from DemocracyNow.org
February 02, 2011
Live From Egypt: The True Face of the Mubarak Regime by Sharif Abdel Kouddous
Cairo, Egypt—The Mubarak regime launched a brutal and coordinated campaign of violence today to take back the streets of Cairo from Egypt’s mass pro-democracy movement.
Pro-Mubarak mobs began gathering near Tahrir square shortly after Mubarak’s speech on Tuesday night and held a rally in front of the state TV building on Corniche El Nile St. In the morning, they began marching around the downtown area in packs of 50 to 100.
These were not the same kinds of protesters that have occupied Tahrir for the last few days. These crowds were made up mostly of men, in between 20 and 45 years old. Many wore thick leather jackets with sweaters underneath. They chanted angrily in support of Mubarak and against the pro-democracy movement. They were hostile and intimidating.
They repeatedly cursed Al Jazeera, asking cameramen at the scene if they worked for the Arabic news network. One man drew his finger across his throat to signal his intentions.
By midday their numbers had swelled dramatically and they began pouring into the downtown area heading straight for Tahrir Square. The army, which had encircled Tahrir since Saturday, simply let them in. The pro-democracy protesters inside formed a human chain inside to try and hold the mob at bay. Utilizing their greater numbers, they initially succeeded in pushing them back non-violently and appeared to have them in full retreat. But then, the mob attacked.
"Suddenly, rocks started falling out of the sky," said Ismail Naguib, a witness at the scene. "Rocks were flying everywhere. Everywhere." Many people were hit. Some were badly cut, others had arms and legs broken. The mob then charged in, some riding on horseback and camels trampling and beating people. Groups of them gathered on rooftops around Tahrir and continued to pelt people with rocks.
"It’s a massacre," said Selma al-Tarzi as the attack was ongoing. "They have knives, they are throwing molotov bombs, they are burning the trees, they are throwing stones at us...this is not a demonstration anymore this is war."
Some of the attackers were caught. Their IDs showed them to be policemen dressed in civilians clothes. Others appeared to be state sponsored 'baltagiya' and government employees. "Instead of uniformed guys trying to stop you from protesting. You’ve got non-uniformed guys trying to stop you from protesting," Naguib said.
Meanwhile, pro-Mubarak crowds blocked all the entrances to Tahrir. They chanted angrily and pushed people back trying to get in. The army was complicit in the siege, preventing anyone, including journalists from entering. The attack inside continued for several hours. At least 600 were injured and one killed.
Egypt’s popular uprising had come under a heavy and brutal assault nine days after it began. This was the true face of the U.S.-backed Mubarak regime that had repressed the Egyptian people for so many years. But this time, the whole world was watching.
While many pro-democracy demonstrators left Tahrir for the safety of their homes, a significant number remain inside, vowing not to leave until Mubarak does. It remains to be seen how the protesters will respond but Friday will undoubtedly be a decisive day.
Sharif Abdel Kouddous is a senior producer for the radio/TV show Democracy Now.
Follow him on Twitter at @sharifkouddous.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/protesters-run-mubarak-thugs-tahrir/
Protesters run Mubarak thugs out of Tahrir Square: reports
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 -- 10:32 pm
Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square ran pro-Mubarak counter-protesters out of the area in the early morning hours of Thursday, eyewitnesses reported.
It was a surprising show of force by pro-reform demonstrators who spent the day under siege from pro-Mubarak crowds who physically assaulted protesters and, according to many reporters, deliberately targeted the media in an attempt to stop news reports out of Egypt.
After a day of chaos in Cairo's streets that saw three protesters killed and hundreds injured, pro-Mubarak protesters who had seized control of a bridge and used it to launch Molotov cocktails found themselves chased away from the area, prompting NBC's Richard Engel to declare that the anti-Mubarak protesters had "won" the standoff.
Shortly after the pro-Mubarak crowd fled, tanks were seen moving into the area and firing into the air. (Follow the latest developments at the al-Jazeera blog.)
An al-Jazeera producer on location in Tahrir Square described the scene:
NBC's Engel also reported that pro-Mubarak protesters were "hunting down reporters," a claim repeated by numerous foreign correspondents reporting from Cairo.
"The Egyptian government is employing a strategy of eliminating witnesses to their actions," Mohamed Abdel Dayem of the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement. “The government has resorted to blanket censorship, intimidation, and today a series of deliberate attacks on journalists carried out by pro-government mobs.”
Among the many incidents Wednesday, CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper and his crew came under attack from pro-Mubarak forces; a car carrying ABC's Christiane Amanpour came under siege from protesters chanting anti-American slogans; and a Canadian cameraman was severely beaten.
Those mobs, according to some reports, were hired thugs ordered to attack protesters, or possible plainclothes police officers, a claim made by numerous reporters over the course of the day.
"Pro-Mubarak mobs arrived in buses, armed with machetes, straight-razors and clubs, very menacing," tweeted Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times.
"It is absurd to think of this as simply 'clashes' between two rival groups," Kristof wrote. "The pro-democracy protesters are unarmed and have been peaceful at every step. But the pro-Mubarak thugs are arriving in buses and are armed — and they’re using their weapons."
In Washington, the Obama administration's slow shift away from support of Mubarak continued, with a debate breaking out over the $1.5 billion in annual aid the US sends to the Egyptian government.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made it clear the Obama administration wasn't dead set on continuing the aid, which is granted in exchange for Egypt's recognition of an Israeli state.
"The money isn't guaranteed, and is constantly under review," Gibbs said, as quoted at al-Jazeera.
President Obama on Tuesday said the transition to a new government in Egypt "must begin now."
Gibbs on Wednesday held that line. "Now means yesterday," he said.
I fear that our own government forces and/or Israeli forces are actively at work corrupting this situation. These guys attacking the mainstream media feels like a false flag type operation - just still not sure what it's purpose is other than there must be a hidden agenda to take out Mubarak at this time. I hope that the Egyptian people can sort through who they can trust to bring about an honest government run by the Egyptian people.
Wendy
I find it interesting that as soon as America's man is forced out America will stop the money.....but then I bet it has never gone to the people of Egypt anyway....
This scenario does smack of the same type of tactic we saw at the town hall meetings during the 2008 US presidential campaign where planted "civilians" were pawned off as actual angry citizens. It appears that greater discernment is now necessary to separate legitimate news from "false flag" operations and propaganda.
I feel like I'm living in a virtual reality.
...and I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people turn in circles its a very, very
mad world.
Mad World by Gary Jules
If this story goes cold, it's because journalists are now unable to report what's happening:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/02/04/exp.watson.media.crackdown.cnn?iref=allsearch
CNN's Anderson Cooper punched in the head while filming: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/anderson-cooper-attacked-punched-egypt_n_817352.html
The money we sent to Egypt was used to purchase nignt sticks, riot gear and tear gas from American weapons manufacturers for use against Egyptians. The money sent to Israel was used to purchase offensive weapons (helicopters, jets, armored Catapillars for destroying Palastinian homes, and napalpm and cluster bombs which become land mines). This is from reports on KPFA including DemocracyNow.org, which by the way has some of the most moving live reportage from the demonstrations and counter-demonstrations in Egypt (and it is archived on line.).
May the demonstrators get what they are demanding and may Mubarak's thugs have their hearts quickened and openned and may they awaken, now or soon!
Webster Tarpley offers what I believe is a very well informed opinion.
http://tarpley.net/world-crisis-radio/
Wendy
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/223268-Interesting-Anomaly-at-Egyptian-Protests-Green-Horseman-or-Reflection-From-Flames-
Wendy