Rock the Casbah: Arab-World Revolutions

[JERK DISEASE]

I said "or something", they're doing it somehow.

[JERK DISEASE]

I wonder if the Tunisian interim government is going to make a statement.

[trappedolphin]

@Zigee:

didn't they cut off mobiles too?

According to one Egyptian's Twitter, he's using proxy servers to tweet.

EDIT: For anyone interested, this site outlines the Internet shutdown: http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/01/egypt-leaves-the-internet.shtml

if you're too lazy to read, here's the rather shocking graph:

[Nobodyman]

@JERK:

I heard something about Coptic Christians planning to protect all the Muslim protestors while they pray today.

That is just awesome.

And then it makes me depressed that one of my family members sends me e-mails like this.

! > Isn't life strange?

I never met one Veteran who enlisted tofigh****t for Socialism

86% will send this on.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,

**AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT****STANDS,**ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

**INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND****JUSTICE FOR ALL!**If Muslims can pray on Madison Avenue, why are Christians banned from praying in public and erecting religious displays on their holy days?

What happened to our National Day of Prayer? Obama says we can't have that, yet Muslims are allowed to block off Madison Ave. in N. Y. and pray in the middle of the street! And, it's a monthly ritual!
Tell me again, whose country is this? Ours or the Muslims?
I was asked to send this on if I agree, or delete if I don't. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God! We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe!

[dirt monkey AL]

This post is deleted!

[JERK DISEASE]

My Korean War veteran grandfather actually killed real communists with real guns who were really trying to conquer territory and really trying to kill him and he would spit on an e-mail like that and vote for Health Care reform in a jiffy.

AS FOR EGYPT:

I hear the Sinai Peninsula is seriously crazy. That there was gunfire exchanged between soldiers and bedouins and the like.
What's great about this sort of thing is it showed that the hate is spread everywhere.

One issue with Iran was that mostly it was educated city youths who were mad. While rural and older people still somewhat supported the Iranian government.

Stuff like Sinai shows this is not the case in Egypt. Even fucking bedouins are mad.

[Rogues' Gallery]

@trappedolphin:

We are all ready to die

…..

Damn. Just....

The sheer Courage needed to say something like this where you've accepted the fact that you might not live to see tomorrow, that this may be your last day with your loved ones, your last day on earth. In the face of such daunting fear, to be able to speak so defiantly and boldly, without any hesitation or regrets is just....

Damn. It REALLY shows just how fucking serious this is.

[ChesCa]

It's cool that the protesters have support. At least we know they're not alone out there.
Unneeded cynicism ahead
[hide]@Nobodyman:
Feh.
I'm still waiting for same grade A assbag to talk about how the revolting Muslims are a sign of the apocalypse, because 'they're getting stronger' or 'they're organizing' or some other bullshit like that. They could even spin an 'anti-American' angle with Egypt if they wanted.[/hide]

[trappedolphin]

http://www.afrol.com/articles/37144 <– Talks about the protests, chances of success, similarites/differences with the Tunisian protests.

Egypt is not Tunisia, although millions of Egyptians have been inspired by the Tunisian revolution earlier this month. President Hosni Mubarak has much more experience in suppressing revolts and can still count on the support of the armed forces. … Another challenge is the large division in the aims of the protesters, which frightens many of those still not decided. Most protesters are youths calling for lower food prices, better education and work possibilities and for Mr Mubarak to step down. Others want an Islamist revolution and still others want a Western-style democracy.

This is a little worrying. Any thoughts?

[Nobodyman]

@Cuddles:

[hide]@Nobodyman:
Feh.
I'm still waiting for same grade A assbag to talk about how the revolting Muslims are a sign of the apocalypse, because 'they're getting stronger' or 'they're organizing' or some other bullshit like that. They could even spin an 'anti-American' angle with Egypt if they wanted.[/hide]

[hide]Well, I got the e-mail a few days ago and it has nothing to do with the Muslim uprisings. It's just generic whiny Christian crap. I'm fairly sure the person who sent this isn't even aware of the situation in Africa.

Well anyway, stupid or not, this is still my family, so I'm going to stop saying derogatory things behind their backs.[/hide]

[trappedolphin]

Correspondent of Aljazeera in Cairo.

http://www.livestation.com/channels/43

[ChesCa]

@trappedolphin:

http://www.afrol.com/articles/37144 <– Talks about the protests, chances of success, similarites/differences with the Tunisian protests.

This is a little worrying. Any thoughts?

All I can say is that by the sounds of this, not too many chances like this come too often.
It's dangerous and tragic, but I don't think these people can wait too much longer.

[JERK DISEASE]

Christ, we need Kuma or Tigerlilly in here, maybe mugiwara. Someone who knows Arabic.

[trappedolphin]

3:20am Cairo time: Many known activists have just been arrested in the past hour from their homes. #Egypt #Jan25 Plz support #Egyptians

[Chicken]

In case you haven't seen these:

Gallery 1
Gallery 2

[trappedolphin]

Protestors in Egypt have given flowers to the police as a sign of peace.

I'm watching the video of the protests and I can't describe how it feels to see all those people crowding the camera trying to make their voices heard.

[Akumu]

Hidden for those who don't want to see a wall of text!
[hide]
@JERK:

Do you not fucking get the entire concept that we are highly supportive of a repressive regime in the first place?

Do you not get the concept that we need money? And as along as Mubarak isn't killing his people, we're going to continue the agreement with him? No I don't like this one Goddamn bit. But that's how it works.
If things had gone the other way during the Kefaya protests, then we would not be as support of Egypt as we still are. But the truth of the matter is that Mubarak, hasn't done anything to turn the U.S. against him.
This week shit has gone to hell, and he's show what are without a doubt his true colors. But politics are politics. Until he is killing his people, the U.S. will not turn on him, but they won't stand by him either.

Are you so goddamn dense that you don't understand that people didn't really care about "hey this one object was made in the US" so much as what that symbolizes in large?

Hold on to this thought, because you're about to talk about why it's people care it said made in the US…..
And also, Sakon's post read like he cared that it was made in the US. That's why it's "fucking Disgusting"

This is one of the surrogate babies we let suck on our teat for our aims in the region, their military is a giant bubble because we fund them. You know what helped in Tunisia? That the government wasn't being pumped full of boom boom money.

Yes, because the US is alone in doing this. No other country let's anyone suck on their teat for their aims in the region. Nope, it's just the US.

If you believe you live in an electoral democracy, and you fucking do and should be more grateful for it now then most times, you should feel slightly gross and wanting to effect change in your countries policies.

So our funding of Egypt makes you want to change our country's policies? That? Nothing else?
Honestly, no, I don't feel it. I feel anger at Mubarak for devolving into nothing more than a dictator. And I think what he's on the verge of doing to his people is terrible, but I feel no responsibility for it. I don't feel like the US is at fault here, as you seem to.
Don't get me wrong. What's going on is downright terrible, but you seem to be placing way to much blame on the US.

I'm sick of this reactionary knee jerk reaction of when any amount of negative spotlight gets thrown back on the US for some people who would say anything about any other country turning immeditaly to garbage like "IT WOULD BE SOMONE ELSE LOL".

Okay, this makes no sense. Try some proper grammar. Don't you give people shit when their English is bad? For some reason I feel like I should be doing the same to you.
I'm going to try and respond, but if I'm misinterpreting, it's because I can't understand what you're saying.
You're assuming that I would blame another country, but the minute the US receives blame I say that if we didn't do it, someone else would have? That's what I'm getting from this incoherent mess.
If so, then that's absolutely not true. I will be first in line to criticize the US government, when I feel the blame is actually theirs to have. But this is not one of those times. Someone would have been giving Egypt what they needed, doesn't matter if it was us or not. personally, I'm glad it's us, because we can cut them off if we don't like how they're using what we give them. Could we count on another country to do that? No. If Mubarak is going to be getting weapons, I'd rather we be able to control them.

You don't get to care about what X is used for when where X came from is just as important. Military support from other nations is a CENTRAL part of international understanding.
Refusing to pay attention to one to care about the other is a lie.

See above. They'll be coming from somewhere no matter, what, and I'd rather that be us, because then we can cut them off if they start using them against their people. We can't count on everyone else to do that.
For the bolded, see below.

And why do you think we have this photo. Huh? Why?
Why are Egyptians holding up "MADE IN USA" to the camera? Why do you think they're doing that? What do you think our hypocritical position toward Egypt is doing right now? And how dense can you be to think something like that doesn't matter?

"people didn't really care about "hey this one object was made in the US" so much as what that symbolizes in large?"

So, people don't care that it was made in the US, but at the same time it matters. Consistency, please.
I'm going to assume you really think it does matter.
Now, what I would like you to do is explain our "hypocritical position toward Egypt" Because, as far as I know, we currently have NO position towards what Egypt is doing right now. Until there is an official statement from the White House, we have no position. When we made the deal with Egypt, this was not going on, so there was nothing hypocritical at the time. Things are obviously different now, but they have escalated at such a rapid past in these past couple of days. Things went from "okay" to Mubarak sending out the Army to quell protests. And that sort of happened tonight. If the President doesn't speak about this tomorrow, or if a statement is not released, then it's time to start being annoyed.
And, if you think about it, the US has, in a way, warned Egypt to be careful. We "encourage" them to keep things as peaceful as possible. Reading between the lines, we're telling them they better.

Do you know anything about the Iranian revolution? How about the Khmer Rouge? What about the Taliban?

Noooo. I don't know anything about these things. /sarcasm.

Now, my main point to all of this, when I first replied to Sakon's post is that now is not the time to be criticizing our government.
It's fine to criticize, but not right now.

This is about priorities. Right now, Jerk, you should be more worried about the people of Egypt. Be upset with the US all you want, but that's not what is important and this moment. What's important is that Mubarak could be on the verge of causing a massacre. What's important is whether or not the people can hold strong. Where the government got their fucking weapons from is not important right now.
It's like with the shooting in Arizona. There is a time and place to play the blame game, but it wasn't as everything was unfolding, and while Giffords was in critical condition. No one will care if they play it now.

Priorities, Jerk. Get them straight.

*On a side note, I apologize for my rambling and if I got off topic at times. Or completely missed your point. I'm half asleep right now. Also, I do agree with you on most things… The one thing I truly disagree with you on is the U.S. being responsible for this (if this isn't your point, then I'm a lot more out of it than I though >.<)

[/hide]

tl;dr: It's about priorities. Source of weapons don't matter right now. What's going on does. Also, I'm tired.

[Ubiq]

@JERK:

I heard something about Coptic Christians planning to protect all the Muslim protestors while they pray today.

Egyptian Muslims attended candlelight vigils outside of Christmas Mass at Coptic Churches earlier this month as human shields to prevent further bombing by Islamic militants; let's hope that doing the right thing and trying to repay a great act of kindness doesn't go badly for them.

@Article:

President Hosni Mubarak has much more experience in suppressing revolts and can still count on the support of the armed forces. …

Damnit.

[trappedolphin]

Syria:

Syrian Blogger Maurice Aaek found[ar] that state-run media in Syria is publishing false information and half-truths about the protests in Tunisia and Egypt. He found that Tishreen daily left out the reason Ben Ali left leaving it open to interpretation, and that Al-Baath daily stated that the protests in Egypt are demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, completely leaving out the demands that Mubarak must step down.

There's a link to the person's blog in the guy's name, if anyone is able to read it.

Also, Algerians speaking out on Tunisia: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/01/21/algeria-algerians-salute-the-courage-of-the-tunisian-people/

Excerpt:

All Algerians saluted the resistance movement of the Tunisian people who brought down the despot Zine El Abidine Ben Ali [EN] after 23 years of unchallenged rule. In every discussion forum, blogs and Facebook, Algerians can no longer find the words to salute the courage of Tunisians who have revolutionized their country by pushing “their” president to flee the country.

[Silence]

I'm really freaking worried.

Egypt's people are in my thoughts.

[JERK DISEASE]

@Akumu:

Do you not get the concept that we need money?

Wait what?
You have no idea what the context of this support is at all do you. loll

And as along as Mubarak isn't killing his people,

Mubarak is killing his people.

we're going to continue the agreement with him? No I don't like this one Goddamn bit. But that's how it works.

Take that fucking flag out of your avatar if you're going to also don the amazing nihilist realpolitick cape.

If things had gone the other way during the Kefaya protests, then we would not be as support of Egypt as we still are.

Oh yeah we would!
Do you not follow the history of this sort of support? Do you think it arbitrarily ended with the Cold War?

But the truth of the matter is that Mubarak, hasn't done anything to turn the U.S. against him.

This week shit has gone to hell, and he's show what are without a doubt his true colors. But politics are politics. Until he is killing his people, the U.S. will not turn on him, but they won't stand by him either.

My god, the naivete.

1. You think any of this, ANY of this is new news on Mubarak?? Are you for real? You think this is a new side to him?
2. Why do you think "the us has a POLITIC reason" is some magic wand that I both don't already know, or haven't already tossed into the garbage labeled "not good enough".
3. HE IS KILLING HIS PEOPLE. HE HAS KILLED THEM MANY TIMES BEFORE.
4. Funding a regime is standing by it.

Yes, because the US is alone in doing this. No other country let's anyone suck on their teat for their aims in the region. Nope, it's just the US.

You know DAMN well that I don't believe this, you don't have the luxury of me being some vague nobody you're talking to on youtube comments. I'm goddamned Zephos and you've been reading my goddamned threads on all these goddamned issues for a year now. You've read every goddamn inch of any time I've talked about France, Britain, Russia, and even fucking BELGIUM and their meddling shit.

So don't even THINK about transforming into a reactionary idiot like KingLoser and making stupid ass accusations like this that have no other purpose then to paint me as some cartoon of whiny lefty.
Because you're lying to yourself sloppy like, and absolutely everyone here reading this knows it.

I sincerely thought you were above this par.

So our funding of Egypt makes you want to change our country's policies? That? Nothing else?

"Political policy change? That's all?"

Honestly, no, I don't feel it. I feel anger at Mubarak for devolving into nothing more than a dictator.

Will you shut up already?

God if I'm going to argue with neo-fucking Henry Kissinger I want to argue with someone who knows what the hell they're talking about. You don't have any of the knowledge of this situation necessary.

And I think what he's on the verge of doing to his people is terrible, but I feel no responsibility for it. I don't feel like the US is at fault here, as you seem to.

That's because you're an intellectual coward, who visibily dropped into panic mode and started doing things way below his normal threshold of rationality as soon as it was mentioned like…ahahaha... accusing me of somehow only accusing the US of meddle politics.

Don't get me wrong. What's going on is downright terrible, but you seem to be placing way to much blame on the US.

You would have this exact same response for any degree of accusation in damn near any scenario. You're opinion on this is worthless in every sense.

If so, then that's absolutely not true. I will be first in line to criticize the US government, when I feel the blame is actually theirs to have.

And here's where we see the difference between me and you.

I have an extensive extensive history of not doing what you accused me of. Nor have I exhibited symptons of delusion when doing it toward the US.

Now let's take you. I know nothing of how you handle this. And compounded with textbook Kingloser style reactions that went into dangerously fiery levels of cognitive dissonance because you know me, well….let's just say bullshit.

But this is not one of those times. Someone would have been giving Egypt what they needed, doesn't matter if it was us or not.

And that's also the wonderful thing about playing the realpolitik nihilist card.
It's the kind of card you don't bring back into your deck.
Rather it stays in the game and devours literally everything you do.
Because any given scenario you would ever think to participate in can fit with that same narrative, that same witless dullheadedly cynical non-response.

You willing to play that here? Well now you're playing it everywhere.
That or you recant it.

personally, I'm glad it's us, because we can cut them off if we don't like how they're using what we give them. Could we count on another country to do that? No. If Mubarak is going to be getting weapons, I'd rather we be able to control them.

…..what??

Now if you hold this fucking opinion, then you agree with me halfway in that you want us to cut them off. Which means you admit we have some control. That's ceding toward me a great goddamn deal.

And yes there are plenty of countries who would do that, thanks pointless example of American Exceptionalism!

I'm sure such DEMON NESTS as Spain would never in their lives do a thing like cut aid to a brutal regime. Only 'MERICA.

"people didn't really care about "hey this one object was made in the US" so much as what that symbolizes in large?"

So, people don't care that it was made in the US, but at the same time it matters. Consistency, please.

It symbolizes the US relations to a hated regime dumbass.
I'm glad you're so good at playing this connect the dots game, need me to hold your hand over to anymore easy points?

I'm going to assume you really think it does matter.
Now, what I would like you to do is explain our "hypocritical position toward Egypt" Because, as far as I know, we currently have NO position towards what Egypt is doing right now.

pmEcQMwprIo

Until there is an official statement from the White House, we have no position.

You better accept the fucking press secretary.

When we made the deal with Egypt, this was not going on, so there was nothing hypocritical at the time. Things are obviously different now, but they have escalated at such a rapid past in these past couple of days. Things went from "okay" to Mubarak sending out the Army to quell protests. And that sort of happened tonight. If the President doesn't speak about this tomorrow, or if a statement is not released, then it's time to start being annoyed.

Alright, I'm gonna just make any blocks of text you spout showing pure lack of knowledge pink and leave it at that.
I mean I love informing people about shit, but not people in the middle of scrapping with me, so if you see pink? Go fucking read more on the subject.

And, if you think about it, the US has, in a way, warned Egypt to be careful. We "encourage" them to keep things as peaceful as possible. Reading between the lines, we're telling them they better.

Reading between the lines you see limpwristed UN style nothings to keep up appeareances when we really don't give much of a shit as long as Egypt continues being the big mean dog/ally of israel/not a islamist regime etc etc.

Noooo. I don't know anything about these things. /sarcasm.

After your hilarious doe faced "8o my my who would have guessed little Mubarak would be a dictator who kills his people when they ask for not dictatorship! Why I remember when Egypt was a democracy…."
I'm gonna guess noooo indeed.

Now, my main point to all of this, when I

lolll, I thought you were going to address those three example and why they aren't analagous to supporting Mubarak.

So much for that I guess.

Naw. I don't think so. If you respond again make sure to do that.
Thanks! Buh-by.

first replied to Sakon's post is that now is not the time to be criticizing our government.
It's fine to criticize, but not right now.

You mean "not yet"?

This is about priorities. Right now, Jerk, you should be more worried about the people of Egypt.

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize I had limited amounts of worry that needed to be rationed!

What is this bullshit.
I'm starting to think everything I thought about you was in my head and you're really always been two steps from kingloser.

Be upset with the US all you want, but that's not what is important and this moment.

Actually it's very important since it's all I have any degree of power over.

Staring gape eyed and drooling at footage of shit across the world is fine and enculturing but you know what?

That's ALL IT IS.

We're goddamned irrelevant.

Didja just figure that one out? This thread is news, pure news. It's an interest topic to keep people informed. People who have no influence in Egypt.

Nothing about "worrying about Egypt" matters at all because no one in Egypt cares about a bunch of lapsed anime nerds on a fucking chat forum.

So yeah, yeah, keep up the "rational man" cover as you disuade us from discussing our elected officials, the one thing we have slightest of controls over compared to all our useless peephole watching and reading stuff.

What's important is that Mubarak could be on the verge of causing a massacre. What's important is whether or not the people can hold strong. Where the government got their fucking weapons from is not important right now.

lol, you're talking about all of this like we're involved in it.
We aren't.
We have zero impact on any of that. None of are going to be shot or be shooting.
Mubarak doesn't give a fuck about some nerd from Texas reading twitter messages. Neither do the protestors unless you work for Associated Press (you don't).

Now I'm not about to say messaging my district representative and making inquiries will change the world. Probably not.

But it's 100% more in line with your own goddamned "WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT THIS NOW" excuse. So either drop this umpteenth stupid somkescreen non-arguement or don't piss me off about it.

It's like with the shooting in Arizona. There is a time and place to play the blame game, but it wasn't as everything was unfolding, and while Giffords was in critical condition. No one will care if they play it now.

How is now going to be different from tomorrow exactly? Oh and this absolutely nothing fucking like the Arizona shooting or the blame game after that in any way shape or form.

Now if you want to continue this, do it on the Safari thread (you know the one where I've called out various nations that aren't the US on meddling) and leave this one clean for news updates and discussion that isn't STOP BLAME ME CUNTRY.

[Chrissie]

Thanks for the great thread Zephos.

@Chicken:

In case you haven't seen these:

Gallery 1
Gallery 2

Thank you Chicken. These are… whoah. Some just made tear up.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201101280177.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Come on. Specifically targeting and arresting reporters? What the heck is going on in Mubarak's little head?!

For anyone with a Twitter, this channel is supposed to be streaming radio news from Egypt into the Internet or something http://twitter.com/telecomix
Maybe it's time I get a Twitter too. o.0

Also I just read some oldish articles about how Mubarak's health wasn't as stable as they presented it a few months ago. Maybe Zephos will get his wish and he'll have a heart-attack from all the excitement. Wth dude. You know you are going to probably die in the next few years and instead of taking a LONG-OVERDUE retirement and kick back and enjoy the wealth you made off of your people's backs, you try to hold on to your position with teeth and claws? That is just stupid.

[JERK DISEASE]

There's more of a chance of a change of dictators then anything here.

[trappedolphin]

CNN article on the US and Mubarak. I'm not too interested in the politics myself, but the page has an interesting video on the protests, with informal translated interviews with Egyptians. I think one guy was holding one of the rubber bullets that the police had been shooting at protestors.

[JERK DISEASE]

There is absolutely nothing smart about supporting a hated dictator for his alliance against an enemy of yours.
Because you raise the risk of his people siding with that same enemy, or certainly a force not friendly with you.

That's EXACTLY what CREATED this same Iran we're allying Mubarak over partially.

We're lucky if the people of Egypt or whoever comes out on top will be at all US friendly. And oh look suddenly the most populated Arab state is another regional boogieman radicalized into making nuke programs and this and that and all that jazz.

DONT MEDDLE.

[MagneticMonkey]

The access to the internet has been partially blocked. I love how the government thinks it can control everything.

[trappedolphin]

Two leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood-Issam Al-Aryan and Muhamed Mursi-arrested within last half hour. Crackdown #Jan25 #Egypt

CNN's reporter on the ground. RT @bencnn Cairo streets full of trucks with riot police. Tensions EXTREMELY (high) #egypt #jan25

mobinil now completely shut down, no phone calls possible #Jan25 #Egypt

Live by-the-minute updates on the protests from The Guardian here.

[Chrissie]

There was a little update on the Internet's state http://bgpmon.net/blog/?p=450

88% of it has been blocked according to these guys' stats. From yesterday's 2903 Egyptian networks, today only 327 are still reachable.

[Squaztina]

I feel so sorry for the Egyptians, I really keep my fingers crossed for the best outturn of events for them. And for the rest of the countries too who are currently living through this.

[Mugiwara_no_Ice]

I'm all teary eyed right now! Beautiful thread. Zephos summarizes very well who's hated and what the possibilties can be in the Arab countries right now.

I am holding my heart for what's gonna happen today. I can't describe my frustration and fear. I hope it all goes well.

I heard Al Baradei, the ex-chief of the IAEA and peace Nobel prize winner, returned to Egypt yesterday. He seems like a sincere politician who'll be able to help in a transition period.

As for the USA involvement. I heard this about Tunisia: The day before Ben Ali fled, the general of the army went to the American ambassador asking if they'll get involved in Tunisia. The ambassador said that America wouldn't do anything. So the general told Ben Ali that he wouldn't follow orders in shooting (killing) the people. He was put under house arrest and replaced by another miltary official who didn't want to follow orders too. and the rest is history.

So yeah "backing up" a regime or not is crucial for the people.

[trappedolphin]

Currently, we're being told that large numbers of plainsclothes police officers and security officers are going through the streets covering parked cars with gasoline. The activists expect that the govt plans to light all the cars on fire, claim that the protesters were burning everything, and use that as a pretext to use severe violence to repress the protests, and eliminating all means for the people to relay the truth out of the country.They are being told by sources within the regime that very large groups of govt-organized thugs, calling themselves "ikhwan al-Haq" [a group never heard of, roughly translated as "brotherhood of truth"], are going to be in the streets with knives, swords, etc…, attacking and killing protesters in the streets tomorrow [Friday]; they don't know whether this may be deliberately and falsely leaked to discourage demonstrators; but they do see evidence that these groups are being organized. they may also claim that these violent groups are the demonstrators as a pretext to use violence on the real demonstrators.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/28/egypt-protests-live-updates

EDIT: Friday prayers have begun.

[IrishLuigi]

Dunno how the saying goes, but It's something like; "When the government kills its people, they've already lost."

[trappedolphin]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/28/egypt-protests-live-updates

You can hear reports from people live on the scene.

Within seconds of Friday prayers finishing teargas, water cannons, and "sound bombs" were used against protesters, Jack Shenker reports from Cairo. He says the city is like a "war zone".

Twitter: Al Jazeera reporter in Alexandria is being tear gassed live on air; security forces shot tear gas moment mosques emptied #Egypt #Jan25

[Chrissie]

http://twitter.com/wikileaks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jan/28/wikileaks-latest-developments

Dayumn wikileaks! O_O

[tarrin4ever]

"Al Jazeera is now reporting that dissident Mohamed ElBaradei has been detained by the police." Guardian.co.uk update.

Well… that doesn't sound good.

[Chrissie]

Whoah. That was not something I expected. =/

[trappedolphin]

11.53am: An Al Jazeera reporter has been beaten up by plain clothes police officers on the 6 October bridge in Cairo, across which people have been fleeing as officers fired teargas at them (The Guardian)

(tweets)

Now people at the scene are saying ElBaradei has not been arrested but prevented from going anywhere.

Either way it seems that ElBaradei's freedom is being limited one way or the other

AlJazeera: 4 french reporters arrested/detained #Jan25

[tarrin4ever]

Maybe they're waiting to bring him to the presidential office, maybe have a little chat with the prez. "These people are pissed … we fucked up ... you want this country? Please go ahead and take it, I don't want it anymore."

Hooray for Egypt!!

.... Yay?

[trappedolphin]

we reached "presdential" palace in cairo. yalla egypt. go go go go #egypt #jan25

go go go

http://twitter.com/Jan25voices <– tweeting phone conversations with Egyptians real-time.

EDIT:

The protests have spread to Jordan, the Associated Press reports:Thousands of Jordanian opposition supporters have taken the streets in the country's capital demanding the prime minister step down and venting their anger at rising prices, inflation and unemployment. About 3,500 opposition activists from the main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations have gathered in Amman. The crowd is denouncing Prime Minister Samir Rifai's unpopular policies. Many are shouting: "Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians." Another 2,000 protesters in cities of Irbid and Karak have made similar calls. Friday's rallies mark the third consecutive day of protests in Jordan inspired by Tunisia and Egypt's unrest that has demanding the governments' downfall. King Abdullah II has promised some reforms.

[Nami]

Gosh, what I hate even more than what's going on in Egypt now, then it is ignorant fuckin fools who don't fuckin care about the world.

I went to a german IRC channel and spread the word about Egypt and all I get is this:

_"lol, sorry, if the egypt government is like north korean. but as I know, it's not my problem"

"Who cares for the internet in egypt?lol"

"even if we were interested, what should we do about it?"_

ignorant. fuckin. damn. fools.

GO GO EGYPT!

[Jejune]

This is incredible…

[Chrissie]

OMG Now Jordan too?? This is friggin' awesome! :w00t:

[trappedolphin]

Breaking BBC Arabic: Protesters have stormed ruling NDP party headquarters in Ismailiya & destroyed contents. #Jan25

YESSSSSSSSSSSS.

[tarrin4ever]

Bloody dominos!

Here's hoping they'll get good reforms out of this chain reaction, a bit more Tunisia/Sudan and less backdrop for a woman's autobiographical graphic novel.

[Hiroy]

No turning back now. Glad I work up early to check the status of this,

[Tsukishima]

4 French journalists were arrested today in Cairo, we still ignore the circumstances. I do hope they are OK.

[Gekko135]

Damn. Loving me this thread right now.

When I get some time I wanna read the OP in more detail. I really appreciate the effort people are putting into making this as informative as possible.

[Cyan D. Funk]

Now Jordan?

Rockin' round the Arabs.

[trappedolphin]

AlArabiya: Some police refuse to follow instructions to disperse crowds,some take off their official uniforms & joined the demos,unconfirmed

YES YES YES PLEASE BE TRUE

[Chrissie]

Damn, if that's true… FUCK YES.