Thread: Unrest in Egypt (and the surrounding area)

so how about american idol? super bowl in a week or two!!!!! what the hell are you talking about

Yes! I'm also watching Obama and Hillary saying it's up to the people of Egypt to decide what happens next, yet the people are demanding Mubarak's outage and he's not leaving. He thought firing his entire administration would make them happy LOL.

Originally Posted by SpecialInterests

Yes! I'm also watching Obama and Hillary saying it's up to the people of Egypt to decide what happens next, yet the people are demanding Mubarak's outage and he's not leaving. He thought firing his entire administration would make them happy LOL.

I thought that was hilarious.

That man is as good as gone. He might as well start packing his shit, now. I also thought it was interesting to see how well-respected the military is, as opposed to the police force. It's kind of ironic that, even though the military is sent in to keep the protesters at bay, they are still met with a certain level of respect (at least, that's how it's been portrayed).

The shots of all the people on the bridge - pushing back the police officers and vehicles through the clouds of tear gas - are amazing.

Not just Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria as well. I heard Yemen and Jordan were acting up too, the whole area is going apeshit.

I heard about Tunisia, but I didn't know it was so widespread.

They were talking about how the police stations in Egypt were being raided, and the police were actually changing into civilian clothing as a means of escape. Lol. It's almost poetic.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

I thought that was hilarious.

That man is as good as gone. He might as well start packing his shit, now. I also thought it was interesting to see how well-respected the military is, as opposed to the police force. It's kind of ironic that, even though the military is sent in to keep the protesters at bay, they are still met with a certain level of respect (at least, that's how it's been portrayed).

The shots of all the people on the bridge - pushing back the police officers and vehicles through the clouds of tear gas - are amazing.

Yea for sure, I mean I read something that said soldiers were being dragged out of their patrol vehicles only to have protesters salute them and groups of them offering protection. Quite impressive like you said, considering they are there to suppress them.

They've shown one man getting shot (allegedly dead) in the street. I just hope that some sort or resolution is found, before things turn even more deadly. Hell, Mubarak has had, what, a 30-year reign? I'd say that's about long enough.

People should not fear their government. Their government should fear the people.

Well done, denizens of Egypt.

People don't just give up control after that long, and he seems to be digging in. Things are getting to a turning point where real violence might break out. In that case, he may never surrounded his position, until they cut of his head and hang out from out a window.

real violence? a man has already been shot dead!

Originally Posted by AustralianFire

real violence? a man has already been shot dead!

One man shot dead.

Fucking entire army with machine guns.

One man.

You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Originally Posted by AustralianFire

real violence? a man has already been shot dead!

As much as I hate to say it, given the numbers, it could be much, much worse.

I am speaking more of a tank firing into a crowd of people. Yes there is violence, but if something like that happens, you will quickly understand what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

As much as I hate to say it, given the numbers, it could be much, much worse.

it could be alot better as well, we will see what happens.....

I was in Egypt a couple of years ago. Wish I'd talked to some more people about politics.

By the way I heard BBC say 27 civilians dead.

i heard it was at least 30 now

I've been watching this. It's pretty unnerving. If Egypt had lots of oil we would be "bringing them Democracy" right now, but they don't. The Egyptian leader is not a terrible guy compared to some of the other dictators around the world. He's not mentally insane, what worries me most, is what will replace him. Will it be a stable government, or will it be a madman hell-bent of destroying Israel? The current guy doesn't like Israel, but he knows the limits of what he can do about it. I'm worried an attack on Israel from Egypt will push Palistine and a few other countries to join them. The Israelis have a hell of an army, and the UN behind them, but it'll still be a bloodbath.

The pattern is extremely interesting though; remember the Iranians were protesting about their autocrats last year, too. Much of the Arab world has started showing a largely peaceful desire for democracy of its own accord (without the holier than thou 'leaders of the free world' having to force it upon them via killing a few hundred thousand people).

Anybody know why the citizens are so upset with their leader?

Originally Posted by Drokens

Anybody know why the citizens are so upset with their leader?

From what I gather, they are sick and tired of living under such minimal means (the average Egyptian makes about $4 a day), and Mubarak's 30-year rule. They are sick of martial law and the police force being notoriously heavy-handed and even torturous to the citizens. Basically, they are just tired of his shit, and they're apparently not going to take it anymore. Heh.

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

From what I gather, they are sick and tired of living under such minimal means (the average Egyptian makes about $4 a day), and Mubarak's 30-year rule. They are sick of martial law and the police force being notoriously heavy-handed and even torturous to the citizens. Basically, they are just tired of his shit, and they're apparently not going to take it anymore. Heh.

Well damn! Good for them!

Originally Posted by Drokens

Well damn! Good for them!

I agree.

However, the death toll has risen to 'at least 62 dead, at least 200 injured,' according to CNN. Getting uglier by the minute...

It's not, that's just updated information. The police, which were the violent element, have disappeared from the scene in Cairo. The Army are now controlling the crowds, and they're on friendly terms with the protesters.

Originally Posted by Xei

It's not, that's just updated information. The police, which were the violent element, have disappeared from the scene in Cairo. The Army are now controlling the crowds, and they're on friendly terms with the protesters.

They are not really controlling the crowds, though. Not completely, anyway. In some areas, yes, they have quelled a bit of the chaos, just by being there, but many of the soldiers themselves don't seem to know what side they are on. If worse comes to worse, as a commentator said, I couldn't really see the soldiers - so well respected - firing tank shells into mobs of their community members.

Also, there are many areas where there is actually no authoritative presence at all. Many people in Cairo have armed themselves with whatever they can find, and are roaming around in make-shift militias, trying to protect their property and neighborhoods. There's been talk of motorcycle gangs going around and looking people's houses, and I've been watching video of mobs of people, like 20-30 deep, roaming around the streets of their neighborhoods at night, armed with sticks, golf clubs, rifles, etc.