Report: Live From the Egyptian Revolution, by Sharif Abdel Kouddous

[dixiegrrrrl]

Very good overview of the day, from Democracy Now.

http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/1/29/live_from_the_egyptian_revolution_by_sharif_abdel_kouddous

[snagglepuss]

1. His rosy assessment of the military is puzzling.

snip
"While the police and state security forces are notorious in Egypt for torture, corruption and brutality, the army has not interacted with the civilian population for more than 30 years and is only proudly remembered for having delivered a victory in the 1973 war with Israel. A 4pm curfew set for today was casually ignored with people convinced the army would not harm them. The police were a different story. Their brutality the past few days--decades in fact--has been well documented."






From what I have read, the military is the real power in Egypt, Mubarak came from the military as did Sadat. I've read that the military is not at all happy that Mubarak has been pushing for his son Gamal to be President because Gamal isn't one of them and for that reason they don't trust him.

That said the exact relationship between the NDP and the military isn't clear, at least to me other than the military is the real power broker.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Yes, I had read elsewhere the same relationship.

And that the military saw itself as the real power.

It could be that the protesters are being set up.

[EFerrari]

4. The army has been defending the people from the police.

It's odd but that's the situation. People have been asking for the army to spread out into more neighborboods and they have been taking those sitting in tanks food, tea and coffee.

[EFerrari]

17. Here's a decent discussion on the position of the military:

Egypt's military in a quandary

As Egypt continues to unravel under the pressure of a popular uprising against the Hosni Mubarak government, we look at the role of its military as the guardian of sovereignty and national security.

Where is Egypt heading after days of revolt?

Clearly the way forward is not the way back. But since President Mubarak has opted for more the same old and bankrupt ways of dealing with national uprising, making promises of change and cosmetic alteration to governance essentially, all now depends on the momentum of the popular uprising and the role of the military.

Mubarak's attempts to delegitimise the popular revolt as isolated incidents exploited by Islamists has fallen on deaf ears at home and abroad. As the revolt continues to expand and gain momentum in major Egyptian cities and protestors demand no less than the removal of his regime, it's now the military's choice to allow for the change to be peaceful or violent.

So far, it has opted for merely policing the streets without confronting the demonstrators, whether this will turn into a Tiananmen scenario of tough crackdown or not, will be decided in the next few hours or days.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011129153021167916.html

[riderinthestorm]

3. I haven't understood the Egyptians' love for the army either.

I don't have any working knowledge of how the Egyptian Army may or may not be the good or bad guys. But historically, the military has not been a good friend of nascent democracies. They wield too much power (a la Musharraf, or even Turkey's military). Surely the Egyptians understand how military juntas are rife with power plays in these sorts of unstable revolutionary take-overs....

Hope I'm wrong.

And also, have to say upfront that I'd probably prefer a secular military state than a fundamentalist Islamic state.... (flame away....)

[EFerrari]

5. The Army is largely conscripts. And when you think about it

in many ways, the army is one of the most democratic institutions in the country insofar as a young man who does well may be promoted, no matter who his parents are.

[Catherina]

6. Conscripts at the bottom. Collaborators at the top.

I agree with some posters here that the Army is not to be trusted, not the conscripts or enlisted men or junior officers, but those in charge, at the top.


It's hard to know how this will end but I'm a bit weary.

[EFerrari]

9. Yes, of course or at least, compliant at the top.

But there's no need to tar the conscripts keeping the neighborhoods safe with the sins of their generals.

[Catherina]

12. I agree. I'll try to be more specific and use Army leadership or something n/t

[EFerrari]

14. Doesn't the Egyptian army have a rep for being extremely professional?

I seem to remember something like that from reading about the wars with Israel. And yet, an AJ reporter said that troops in the tanks rolling through residential areas were calling out to people not to be afraid.

Not the same experience that the people of NOLA had, is it?

[Catherina]

15. I don't think the issue is being professional or not

The issue is who the allegiance at the top is to, who their business friends and influences are.

Only time will answer this one for us.

[snagglepuss]

19. What do you make of AJ reporting that the army isnt stopping looters?

Al Jazeera English reporting that hundreds of civilians are rounding up the gangs of "looters" & vandals and handing them in to the army as there's no police. The army are just acting as recipients and are not trying to stop any of the "looting" or vandalism.

[EFerrari]

20. Not sure. But it sounds like the army has had to take up positions

and can't chase people. They aren't disarming the populace, either, and seem to be encouraging people to defend their property and each other.

It's hard to know.

There is another force, the presidential guard (in the thousands) that seems to be protecting key government installations. For now, anyway.

[riderinthestorm]

8. Thanks for the info. Always looking to learn something new! nt

[EFerrari]

10. I was so surprised to see people tweeting "thank goodness, here comes the army!"

and to see people interviewed on the teevee calling for the army to fan out more and protect their neighborhoods. :)

[riderinthestorm]

11. Okay, so I completely get your information but am still deeply suspicious of the top generals

who truly wield the power.

So I can agree with you, and still be very, very wary right??

By the way, you are one of the people I truly respect here on DU so I'm not calling you out. Just making sure you know that history proves that military juntas are NOT to be trusted in these sorts of situations which colors my perceptions....

:hi:

[EFerrari]

13. Oh, I am, too.

And imagine that three or four key officers are getting all kinds of offers right now. The outcome is in their hands, to an extent, isn't it? If they turn against Mubarak, that's it. :hi:

[Recursion]

7. It may be regional; Turkey's military is like that

I mean, they do the occasional coup from time to time but generally against governments that seem to become too dictatorial.

[Catherina]

16. By the way, rec'd. Thanks n/t

[EFerrari]

18. Sharif's story now up at The Nation.

:thumbsup:

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. I almost hate to go to bed, don't want to miss any breaking developments.

Wish Middle East time was not opposite of ours.

[EFerrari]

22. I know.

:hi: