Who would've thought of an idea like having your suit's pinstripes be made up of your name in tiny lettering!?
I guess that's why Hosni Mubarak was President of Egypt for 30 years and I wasn't.
(That and about 10,000 other reasons)
EYE ON A CRAZY PLANET
Showing posts with label Hosni Mubarak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hosni Mubarak. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Egypt Update: Mubarak out/ Omar Suleiman in
NBC news reports that Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak will resign tonight and will be succeeded by his newly appointed Vice President Omar Suleiman.
USA Today has reported that at 10:50 a.m. ET: Gen. Hassan al-Roueini, military commander for the Cairo area, tells thousands of protesters in central Tahrir Square: "All your demands will be met today."
Suleiman was the former head of Egypt's Intelligence Services and his succession would fall into a scenario described in a newly released wiki-leak of a US report about a meeting between an Israeli delegation and Egyptian leaders in 2008:
USA Today has reported that at 10:50 a.m. ET: Gen. Hassan al-Roueini, military commander for the Cairo area, tells thousands of protesters in central Tahrir Square: "All your demands will be met today."
Suleiman was the former head of Egypt's Intelligence Services and his succession would fall into a scenario described in a newly released wiki-leak of a US report about a meeting between an Israeli delegation and Egyptian leaders in 2008:
(S) In terms of atmospherics, Hacham said the Israeli delegation was "shocked" by Mubarak's aged appearance and slurred speech. Hacham was full of praise for Soliman, however, and noted that a "hot line" set up between the MOD and Egyptian General Intelligence Service is now in daily use. Hacham said he sometimes speaks to Soliman's deputy Mohammed Ibrahim several times a day. Hacham noted that the Israelis believe Soliman is likely to serve as at least an interim President if Mubarak dies or is incapacitated. (Note: We defer to Embassy Cairo for analysis of Egyptian succession scenarios, but there is no question that Israel is most comfortable with the prospect of Omar Soliman.)
Monday, February 7, 2011
Obama makes Chris Matthews ashamed as an American?! Chris Matthews??!!
About Obama: "There is a transactional quality to the guy that is chilling."
About Egypt: "We don't have any Plan B! Where is our plan?"
Actually Chris, it sounds like Obama did have a Plan B. It involves the Muslim Brotherhood.
About Egypt: "We don't have any Plan B! Where is our plan?"
Actually Chris, it sounds like Obama did have a Plan B. It involves the Muslim Brotherhood.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
America's role in the Egyptian turmoil, the Muslim Brotherhood and George Soros connections
It has been suggested that Mohamed ElBaredei, who has emerged as the de facto leader of the opposition to embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, is the man of certain outside interests.
The International Crisis Group is a foreign affairs think tank partly funded by, and on whose Executive Committee sits billionaire currency speculator George Soros. One of the group's Board members is Mohamed ElBaredei.
ElBaredei himself has been making conciliatory statements about the Muslim Brotherhood since his return to Egypt. This should come as no surprise, since in 2008, the International Crisis Group produced a report proposing the integration of the Brotherhood into Egypt's political framework.
The following year, US President Obama held secret meetings with members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group which is linked to terrorism throughout the Middle East. The Muslim Brotherhood, which opposes the full political rights for women and religious minorities, has been making friends in influential places recently.
But the NDP, Egypt's ruling party, despite the recent demonstrations of opposition to Mubarak, still commands a great deal of support in North Africa's most populous and influential country.
What is seeming increasingly apparent is that the US is trying to play both sides of the fight in Egypt right now. It's a dangerous game in which it could emerge the loser no matter who in Egypt triumphs.
UPDATE: A fascinating first-hand account from an Egyptian blogger:
The International Crisis Group is a foreign affairs think tank partly funded by, and on whose Executive Committee sits billionaire currency speculator George Soros. One of the group's Board members is Mohamed ElBaredei.
ElBaredei himself has been making conciliatory statements about the Muslim Brotherhood since his return to Egypt. This should come as no surprise, since in 2008, the International Crisis Group produced a report proposing the integration of the Brotherhood into Egypt's political framework.
The following year, US President Obama held secret meetings with members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group which is linked to terrorism throughout the Middle East. The Muslim Brotherhood, which opposes the full political rights for women and religious minorities, has been making friends in influential places recently.
But the NDP, Egypt's ruling party, despite the recent demonstrations of opposition to Mubarak, still commands a great deal of support in North Africa's most populous and influential country.
What is seeming increasingly apparent is that the US is trying to play both sides of the fight in Egypt right now. It's a dangerous game in which it could emerge the loser no matter who in Egypt triumphs.
UPDATE: A fascinating first-hand account from an Egyptian blogger:
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
It looks like Mubarak's son Gamal will be trying to succeed his father
According to Egypt's Al-Ahram, a media source sympathetic to the ruling NDP party:
According to leading NDP figures, a politburo meeting of the NDP is planned for today to discuss the overall reaction of the party -- which is chaired by President Hosni Mubarak -- to the demonstrations and the demands for economic and political reforms that were made by protesters.
It is not clear, however, where the meeting will be held. NDP sources suggest it is unlikely to be at the party's headquarters in Abdel-Moneim Riad Square. The headquarters was stoned by demonstrators on Tuesday, and on Wednesday there was a massive security presence around it to prevent further attacks.
What is certain, according to a leading NDP figure, is that Gamal Mubarak, the younger son of the president and the assistant secretary- general of the NDP, will be present.
The meeting could thus squash widespread speculation that Gamal Mubarak left Egypt "hastily" on Tuesday evening to a Western capital.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Hosni Mubarak: "I will die on the soil of Egypt"
In the face of massive protests, beleaguered Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has just announced that he will not seek re-election in September elections.
He forcefully stated in a speech in the last hour that he will "die on the soil of Egypt" and will initiate electoral reforms, including fixed presidential terms.
Whether the public accepts his decision to retain power until fall will be determined over the next few days. The crowds listening to his speech on outdoor monitors heckled as he delivered it. There is speculation that if he can, Mubarak will be using the time to ensure that a successor in the NDP, the ruling Egyptian party, can be introduced to the public and make use of the largely-government controlled media to win popular support. Mubarak's son Gamal is usually mentioned in Egypt as being groomed to take over his father's role. Mubarak has another son, Alaa.
One observation the protesters are beginning to realize is that there may be a million people in the streets, but there are 79 million Egyptians who are staying home who don't necessarily share their aspirations.
A question that remains is, if Mubarak were to step down now, who would assume the reins of power?
He forcefully stated in a speech in the last hour that he will "die on the soil of Egypt" and will initiate electoral reforms, including fixed presidential terms.
Whether the public accepts his decision to retain power until fall will be determined over the next few days. The crowds listening to his speech on outdoor monitors heckled as he delivered it. There is speculation that if he can, Mubarak will be using the time to ensure that a successor in the NDP, the ruling Egyptian party, can be introduced to the public and make use of the largely-government controlled media to win popular support. Mubarak's son Gamal is usually mentioned in Egypt as being groomed to take over his father's role. Mubarak has another son, Alaa.
One observation the protesters are beginning to realize is that there may be a million people in the streets, but there are 79 million Egyptians who are staying home who don't necessarily share their aspirations.
A question that remains is, if Mubarak were to step down now, who would assume the reins of power?
Friday, September 17, 2010
El Presidente must not be seen to follow the Zionists or American Imperialists!!
This wasn't Hosni Mubarak's fault.
Egyptian President Mubarak walked the red carpet along with other leaders Obama, Netenyahu, Abbas and King Abdullah at the recent Israeli/Palestinian peace talks in Washington. Obama, as the host, led the way.
But in true traditions of that part of the world where maintaining face and pride take precedent over everything else, the state-run Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram decided it was unseemly that their president was trailing the Zionist and American Imperialist leaders. Fortunately technology offered a solution that reality didn't, so they photoshopped the picture to put Mubarak at the front.
However, the switcheroo was observed and exposed by keen-eyed Egyptian blogger Wael Khalil and now spoofs of the picture have appeared with Mubarak walking on the moon, winning the World Cup, etc...
By trying to grovel to their leader, Al-Ahram has provided Mubarak with quite a domestic embarrassment.
See the photos and complete story here in The Guardian.
Egyptian President Mubarak walked the red carpet along with other leaders Obama, Netenyahu, Abbas and King Abdullah at the recent Israeli/Palestinian peace talks in Washington. Obama, as the host, led the way.
But in true traditions of that part of the world where maintaining face and pride take precedent over everything else, the state-run Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram decided it was unseemly that their president was trailing the Zionist and American Imperialist leaders. Fortunately technology offered a solution that reality didn't, so they photoshopped the picture to put Mubarak at the front.
However, the switcheroo was observed and exposed by keen-eyed Egyptian blogger Wael Khalil and now spoofs of the picture have appeared with Mubarak walking on the moon, winning the World Cup, etc...
By trying to grovel to their leader, Al-Ahram has provided Mubarak with quite a domestic embarrassment.
See the photos and complete story here in The Guardian.
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