events in Egypt

[zone]

The Death of the U.S.-Egypt Alliance

August 12, 2013 By Joseph Klein

President Obama’s misguided attempt to bend Egyptian political affairs in the Muslim Brotherhood’s favor is unravelling the carefully nurtured military and economic alliance between the United States and Egypt, which has served for decades to stabilize that vital part of the Middle East.

First, after throwing former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak under the bus, the Obama administration did everything it could to portray the Muslim Brotherhood as a worthy organization committed to democratic principles of governance. The United States was seen by many secular Egyptians, including those who spearheaded the original revolution that led to Mubarak’s overthrow, as helping to unfairly tip the scales in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidates.

A year later, millions of Egyptians filled the streets demanding an end to the Islamic theocracy that Mubarak’s elected Islamist successor, Mohamed Morsi, tried to impose on the country. U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson stirred up hostility against the United States when she said the protesters should stop wasting their time with street demonstrations and allow the Muslim Brotherhood-backed government to continue to govern.

The Death of the U.S.-Egypt Alliance | FrontPage Magazine < click

 

[zone]

Does Egypt's latest massacre mark the start of a civil war?

At the very least, any sort of peaceful political reconciliation seems like a pipe dream

Egyptian security forces in armored vehicles and bulldozers violently cleared out two sprawling Cairo camps filled with Islamist protesters early Wednesday, killing dozens of people who had been participating in a massive sit-in demanding the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. The military-backed interim government said 95 people had died, but the Muslim Brotherhood put the death toll as high as 2,000.

The Brotherhood told its supporters to take to the streets and called on international human rights groups to rally to its side. News of the Cairo clashes provoked unrest in cities across the country, and the government declared a month-long state of emergency, claiming that some members of security forces had been killed, too.

Nervous observers around the world openly speculated that the bloodshed would only get worse, and some said the massacre had destroyed, once and for all, any chance at reconciling Morsi's Islamist supporters and their military, secular, and Christian rivals.

Does Egypt's latest massacre mark the start of a civil war? - The Week < click

 

[zone]

As Egypt Burns, Obama "Strongly Condemns" Violence From Martha's Vineyard Vacation House

Tyler Durden on 08/15/2013 10:50 -0400

Those d*** Egyptians are so inconsiderate: first they non-coup just when John Kerry is busy honing his sailing skills. Now, the non-coupy country breaks out in civil war just as Obama is on vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Well, Egypt may be important enough to serve as a middleman when the US pays Lockheed Martin using Egypt as a dumb intermediary, but is obviously not important enough for Obama to cancel his vacation. Moments ago in an audio-only presentation (couldn't russle enough Martha's Vineyardians for the podium behind him? Were his sleeves rolled up? Was he reading from paper or a teleprompter? The people demand to know), Obama joined Kerry in "strongly condemning" the violence that according to some has already spilled over into all out civil war.

Some of the highlights:

OBAMA SAYS THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE STEPS TAKEN BY EGYPT'S GOVERNMENT, CALLS FOR RIGHT TO PEACEFUL PROTEST

OBAMA SAYS STATE OF EMERGENCY IN EGYPT SHOULD BE LIFTED, PROCESS OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION MUST BEGIN

OBAMA SAYS U.S. WANTS TO BE A PARTNER WITH EGYPT, IS GUIDED BY NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THIS LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP

OBAMA SAYS `WE DEPLORE VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS'

OBAMA SAYS EGYPTIAN PEOPLE `DESERVE BETTER'

OBAMA SAYS U.S. DOES NOT `TAKE SIDES' IN EGYPT

OBAMA SAYS U.S. COOPERATION WITH EGYPT CANNOT CONTINUE AS USUAL

OBAMA SAYS U.S. CANCELLING JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH EGYPT

Full speech as soon as we get it but in the meantime the message is clear: will Egypt please hurry up and blow up in mushroom cloud of smoke - the US needs to boost its deficit spending immediately as otherwise Bernanke's monetizing buttons are tied.

As Egypt Burns, Obama "Strongly Condemns" Violence From Martha's Vineyard Vacation House | Zero Hedge < click

 

[zone]

Senate kills Rand Paul attempt to cut Egypt aid

By BURGESS EVERETT | 7/31/13 11:41 AM EDT

The Senate on Wednesday killed a measure from Sen. Rand Paul that would have cut off United States aid to Egypt.

Paul’s amendment to the transportation spending bill would have redirected the approximately $1.5 billion in annual aid to crumbling bridges in the U.S. And though the upper chamber defeated the proposal, simply getting a vote on Egypt aid was viewed as a victory in Paul world.

The vote was to table the amendment, meaning a “yea” vote was against Paul’s plan. The vote was 86-13.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted with Paul, as did a small group of GOP senators that included Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas and Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

On the Senate floor, the Kentucky Republican cast his amendment in terms of refocusing on domestic improvements rather than overseas. Paul frequently cited the economic situation in Detroit and violence in Chicago as far more important than foreign assistance.

“All I can see is the billions of American tax dollars that he chooses to send overseas,” Paul said. “The president sends billions of dollars to Egypt in the form of advanced fighter plans and tanks while Detroit crumbles.”

“In our hour of need in our country, why are you sending money to people that hate us?” Paul asked.

The Obama administration has declined to deem the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi by the Egyptian military a coup, a designation that would have automatically cut off U.S. assistance. If enacted, Paul’s amendment would have made it a finding of Congress that a “military coup d’etat” occurred in Egypt, as several other senators have suggested occurred


Read more: Senate kills Rand Paul attempt to cut Egypt aid - Burgess Everett - POLITICO.com

 

[AgeofKnowledge]

Dozens of churches have been attacked across Egypt since the security crackdown on Islamist protesters began last week. Christians worry they are becoming the scapegoat among more extreme Islamists, who blame them for President Morsi's overthrow. Human rights groups are asking why the state isn't doing more to protect the Christian community.

Egyptian Islamists Turn Their Rage Onto Christian Community : NPR

Obama's been forking over U.S. tax dollars to Egypt to pay for this.

 

[zone]

Dozens of churches have been attacked across Egypt since the security crackdown on Islamist protesters began last week. Christians worry they are becoming the scapegoat among more extreme Islamists, who blame them for President Morsi's overthrow. Human rights groups are asking why the state isn't doing more to protect the Christian community.

Egyptian Islamists Turn Their Rage Onto Christian Community : NPR

Obama's been forking over U.S. tax dollars to Egypt to pay for this.

question: who is getting killed in large numbers right now? and who isn't?

 

[Hoffco]

To all, sing with me, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing thru, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue, the angels beckon me and this one thing I know, that I can't feel at home in this workd here below." Pray for the peace of Israel and for every one else. At the moment Israel is at rest, as her enemies kill each other, This peace won't last for long and Israel will have to attack her enemies to save herself. Even this month , no non-muslin is allowed on the temple mount. This has to stop. Many Jews have vowed to force the issue. violence will brake out soon. Love to all, Hoffco

 

[Drett]

Divide and conquer. The smaller the countries are, the easier they are to control. Breaking up of the Middle East into smaller dysfunctional countries and planting leaders occurred after the World War and it is still occurring.