I have heard the same reports and if the reports are true this has more to do than with apologizing to Anderson Cooper. Since why would the army actually take on pro-Mubarak protesters if they just wanted to apologize to Anderson Cooper? If the army is actually dispersing, and I say if because of how fluid the situation is, I think the end is near for Mubarak. This isn't Tiananmen where the army came in and crushed anti-government protesters. This isn't Iran where the army stood aside and let pro-government thugs beat people with impunity. If the army is going to take role in quelling pro-government thugs and provided those thugs aren't as well armed as the army then Mubarak is done. Here is some footage of the attack on Anderson Cooper starting at 1:11 Spoiler <object width="512" height="288"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/JXqa_MpxBX3YiRfFeq3Qvg"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/JXqa_MpxBX3YiRfFeq3Qvg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="288" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>
Egyptian Christians protecting Egyptian Muslims as they pray. It's beautiful. Related: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2170560 Pretty inspiring.
Oh noes! Christianist religious nuts are joining Islamist religious nuts to undermine our freedoms! Oh noes! Save us, Mubarak!
I was kidding -- sorry. But I have a cynical view of what's happening to media. 1. Have goons attack foreign media. 2. Military "protects" foreign media, conveniently removes them to "a safe place." How coordinated and what a nice (for Mubarak) outcome.
Err... the people who attacked the media were pro-Mubarak and the media has frequently reported that it's rumored they were hired/coordinated by Mubarak. The military, on the other hand, generally supports anti-Mubarak protesters. I actually think this is having a worse outcome on Mubarak if anything.
Err... Neither of us understand Egypt very deeply. BBC reports that the armed forces are deeply divided and uncomfortable. They like and support the people, but feel they answer to the current regime at this time. Thanks, by the way, for the inspiring photos in previous posts!
Why on earth do we stamp military weapons with "Made in the USA?" - whether it be stuff we use or that we sell to other people to use? What possible benefit could that have for the US?
Most of my knowledge is coming from first-hand accounts of the protests (either on reddit, twitter, etc.). Maybe they're fake, but I really doubt it. I trust these folks more than BBC or other media organizations.
Okay, your preferences aside, I think that fits with "neither of us know" much about Egypt right now. God knows I would hate for someone in Egypt to judge what's happening in an American protest based on Twitter posts, but that's just me. What we do know is Mubarak would like foreign media out of this, and the military is removing media members. Naively, it seems to me the military could crack down on the thugs to the extent that the media members would be safe and could do their jobs, but maybe it's just getting too chaotic, and maybe the confluence of Mubarak's wishes and military action is a sad coincidence.
HuffPo put up this in their updates: Today 9:42 AM Blogger Arrested Reports have come in that popular blogger Sandmonkey has been arrested in Egypt. It is also reporting that his site has been hacked (it is now "suspended"). Seven hours ago, he tweeted: @ Sandmonkey : Either way, I am heading there with medical supplies. They better not block my entrance. #jan25 The Guardian reported earlier that he had been detained. The latest (unconfirmed) reports are that he has eluded his captors: @ Jan25voices : AlJaz Eng: Reporting from a 'friend' of @sandmonkey that he has 'escaped' custody and is 'on the run'. #Egypt His last post can be read here from a Google cache. In it he writes: I don't know how to start writing this. I have been battling fatigue for not sleeping properly for the past 10 days, moving from one's friend house to another friend's house, almost never spending a night in my home, facing a very well funded and well organized ruthless regime that views me as nothing but an annoying bug that its time to squash will come. The situation here is bleak to say the least. It didn't start out that way. On Tuesday Jan 25 it all started peacefully, and against all odds, we succeeded to gather hundreds of thousands and get them into Tahrir Square, despite being attacked by Anti-Riot Police who are using sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets against us. We managed to break all of their barricades and situated ourselves in Tahrir. The government responded by shutting down all cell communication in Tahrir square, a move which purpose was understood later when after midnight they went in with all of their might and attacked the protesters and evacuated the Square. The next day we were back at it again, and the day after. Then came Friday and we braved their communication blackout, their thugs, their tear gas and their bullets and we retook the square. We have been fighting to keep it ever since. --------------- Anyone else with any good primary blogs/twitter accounts they're watching? With the journalists being rounded up by the gov't, these are the sources we'll have to end up turning to.
I've mainly been reading The Lede, he's aggregating various sources, mainly other journalists but also some protesters.
You know, if Israel would come in and help the Egyptians in overthrowing Marabak, then I think the Palestine-Israeli fight will be over. Wishful thinking though.
