Egypt In a Nutshell: Muslim Brotherhood Are Terrorists, Opponents To Peace

Suspects are rounded up near a burnt annex building
at the Rabaa Adawiya mosque in Cairo on Aug. 15.  Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

                                                                             

From Denny:  Violence erupts in Egypt.  The knee jerk reaction is the Pentagon howls about what they might be in jeopardy of losing.  The Pentagon never does get their priorities right.  So, President Obama hurriedly does the Pentagon's bidding and rushes out onto the international stage to make their case before he fully understands Egypt.

The State Department is collectively wringing their hands that Egypt might become another Syria with years of civil war on the horizon.  And the rest of the world is shaking their head at the inept policies coming out of the American government that seems to be rudderless in addition to clueless.

Here are the principle players in this international drama:  the Muslim Brotherhood, the people of Egypt who want a secular government and peace with their neighbors, the Pentagon and Big Business defense contractors.

Here is Egypt's current situation in a nutshell summary:

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GOP Plans To Axe Food Stamps For Over 150 Million Americans

Federal food stamps card that is used to purchase food. (Getty)

From Denny:  Over 46 million households in America depend upon the food stamp benefits program to put enough food on the table to feed their families.

If each household is a family of four then you are looking at maybe as many as 184 million Americans.  That is over half to two-thirds of America in need of help to eat each day.  No one said it meant three meals a day either.

It does not seem to matter to the GOP and Congress that these same Americans have contributed as taxpayers to support these programs.  Now, the unthinkable for the majority of them is to draw food stamps benefits.  They have no choice; the economy is that bad.

Many active duty military to retirees use $100 million in food stamps benefits.  Are the Republicans just out of control crazy to do this to them and the rest of America?  What is wrong with these people?

The Republicans are revealing their latest devious attempts to severely limit or slash social programs for those in deep need.  Talk about nasty.  This time they are hiding food stamp benefits cuts in a 1,000 page "farm bill."  Get this; of the four out of five dollars in this "farm bill," $80 billion a year goes to grocery bills for one of every seven Americans taking food stamps.

Supposedly what has spurred these idiot lawmakers to slap America with this outrageous bill is because of the rise in food stamps participants.  In 2007 there were 26 million Americans on benefits.  By 2011 there were 44 million on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Military were redeeming $31 million in food stamps back in 2008.  By 2011 that figure grew to $101 million.  Obviously, there is a need and it's growing at a rapid pace.

Republicans mistakenly believe there must be fraud or abuse involved as the explanation for the dramatic increase.  What drugs are these guys on?  Don't they know there is an economic world depression going on and getting worse every quarter?



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Egypt: Obama Blunders With $65 Million In Unwanted Democracy Grants

15 July 2011 - Tahrir Square protests, Photo by Kahlil Hamr/AP

From Denny: President Obama campaigned on how things would change in Washington. Well, he lied. Not much has changed, at least for the better.

The New Egypt

Fast forward to The Egypt Revolution and their transitional government getting its feet wet trying to create a new Egypt. 

What does Obama do? He tries to do what America has always done: patronizingly decide what is good for someone else because we want to give it to you. Of course, foreign country gifts always come with a price tag, now don't they?

Jon Stewart Interviews Egypt Revolution Activist Gigi Ibrahim

From Denny: Stewart dishes out the political satire in a semi-serious interview aimed at exposing how for decades American policy has had little to do with the reality of every day Egyptians.

What is so funny about the experience of this young woman is how she became involved in the Egypt Revolution this past January in Tahrir Square.  She went to a class, "The Social Mobilization Under Authoritarian Regime," at the American University in Cairo.

It was there she learned from a prominent Middle Eastern blogger about the opposition movement that had been ongoing in her own country.  The opposition movement was so underground few people knew how to contact them.  She learned their history and what was happening recently and how to join the protests.


Gigi is also promoting a book called "Tweets From Tahrir" that documents the Twitter activity from the Egyptian protesters during their uprising.

She is quite engaging.  Take a look:



Monday April 25, 2011
Daily Show: Gigi Ibrahim
Gigi Ibrahim helped Egypt rise up against Hosni Mubarak after taking a class at the American University in Cairo.

The Daily Show - Gigi Ibrahim
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Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 13 Feb 2011

From Denny: What an exciting week it has been with the 18 Day Egypt Revolution, following the twists and turns of real life drama. I'm proud to say I wrote many posts to cover it. The most time consuming was to wade through various English written Egyptian blogs to find out what was going on, what they thought was happening in their own country.

Remember the state controlled the news. You think it's bad in America, try living under martial rule with news black-outs and propaganda. OK, the Republicans do so love to spread their political gospel but at least most Americans know it's all lies. Comics make jest of what the GOP churns out of their "war rooms."

I've started yet another silly blog for interesting people, whatever I find as I find it: Dennys People Watching. Originally, I thought it might be interesting to cover world leaders but then Lady Gaga just had to get some face time. She is my most favorite outrageous person. If she's this cheeky at age 24, can you imagine her at age 50? Sure hope she doesn't burn herself out and become a conservative in her old age.

I also waded through a tremendous number of political cartoons about the Egypt Revolution which, naturally, have proven to be a big hit with the Middle Eastern countries.  I even started posting the Egypt news on The Social Poets rather than Dennys Global Politics because I was concerned anyone from the Middle East or Egypt might be in danger for visiting what the state might perceive as a  mainstream American media site  After all, who would think a poetess would be a political subversive? OK, bring on the political clowns... :)

American Political Cartoons - 12 Feb 2011

Outgoing Prez Bush with Incoming Prez Obama Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  What a whirlwind week with the peaceful people's Egypt Revolution finally winning and ousting Mubarak! America was on the periphery. President Obama was clueless as to what to do, constantly changing his position from day to day. Republican think tanks were apoplectic, frothing at the mouth trying to force Obama to their strong man line of leadership, how he was supposed to be in control of Egypt and Mubarak.  Israel, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries were frantically calling Obama to come out and declare this or that, in other words, lead the situation.

This Egypt Revolution was of the people and no one else for a pleasant change. This was one time my father's precious damned CIA, the Pentagon and the White House were not working feverishly in sync to destabilize and topple a foreign government just to place their favorite puppet in power. When American politicians, military and intelligence finally get their egos out of The Big Picture this world will be a better place. Why does it always have to be about what's good for America? Don't they understand that what is good for that particular country ends up being good for everyone in the end?

Breaking News: Egypt Jubilant, This Blogger Called It Right: Mubarak Leaves

Image by robertxcadena via Flickr

From Denny:  This blogger gets to tell the mainstream media, "You were wrong!" They were claiming Mubarak would not leave. This blogger told them Mubarak was just doing his military leader version of The Long Goodbye. "I told you so!" never felt so good because now the Egyptian people have a real chance at democracy and truly free and fair elections of their own choosing.

It will be exciting to watch it unfold over the months ahead.  Do not underestimate the Egyptian people.  They will not allow a fundamentalist Islamic regime to grab power.  They are fed up with being held down, oppressed, and treated like starving dogs.

Right now the status is that Mubarak left Cairo last night after giving his unwelcome speech as the crowds swelled to millions in the Tahrir Square. The mainstream media were churning out stories of how Mubarak was still in power but with much less power since he transferred much of it to the new Vice President Omar Suleiman.

Breaking News: Mubarak Angers Protesters As Saves Face, Justifies Rule, Long Goodbye

Image by robertxcadena via Flickr

From Denny: Mubarak seriously ticked off the thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo as they just heard him speak to the nation. He did not quickly capitulate to their demands to leave immediately.

Mubarak tried the argument of how the economy and "the little people" will suffer if they don't quit with the protests and come back to his style of law and order.  He attempted to sway any Egyptians sitting on the fence who have yet to side with the protesters.

Mubarak pointedly told "outside powers" that he will not give in to their demands. There must be more foreign countries calling than we know, pressuring him to leave. Interesting. Saudi Arabia is just as obnoxious. They threatened President Obama they will prop up Mubarak if Obama comes out in favor of the protesters. Like that would work at this juncture.

Egypt: Tahrir Square Excitement Builds, Protesters Await Confirmation Mubarak Leaving

From Denny: Just two hours ago we received word here in America that Mubarak is truly stepping down, yielding power to his newly created Vice President. The Army is expected to assist in the transition to a new civilian government. The protesters are gathered by the thousands in Tahrir Square in Cairo to await Mubarak's "See ya!" speech.

This Mubarek departure has been confirmed by CIA Director Leon Panetta. President Obama spoke about an hour ago in Michigan, declaring America will assist the peaceful transition to a new democracy for Egypt in any way it is asked.

Breaking News: Egypt Protesters Win, Mubarak Stepping Down!

From Denny:  The crowds in Tahrir Square are electrified. Mubarak is about to speak to the crowd. It is expected he is to announce he will step down immediately, yielding power to his newly created Vice President, that according to CIA Director Leon Panetta too.

Arrangements have been made with the Egyptian Army to temporarily take over to oversee the transition to a newly elected democratic government. Most expect this to be a peaceful transition. This is not a military coup but rather an agreement between the Army and Mubarak. There are others in the West that dread the Muslim Brotherhood and wonder if that organization will try to take control in the euphoria of the moment among the protesters.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is threatening President Obama. Basically, they are taking America hostage economically by doing so. Saudi Arabia says they will prop up Mubarak if Obama demands Mubarak to go in a public way, humiliating him. And these dictatorship style governments in the Middle East wonder why their peoples want to get rid of them? It's all about their egos and "saving face" instead of what is good for the whole country and the benefit of the people.

Congratulations go to the Egyptian protesters who have risked their lives and their freedom to create their democracy.

31 More Egypt Revolution Cartoons

Cartoonists churn out new opinions at as fast a rate as the situation changes in Egypt during the protests.

From Denny: The fast pace of revolution is, well, why they call it a "revolution"! Events unfolding in Egypt are astounding to witness. The first few days of the week the protests were primarily peaceful with the exception of a few idiot looters.

In the early days the protesters called for Mubarek to step down immediately. Mubarek said "No!" but did dissolve his cabinet and created the first Vice President, a man of his own choosing, of course. The protesters were not well impressed and demanded Mubarek and his whole government leave. Mubarek was tired of his idea of concessions to the voice of his people.

Mubarek drew back the hated corrupt police force as a way to teach the people how much they needed him. That backfired. That act of depraved indifference for his people did not deter the protesters. Instead, they organized themselves in every neighborhood and created their own security task forces to guard themselves and their property.

Did I mention Mubarek also let loose thousands of violent prisoners, emptying them into the streets to terrorize the populace into submission? Then Mubarek closed down the internet and cell phone service which he later restored in a couple of days. He probably found out he couldn't run his own affairs without it.

Yesterday the protests turned violent with the odd addition of thugs on horses and camels riding into the protesters, swinging clubs and battering anyone they could. They especially went after foreign news crews with cameras to prevent the news from getting out of the country.