel and they want a leader who will be tougher on them.

I have not heard anything like that at all. The grassroots level of this thing are young secular Egyptians who don't seem to care about religion as their governance the way previous generations have.

The Muslim Brotherhood on the other hand, no doubt has very different intentions.

One of their high-ranking officials was on with Elliot Spitzer last night and was rolling along answering all the questions in a way that would ease all Western leaders minds and then he was asked about Israel. It was astonishing how the tone changed. He said that they were completely against zionism, that he didn't see Israel as an independant state, and that they (MB) see Israel as an occupying people on Palenstinian land. It was remarkable in a way.

That being said, and though I don't believe it for a second, they say they will not run candidates in upcoming elections. If so, good news for everyone in the region and around the world. If not true...really bad news.

[transplant99]

Just switched on MSNBC and they had a wide view of that square and beyond.

there has to be well over 100,000 people there today. All of a sudden everyone started cheering and hugging and dancing...and they believe it was because a Minister (likely repsonsible for the secret police attacks) was arrested today.

This stuff really is amazing to watch.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I have not heard anything like that at all. The grassroots level of this thing are young secular Egyptians who don't seem to care about religion as their governance the way previous generations have.

The Muslim Brotherhood on the other hand, no doubt has very different intentions.

One of their high-ranking officials was on with Elliot Spitzer last night and was rolling along answering all the questions in a way that would ease all Western leaders minds and then he was asked about Israel. It was astonishing how the tone changed. He said that they were completely against zionism, that he didn't see Israel as an independant state, and that they (MB) see Israel as an occupying people on Palenstinian land. It was remarkable in a way.

That being said, and though I don't believe it for a second, they say they will not run candidates in upcoming elections. If so, good news for everyone in the region and around the world. If not true...really bad news.

I saw a similar interview on BBC with a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, he was rolling a long, very calming and relaxed, but you got to Israel, and he suddenly started talking about Jihad. It was not a good switch.

[burn_this_city]

What a roller coaster ride this week. It was looking pretty bleak for the last few days.

[FlameOn]

Mubarak is saying he wants to quit but is totally afraid the MB is just going to take over? But are they really? I wonder how much of an influence they have over the younger generation and mainstream Egyptians.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Mubarak is saying he wants to quit but is totally afraid the MB is just going to take over? But are they really? I wonder how much of an influence they have over the younger generation and mainstream Egyptians.

Was it yesterday's Globe that had Egyptian polling numbers? Going completely off memory (so I apologize if I am a bit off), but it was something like 84% in favour of stoning adulterers, 92% in favour of the death penalty for apostates, and 70% in favour of flogging/chopping off hands of thieves. So, based on that, I would say most Egyptians would be pretty comfortable if the fellows with the beards took over...

[simmer2]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I hope this isn't a fata, but I just saw this video of a diplomatic van plowing through a crowd of protesters. Words cannot describe how disturbing this is.

NSFW!

I've donethat in GTA IV, but didn't think crap like that happened in real life.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Was it yesterday's Globe that had Egyptian polling numbers? Going completely off memory (so I apologize if I am a bit off), but it was something like 84% in favour of stoning adulterers, 92% in favour of the death penalty for apostates, and 70% in favour of flogging/chopping off hands of thieves. So, based on that, I would say most Egyptians would be pretty comfortable if the fellows with the beards took over...

I think so... was someone's news paper I picked up at Timmy's yesterday. Even if a lot of the protestors are pro-democracy moderate types... seems like there's a good chance the Islamists are going to take over.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I have not heard anything like that at all. The grassroots level of this thing are young secular Egyptians who don't seem to care about religion as their governance the way previous generations have.

The Muslim Brotherhood on the other hand, no doubt has very different intentions.

One of their high-ranking officials was on with Elliot Spitzer last night and was rolling along answering all the questions in a way that would ease all Western leaders minds and then he was asked about Israel. It was astonishing how the tone changed. He said that they were completely against zionism, that he didn't see Israel as an independant state, and that they (MB) see Israel as an occupying people on Palenstinian land. It was remarkable in a way.

That being said, and though I don't believe it for a second, they say they will not run candidates in upcoming elections. If so, good news for everyone in the region and around the world. If not true...really bad news.

I'll try to track it down later as I am posting from a Blackberry, but it was an AP or Reuters story posted on Yahoo this morning.

Basically it said that one of the political figures that anti-Mubarek protestors are rallying behind is a former minister of Mubarek's government who quit because of Mubarek's acceptance of Israel.

I don't think the movement is religiously based at all. Anti-semetism is also found in secular circles. Although Mubarek (am I even spelling that right?), was at peace with Israel, many Egyptians sympathize with the people in Gaza who are culturally close to Egypt even if you don't consider religion.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Of course you are free to believe what you wish, but in this instance i think it is completely misguided. Reporters mulling through a crowd to get footage and report what is happening is hardly "sensationalizing" things IMO. Particularly when you realize that reporters from across the globe were all doing the same thing.



Again, this is a page right out of the "oppresion by tyranny" playbook. Doesn't matter who it was or where they were from, they were getting assaulted all over the city, and in many instances hunted down. All while doing nothing more than trying to tell the story of what was happening.

Probably the first time I agree with this guy but claiming Anderson Cooper is sensationalizing this seems just a tad off. I mean this is the #1 world event right now, there are no other stories with this much importance. I'm almost a little impressed with the coverage, usually global events are slotted #2 right behind Lindsay Lohan doing a line of coke or some other stupid irrelevant ridiculous celebrity BS.

If you're feeling negatively about Anderson Cooper I would tack it up to years of CNN slowly eroding its credibility as a reliable news agency. Doesn't seem the case this time. This is the story, you have to be there to report it. It's important and furthermore if I was a journalist, this is exactly why I would have gone into journalism. This is legitimate contribution to society, revealing what the government is trying so hard to conceal. Revealing the truth and shedding the light, all that stuff.

On topic, another shining example of the problem with religion. I'm not saying religion caused the protests and subsequent fall of the Egyptian government, but I am saying it is the primary driver behind the future problems that seem to be inevitable should the Muslim Brotherhood take control.

[Icon]

CAREFUL! That rock could detonate any moment!

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I hope this isn't a fata, but I just saw this video of a diplomatic van plowing through a crowd of protesters. Words cannot describe how disturbing this is.

NSFW!

Are there gun shots in front of the van at ~00:28 seconds, before it plows into the people?

[CaptainCrunch]

Interesting article on the Muslim Brotherhood

http://thetrumpet.com/?q=7928.6537.0.0

Muhammad Ghannem made the provocative statement to an Arabic-language Iranian news network. He also said Egyptians should “be prepared for war against Israel.”

[burn_this_city]

Since when did anyone take Iranian news as fact?