(UPDATE: The Guardian is reporting that Sandmonkey has been arrested, a contact reports that he was subsequently released. His blog is currently down. Look for updates at The Tatler.)
The man who wrote those words — the witty and courageous Egyptian blogger “Sandmonkey” — is currently in hiding in his native city of Cairo, moving from one friend’s apartment to another, as supporters of Hosni Mubarak pursue him and other democracy demonstrators.
I had been trying to reach “Sandmonkey” — who has written for Pajamas Media — ever since the demonstrations broke out, because I suspected he would be in the thick of things. But as most know, the Internet was cut in Egypt until Wednesday.
When I finally got through to him late Wednesday night Pacific time, I discovered that, boy, were my suppositions ever correct. “Sandmonkey” was indeed in the thick of things and his on-the-ground observations that I recorded in this Skype audio-only interview were in many ways surprising and contradicted what we are hearing in our media:
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.To download an MP3 of this interview to your PC, Click here to listen to this 20 mb file. For a 2.5 mb lo-res MP3, click here. For a streaming audio-only version of the interview click here (takes you away from this page).
Some of things that you will hear in more detail in the interview are reassuring, but others decidedly not. On the reassuring side, “Sandmonkey” says the the Muslim Brotherhood is not a heavy presence at the demonstrations and that for the last four years they have been in a weakened position in Egypt, the least powerful of five Islamic organizations (although the most violent).
The mideast’s democrats miss President Bush certainly now more than ever.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Iraq’s democracy was an impetus for the protests in Iran and for the ones in Egypt now…Bush’s fault. This administration did not and is not doing itself proud. Just a lurching wreck without a mission. Pathetic really.
“Just a lurching wreck without a mission.”
If only that were the case, but tragically it is not.
Everyone here in Cairo I’ve talked to is laughing about this woman who claimed she was an American agent but it is unclear what larger effect this weird lie is having among Egyptians across the country. And there is, as your friend mentioned, further stories about Arab funded Hizbollah and Hamas agents who have been caught in Egypt the past few days.
I very much want to share the photos on my website I was able to get out yesterday finally when the net came back.
http://www.jamesmaystock.com/EgyptRev/Assets/EgyptRevSplash.html
One thing I’ve noticed on CNN is that they are specific about calling these “youth” protests but if anything I’d say they are dominated by 30 somethings and everyone is represented; even children were gassed on Friday.
I have been with the protesters since that Friday, “Angry Friday” they are calling it. The group I was with was around 26th July St. and Talat Harb St. The first sequence is one where we were massively tear gassed and prevented from getting to Tahrir Square most of the afternoon til the police simply mysteriously disapeared, even traffic cops and the guys guarding the old Jewish Temple on Adly St. The rest is 4 days at Tahrir.
I have been in and out of Tahrir Square everyday until yesterday when, like your friend, I thought I’d finally take a break since everything was so calm and the square was massively crowded the day before unlike previously and I thought it was all over. I was massively wrong. The 4 days in Tahrir had been like a fair before the horse and camel charge yesterday, with small children very much in evidence.
As your friend suggests, making ones way back every night after curfew with armed groups on every single street corner is problematic. I was worried I might not get these photos out but I am now happy I can share a visual and somewhat more up close and portrait based history of the 5 days leading up to the camel and horse charge in Tahrir yesterday which I am thankful I missed cuz it was a bloodbath.
One other thing should be mentioned. The gunfire from Tahrir Square that Friday night was massive – at one point for 3 hrs. maybe from 7 to 10 pm virtually non-stop if you can believe that and intense from sundown til late at night.
James, first let me say i not only looked at your Egypt photos but the rest of your travel pictures. You are truly talented. That said, your photos from Egypt present the protesters in a heroic light and avoids images of anti-semitism and islamism. Perhaps that is why are welcomed. You are part of the propaganda machine.
I have not tried to depict anyone in a heroic light but photographed the people who were there which were only anti-Mubarak. Only yesterday did the pro-Mubarak people show up and they don’t like photos. In any event I wasn’t in Tahrir (luckily), yesterday because the day started off so calm and back to normal that I decided to rest after 5 days of work.
I did not purposely avoid pictures of anti-Semitism or Islamism; there are no such photos because there were few to be had – I would say the ratio was 99 to 1 in this regard. It is important to note that my photos are very much structured around light quality and a formal fine art sensibility – that means that I tend to shoot around lighting and not subject matter. I wander about looking for light first and then something that fits in.
Please read my essay called “Robert Frank’s “The American’s” You will find that as a documentary photographer I am very aware and very sensitive to the concept of propaganda in photography. I very consciously try to avoid the pitfall so many others fall into of making people look better or worse than they are.
In the end I should say that I have no hopes or dreams for the Egyptian people other than peace because in the larger sense I simply feel it is none of my business. I just wanted to record history and not send a message.
I just went out to go to Tahrir and was arrested immediately by pro-Mubarak people and brought to a checkpoint. Not very friendly to me but not cruel either. They seemed genuinely concerned that I was there to create a problem and they didn’t seem to want to be big jerks.
Fast talking and a little struggling got me away when 2 men said I could go and 2 said no and grabbed me. I left.
Thank you for your kind comments about the photos. I have no idea what will happen next. The city is calm but controlled blocks from Tahrir. Tomorrow is Friday and this will be a turning point. If the anti-Mubarak protesters are finished then 12:30 pm our time will tell the tale. That is when prayers are finished and the same time protesters assembled and marched on Tahrir from all around last Friday, now called “Angry Friday”.
If this does not happen it is probably over and any protesters left under siege in Tahrir will be overcome if not rescued.
Nothing to say on the main topic that hasn’t already been said. But wanted to tell you that I think your photos are spectacular.
Sandmonkey sounds like a brave soul and I would be interested in knowing what we here in the US can do short of invading the country to support the anti-Mubarak demonstrators?
I know why don’t we save a couple of billion dollars a year and cease foreign aid to Egypt.
So should we be worried that the Egyptian riots will lead to an Islamic Caliphate, Russia taking over the Netherlands and China ruling what is left (Beck’s Tuesday show)? I know this sounds crazy, but Glenn Beck seems very certain that we are all on the precipice and should be stocking up with food, gold and ammo. Of course according to Beck we’ve been on the precipice since 2009. What do you all think?
According to Glenn Beck, this is all about America….unbelievable.
According to ‘twitter’, he is now arrested:\
was it a good idea that you broadcasted his voice to the world?
reports are in that he’s now been arrested.
“the Muslim Brotherhood is not a heavy presence at the demonstrations and that for the last four years they have been in a weakened position in Egypt, the least powerful of five Islamic organizations (although the most violent). ”
most violent???? according to msnbc.com they are warm fuzzy kittens but apparently no one has explained this to chris matthews as he is comparing the tea party to the mb…or does this mean the tea party members are warm fuzzy kittens?…lol
His arrest was just confirmed.
Free Sandmonkey and all political prisoners NOW.
Can you post a transcript of this? I can’t download the audio file from my work computer (yes, I am at work using company time and equipment, sue me if you can find me).
Sandmonkey’s website has now been shut down, suddenly “Account suspended.” Please help him!
Seems he was arrested about an hr ago.
“@SultanAlQassemi I got a tweet from @RamyYaacoub that @Sandmonkey was definitely arrested. Also his dad called his phone & state security answered.”
sandmonkeys blog has been suspended and according to tweets he has been arrested
I’ve been reading Sandmonkeys blog on and off for many years. I’ve also been reading his tweets from the demonstrations.
I feel sorry for the demonstrators. They don’t have a meaningful strategy to actually defeat the regime. Maybe they don’t read history. I can’t imagine anybody in Europe or South America trying to topple a regime by demonstrating on a square for weeks in a row. At least you would demonstrate in front of a parliamentary building or a presidential palace. But in order to actually succeed, you would have to either physically take over those buildings or burn them down. A revolution is about the symbols of power more than anything else. The current strategy doesn’t make sense.
A square surrounded by *government buildings.* Many buildings set on fire. Clearly you have not been paying attention.
These protests were planned to be nonviolent, and for the most part protesters have kept to this. Read first person reports and avoid Western news networks like the plague.
Oh no! I’ve been following Sandmonkey’s tweets during this whole uprising (and have read his blog on and off for a few years). I’m afraid he’s really been arrested. Did anyone cache his last post on his site? It was a well-written account of what’s been going on.I wish I’d thought of coping the text into a doc and saving it.
Just for reference: Sandmonkey’s tweets are at:http://twitter.com/Sandmonkey
And his blog – until the last hour or so – was at: http://www.sandmonkey.org/
What do I think?
I think the Founding Fathers had it right. We are endowed with inalienable rights. All of us, even Egyptians.
Governments established by men inhibit life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We all want freedom, the ability to self-determine how we live. No one wants to have those rights infringed from the top down by gov’t despots, statists or otherwise.
God speed to Mr. Sandmonkey, his efforts are inspirational on many levels. God speed to Mr. Roger Simon for bringing Mr. Sandmonkey’s voice out of Egypt.
Sadly Sandmonkey got arrested a couple of hours ago, hos last post was he is on his way to tahrir stacked w megical supplies and they better let him in.
Jimmy Carter reaches out to Obama on Egyptian Crisis:
From the desk of Greatest Ex-President Ever Jimmy Carter:
To: President Barak Hussein Obama
Dear President Obama,
I know that this is a tough time for you right now, which is why I have decided to reach out to you with a helping hand. I realize you have not yet actually asked for my assistance, but I decided that must be because you are just too busy to get around to it. As a result I decided to make things easier for you and go ahead and give you the benefit of my great wisdom and experience as a world leader and peace maker. After all, we Nobel Prize winners have to stick together.
So, Egypt is all in a mess. Well let me tell you, when it comes to the Middle East being a mess, I know all about it. First of all, look at this President Mubarak fellow. He really is just like the Shah of Iran. He spent years thinking that if he could just play up to the United States and act like our friend, then we would somehow be obligated to bail him out when he finally got into trouble. I have to tell you, that kind of thinking just really chafes my buns. I am sick and tired of all the little people in Egypt, South Korea, Israel, Colombia, Poland, Georgia and Great Britain thinking that we owe them anything. After all, if they can’t manage their own affairs, why should we step in for them?
Look at it this way. Sure the Muslim Brotherhood isn’t perfect, but who are we to judge? After all, what country in the world is more racist, imperialist, self-righteous and greedy than the United States? So if the Muslim Brotherhood hates this country, then they must be on the right track. Believe me, I cannot begin to tell you how much hatred I’ve felt for this country since 1980. I since a lot of that same hate in you, and it makes me warm inside. So if the Muslim Brotherhood recognized the United States for the Great Satan it really is, and wants to throw Mubarak out for siding with the neo-cons and Jews who were running the place before you took over, why should we care? After all, they are only doing what’s best for their own country… Read the rest here… http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/2011/02/jimmy-carter-advised-president-obama-on.html
JL I don’t agree. The unprecedented media focus effectively “insists” every second that Mubarak has to go. The revolutions in Europe and Latin America were in a pre-IT age. Mubarak has no support, no credibiltiy and no strategy himself – the emperor is wearing no clothes. In PR terms for him, yesterday’s attacks on the pro-democracy crowd have backfired. He will be gone in a matter of days.
Mubarak is playing this mob like a fiddle. First he sends in secret police in civilian clothes to attack the demonstrators, then he sends in the army to restore order. And voila he looks like the strong man that guarantees law and order.
Mubarak’s personal fortune is in the size range of a small stimulus package. You think he’s just gonna roll over and give up he’s billion dollar enterprise? Did Capone give up his bootlegging business because of bad PR? The bad PR is not even in Egypt where Mubarak controls the media.
Remember theese are bad bad men. Like REALLY bad. Evil. Mubarak is very intelligent. He HAS infact studied history and know how to play the game. The domonstrators are all brawn and no brains, sadly. They have studied nothing. Here are a few mandatory ingredients they are missing as well: A symbol, a color, a figurehead, a policy, a slogan, organisation, weapons.
They have no chance.
Let’s talk in a few weeks.
Tear gas and Aricept- cholinergic agents. From Mubarak’s statements, it seems to me that the US should have sent more Aricept and less tear gas.
Sandmonkey’s blog has been closed.
His last post is reposted here
http://sandmonkeycache.blogspot.com/
along with links to your interview and to sudanese thinker’s:
have heard your report, be safe
This is what makes this revolution so exciting and hope inspiring, to have a true grass roots uprising with no leaders, no ultimate agenda of power just an honest desire for democracy and freedom.
Of course the fact that the populace is quite inexperienced to govern does lend a certain amount of weight to the argument to have a period of transition and planning. There is a bigger danger of Egypt being plunged into chaos due to lack of strategy at this stage than allowing the current regime to carry on for the remaining term, while the opposition is regrouping, thinking and planning for the future.
For the West (and I live in the West)to be voicing concerns and panic over what will come next is surely missing the point of democracy yet again. For too long the West self serving attitude has lurched from one country’s political crisis to another under the guise of pro-democracy and human rights but really to maintain our interests and keep the balance of power (rather undemocratically) in the hands of the West.
Egypt has an educated population who have spent the last three decades learning and developing alongside western culture etc and I believe they are sensible enough to choose what is best for them (if allowed) and if it looks “scarily like fundamentalism” we have to learn to suck it up – its their country, their right, their future. If we stopped trying to interfere and mould things to our benefit it might just work out OK – the point is, it isn’t our choice and we should simply be on the sidelines to support and encourage democratic governance.
“and if it looks “scarily like fundamentalism” we have to learn to suck it up ”
yes we are wrong to back a dictator and we are wrong to be against a theocracy and we are wrong to want a government in place that is not going to host terrorist training camps and try to wipe israel off the map…we just got to suck it up and die…oh i mean live with it
Congrats to Bell: this is best balanced commentary on citizens democratic uprising in Egypt that I’ve heard/read in past 10 days!
Cache of Sandmonkey’s Post: Egypt Right Now
Thank you d!
Everyone loves to say how great mideast democracy is. In Afghanistan and Iraq, its a death-penalty offense to convert from Islam. Islam is the official state religion. No law may contradict ‘the sacred tenants of Islam.’ Man, sounds like a place I’d want to go to!
Egypt is going to go the exact same way, if it does go democratic. Guess what? Islamic Theocracies aren’t nice places to live and they aren’t US allies unless there are a lot of US boots on the ground MAKING them allies. They will also become not-allies the second we leave.
The fact that a bunch of people (even the majority or vast majority) want to live in an Islamic craphole has no real bearing on what we should or should not do. The Bill of Rights exists for a reason, and that is because ‘the will of the people’ is not a catch-all excusing any act they vote on doing. The same applies abroad.
Give me a secular strongman over an Islamic mob any day, but most of all, get me out of the mideast’s business except to smash regimes that support our enemies ideologically and financially.
Well said! There is such a thing as “tyranny of the majority.”
You can find Sandmonkeys last post on his blog before it was deactivated here:
http://www.hyscience.com/archives/2011/02/rantings_of_a_s.php#more
My prayers are for the Egyptian people. And, may Sandmonkey live to be a player in the new government.
I still perdict the muslim brotherhood will be the ones in power …..the obama and clowns corp. have been working with the brotherhood for some time.
it will be of little consequence if the muslim brotherhood in not on the street in number.
how does sandmonkey know …the brotherhood are good a concealing themselves. (I wish sandmonkey well and hope that egypt realizes freedom, just do see that happening)
how many americans know the depth of the brotherhood in the USA ?
it is a sad time for freedom.
Unlike Afganistan, Iraq, and Guantanimo Bay George Bush did not have a chance to start a direction for America in this event. So in a way (yet another comparison to the Iranian uprisings) Obama did not have a plan in place before he got into office on how to deal with something difficult. He could not make a choice, he needed it made for him, and so he will waffle until the crises is over and then either try to claim a side after the fact or act like it never happened.
Well, Israel & their friends are getting behind Mubarak, so the president is stuck. Glenn Beck has been saying that this is the start of the muslim invasion of Europe
(For a sane US military comment of Egypt (and Glenn Beck, hoho) see http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama/2011/02/two-book-length-alternatives-nonsense.html
The prez *must* waffle at this point, until its played out. Suez is vital to logistics.
Obama should make 2 demands of the Mubarak gov. First, they should reopen the internet. The radical islamists do not need the internet to cause troubole. The ones that really need it are the pro democracy moderates, the very parties the US should be fostering. Egypt needs to have a conversation on what type of gov they should have after Mubarak, and how to get rid of Mubarak, while avoiding islamic radicalism, and the internet is the place to have it.
Second, Mubarak should release any anti Mubarak, non violent, democratic secularists, like Sand Monkey, from prison. This should not extend to Muslim brotherhood types, which should continue to be suppressed. We should not accept the premise that the only choice is between Mubarak and the Islamic Brotherhood.
Obama should also make it clear that we are ready to deal with future Egyptian leaders who are democratic secularists, but we are not prepared to deal with Muslim Brotherhood types, and are prepared to assist the Egyptian military to suppress any Muslim Brotherhood extremism, and any violence or looting, while insisting the Egyptian military leave non-violent democratic secularists alone.
Mubarak, and pro Mubarak commentators all claim they are worried about the Muslim brotherhood, but it seems like they direct most of their suppression efforts to democratic secularists. We should call them on this, and insist they leave non-violent democratic secularists along, while continuing to suppress the islamists.
When the media convers the demonstrators, I wish they would ask samples of demonstrators what they think of the Muslim Brotherhood. I hear conflicting stories about this. We need to know how much of the pro democracy movement is Brotherhood dominated, and how much of it is secular democratic.
Do you hear what you sound like?? “the very parties the US should be fostering”, “Second, Mubarak should release any anti Mubarak, non violent, democratic secularists, like Sand Monkey, from prison. This should not extend to Muslim brotherhood types, which should continue to be suppressed. We should not accept the premise that the only choice is between Mubarak and the Islamic Brotherhood.”
Where do you live? This is not about the US! The US have no rights here – this has all come about because the US AGAIN have supported a regime that benefits its interests – it has poured “aid” into this country to ensure that the regime stays on side – once again the US interfere and then are surprised when it goes horribly wrong – which it almost always does!
The thing is that US did not interfere. Obama was standing on the side.
As for “you have no rights there” :
If you can protest(=pressure us) against our politics or against our war (Iraq/Afghanistan is different country from Egypt) then we can pressure your politicians.
And if you say that all arabs/muslims are brothers then…
Muslim organizations in the US pressuring us regarding our domestic policies, therefore Egyptians (all muslims are brothers, see?) are interfering in our domestic policies,
therefore we have right to interfere in Egyptians politics because you interfering in ours.
QED
Elementary, Watson.
the usa has the right to guard and protect her interest and allies any where, any place, any time…and that includes the middle east
The US does have the right to make our foreign aid to Egypt conditional on their gov doing the right thing. The right thing is for them to encourage secular democrats, and gradual democratic reform, while continuing to suppress the Islamic Brotherhood. If they do anythng else, Egypt will go the way of Iran, either right away, if the gov falls while the islamicists are too strong, or in the future, if their is no democratic reform, and the islamicists remain the only strong alternative to a repressive gov. We should not give them a penny unless they do what is right, for both Egypt and us.
The policy of both sides in the US is wrong here. The progressives totally ignore the real threat of the islamic brotherhood, while the right ignores the need for real, but gradual and controlled, democratic reform.
To the above three responses! Each of you have fallen into the ideology of the UN agreement for the U.S., France, UK and Russian to be the global policemen. Even that agreement has transitioned to the point it is the U.S., standing essentially alone not only as the global policemen, but also the global nation builder. You should really take the time to listen to yourselves. You, on the one hand, are fearful that Islam is trying to “dictate” and spread their religious beliefs and theocracy upon the U.S. and much of the globe….and for some reason you have no appreciation or tolerance for their predisposed intent as you believe it to be….but the U.S. you say, has the right to nation build and otherwise dictate policy upon other nations….in the name of national interests (?) and alliances. Interesting contradictory concept!
The constitution and bill of rights I keep around, seemingly say that the federal government is mandated to protect and defend our constitution and our sovereign [borders] from any declared enemies. As to the interests of our contractual alliances. IF their sovereignty is [attacked] then we should uphold our contract with them when reasonable and prudent. As to economic charity and loans. I think I would be reasonably correct, to assume that you would not tolerate another nation giving the U.S. charity or loans with demanding stipulations to reform our social, governmental structure and policy…would you?
Hypocrisy is an interesting concept!
Precisely! Your comment is spot on.
Sandmonkey “will tell the story later . Thank you all. I just need to rest now. #jan25″ last twit a minut ago
Sandmonkey’s account of events represent his experience being the idealistic Muslim revolutionary with absolutist demands of America to either stand with him (as if he represents our historical American founders’ ideals — despite him praising the fact that Egypt’s revolution has absolutely no clarity of purpose beyond getting to chaos asap), or else we stand against him because our national interests matter to us.
A word to Sandmonkey, the US isn’t even standing together on what our US national interests are. Our officials are functioning under the pro-Islamist PC policies that work in direct opposition to our own ideals, those ideals being First Principles and Constitutional Governance according to state and national sovereign rights.
Read yesterday’s “The Story of the Egyptian Revolution” @ American Thinker by Sam Tadros for a good comparative exposition of events as they’ve unfolded to date.
Compare Sandmonkey’s account with Tadros’, the Egyptian academic, whose credibility Clarice Feldman vouches for, regarding the chronological unfolding of Egypt’s revolutionary events as understood by a non-participant from Egypt’s new middle class. There’s a world of difference between all accounting between these two bloggers from Cairo. Tadros lays the groundwork regarding Egyptian society for those of us foreigners to grasp relations between the Egyptian Army and Egyptian society, beyond the universal reputation that yes, Egyptians are very proud of their Army. Sandmonkey’s emotional account sounds tunnel-visioned pro-revolutionary as if his exploits will bring Egypt utopian liberty, the only ideal necessary for any society to function.
Contrary explanations regard, for instance, the functional roles in government of Mubarak and of his son, politics, the economy, and neighborhood experiences. Tadros relays differently who broke down the prison. Sandmonkey blames all of the terror on pro-Mubarak interests, as if the mullahs haven’t a thing to do with directing public protests in favor of an Islamist Egyptian theocracy.
Take everyone’s account for what it is, the expression of vested interests.
I agree with a lot of what you say. everyone is looking for something good to happen. IMHO that isn’t possible given the variables of the situation.
regards and good luck to the sandmonkey.
Instapundit(?) just reports Sand monkey was arrested and now has been released.
http://iloubnan.info/en/actualite/id/55687/titre/Mubarak-backers-storm-hotels,-chasing-journalists
And Abdel Kareem Suleiman a blogger jailed and released?
Whereabouts?
Can someone please explain something to me? So the website sandmonkey.org has been suspended. But why? Unless I am missing something it is (was) on the servers of
Liquid Web, Inc. 4210 Creyts Rd. Lansing MI US 48917
Why the heck does an American hosting company suspend such a website? I find that quite a scandal actually. Maybe they were contacted by the Egpytian authorities asking them to shut it down. Okay, but why, again, why does an American company listen to the Egpytian authorities, especially in the current situation?
Maybe someone in the US can ask Liquid Web what is going on there?
i read that it was closed because it collapsed from all the traffic and they were trying to fix the problem and then put it back on line…nothing to do with the arrest
It’s encouraging to hear that perhaps the Muslim Brotherhood did not start this revolt and has little influence on it but Barack Hussein Obama is apparently determined to change that. Based on his sudden animosity towards Mubarak, his recent outreach to the MB and his tepid response and lack of support for the Green movement in Iran I fear that Israel is soon to be labeled a “rogue state,” an impediment to the Mideast “peace” process and the previously insurmountable barrier between the West and the Middle East that once removed will resolve our differences with the Arab world and all will be well. Israel can then fight to the death or fall into the sea and the world’s “Jewish problem” will once again cease to exist. And all of America’s dwindling number of friends and allies around the world, including those who will initially applaud the “solution to the Jewish problem,” should be very, very worried because America is no longer interested in being a benevolent superpower and the MB is going to feverishly help America achieve that goal. A pessimistic prognosis to be sure and one I hope is just the grumblings of a senior citizen with too much time on his hands.
i hope this is just the grumblings of a senior citizen with too much time on his hands too….lol…but if it’s not there is one thing you have forgotten…israel has nukes, so i am pretty sure if they are pushed into the sea they will take a large chunk of the middle east with them
The organizational skills of the ultras, fanatical Cairo soccer fans, are emerging as opponents and supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak determine the fate of the 82-year old Egyptian leader’s 30-year rule.
The influence of the ultras, supporters of bitter Cairo rivals, Al Ahly Sports Club and Al Zamalek, is evident in the battle tactics employed by Mubarak’s opponents in the struggle for control of Tahrir (Liberation) Square in down-town Cairo.
http://mideastsoccer.blogspot.com/2011/02/egyptian-ultra-tactics-evident-in.html
Sandmonkey said that he understands that America has the right to chose US interests over US ideals.
Where is the logic in that? America’s ideals support America’s interests. Wouldn’t a western style democracy in Egypt help to stabilize the region? Once a freedom loving system is established and the nation begins to prosper, wouldn’t that inspire other countries in the region to follow suit.
The Obama administration is offering little more than words regarding this situation. Choosing to stay out of it as Mubarak shapes the government that will take over once his presidency is through. Perhaps even controlling it behind the scenes.
Not getting more involved may be in America’s best interests for now, but not in the long run.
Re: #s 5 & 12:
Were your posts a reaction to the initial arrest or has he been re-arrested?
Sorry about the confusion but Roger’s updated the post a bit so I can’t tell if you are responding to new info or old info that was new when you posted it.
Things are very bad here right now. For the first time I was told to not even stand with my friends protecting the street downstairs in front of the hotel. That was about an hour ago, 8 pm at night. They were afraid for me and also to be seen with me.
Foreigners are being targeted as “spies” but some crowds are using it as nothing more than a pretext to rob people. Things are very, very tense and the fear is palpable. There are no soldiers or police at night.
I’m not even sure I could make it to the airport during the day without being yanked out of a taxi and robbed.
Tomorrow after prayers, at 12:30, we will see what will happen but I think this is finished. When Mubarak gave his pre-recorded speech on TV, it seems to have divided people. Some perhaps said that we have waited almost 30 years and we can wait 7 months more. Perhaps many are satisfied with this and the sting from the protest is now gone. People who only 2 days ago were parading the streets with signs reviling Mubarak are now keeping very low profiles.
Sand monkey? Hm, isn’t that kind of like an Afro American calling him or herself a “porch monkey?” Or am I being too sensitive? You never know where the boundaries are for political correctness, also known as protective custody.
What an awesome interview with SandMonkey. Thank you.
I have a better understanding the the Eegyptian Revolution. It sounds like the USA Tea Party movement in that there is not a specific “Leader”, just a philosophy. I am also glad to hear that the Muslin Brotherhood is not a large percentage of the movement. Whew!
I hope the Egyptian people achieve the freedom they so desperately seek. I have been praying for a positive result in their endeavor. Many, many Americans are praying for this outcome.
Thank you Roger Simon for all that you do in the name of Freedom. I hope that you are able to get this info and Sandmonkey’s story to the media. I think Greta, Beck etc. would probably be open to an exclusive from someone who is there in the middle of the Egyptian Revolution.
God bless you all!
WEll, SM is saying on twitter that he is OK ( I mean, he is free) but he was beaten, his cell phone taken and his car was vandalized.
Does America stand for its ideals or does it stand for its interests?”
interests- and why not?
ideals- we have enabled these idead with OUR BLOOD sweat and tears- not up to us if Egyptians so the same
Sand Monkey is naive as the Iranian intllectuals who could not see the hidden hands ready to use the chaos ( let no crisis go to waste) Heis also so far deep inside he cannot see the bigger picture- rumors are rampant- I heard 3 people killed reported as a “massacre” to the protestors.
Itis nice to know some Egyptians waqnt “democracy” or tehir version of it and not mullocracy- but can they fight for that? maintain their utopian dreams in face of organized, violent hidden hands.
As for Mubarek using certain tactics of manipulation he got nothing on the O who has used same- paid crowds to agitate (SIEU ACORN ETC) and the demonize his oppostion (tea party smeared).
What person here does not think for one second if tea-party protestors looted a treasured museum, and then rampaged in the street- that the O would not call out the military and fire on them??
In fact Mubraek is more reasonable than the O–who thinks Obama would offer to step down?
Like other’s I’ve been reading him for years. thanks Roger for the chance to hear the voice behind the blog. Mubarak is more a direct threat to him than the Brotherhood; his priorities derive from that. I take some hope from his estimation.
Heartbreaking.
Sandmonkey seems like a decent fellow, but how representative of Egypt or even the protesters is he? Given fully “free” elections, who or which party will the large, conservative underclass be voting for?
Some 35% of Egyptian men and 45% of Egyptian women are said to be functionally illiterate, while a huge proportion according to recent polls support sharia, think apostates and “blasphemers” deserve capital punishment, and support war with Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood may be declining in influence, but they are organized. And one shouldn’t forget that the Bolsheviks were a small minority when they took power in Russia. The same goes for the Islamists who took power in Iran.
That is a good point. Islam has shown time and again that it can be controlled and cowed by a small minority. The vast majority are fairly apathetic to politics and just want to live.
That small minority is vocal, active and radicalized. Unfortunately, in the case of Egypt, which gets some ungodly sum every year from tourism, something like 25 billion dollars, I don’t see tourists flocking to Sharm-el-Sheik or the Pyramids under a regime that is hostile to the West.
I read that shutting down the internet cost Egypt 90 million dollars which must be a smaller amount than it has lost from tourism, future foreign investment and business. I would guess that 97% of the shops in Cairo are closed.
Just a note: The Nazis never received more than 37% of the national vote and once in power, well, need I say more.
Mr. Simons states: ["as supporters of Hosni Mubarak pursue him and other democracy demonstrators."]
“Democracy demonstrators”? I don’t know that anybody has definitively identified the [underlying] structure and ideology orchestrating this uprising? Assuming for a moment they (democracy seekers) are orchestrating a “DEMOCRACY” uprising, has anybody ask them to define the democracy they are seeking? Democracy has many more tenants than the right to assemble voicing dissent and a voting process.
Furthermore, I know of no intelligent or common sense strategic planners that would have suggested the timing of this democracy uprising and demands, so far in front of the upcoming election. The strategy timing employed, is reckless and ill conceived leaving open some dastardly consequences not favorable to the intended outcome of the rebelling democracy seekers. I hope they’re willing to live with the consequences of the political and process VOID they are hells bent on creating so early.
This “sandmonkey” person should have thought through the situation a little better and spared himself/herself the current grief…if a dedicated democracy warrior.
“Democracy demonstrators”? Ha. With 90% Sunni muslims, I’m sure what they want is a functioning Democracy. How completely juvenile. Sounds to me like the “news” is confusing everybody.
In other “news”; An ABC journalist was threatened with “beheading”. He just laughed and said “You can’t cut off what isn’t there in the first place. If I really had my head, I wouldn’t be here for ABC News.”
4. Eden says
“Sandmonkey sounds like a brave soul and I would be interested in knowing what we here in the US can do short of invading the country to support the anti-Mubarak demonstrators?”
You can write your President and your Congresscritters, and tell them to publicly offer both sides of this mess a way out. The Egyptian people have had to suffer an oppressive regime, with the wrong kind of “elections,” for thirty years. The US position should be that Mubarak
Mubarak can have a graceful exit, but he should have a dynasty. It’s high time that the Egyptian people had a voice in their process.
Since our President seems to be at a loss for ideas, I’d like to offer mine.
BO could be a HERO both in the US and world-wide for publicly asking Mubarak to
1. Announce that he will step down upon the innauguration of a new leader after a thorough and fair process, that includes restructuring the way the elections are run.
2. Announce a national discussion period (very like in Iraq) about what the people want in the way of a new government (constitution? election of representatives in the present form of government? election of an organizing body to select a new form of government?), followed by
3. A period of organizing the political body that will decide how elections will be held, and
4. Elections to be held at time set by that political body.
5. He should state how long this actually took in Iraq, and respectfully ask them to consider this as some sort of practical guidance for their expectations.
He should offer US advice on this while specifically stating that the American military will have no military role in this and that advisors with experience in Iraq might be offered in a consulting role only, not to provide security. He should state that the Egyptian military is perfectly capable of providing security, and that they should provide security for both the government and the populace in this tense and frightening time.
He should thank Mubarak for being an allay and a person of good will who has kept the peace and brought some improvement to the lot of Egyptians, acknowledge our fears of radicalism and a bad outcome like in Iran, where a dictator that attempted to modernize his country but whose internal policies were not well-advised, was replaced by a far more oppressive and unsuccessful regime. He should admit that a good result in the short term is not pre-ordained, but that the Egyptian people are capable of governing themselves, and are worthy of our help and good will.
He should mention that the Egyptians have many relatives living in the United States, who are good citizens, and we know that the Egyptians in Egypt are also as capable of determining their own fates as those in America, given the chance.
And he should say we ask for the blessing of the Creator, who some people call God, and some people call Allah upon this effort, and for peace to all people of good will. This last is not something he would like to do, but it would mend SO MANY fences. Besided, he asked to be hired to do this.
This kind of statement on the part of a US president, has the potential for cooling down the situation somewhat because it honors the good Mubarak has done as well as the legitimate right of the Egyptian people to alter or abolish their government. It gives Mubarak a face-saving way out (the man is going to die, we all know this) and a way to go forward without chaos. It also shows respect for the Egyptian people, something that has been in too short supply for far too long.
The whole world has watched what happened in the USSR, Lebanon, the West Bank, Iran, and Iraq. We have the experience. We can do this. The US bully pulpit is like no other, and BO should use it, so that the Egyptian people can not only have their chance to alter or abolish their government, but also do it in a way that has an enhanced chance of turning out well for them in both the short run and the long run.
Ultimately it’s up to the Egyptians. But I’d really like to see our leader stand up for democracy in an effective way.
I am an admirer of Sandmonkey, and I made very similar points at his blog before it got shut down. This is not something that he would like because of the delay involved, but if the time between now and the elections is well-spent, it could result in a government that is more credible, as well as durable and flexible. I would ask Ambassador Crocker how to proceed with a plan to help the Egyptian people figure out what they want, and implement it.
This fool’s game that is being perpetrated on the world when we are informed that the demonstrators are for democracy and the Muslim Brotherhood is barely involved is BS. The similarities to Iran in 1979 are striking and yes, I agree, that there are differences.
You can think what you want of Mubarak and let me note that I am not a fan of Mubarak’s but, his plan and word to not seek another term and allow for an orderly transition should be taken at face value and we should pay particularly close attention to his actions hence forward.
Our government should be in the process of contacting the pro-democracy and secular groups to work with them to keep The Brotherhood and the Islamists from taking control of the government. Since the Army has been the most stable element of Egyptian society and no leader since the early 50′s has held power without the Army’s approval, we must continue to financially support them so they can continue to maintain their stabilizing influence on the government and more immediately, to get the demonstrations under control in order to restore a sense of order in the country. However, we must also acknowledge that there are definitely rogue elements in the military and the recent release of hundreds of jihadists and removal of the military guarding the Gaza border allowing Hamas to freely enter the country, are just two examples that there are competing factions in the Army who support the radical, religious fundamentalists.
Democracy is a nice concept, however, true democracy in its purest form is simply tyranny of the majority and the Egyptian people, whatever you might think of them, deserve better.
you are correct
Well said.
The focus should be on constitution, constitution, constitution. A well though out constitution is the best protection against a tyrany of the majority. And a good constitution can ensure that the first is elevtion is not the last. Ie. The government should not be in charge of elections etc.
Complete freedom of religion and NO SHARIA in the constitution. The Iraq fiasco should be avoided at all cost. EU and the US should use extreme meassures to ensure this.
Didn’t know you could get Glenn Beck in Egypt. When did Sandmonkey have time to watch Glenn Beck during all the rioting this week, in order to come to the conclusion that he is talking nonsense.
Just Sayin. No one seems to have pointed that out. I am a little concerned about the marxist radical loons that may or may not have been advising the Brotherhood. I really don’t know what to believe anymore.
You can catch Beck’s antic on the internets, maryann.
Finally we get the down-to-earth onsite truth from RLS! Why is Brother Hussein Obama promoting the violent MB gang? Shame!!
“Sandmonkey” says the the Muslim Brotherhood is not a heavy presence at the demonstrations and that for the last four years they have been in a weakened position in Egypt, the least powerful of five Islamic organizations (although the most violent).
Just one request for the Egyptian demonstrators in the name of the jewish people:
Please do not damage the pyramids. We are not going to build them again.
They’re taking those down for a mall.
I think they’re going to be put on the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Should be a nice attraction. Especially if they can duplicate the police on camel back who constantly ask for tips for giving over the revelation that the pyramids are old.
At 25 piastres a word even asking where a bathroom is can call for an ATM.
Let Sandmonkey know that I shall be praying for him and his country – that this matter will be resolved in the best possible way and that true freedom will come to every Egyptian
Egypt is going to go the exact same way, if it does go democratic.
“Only a small fraction of Muslims are extremists that want to kill us all. If Middle Eastern countries go democratic they will elect extremists that want to kill us all.”
Only one of those is true. I bet the latter.
http://beirutspring.com/blog/2011/02/03/this-is-the-post-that-got-an-egyptian-blogger-arrested-and-his-blog-taken-offline/
This Is The Post That Got An Egyptian Blogger Arrested And His Blog Taken Offline [Updated: Blogger Released - Blog restored]
Sandmonkey was arrested and his blog taken down. In solidarity, I’m publishing his latest post, the one that arguably got him caught.
Egypt Right Now, by Sandmonkey
I don’t know how to start writing this. I have been battling fatigue for not sleeping properly for the past 10 days, moving from one’s friend house to another friend’s house, almost never spending a night in my home, facing a very well funded and well organized ruthless regime that views me as nothing but an annoying bug that its time to squash will come. The situation here is bleak to say the least.
It didn’t start out that way. On Tuesday Jan 25 it all started peacefully, and against all odds, we succeeded to gather hundreds of thousands and get them into Tahrir Square, despite being attacked by Anti-Riot Police who are using sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets against us. We managed to break all of their barricades and situated ourselves in Tahrir. The government responded by shutting down all cell communication in Tahrir square, a move which purpose was understood later when after midnight they went in with all of their might and attacked the protesters and evacuated the Square. The next day we were back at it again, and the day after. Then came Friday and we braved their communication blackout, their thugs, their tear gas and their bullets and we retook the square. We have been fighting to keep it ever since.
That night the government announced a military curfew, which kept getting shorter by the day, until it became from 8 am to 3 pm. People couldn’t go to work, gas was running out quickly and so were essential goods and money, since the banks were not allowed to operate and people were not able to collect their salary. The internet continued to be blocked, which affected all businesses in Egypt and will cause an economic meltdown the moment they allow the banks to operate again. We were being collectively punished for daring to say that we deserve democracy and rights, and to keep it up, they withdrew the police, and then sent them out dressed as civilians to terrorize our neighborhoods. I was shot at twice that day, one of which with a semi-automatic by a dude in a car that we the people took joy in pummeling. The government announced that all prisons were breached, and that the prisoners somehow managed to get weapons and do nothing but randomly attack people. One day we had organized thugs in uniforms firing at us and the next day they disappeared and were replaced by organized thugs without uniforms firing at us. Somehow the people never made the connection.
Despite it all, we braved it. We believed we are doing what’s right and were encouraged by all those around us who couldn’t believe what was happening to their country. What he did galvanized the people, and on Tuesday, despite shutting down all major roads leading into Cairo, we managed to get over 2 million protesters in Cairo alone and 3 million all over Egypt to come out and demand Mubarak’s departure. Those are people who stood up to the regime’s ruthlessness and anger and declared that they were free, and were refusing to live in the Mubarak dictatorship for one more day. That night, he showed up on TV, and gave a very emotional speech about how he intends to step down at the end of his term and how he wants to die in Egypt, the country he loved and served. To me, and to everyone else at the protests this wasn’t nearly enough, for we wanted him gone now. Others started asking that we give him a chance, and that change takes time and other such poppycock. Hell, some people and family members cried when they saw his speech. People felt sorry for him for failing to be our dictator for the rest of his life and inheriting us to his Son. It was an amalgam of Stockholm syndrome coupled with slave mentality in a malevolent combination that we never saw before. And the Regime capitalized on it today.
Today, they brought back the internet, and started having people calling on TV and writing on facebook on how they support Mubarak and his call for stability and peacefull change in 8 months. They hung on to the words of the newly appointed government would never harm the protesters, whom they believe to be good patriotic youth who have a few bad apples amongst them. We started getting calls asking people to stop protesting because “we got what we wanted” and “we need the country to start working again”. People were complaining that they miss their lives. That they miss going out at night, and ordering Home Delivery. That they need us to stop so they can resume whatever existence they had before all of this. All was forgiven, the past week never happened and it’s time for Unity under Mubarak’s rule right now.
To all of those people I say: NEVER! I am sorry that your lives and businesses are disrupted, but this wasn’t caused by the Protesters. The Protesters aren’t the ones who shut down the internet that has paralyzed your businesses and banks: The government did. The Protesters weren’t the ones who initiated the military curfew that limited your movement and allowed goods to disappear off market shelves and gas to disappear: The government did. The Protesters weren’t the ones who ordered the police to withdraw and claimed the prisons were breached and unleashed thugs that terrorized your neighborhoods: The government did. The same government that you wish to give a second chance to, as if 30 years of dictatorship and utter failure in every sector of government wasn’t enough for you. The Slaves were ready to forgive their master, and blame his cruelty on those who dared to defy him in order to ensure a better Egypt for all of its citizens and their children. After all, he gave us his word, and it’s not like he ever broke his promises for reform before or anything.
Then Mubarak made his move and showed them what useful idiots they all were.
You watched on TV as “Pro-Mubarak Protesters” – thugs who were paid money by NDP members by admission of High NDP officials- started attacking the peaceful unarmed protesters in Tahrir square. They attacked them with sticks, threw stones at them, brought in men riding horses and camels- in what must be the most surreal scene ever shown on TV- and carrying whips to beat up the protesters. And then the Bullets started getting fired and Molotov cocktails started getting thrown at the Anti-Mubarak Protesters as the Army standing idly by, allowing it all to happen and not doing anything about it. Dozens were killed, hundreds injured, and there was no help sent by ambulances. The Police never showed up to stop those attacking because the ones who were captured by the Anti-mubarak people had police ID’s on them. They were the police and they were there to shoot and kill people and even tried to set the Egyptian Museum on Fire. The Aim was clear: Use the clashes as pretext to ban such demonstrations under pretexts of concern for public safety and order, and to prevent disunity amongst the people of Egypt. But their plans ultimately failed, by those resilient brave souls who wouldn’t give up the ground they freed of Egypt, no matter how many live bullets or firebombs were hurled at them. They know, like we all do, that this regime no longer cares to put on a moderate mask. That they have shown their true nature. That Mubarak will never step down, and that he would rather burn Egypt to the ground than even contemplate that possibility.
In the meantime, State-owned and affiliated TV channels were showing coverage of Peaceful Mubarak Protests all over Egypt and showing recorded footage of Tahrir Square protest from the night before and claiming it’s the situation there at the moment. Hundreds of calls by public figures and actors started calling the channels saying that they are with Mubarak, and that he is our Father and we should support him on the road to democracy. A veiled girl with a blurred face went on Mehwer TV claiming to have received funding by Americans to go to the US and took courses on how to bring down the Egyptian government through protests which were taught by Jews. She claimed that AlJazeera is lying, and that the only people in Tahrir square now were Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. State TV started issuing statements on how the people arrested Israelis all over Cairo engaged in creating mayhem and causing chaos. For those of you who are counting this is an American-Israeli-Qatari-Muslim Brotherhood-Iranian-Hamas conspiracy. Imagine that. And MANY PEOPLE BOUGHT IT. I recall telling a friend of mine that the only good thing about what happened today was that it made clear to us who were the idiots amongst our friends. Now we know.
Now, just in case this isn’t clear: This protest is not one made or sustained by the Muslim Brotherhood, it’s one that had people from all social classes and religious background in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood only showed up on Tuesday, and even then they were not the majority of people there by a long shot. We tolerated them there since we won’t say no to fellow Egyptians who wanted to stand with us, but neither the Muslims Brotherhood not any of the Opposition leaders have the ability to turn out one tenth of the numbers of Protesters that were in Tahrir on Tuesday. This is a revolution without leaders. Three Million individuals choosing hope instead of fear and braving death on hourly basis to keep their dream of freedom alive. Imagine that.
The End is near. I have no illusions about this regime or its leader, and how he will pluck us and hunt us down one by one till we are over and done with and 8 months from now will pay people to stage fake protests urging him not to leave power, and he will stay “because he has to acquiesce to the voice of the people”. This is a losing battle and they have all the weapons, but we will continue fighting until we can’t. I am heading to Tahrir right now with supplies for the hundreds injured, knowing that today the attacks will intensify, because they can’t allow us to stay there come Friday, which is supposed to be the game changer. We are bringing everybody out, and we will refuse to be anything else than peaceful. If you are in Egypt, I am calling on all of you to head down to Tahrir today and Friday. It is imperative to show them that the battle for the soul of Egypt isn’t over and done with. I am calling you to bring your friends, to bring medical supplies, to go and see what Mubarak’s gurantees look like in real life. Egypt needs you. Be Heroes.
Update: Sandmonkey was released. He just tweeted:
I am ok. I got out. I was ambushed & beaten by the police, my phone confiscated , my car ripped apar& supplies taken #jan25
Dr. Iman Bibar’s comments re current situation on the ground in Cairo from Ashoka Fellow, Al Etmanski:
The “clean souls” of Egypt – A Letter from an Ashoka and Egyptian Leader
The following letter is written by Dr. Iman Bibars, who is an Ashoka Vice President and the Egypt based, Regional Director of Ashoka Arab World.
Ashoka is a global fellowship of over 2600 of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs, many of whom are working in Arab Nations. These men and women are addressing some of the world’s toughest problems often in extraordinary situations, including Egypt. They are chosen by Ashoka because of their ingenuity and their desire for system wide change. I received this note because I am part of this Ashoka fellowship.
Dr. Bibars has committed her life to work with marginalized and voiceless groups, such as female heads of households in the poorest slums of Egypt, street children, street vendors and garbage collectors. Her letter speaks to the irrepressible nature of good even when confronted by overwhelming repression. It is a emotional first person account from inside the cauldron that is now Egypt. Feel free to send her a message of support.
Dear Friends of Ashoka,
This is a letter to all of my friends and colleagues who sent warm and kind words of encouragement to me, my family and all of the Egyptians at these very tough times.
What has happened in Egypt the last week or more is unprecedented and is a wonderful and revitalizing experience for all Egyptians who love this country. This is our first real people revolution and it is fueled by wonderful and great young men and women from all walks of Egypt. The liberation square has become a symbol for all our sufferings and also our victories. I cannot claim that I have suffered as many Egyptians did and many of the young revolutionaries asked me why am I supporting them although I have been benefiting (their words) or have not been harmed by the old regime. My only answer was that I loved Egypt and that to be loyal and patriotic to this country means that you want the best for her and you want her to be free and her people to be liberated and treated as humans.
For me Egypt is a she, a her and the mother of all Egyptians and the matriarch that has kept us all in her bosom and nurtured us whether we were grateful or not. And what the regime of husni Mubarak and the security apparatus headed by the war criminal habib al adly have done to us and to the people of Egypt for 30 years is unparalleled in any other country. The humiliation and destruction of the Egyptian character and the spirit of the people in a calculated and organized way took place for 30 years in a relentless and very evil way. Egyptians stopped laughing or smiling from their hearts, you could see and touch helplessness and hopelessness among the old and the young.
Phenomena such as sexual harassment, looting and predominance of thugs spread because they were encouraged by the security that wanted to break the pride and self respect of all Egyptians. The murdering and killing was not only of peoples bodies and lives but of their souls and spirits. Corruption and lack of ethical fiber and self respect became the norm, became the traits most respected.
I am as you all know quite mature (i.e. old) and have been here since the 60s and I have worked with the people and in the streets and was naïve enough to try to enter politics believing that this country needed those who loved her and who would give more then they would take. I was burnt and burnt hard and not only from the government but from the pretenders or those who played the roles of defenders of human rights or of the people but who in many cases found it lucrative to play that role. My mistake was that I always followed my conscience and what I thought was right and was neither extreme left nor extreme right. What happened in Egypt during the last 5 years at least what I found out broke my heart and I started thinking and acting seriously to leave the country to go and live somewhere else. I did not feel there was any hope left.
But then on the 25th, I rediscovered Egypt, the Egypt I have read about and dreamed about. The brave and noble youth of Egypt have resurrected our pride and soul. They have revived the real spirit and soul of Egypt. They have taken away our shame of being so spineless and useless for decades. They have and for the first time in our history carried a real people’s revolution at least during my life time.
They managed to reveal the true face of our security and police forces, those traitors who abandoned their posts and allowed our children and families to die, be attacked and vandalized. Many of the looters and thugs were reported were associated one way or the other with the police. They did not mind that mothers, elders and children be terrorized in a an effort to abort the revolution and scare all of the liberation square heroes away from their main battle. They did not care and frankly this is what the last regime had shown over and over again, that they do not care for us, for the Egyptians or for Egypt. That is why they should not stay, they should go , they should not be allowed to rule or govern as they are in reality traitors who hate us. No one who loves his country and its people would have allowed the scandal and shameful behavior of the security forces not only in murdering and torturing the protesters but more so in terrorizing the kind people of Egypt by opening the prisons, and sending their own thugs to steal, loot and vandalize shops, homes and the nice and simple Egyptian families.
Now at this moment and after the maneuvers of the state , a peaceful transition of power is becoming less of a reality and clashes between the youth of Egypt, the real revolutionaries and those pushed and prompted by the state and the NDP is going on now. I just learned that the liberation square is completely blocked and the army tanks are around it and also blocking any means to go in or out.
The state TV is sending wrong images and stories and lying to the people of Egypt, the regime and its NDP are sending thugs and some paid youth to start fights with the heroes of the liberation square and our youth are in deep danger. They are being under siege now and are being attacked by disguised thugs and security forces, the army has blocked all inroads to the liberation square and the mercenaries of the regime are beating and attacking women, girls and young men whose only demand was freedom and liberty.
If we can reach all Egyptians everywhere and tell them that the revolution is not and will not be over, I met several young people and they said that they are willing to die for Egypt in the liberation square but we do not want to sacrifice those clean souls. Please lets all see a way to save them and tell all of Egypt that the mercenaries of the regime are the ones taking to the street now and that no one should give up the demands for a better and more liberated and free Egypt. Please do not believe the state TV for there are no outside forces or traitors among the revolutionaries who wanted our pride and self worth and respect to return to us.
Iman Bibars, PhD
Leadership Team Member
Vice President, Ashoka
Regional Director, Ashoka Arab World
ibibars@ashoka.org
“Please do not believe the state TV for there are no outside forces or traitors among the revolutionaries…..”
Your verbose posts do not impress me and to state these “revolutionaries” are pure of heart is pure propaganda.
I am not denying the state might be sending in thugs to start trouble and attack the protestors, however, you write as if everything in Egypt will be okay when Mubarak is driven from office. And from what I have read and heard reported, the would be new leaders have not been too forthcoming with their plans other than the Brotherhood who have stated they will shut down the Canal and rip up the peace treaty with Israel when they take power. These statements from the Brotherhood do not instill confidence in the rest of the world, nor the Middle East, that a post Mubarak Egypt will live in peace with their neighbors. You, like myself, have no idea what the future holds but, one only has to look to Iran to see what terrible dangers might lie ahead for the people of Egypt if a religious theocracy takes hold.
Mubarak has been in power for almost thirty years and it would behoove the Egyptian people to work towards a peaceful transition during these intervening months to ensure the upcoming elections are fair and honest. Only then can one say that the people of Egypt are being governed by leaders who have the consent of the people.
Well Sandmonkey, this Christian is praying for you. God bless you and all the Democracy protesters! No more Dictators, whether Religious or not. FREEDOM!
I’m praying that the leaders of the Military will use common sense and action will be taken soon. Barack Obama is fiddling while Egypt burns. Damn you Obama.