Egyptian Unrest, Day Four

Update 13: Just watched Mubarak's speech. Seriously out of touch. Will form new cabinet tomorrow. Aging, out of touch. He effectively doubled down. Tomorrow might be bloody. Will the army rally to the people or Mubarak?

Update 12: Kuwait MPs pass $5 bln aid package for citizens:

The parliament of the wealthy Gulf state of Kuwait on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation to grant cash and free food to Kuwaiti citizens totalling over $5 billion to mark national occasions.

The grants, made last week by Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, stipulate paying 1,000 dinars ($3,580) to each Kuwaiti citizen plus free distribution of essential food items for 14 months.

A little nervous? Wonder what we'll see in Saudi Arabia?

More: Compare egyptian protesters' concern for museum with us indifference to baghdad museum... so much for american power

"They hate us for our freedoms" update: Teenager showed me teargas canister "made in USA". Saw the same thing in Tunisia. Time to reconsider US exports? #Jan25 #Egypt This has gotten a lot of play all day on Al Jazeera English.

From The Guardian live blog: Foreign journalists are being tougher on Gibbs than the White House press corps. "We have reached a point where the grievances have to be addressed with concrete reforms, have to, must," says Gibbs at one point, in annoyance. Gibbs does go on to describe internet access as a basic right, which is a revelation of sorts.

Saw boys with massive seal of the republic looted from State TV. If this isn't the end, it certainly looks and smells like it. #Jan25 #Egypt

Al Jazeera speaks to Ahmad Kelani, spokesman of @ElBaradei party "There is no longer an Egyptian regime. Now we have moved into a new phase"

AJ: Egyptian army deploying around Parliament, Prime Minister's office, TV and radio stations

Update 11: Based on what I heard White House spokesman Gibbs say, Mubarak has been officially thrown under the bus. I make a lot of fun of the White House and Obama, but Gibbs made all the right noises a few moments ago. Mubarak is clearly finished and the White House knows it.

Be sure to check out the photo stream of Al Jazeera Live, here.

Update 10: Critical news from the AP: WASHINGTON (AP) AP source: US will review its stand on providing aid to Egypt based on unfolding events. Looking for link now. This is a game changer. Follow up from Nick Baumann:

If US aid is up in the air, it puts enormous pressure on the military, the NDP, + Mubarak himself. Now that US has put it on the table (1/2)

(2/2) opponents of aiding the regime will have a much stronger argument in US politics. Some1 shld ask gov't how determination will be made.

Israeli official: "I'm not sure the time is right for the Arab region to go through the democratic process." Link to story here.

Fox News chimes in: Idiots RT @HumaImtiaz Fox News: groups linked to al-Qaida "in danger of taking over the government in Cairo" http://bit.ly/fPaZmz

Other goodies here: RT @jmartpolitico Per Chris Good, Egyptian lobbyists include: Tony Podesta, Toby Moffett and Bob Livingston http://njour.nl/hucdTe #Egypt

And here: "the demonstrators have an offline networking tool: mosques" http://goo.gl/1TdV1 there is nothing that Internet metaphors can't describe!

Update 9: The question of the hour is this: will the army side with the people of Egypt or with the police? All indications are that the army is, at the very least, not attacking the people. That fact weighs against the survival of Mubarak's regime.

Al Jazeera is reporting from Suez: "there are no police on the streets. Several tanks, lots of protesters. Order has resumed."

Lambert has updates here. Head over there for good stuff as well.

Okay, I have personal business to attend to. Please see comment thread, and Mark's updates for more info. Hopefully I will return soon.

Update 8: "Al Jazeera English: Unconfirmed reports that that army and the police are clashing"

Correction: reports of gunfire incorrect. They were sounds of rocks being hurled at multiple APCs disabled in downtown Cairo.

The sounds in the background of the AJE livestream are clearly gunfire.

AJE livestream is reporting shots fired against protesters. "We are hearing very loud gunfire from Ministry of Information. I cannot confirm, this but I have heard sound of ammunition in my life," says one AJE reporter.

Breaking Al Arabiya: Eyewitnesses report clashes & live fire near the Egyptian Parliament #Jan25

Bolton on Fox News says protests aren't pro-democratic, warned of Muslim Bro'hood taking over. Urged Obama to "remain prudently silent."

Update 7: NDP headquarters in flames in Cairo. Symbolic backdrop for Mubarak/Hillary speeches

The sound of protests and crowds in the background of the Al Jazeera live feed is simply astonishing. Crowdsourcing has a new face. You can watch it here. Of course not a single US network covers this, the largest, most important country in the Arab world. #fail

Update 6: "BREAKING: Egyptian TV announces immediate curfew in Cairo."

Update 5: Al Jazeera confirms:

Live from Cairo: Army vehicles spotted in Cairo and warmly greeted by protestors, asking protection from the police #Jan25 #Egypt

Unconfirmed reports are coming in that the army is now on the streets.

From Evegeny Morozov:

I hope there is still cab service in Cairo because Tom Friedman won't produce an Egypt column without talking to the drivers first...

To recap: El Baradei is under house arrest. Protests have spread to many cities in Egypt, not just Suez and Cairo. Alexandrian protests rumored in 100,000 area.

The vaunted "free" press of American is getting absolutely pwnd by Al Jazeera.

The White House is as silent as Mubarak.

Update 4: Shorter Obama: "Can't we all just get along?" Rumors in Washington DC is that our masters of civility have a serious case of the vapors. David Broder has been hospitalized. David Brooks fainted. Peggy Noonan apparently whipped out a Ouija board and channeled Ronald Reagan.

Updated 3: Protests now spreading to Luxor, reports Al Jazeera. Rich neighborhoods in Cairo joining in protests as well. Protesters, per Al Arabiya have stormed the Governate Office in Alexandria.

Al Jazeera reports protesters now heading towards Presidential palace. End game near?

All reports, sporadic, otherwise, from official media and non-traditional indicate downtown Cairo is a madhouse.

From Al Jazeera: Protesters take control of parts of Suez & Egyptian security forces are retreating.

Mark Lynch tweets: "Absolute silence of Mubarak so far is really striking." I personally think he's toast at this point. Live fire would just draw more protesters into the streets.

Update 2: Things are simply moving too fast now. Its hard to keep up. If Mubarak has not ordered police and security forces to use live ammunition by now it's pretty clear he's lost control. Protesters own Tahrir Square. Reports coming in that October 6 bridge is burning. More: "Opposition leader Ayman Nour suffered head injury, now in ICU at Agouza hospital, his son tells Al Jazeera English."

Update: Thousands protesting in Al Masoura, thousands reported in Arish as well. Things moving very fast. Many satellite channels completely blocked now inside Egypt.

Al Jezeera reporting police in Alexandria refusing to fire tear gas at protesters, others taking off uniforms joining protests. Al Arabiyya has reported the same.

Mohamed El Baradei has been doused by a water cannon and subsequently arrested. Supporters attempted to shield him.

Reporters from outlets as diverse as Al Arabiyya, Al Jazeera and CNN are all reporting police harassment and beatings for filming anything in Egypt. Ben Wedeman of CNN has his camera smashed.

There are a reported 100,000 protesters in Alexandria. Al Jezzera reports protesters in "Al Areesh, N Sinai." More protests than the regime can handle, apparently.

Ben Wedeman succinctly sums up the day:

So far today? Attacks on protesters, press. Internet, cell phone service cut. Nobel laureate arrested. And day still young. #Jan25 #Egypt

Background here: Egyptian protesters are not just Facebook revolutionaries

Sean Paul Kelley January 28, 2011 - 11:46am

Sean Paul Kelley's diary | printer friendly version |

( categories: Africa: North )

Al Jazeera coverage

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

_{One owes respect to the living. To the dead, one owes only the truth.}

Raja January 28, 2011 - 9:04am

So much for Mohamed El Baradei being a caretaker.

Appears Mubarak is digging in, but sounds like he's doomed. The big question is where the Brotherhood stands, and Friday is probably the make/break day for their decision. If they join and that tips the scales, they may end up with a lot of power. Maybe Egypt becoming a Sunni version of Iran?

Retired Mainframe maven, active curmudgeon, poet, writer.

steeleweed January 28, 2011 - 9:41am

looks like friday prayers have let out..

and the throngs are congregating. Was watching Al Jazeera, and it didn't look like many folks protesting in Cairo, but It's after 5 in Cairo now, and the crowds are getting larger. I guess God has come out on the side of the protests.

skuppers January 28, 2011 - 11:04am

Al-Jazeera live

We oughta keep the Al-Jazeera live connection up front/top.

Sean-Paul: I figured out the mystery of the numbers. It's tweets written in Arabic that for some reason comes across 'encrypted' or translates into number, letters, & symbols. I found one last night and it now comes up like that below.

"شغل أمريكا متغلف وختمه عليه، ضيف زارنا يا عم من غير دعوة لابس بيه قعد تلاتين سنة مابئولش قاعد ليه، والنية يديها لإبنه النابغة بعديه" poem about 7 hours ago via web

ecophem January 28, 2011 - 11:49am

Aha! You need to change your font's to universal encoding. eom

^{Bad decisions make good stories.}

Sean Paul Kelley January 28, 2011 - 11:57am

Okay -

Now see this is where being a technological doofus comes in. Didn't know that. However, I do know how to fix it.

ecophem January 28, 2011 - 12:10pm

Army on the streets

Al Jazeera English showing army going out on the streets to support the police. Some people celebrating hoping Army switches sides like in Tunisia. Exciting times.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 11:59am

Army on the streets

Al Jazeera English showing army going out on the streets to support the police. Some people celebrating hoping Army switches sides like in Tunisia. Exciting times.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 11:59am

NDP Party Headquarters in Cario

Al Jazeera English streaming live picture of the headquarters of National Democratic Party (ruling party of Egypt) on fire, burning out of control. People are no longer afraid of the regime things are changing ?...

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 12:25pm

Thakns MArk! Please keep updates coming! eom

^{Bad decisions make good stories.}

Sean Paul Kelley January 28, 2011 - 12:27pm

Yes

Please do and hopefully later today I'll have wifi that works so I can watch the links

jo6pac January 28, 2011 - 12:47pm

NDP Party Headquarters in Cario

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 12:25pm

Very chaotic situation

Army is entering Cairo, Alexandria, Suez... but reports of Army being cheered and Army troops giving thumbs up to protesters. Can definitely hear live fire going on.

NDP building still out of control, near the antiquities museum.

Curfew is NOT working, announced by Egyptian TV as being across country.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 1:45pm

Suez

Live fire from police station towards military in Suez. Military drove towards police station, thousands still on street.

Shops of regieme supporters under attack.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 1:48pm

Sources of info:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112523026521335.html

Tweets that are getting out from Aljazeera.

Mubarak was supposed to make statement an hour ago...

Introduction of army seen as sign of weakness -- security forces have lost control.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 1:55pm

Mubarak toast?

Did the US ambassador just throw Mubarak under the bus on Al Jazeera?

lambert January 28, 2011 - 2:31pm

Lack of info within Egypt

Amazing how protests have maintained momentum despite no Internet, no cell phone service and reports of land lines even being shut down. As well Al Jazeera Arabic has definitely been shut down within Egypt. Not sure if Al Jazeera English is available WITHIN Egypt doing a great job informing the world but within who knows.

Army is moving to protect Egyptian TV. Army being cheered by the people (has not been used to crack down for a long time, just police).

Still no answer are the army going to stand up for President, people, itself??

Presidential Army guard heading towards Cairo State TV station.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 2:35pm

Not an Egypt expert, but..

.. You need to remember that a lot of the poorer people in this world don't have phones or Internet access to begin with. However they get their news, the Egyptian government can't just flip a switch and turn it off.

EDIT: Come to think of it, I imagine a lot of people get news by going to their local mosque..

--
-Geoduck

geoduck January 28, 2011 - 2:59pm

Costs so far:

At least 2 killed, 400 wounded across Egypt so far...

Many foreign journalists attacked/detained/equipment smashed by security forces.

...

Still not clear which way Army is going. Protesters still cheering Army.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 2:40pm

City of Suez

Army arrived to jubilation but have left city centre to take up positions around port and oil facilities.

Security police have disappeared and crowd is calm but still out in force in city centre.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 2:50pm

Cairo

HQ of Egypt's ruling NDP party on fire and being looted, no sign of security forces.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 2:51pm

Costs Climbing

Over 800 wounded including bullet wounds - Reuters. 7-8 dead in Cario alone, Al Jazeera.

Still not clear what army is up to.

Egyptians have lost fear of security forces.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 3:04pm

Latest from Reuters & Al Jazeera

White House briefing on Egypt situation has been delayed. Mubarak still hasn't spoken publicly as he promised to do over three hours ago.

NDP HQ still burning near Museum of Antiquities.

No reports of ARMY troops attacking protesters.

Reports indicating things quieting down... but still lots of people on streets, buildings burning in many cities.

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 3:16pm

People's Internet down - Stock Market still up

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2011/01/28/472776/in-pharaohs-markets/

That and the Noor group of ip addresses. Whatever that means.

Here's the stock market address -> http://www.egyptse.com/arabic/homepage.aspx

Jeff Wegerson January 28, 2011 - 3:47pm

Gibbs

can make all the noises he wants to but he will ALWAYS be a douche. It's in his DNA.

PR January 28, 2011 - 5:13pm

Google Maps Egyptian Musem & Al Jazeera

Is this the general area we are seeing the NDP party offices on fire? Anyone know this area better?

30.049271,31.23458

Jeff Wegerson January 28, 2011 - 5:27pm

Elites everywhere

are ill at ease right now. Not just in the Middle East.

This may be the defining moment of our time.

_{Tolerating prostitution is tolerating abuse and torture of women and children.}

adrena January 28, 2011 - 6:46pm

CNN on Egyptian Media & Army

Interesting commentary on CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/28/egypt.protest.dissent/

Mentions that Nile TV covered the protests w/o denouncing them and gave air time to opposition figures.

Media trying to be completely irrelevant?

Interesting times continue...

Mark Gold January 28, 2011 - 7:04pm

Update 13

Yes lets hope the Army does that right thing and loads the old leader on a plane tonite and stop the blood shed of their own people. If the US calls don't answer, let it ring.

jo6pac January 28, 2011 - 8:08pm

Bill Richardson on the MEK bus

Well this shows everything wrong with US foreign policy. Instead of dealing with real people, its always stupid elite and/or apocalyptic crazies & cultists -- the frickin Neocon MEK trial balloon is off and sailing away and now Torricelli and even Bill Richardson are on board. But Richardson sez he only heard about their whole Iraq base thing today. These are the people

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/big_time_dems_join_gopers_in_support_of_iranian_te.php?ref=fpa
Ah the MEK is being floated by Executive Action LLC which is surely not violating Material Support laws. These kind of weasels and general pattern are exactly why America's foreign policy sucks & produces terrible outcomes. Turning back to Cairo.
--
Hongpong.com

HongPong January 28, 2011 - 8:26pm

Thanks for the wonderful coverage SP,

I'm working all weekend but will try to add. :)

Tina January 28, 2011 - 11:46pm

Looks like the U.S. is behind the protests

Telegraph

Joaquin January 29, 2011 - 4:19am

Maybe

But that really makes very little sense from a classic, US foreign policy standpoint. The Telegraph article insinuates far beyond what the one cable they offer as evidence indicates, especially given that the cable ends with a negative view of this mystery activist and his chances.

The question is why would the US want to be behind the protests? We have no track record of supporting actual political freedom vs. a stability dictatorship. The Wikileaks evidence that there was some pressure on Mubarak proves very little, because it was kept private.

If this had the hallmarks of a color revolution (which have all, successful or not, played out almost exactly the same), then i'd be inclined to agree. It doesn't have any of those and, at the moment, appears to be leaderless. That's not the US's SOP because it lacks reliability. The growing lists of VPs for Mubarak look like the US positioning for the future far more than instigating the protests does.

Lex January 29, 2011 - 1:25pm

Giving meaning to words? Obama should learn from his own words.

Mr. Obama noted that in Mr. Mubarak’s speech, he promised to expand democracy and economic opportunity. “He has a responsibility to give meaning to those words,” Mr. Obama said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29diplo.html?hp

creativelcro January 29, 2011 - 6:06am

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