Politics

The pages linked below are my updates on what is happening in Egypt in 2011, as the people rise and demand a change of the regime.

State TV announced that AlJazeera permits have been withdrawn, and is prevented from operating in the whole country. The signal of the Arabic channel on NileSat has been cut. New frequencies have been announced by AlJazeera so people can tune to the new frequences. However, I can still see them broadcasting live from Tahrir Square in Cairo on a North American satellite.

AlJazeera showing military fighter jets and helicopters buzzing on low altitude over the protesters. The protesters raised their voice shouting anti-regime and anti-Mubarak slogans in defiance as these flew by.

Called my mother. She is fine. Thanks God. Door of apartment building is bolted and neighborhood watch committee doing its job in the absence of the vanished police.

Cousin's apartment was about to get robbed. Her son and residents stopped them, and the criminals were handed over to the military. They came in a micro-bus.

Another case of a friend's mother where gangs tried to break the apartment building's gate, but the porter and his sons prevented them. The gangs then quipped: مش انتوا مش عاجبوكم الامن "Don't you dislike the police"? As if this is planned or something.

Talked to my brother a few minutes ago. It is now 02:00 on Sunday there (19:00 Eastern Time).

After calling his land line, his wife told me that he is down in the street, protecting the neighborhood. I was able to call him on his mobile phones, so the service is back.

Talked to my brother.

Unlike my mom, he went to his work, and went to pick up a car of a cousin that broke down yesterday. My cousin parked it at Carefour on the outskirts of Alexandria. The army is protecting Carefour, but the saboteurs managed to break its glass. The army conscript at Carefour verified the car license and personal ID before allowing them to tow the car. He said that he saw the people breaking the glass and stopped them making further damage. The car alarm sounded, and the army soldier disconnected the battery.

Called my mother just now. This is an update from Alexandria as of 29 January 2011 10 am (EST).

As the police stations were torched, some of the suspects inside have escaped. Some criminals has taken advantage of the absence of police and formed gangs, robbing what they can.

As the G8 wraps up in Huntsville Ontario today, the G20 is starting tonight with a dinner by the Canadian Prime Minister.

Protest organizers have started a Get Off The Fence! protest by working people, with a heavy dose of far left terminology. The site runs Drupal, with a link "open source technology" in the footer linking to Drupal.org.

The protests are already turning violent, with at least two police cruisers being torched so far.

The BBC Middle East correspondent Tim Franks, reflects on remaining impartial in the Middle East.

He notes the dissociation that most Israelis exhibit to the plight and conflict in the West Bank. Many more observations. A very good read.

The best quote? "This is the Middle East but, no, it is not the Middle Ages".

An Associated Press article about Belgium, Belgians vote on future, united country in doubt drew some parallels of the Quebec separatist movement and their relationship with Canada.

This is sad ...

The USA military expenditure, according to 2005 figures is US$ 548,531,000,000 per year.

This is almost 6 times more than the second largest military spender (China).

A simple calculation shows that the US can cut their defense spending by half, and still be at 3 times more than China.

This could balance their budget over the years too, and perhaps cause economic growth as well, while keeping them as the best defended country in the world.