Unrest Continues in Egypt

image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Stephen Lendman
Activist Post

Washington’s dirty hands are involved. Controlling what’s ongoing continues. Doing so reflects iron fist imperialism. A White House statement claims otherwise. It’s typical US-style disinformation. In full it states:

Readout of the President’s Meeting with the National Security Council Regarding the Situation in Egypt 

President Obama convened a secure conference call with the National Security Council today to review the very fluid situation in Egypt. 

The President condemned the ongoing violence across Egypt and expressed concern over the continued political polarization. 

He reiterated that the United States is not aligned with, and does not support, any particular Egyptian political party or group. 

In line with that position, the United States categorically rejects the false claims propagated by some in Egypt that we are working with specific political parties or movements to dictate how Egypt’s transition should proceed. 

We remain committed to the Egyptian people and their aspirations for democracy, economy opportunity, and dignity. But the future path of Egypt can only be determined by the Egyptian people. 

During this transitional period, we call on all Egyptians to come together in an inclusive process that allows for the participation of all groups and political parties. 

Throughout that process, the United States will continue to engage the Egyptian people in a spirit of partnership, consistent with our longstanding friendship and shared interests – including our interest in a transition to sustainable democracy. 

We urge all Egyptian leaders to condemn the use of force and to prevent further violence among their supporters, just as we urge all those demonstrating to do so peacefully. 

As Egyptians look forward, we call on all sides to bridge Egypt’s divisions, reject reprisals, and join together to restore stability and Egypt’s democracy.

Fact check

America deplores democracy. It tolerates none at home or abroad. A coup is a coup is a coup. It’s illegitimate, brutal and disruptive.

Violence and instability serve US interests. Peace and stability defeat them.

So do the “aspirations” of the Egyptian people “for democracy, economy opportunity, and dignity.”

Washington systematically denies them. Don’t expect Obama to explain. Straight talk’s not his style. Lies, damn lies, and ObamaSpeak substitute. He’s a con man. He reflects the worst of rogue leadership. Humanity’s threatened on his watch.

During Egypt’s coup, John Kerry was AWOL. The Washington Post, CBS, and other news reports said he was on his yacht in Nantucket. A CBS producer photographed him there.

The Boston Herald tracked his whereabouts. On July 4, it photographed him walking down Nantucket’s Federal Street. It took pictures of him aboard his yacht.

During blood on Egypt’s streets, he was enjoying the holiday weekend. He was relaxing. Affairs of state could wait.

America’s Senate is a millionaires club. Kerry’s its richest member. Including his wife’s wealth, their net worth exceeds $1 billion. She’s heir to the Heinz fortune. They own five homes. They’re all valued well over $1 million.

On Friday, State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki called reports about him on his yacht “completely inaccurate.” Evidence to the contrary forced a retraction.

While he was “briefly” on board “Wednesday,” Psaki said, he “worked around the clock all day, including participating in the president’s meeting with his National Security Council and calls with Norwegian Foreign Minister Eade, Qatari Foreign Minister al-Attiyah, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu, Egyptian Constitution Party President ElBaradei and five calls to Ambassador Patterson on that day alone.”

One lie makes follow-up comments suspect. On Wednesday afternoon, a White House situation room national security meeting photo excluded Kerry. He was elsewhere. He was nowhere in sight.

Conditions in Egypt remain fluid. They’re unsettled. They’re unsafe. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) took control of state media. It shut down three Islamist-run TV stations.

It raided Al Jazeera’s offices. Five staff members were detained. Four were later released. Controlling the message is prioritized. Televising pro-Morsi rallies is prohibited.

Muslim Brotherhood Egypt25 channel was targeted. Its managers were arrested. Junta power usurped full control. On Saturday, Mohamed ElBaradei was named interim prime minister. State television announced it.

On Sunday, it reported otherwise. Political transition hit a speed bump. Egypt’s Salafist Nour party rejected ElBaradei’s appointment. It’s against interim president Adly Mansour’s decree.

On Friday, he dissolved Egypt’s upper house Shura Council. He sacked Morsi’s intelligence chief Mohammed Raafat Shehata. Mohammed Ahmed Farid al-Tohami replaced him.

On Saturday, the Nour party said “the activities and stances of our party, which was against pro-Mursi demonstrations and called for early presidential elections, were aimed at sparing Egyptians from bloodshed and preserving national unity.”

But in the follow-up of what was happening on the ground in the past two days, we totally reject many things taking place in Egypt now.

Following Morsi’s ouster, SCAF arrested Salafist presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail. He’s imprisoned. Reports interim political transition completion depends on resolving Nour party’s concerns.

According to Infowars Kurt Nimmo, Morsi’s ouster “set the stage for the (Nour party’s) ascension.” It’s “an Islamic sect more radical than the Muslim Brotherhood.”

It’s “ultraconservative.” Islamic Heritage Research Foundation executive director Irfan Al-Alawi said it “embodies Wahhabism, the fanatical interpretation of Islam that is the sole official religious doctrine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The media have tiptoed around the authentic character of the Nour Party, with leading sources noting only that the Nour Party’s program is derived from or influenced by Saudi Wahhabism. 

But the Nour Party reproduces Wahhabism – the ideology that inspired Osama Bin Laden – in its entirety.”

It follows strict Sharia law. “It is fanatically and murderously opposed to Shia Muslims and Christians.”

It’s comfortable with Western-style business dealings. In April, its representatives met with an IMF delegation.

On Saturday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined “Scores injured in fresh wave of clashes in Egypt,” saying:

Incidents occurred in al-Bahira province. Others erupted “near al-Tawba Mosque in Damanhour city.” Locals clashed with Muslim Brotherhood members.

Alexandria had the most deadly violence. Fourteen deaths and 263 injuries were reported. Dozens were arrested. Seventeen policemen were hurt.

On Saturday, Coptic Christian priest Min Aboud Sharween was killed in northern Sinai. The community’s spiritual leader Pope Tawadros approved Morsi’s ouster.

Egypt has eight million Copts. Killing Sharween may spark more violence. Morsi supporters vow to remain on streets. They’ll do so, they say, until he’s reinstated.

They called for more mass rallies. Tension remains high. Things are far from resolved. Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader/Freedom and Justice party general secretary Mohamed Beltagy was reported arrested. It was premature.

On Friday, he addressed a Cairo rally. He told Morsi supporters to remain on the streets. He expected arrest any time. Asked who’d succeed him, a Muslim Brotherhood guidance officer said “whoever remains in the Guidance Office.”

Perhaps none will. They’re all targeted. Beltagy said whatever happens, MB will survive. “Attempts to destroy (us) have been going on for 80 years and have never succeeded.”

According to senior MB official Salah Sultan, “(w)e will go underground if we have to.” Most MB officials did so. Warrants for their arrests were issued. Expect turmoil to affect Egypt for some time. Things are far from resolved.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected]. His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/