Celebratory mood evaporates amid reports of violence and accusations that pro-Mubarak protesters are being paid by police Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak are staging a furious counter-demonstration in the Alexandria square that has been the scene of protests for nine days, sparking violent arguments and altercations between rival groups. The celebratory mood of yesterday evaporated amid reports of violent overnight confrontations in Egypt’s second city and accusations from anti-Mubarak protesters that their adversaries were paid agents of the regime. Despite the simmering atmosphere there was no sign of Egyptian authorities, apart from one army vehicle that briefly drove between the rival groups of protesters before disappearing. A few men attempted to keep the groups apart by forming a human barricade and bundling away individuals when physical fighting threatened to break out. Mubarak’s supporters carried signs saying “Yes, Yes, Mubarak!” and chanted slogans vowing to defend the president with “our blood and our souls”. They were outnumbered by their opponents, who occupied the area outside the mosque and repeatedly repelled attempts by Mubarak supporters to take the area. “They are not representative of me,” said Ahmed Mohi, 23, a pro-Mubarak demonstrator. Shaking with fury following a clash with opponents, he said: “Mubarak should stay. We need stability. Many people think like me.” Ali Abu Saharba, another government supporter, said: “Mubarak is OK. We don’t need interference from outside, America or Europe.” Gesturing towards two burnt vehicles, he added: “We don’t agree with that. It is enough now, it must stop.” Mahmoud Kamel said Mubarak should stay “to ensure the security of the country”. But overhearing his remarks, one bystander said: “Ask him how much he is being paid to say that.” Many anti-government protesters said the regime was sending people to the square to support Mubarak – a view immediately and vigorously denied by the counter-protesters. Watching the pro-Mubarak demonstration, Al Sayed Khalifa, a 58-year-old engineer, said: “These people are not normal citizens, they are sent by the police. The government wants to provoke fighting because Mubarak needs to stay in power.” Mubarak supporters called for opposition leaders Mohammed EIBaradei and Ayman Nour to leave, chanting: “We will save the country from destruction” Despite the ugly atmosphere and constant threat of violence, the confrontation in Alexandria did not spill into the running street battles seen in Cairo. The anti-Mubarak crowd was considerably smaller than yesterday, although its passion and belief that Mubarak’s hours were numbered were unwavering. Many dismissed the president’s statement last night that he would not stand for re-election in September as a ploy to undermine the protests. After several hours, a car with enormous loudspeakers tied to a roof rack arrived, exhorting the protesters to revolution. “Egypt is our mother, revolution to the end. Wake up, Egypt, freedom is being born,” blared the slogans. Bystanders said the car contained members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the outlawed Islamist organisation that western governments fear will step into any political vacuum. The only moment of respite in a morning of violence was when the mosque’s imam called the faithful to prayer. Within seconds the chanting ceased as hundreds knelt to pray on the street. Then the fray started over again. Egypt Middle East Hosni Mubarak Protest Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …And now things have taken a nasty turn. Reading the Guardian and the New York Times, my sense so far is that the violence isn’t terrible: clashes and teargas, yes, and some people beat up, but no police or soldiers shooting at people or things like that. Night is beginning to fall there now, so maybe this will end and prove to have been a one-off. But someone is orchestrating the pro-Mubarak forces, and this could turn very ugly. What does Washington do now? Does Obama just keep going out there making new statements every day? No. When I wrote last night that Obama’s statement didn’t quite go far enough and he shouldn’t even have bothered, this is the kind of thing I had in the back of my mind. Don’t say anything unless you really have something to say that can impact the situation. Now, I worry that the White House has set up a dynamic where people are going to be expecting public statements every day. The important work now, it seems to me, has to be done behind the scenes. Try to ensure that this doesn’t get any worse tonight, and that it does not happen again tomorrow. That’s it. And do it quietly. Obama stood up there yesterday and said “no violence,” and now there’s violence. Nobody’s going to blame him of course, but there’s more risk now in big public statements than reward, in case things spin out of control. Barack Obama Egypt Michael Tomasky guardian.co.uk
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http://www.youtube.com/v/mMbAx_fYVcs?f=user_uploads&app=youtube_gdata See the original post: Clashes
Continue reading …Mike Huckabee mocks concerns over violent political rhetoric on his TV show
February 2, 2011 No Comment
Click here to view this media Mike Huckabee thinks all the violence coming from the right wing over the years that President Obama has been in office is one big joke. Is this a man that should run for president? In this segment he mocks all uses of violence and military porn-like terms to deflect the effect the toxic dialogue coming from right wing transmitters has had on our society. It’s pretty pathetic. Huckabee: It appears that sensitivity over metaphors, similes, and analogies regarding certain words has reached a zenith of political correctness. Even though, there is not a shred of evidence that political rhetoric led to, caused, or even contributed to the Tucson shootings, there is great caution being applied to all things spoken in the media and by politicians. If this new emasculation of the First Amendment takes hold, we probably won’t be hearing the President make comments like these anymore: Other networks have become pretty much language neutered so as not to offend anyone…and in so doing, perhaps not to interest anyone either—CNN’s John King provides the perfect example: Fox News prides itself on being “fair and balanced,” but in keeping with the new tenderness of speech, I want my show to go even further…I want us to be so fair as to be unfair and so balanced as to be unbalanced. That way we can deliver an even deeper and more absolute politically correct approach to bringing insights to you. In keeping with that, my comments will now be carefully screened by Dr. Rube Churl — renowned professor of rhetoric at Puerile University. He will listen to my comments and if I say something not in keeping with the new standards of political speech, he will sound this buzzer — and suggest an alternative word or phrase. Are you ready, Dr. Churl? DR.RUBE CHURL, PROFESSOR, PUERILE UNIVERSITY: Ready – please proceed. HUCKABEE: This week, the House dropped a bombshell — CHURL: The word bombshell implies war and violence; try using, “a significant incendiary device.” Okay the House dropped a significant incendiary device by voting to repeal the Obamacare bill. Despite the House vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would come to the Senate floor over his dead body CHURL: Dead body is not appropriate-let’s try “my non-animated physical presence.” HUCKABEE: Senate Majority Leader Reid said the bill would come to the Senate floor over his non-animated physical presence, which was the opening shot in the battle. CHURL: Governor, there are 2 heated words opening shot and in the battle. We need to replace these —let’s say the first point of dispute in the disagreement. HUCKABEE: Seriously? Okay—-Senate Majority Leader Reid said the bill would come to the floor over his non-animated physical presence which was the first point of dispute in the disagreement between the 2 sides. The Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell responded, “That son of a gun…” CHURL: Gun is no longer a word we can employ—let’s try that son of a hand-held decimation device. HUCKABEE: Okay….the Senate Minority Leader responded, “That son of a hand-held decimation device.” The Republicans stuck to their bullet points CHURL:Powder powered Projectile points… HUCKABEE:Okay….and focused on the job killing Right, right, right—I get that point. Okay, the job euthanasia bill….and then they voted to bury Of course, we can’t use that either. They voted to conclusively conceal in an underground manner…the bill. So, here’s this week’s recap, in our new unfair and unbalanced style: This week, the House dropped a significant incendiary device by voting to repeal the Obamacare Bill. Despite the House vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would come to the Senate floor over his non-animated physical presence, which was the first point of dispute in the disagreement between the 2 sides. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell responded, “That son of a hand held decimation device!” The Republicans stuck to their powder powered projectile points and they focused on the job euthanasia bill and voted to conclusively conceal it in an underground manner that very bill.” Not sure that political commentary will ever be the same…. By the way my thanks tonight to Dr. Churl played very ably by the wonderful Ryan Reiss, a local comedian and part of our show. Ryan thank you very much or should I say Dr. Churl. Oh well, if you think we’ve gone way too far in the world of political correctness or if you disagree and you think we ought to eliminate any word that might be taken the wrong way, why don’t me let me hear from you—contact me at mikehuckabee.com. That’s my view, I welcome yours. E-mail your comments to: huckmail@foxnews.com Isn’t Huckabee a hoot? Maybe everybody should email him some C&L posts to enlighten him ? How about just emailing him this list called Insurrectionism Timeline and give him the evidence. When building a case a prosecutor needs evidence to support the charges. I think we’ve established it, but I haven’t heard any effective defense come from the Huckabees except sarcasm and denials. Maybe he’ll do a stand-up on this list and mock all the people who have suffered at the hands of right-wing kooks.
Continue reading …Female anti-government protester telling Al Jazeera that they cannot leave the square even if she wanted to – she is crying on air and sounds very scared and emotional. Telling Al Jazeera not to refer to the pro-government group as “demonstrators” because they are actually “violent thugs”.
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Running battles have broken out in Cairo between supporters and opponents of beleaguered president Hosni Mubarak
Continue reading …In the latest series of the Hoover Institution's fantastic webshow “Uncommon Knowledge”, Peter Robinson interviews author and National Review contributor Stanley Kurtz about his new book “Radical in Chief”. The book explores Barack Obama's history as a leftist community organizer. Kurtz contends that Obama is, in fact, a socialist, though he admits that the term “socialist” has changed in meaning over the past few decades. Check out the first segment of the interview below the jump, and give us your thoughts. This is only part one of five, so make sure you head over to NRO for the rest of the interview.
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More than 100 injured as pro-Mubarak supporters attack protesters seeking president’s ouster in Egyptian capital. According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent, peaceful protestors were suddenly charged by men on horseback and camels. Protestors were scattered and some were trampled underfoot. Visit english.aljazeera.net for more on this developing story.
Continue reading …Jon Stewart has figured out why Sarah Palin loves to wear red so often. Only a Soviet agent would purposefully twist around historic facts and put out a willful misunderstanding of President Obama’s words.
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Prime minister tells House of Commons that Egypt’s democratic reforms need to go beyond holding an election David Cameron today called on Egypt to draw up a timetable to convince people there will be a “rapid and credible” transition of power that will forge a “stable and more democratic future”. Describing scenes of the protests in Cairo as “incredibly moving”, the prime minister also told MPs he took a “very strong view” that political reform – “not repression” – was required following president Hosni Mubarak’s decision to stand down. In a speech broadcast on state television last night, Mubarak sought to quell a week of demonstrations by saying he would not be running for another term of office in the September elections. He promised to work during “the final months” of his term to ensure a “peaceful transfer of power”. But the delayed nature of Mubarak’s concession failed to appease protesters, who maintained their presence in Cairo’s main square today. US president Barack Obama also sought to maintain pressure on Mubarak, saying last night: “What is clear is my belief an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.” Today, Cameron echoed Obama’s words and said a timetable was needed to convince people that an orderly transition was under way. Greater democracy in the Middle East and the Arab world were required to provide the stability required in “the long-term interests of Britain”, he told MPs at prime minister’s question time. “President Mubarak says he is going and we respect that,” Cameron said. “But what matters is not just the orderly transition but also that it is urgent, it is credible, it starts now. We should be clear we stand with those in this country who want freedom and democracy and rights the world over. “And the more they can do with a timetable to convince people it’s true, the more the country can settle down to a stable and more democratic future.” He said the reforms needed to go beyond simply holding an election. “Where we need to be clear is that when we talk about democracy, we don’t just mean the act of holding an election, we mean the building blocks of democracy,” he said. “I want to see a partnership for open societies where we encourage stronger civil society, stronger rights, stronger rule of law, a proper place for the army in society, proper independent judiciary.” The prime minister reinforced the call for faster progress, telling MPs the transition needed to be “rapid and credible and it needs to start now”. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said: “Far from indicating support for extremism, the people on the streets of Egypt are actually demanding some very basic things: jobs, freedom of speech and the right to choose by whom they are governed.” He said democracy represented the “best route to stability” in Egypt. Cameron told the Commons that the “first concern” remained the safety of UK nationals in Egypt. Travel advice for the estimated 30,000 UK nationals around the Red Sea area had not changed because matters there remain “calm and stable”. In Cairo, where there are about 3,000 citizens, and in Alexandria, with an estimated 300, many had been urged to return to the UK. There were still very good commercial flights and a flight commissioned by the UK government had been added, Cameron said. He told MPs that 1,000 had returned from Egypt in the past 48 hours, and praised the UK’s response. “I think the UK government has acted swiftly,” he said. “We had a rapid deployment of 25 special consulate staff to Cairo. The military logistics’ team of eight were sent out immediately and we were the first country to set up a team at the Cairo airport, which many other countries have gone on to imitate. “I don’t take any of this for granted, there needs to be absolutely no complacency, but I think our ambassador, Dominic Asquith, and his team have done an excellent job.” David Cameron Egypt Middle East Hosni Mubarak PMQs House of Commons Ed Miliband Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk
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