The newly installed Egyptian junta, though by and large supported under the assumption that their pledge of a free and fair election within six months will come to pass, has begun taking a number of concerning moves against the protest movement, nominally to “restore order.”
Soldiers and military police are reportedly beating protesters who have refused to leave Tahrir Square, the site of Cairo’s largest rallies, and with martial law now in place, the military has issued a ban on all public protests as well as trade union meetings, and has ordered all striking government workers to return to their jobs.
Meanwhile, the Mubarak-era state of “emergency” remains in place, and the hundreds of protesters who were disappeared off the streets by the military in the waning days of Mubarak’s regime remain in custody, uncharged it seems.
Whatever the new junta’s long-term plans are, and even if they truly intend to eventually allow Egypt to transition into a free country, the near term consequence has been a brutal crackdown, and the question of whether the Mubarak-style crackdown will be tolerable to people so long as the actual Mubarak remains sidelined.
the military in egypt is benign compared with the american military, which is a commercialized vehicle designed to rip off taxpayers by prolonging unwinnable wars that profit contactors & mercenaries while stifling growth in the american economy
one finds it tiresome & insulting that american commentators look at egypt as if it was exceptional, but the ignorance of american commentators is only exceeded by their self-regarding hypocrisy — one can only pray that such americans will end up in the bread line, where they can eat the fruits of their blindness to american corruption
Same old same old, poor saps thought they had freedom.
Is the Egyptian military emboldened because Obama's Marines are on the way to help if needed?
The premise is the usual one.
On Friday, the Pentagon announced it would move "U.S. warships and other military assets to make sure it is prepared in case evacuation of U.S. citizens from Egypt becomes necessary.
http://www.businessinsider.com/senior-us-marine-s…
“whether the Mubarak-style crackdown will be tolerable by the people,”
That is the gut question, for human nature being what it is normally I would say yes. But a worst case conduction is it for dictators in Egypt, as never in world history has any nation suffered as much from dictatorship as Egypt. Democracy being a morality where everyone gives all they can give, dictatorship being where everyone strives to take all they can take, just maybe Egypt with be the first nation to break epic and go for true democracy as in the real thing.
Egypt is mighty lucky that there the dictator war toppled. Naturally, like anything that comes easy, there will be plenty of fools who do not understand just how luck favored them. So, instead of focusing on organizing themselves for political battles that lie ahead, they got addicted to street anarchy, that will only strenghten those who oppose democracy. Nobody is preventing anyone today in Egypt to meet, organize, use electronic media and form parties. What a difference a day makes!
But leave it up to western neurotic line of thinking to already call Army "junta", and ascribe to them all kinds of evil tendencies. Hey, give some time for everyone to catch breath! So far, Army did well, as well as one can possibly do in three days. Did anyone seriously believe that Army will allow continued street chaos — as it explicitly removed the regime to allow for political organizing and preparation for elections? Most of the jailed and now freed protesters, such as Wael Ghonim, are urging people to roll up their sleeves and put energy into organizing. But I am afraid even the level headed Jason got addicted to the siren song of the street.
Miitary's gotta do what the Military's trained to do.
The military mind is inimical to civil society, by construction.
Colonel Tigh will have another glass of Ambrosia, thank you.
another un-deniable aspect of the mass media limelight as far as "democracy" goes that should be made aware is the PETITION PROCESS & REFERRENDUM/s" take that steering "comitee"oo
When summarized this way, it does seem like gloom and doom and more of the same. However, one look at Al Jazeera, who is still reporting from the ground, shows a slightly different picture. First, the protesters were pushed aside to make way for traffic to flow. Hardly a brutal attack such as the one perpetrated by Mubarak. Yes, the Constitution and Parliament were disbanded but these were key demands of the protesters. The army has pledged to stay in power for 6 months while the civilians organize, something which is already being done. Yes, the head of the army is called by Egyptians "Mubarak's Poodle" and that does give some cause for concern. However, Rome wasn't built in one day. Notwithstanding what the Egyptians have accomplished in record time, the change can't come overnight. In fact, the next couple of years will probably be as trying as they were under Mubarak.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011…