Here is a video report from Egypt, where violence and unrest is spreading across the country two years after the vaunted “Arab Spring” pushed Hosni Mubarak out of power. Mubarak has been replaced with Muslim Brotherhood Islamist Mohamed Morsi, who has sought to use his power to crack down on opposition to his Islamist policies.
Two Years after the “Arab Spring,” Violence Sweeps Across Muslim Brotherhood-Dominated Egypt – Video Report 1/27/13
Here is a video report from Cairo on news that Egyptian Islamist President Muhamed Morsi has fled the Presidential Palace as an angry mob of protesters pressed in on the palace compound. The protesters are saying this is Morsi’s “last warning” to rollback his recent power grab.
Egyptian Islamist President Muhamed Morsi Flees Presidential Palace as Protesters give Him “Last Warning” to Rollback Power Grab – Video Report 12/4/12
Comforting.
The new Islamist President of Egypt – Mohamed Morsi – who just granted himself dictatorial powers, has rambled on about the movie “The Planet of the Apes” in an interview he did with Time Magazine:
TIME: . . . . We can cooperate, we can integrate. As much as we can. How can we do that? I think leaders in the world have a great responsibility in this. Human beings can live together.
I remember a movie. Which one? Planet of the Apes. The old version, not the new one. There is new one. Which is different. Not so good. It’s not expressing the reality as it was the first one. But at the end, I still remember, this is the conclusion: When the big monkey, he was head of the supreme court I think — in the movie! — and there was a big scientist working for him, cleaning things, has been chained there. And it was the planet of the apes after the destructive act of a big war, and atomic bombs and whatever in the movie. And the scientists was asking him to do something, this was 30 years ago: “Don’t forget you are a monkey.” He tells him, “don’t ask me about this dirty work,.” What did the big ape, the monkey say? He said, “you’re human, you did it [to] yourself. “That’s the conclusion. Can we do something better for ourselves?
I saw it 30 years ago. That is the role of the art. This is the very important role of art. Gone with the Wind has been treating social problems. Five in Hell. That was the Arabic title. Five Americans working behind German lines and they were using primitive military devices. I think it was Charles Bronson or something like that. My hard disk still carries a few things! . . . Read More
Quick, somebody show Morsi “The Best Years of Our Lives,” maybe it will make him into a pro-American liberal.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) November 29, 2012
Egypt’s Islamist President Rambles on about Foreign Policy Lessons from “Planet of the Apes” in Interview with “Time”
Egypt’s Islamist President, Mohamed Morsi, is trying to quell criticism of his recent power grab by assuring his people that the absolute powers he granted himself are only temporary. Somehow, I don’t think they should be reassured:
UK TELEGRAPH: As at least one teenage protester was killed in clashes at a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters building in the northern of the country, and police continued to fight battles with protesters around Tahrir Square in Cairo on Sunday, Mr Morsi issued a statement stressing that the power seizure was only “temporary” and calling for political dialogue.
He also agreed to meet Egypt’s judges on Monday to negotiate a solution to the crisis. “The presidency reiterates the temporary nature of those measures, which are not intended to concentrate power,” the statement said.
“The presidency stresses its firm commitment to engage all political forces in the inclusive democratic dialogue to reach a common ground.”
Mr Morsi outraged opponents on Thursday, less than 24 hours after winning international praise for negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, by announcing that henceforth all his decisions would be beyond legal challenge.
He also unilaterally cancelled legal challenges to the committee drawing up a new constitution as well as to the upper house of parliament, both of which are dominated by his Muslim Brotherhood backers.
With no lower house of parliament until the new constitution is formed, this decree gave him stronger powers than those of his overthrown predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. . . . Read More
Egypt’s Islamist President Tries to Reassure Nation His Power Grab is only “Temporary” – 11/25/12
Uh, if you want to claim to be an impartial mediator, you have to try a little harder than this.
Muslim-Brotherhood dominated Egypt is holding itself out as an “honest broker” in trying to forge a truce between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. But this report says an Egyptian official took reporters aside today and blamed Israel for all the trouble:
NEW YORK TIMES: While holding itself out as an honest broker for truce talks between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza conflict, Egypt’s new government sought on Monday to plunge into the battle over international public opinion on behalf of the Palestinian cause — an arena where the Israelis, more experienced in the world of the free press and democratic politics, have historically dominated.
In Egypt’s most concerted effort to win more global public support for the Palestinians, advisers to Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi, a former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood who has been an outspoken supporter of Hamas, invited foreign correspondents in Cairo to a background briefing at which a senior Egyptian official sought to blame Israel for the conflict while at the same time maintaining Egypt’s role as an intermediary pressing both sides for peace. “We are against any bloodshed,” the official said repeatedly, arguing that Egypt sought stability and individual freedom for all in the region.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid upsetting the talks with the Israelis, the Egyptian official argued that the West, which supports Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Gaza, was essentially blaming the victim. . . . Read More
Report: “Honest Broker” Egypt Blames Israel even while Claiming to Mediate Truce Talks – 11/19/12
Reports are out this morning that terrorists fired rockets at Israel yesterday from the Egyptian-controlled Sinai Peninsula:
THE WEEKLY STANDARD: Two major Israeli newspapers are reporting that rockets fired from Egypt have hit Israel.
“Terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula launched rockets into Israel Friday night,” reports the Jerusalem Post. “The rockets fell near an Israeli village on the southern border, causing some damage, but no injuries.”
The Israeli daily Haaretz reports, “Rockets fired from direction of Egypt toward Eshkol Regional Council.”
It appears no damage was reported in connection with the rocket fire from Egypt. Earlier today, the Egyptian prime minister visited Gaza to express solidarity with the Palestinians there.
This new front comes a day after a rocket landed near Tel Aviv and on the same day Israel’s capital Jerusalem was the target of rocket fire. Those attacks were courtesy of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. . . . Read More
This morning a rocket fired from the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula landed in the Southern Israeli town of Eilat:
UK DAILY MAIL: A popular Israeli tourist resort was hit by a rocket attack this morning.
The Red Sea destination of Eilat, hosting the European Triathlon Championships later this month, was already on high alert because of the upcoming Jewish Passover holiday starting this weekend.
No-one was hurt in the attack, with police believing the missile was launched by Islamic militants from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.Many overseas tourists are already in the area, and it is due to welcome more than 4,000 athletes for the gruelling cycle-swim-run event which starts on April 19.
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, in an area which has general escaped terrorist attacks in recent year. But Israel has been warning of growing lawlessness in Sinai following the uprising last year that overthrew the Egyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak. . . . Read More
You gotta love that Arab Spring.
Report: Rockets Fired from Egyptian-Controlled Sinai Peninsula Hit Israel – 11/17/12
What Barack Obama glowingly called “Arab Spring” is about to become a very long dark night of Winter for millions of Egyptians.
Here is video of Foreign Policy expert James Jatras talking about the rapid movement of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood President, Mohammed Moris, to consolidate power and move the nation toward Islamization. Jatras said their ultimate goal should come as no surprise to anyone – “strict enforcement of Sharia and re-creation of the Caliphate.” The Muslim Brotherhood has called for “Jihad to recapture Jerusalem,” and Morsi has been silent in response to that call.
Jatras believes that ultimately Egypt will not continue to honor their Peace Treaty with Israel as it pursues taking Jerusalem away from the Israelis.
Foreign Policy Expert Says Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood President Moving Rapidly Toward “Strict Enforcement of Sharia and Re-Creation of the Caliphate”; Morsi Silent so Far on Calls for “Jihad to Recapture Jerusalem” – Video 10/12/12
Above is video from September 11, 2012, showing the Muslim protesters in Cairo storming the U.S. Embassy and desecrating the American Flag.
So, Egypt does nothing when the U.S. Embassy is stormed and the American Flag is burned, and we give them $450 Million in cash? Makes perfect sense – in an Obama world.
NEW YORK TIMES: The Obama administration notified Congress on Friday that it intends to give Egypt’s new government an emergency cash infusion of $450 million, but the move immediately encountered resistance from lawmakers wary of foreign aid in general and of Egypt’s new course under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The aid is part of $1 billion in assistance that the Obama administration has pledged to Egypt to bolster its economy and its transition to democracy following the overthrow last year of Hosni Mubarak, the country’s autocratic president.
Its fate, however, was clouded because of concerns over some of the new government’s policies and its handling of anti-American protests two weeks ago that overwhelmed the American Embassy in Cairo.
The United States Agency for International Development notified Congress of the cash infusion on Friday morning, prompting renewed protests over the foreign aid and the administration’s handling of crises spreading across the Islamic world.
An influential Republican lawmaker, Representative Kay Granger of Texas, immediately announced that she would act to block the assistance because it came at a point when the American relationship with Egypt “has never been under more scrutiny.” . . . Read More
