Comments on: It’s Time To Get Tough On Egypt http://jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/ Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:46:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: An Egyptian http://jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-274401 An Egyptian Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:11:00 +0000 http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/#comment-274401 Well .. since that article was posted in May 06, 8 months later, the situation in Egypt is any thing but better. Here are some highlights: - Some bloggers were able to post video clips of torture in Police stations including hanging of a female detainee from her legs in a very awkward position, another one of a male detainee being raped with a wooden shaft (probably a broom stick) up his rectum not to mention a dozen of other clips of detainees being beaten, males and females. - In October of every year, the state run universities bars names of all students they suspect of belonging to any Islamic Student Union. Even though, when they run freely, they win a sweep majority since most students know they are the most honest and caring for their issues. This year, when faced with this procedure, the students of Al-Azhar University decided to boycott the university run elections and conduct their own, in the outdoor, in glass boxes while all students are observing. Not-surprisingly, the Islamic Students won most of the seats. They celebrated their victory. Soon after, the Police arrested several members of the new "free" student union. To protest it, students stroke inside the university for several days. On the last days, a Police chief sent a message to the students that if they do not break their strike, mobs belonging to the security forces will get to them and beat them. They broke their strike. However, next day, they conducted what some called a military style parade. In reality, it was a show by students from Physical Education School Students belonging to the Islamic Union, presenting a Martial Art show. They may have intended to show Police mobs that they are ready for them in case they want to fight! The reaction of the state was overwhelming though! Police raded the student dorm arresting 128 students during the night. Few weeks later, they arrested scores of the most successful businessmen and investors with ties with the Muslim Brotherhood with charges such as money laundering and sponsering terrorism. They froze their assets. Within few weeks, the normal court orders them all free and their assets unfrozen for insufficient proofs. Police reissue new orders of arrests to keep them under control. Mubarak issue a decree to have their case processed by a martial court. The problem is .. martial courts judges are appointed by the President himself, their sentences are twice as harsh, no appeal to the sentences except by the President himself and cases are Express Service Processed with very limited time to the accused to defend himself or to his attorney. - Another news clip: Italy orders 26 CIA officers to be tried for charges related to extraditing an Egyptian religious clerk to Egypt where he was tortured through the state standard torture system. No one pays attention to the guy himself what happened to him, they all concentrate on those 26 officers. Stopping the 2 or 2.9 billion dollars would be a good thing, but I think the US and the US media ought to do more than just that by exposing the brutal regime of Mubarak. All that fear of the Muslim Brotherhood taking over is non sense, I will not argue by the fact that they have declared over and over their renounce to terrorism and support of minorities in Egypt and lots more, .. but regardless, if this continue like this, the brotherhood will not take over, it will be another underground, Taliban like, Qaeda like or Khomeni like group and when this happens it will be the end, really the end of any hope for any thing good in the middle east. Taliban taking over Afghanistan is one thing, a similar group taking over Egypt is 1000 times worst. By the way, have you heard the news a Christian Jordanian being promoted to a Leadership position in the Muslim brotherhood in Jordan? After all, they may not be as bad ad one would think! Well .. since that article was posted in May 06, 8 months later, the situation in Egypt is any thing but better.
Here are some highlights:
- Some bloggers were able to post video clips of torture in Police stations including hanging of a female detainee from her legs in a very awkward position, another one of a male detainee being raped with a wooden shaft (probably a broom stick) up his rectum not to mention a dozen of other clips of detainees being beaten, males and females.
- In October of every year, the state run universities bars names of all students they suspect of belonging to any Islamic Student Union. Even though, when they run freely, they win a sweep majority since most students know they are the most honest and caring for their issues. This year, when faced with this procedure, the students of Al-Azhar University decided to boycott the university run elections and conduct their own, in the outdoor, in glass boxes while all students are observing. Not-surprisingly, the Islamic Students won most of the seats. They celebrated their victory. Soon after, the Police arrested several members of the new “free” student union. To protest it, students stroke inside the university for several days. On the last days, a Police chief sent a message to the students that if they do not break their strike, mobs belonging to the security forces will get to them and beat them. They broke their strike. However, next day, they conducted what some called a military style parade. In reality, it was a show by students from Physical Education School Students belonging to the Islamic Union, presenting a Martial Art show. They may have intended to show Police mobs that they are ready for them in case they want to fight!
The reaction of the state was overwhelming though!
Police raded the student dorm arresting 128 students during the night. Few weeks later, they arrested scores of the most successful businessmen and investors with ties with the Muslim Brotherhood with charges such as money laundering and sponsering terrorism. They froze their assets.
Within few weeks, the normal court orders them all free and their assets unfrozen for insufficient proofs.
Police reissue new orders of arrests to keep them under control.
Mubarak issue a decree to have their case processed by a martial court. The problem is .. martial courts judges are appointed by the President himself, their sentences are twice as harsh, no appeal to the sentences except by the President himself and cases are Express Service Processed with very limited time to the accused to defend himself or to his attorney.
- Another news clip: Italy orders 26 CIA officers to be tried for charges related to extraditing an Egyptian religious clerk to Egypt where he was tortured through the state standard torture system. No one pays attention to the guy himself what happened to him, they all concentrate on those 26 officers.

Stopping the 2 or 2.9 billion dollars would be a good thing, but I think the US and the US media ought to do more than just that by exposing the brutal regime of Mubarak. All that fear of the Muslim Brotherhood taking over is non sense, I will not argue by the fact that they have declared over and over their renounce to terrorism and support of minorities in Egypt and lots more, .. but regardless, if this continue like this, the brotherhood will not take over, it will be another underground, Taliban like, Qaeda like or Khomeni like group and when this happens it will be the end, really the end of any hope for any thing good in the middle east. Taliban taking over Afghanistan is one thing, a similar group taking over Egypt is 1000 times worst.

By the way, have you heard the news a Christian Jordanian being promoted to a Leadership position in the Muslim brotherhood in Jordan? After all, they may not be as bad ad one would think!

]]> By: Bill R http://jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-161688 Bill R Wed, 10 May 2006 22:09:29 +0000 http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/#comment-161688 Other Middle Eastern autocracies are propped up with cheap petro-dollars that allow them the ability to suppress their populations. Egypt does not have that luxury. Fortunately for Mubarak, the U.S. plays the role of money-supplier to the Mubarak regime in exchange for peace with Israel (no Arab coalition will attack Israel without Egyptian forces) and an open Suez canal. But that game is going to eventually backfire because the internal pressures in Egypt are tracking what happened in Iran 30 years ago where the civil society was crushed and only in the Mosques could dissent be manifested, leaving the Islamists as the only viable opposition. If that happens as it did in Iran, it will be a manifestly disastrous outcome for U.S. interests in the region. Other Middle Eastern autocracies are propped up with cheap petro-dollars that allow them the ability to suppress their populations. Egypt does not have that luxury. Fortunately for Mubarak, the U.S. plays the role of money-supplier to the Mubarak regime in exchange for peace with Israel (no Arab coalition will attack Israel without Egyptian forces) and an open Suez canal. But that game is going to eventually backfire because the internal pressures in Egypt are tracking what happened in Iran 30 years ago where the civil society was crushed and only in the Mosques could dissent be manifested, leaving the Islamists as the only viable opposition. If that happens as it did in Iran, it will be a manifestly disastrous outcome for U.S. interests in the region.

]]> By: Patrick http://jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-161683 Patrick Wed, 10 May 2006 20:39:51 +0000 http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/#comment-161683 Excellent point. One change I would make is: It's time for him [President Bush] to put OUR money where his mouth is. It offends me to no end how much of our foreign aid is given to extremely wealthy autocrats that serve only to support their corrupt governments and suppress any dissent. For whatever good that policy("yeah, but he's OUR sone of a @$#!")did, it is no longer effective and no longer acceptable. Egypt is a good place to begin. Excellent point. One change I would make is: It’s time for him [President Bush] to put OUR money where his mouth is. It offends me to no end how much of our foreign aid is given to extremely wealthy autocrats that serve only to support their corrupt governments and suppress any dissent. For whatever good that policy(“yeah, but he’s OUR sone of a @$#!”)did, it is no longer effective and no longer acceptable. Egypt is a good place to begin.

]]> By: Cold Fury » Blog Archive » Realpolitik versus reality http://jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/comment-page-1/#comment-161682 Cold Fury » Blog Archive » Realpolitik versus reality Wed, 10 May 2006 20:28:03 +0000 http://www.jayreding.com/archives/2006/05/10/its-time-to-get-tough-on-egypt/#comment-161682 [...] This sounds right to me: When an Egyptian sees the autocracy, corruption, and tyranny of the Mubarak regime, the Muslim Brotherhood’s motto of “Islam is the solution” sounds all the more prescient. The idea that a dictator like Mubarak is a true countermeasure towards Islamic extremism in Egypt is ultimately flawed – if anything, Mubarak’s regime is feeding Islamic extremism in Egypt. [...] [...] This sounds right to me: When an Egyptian sees the autocracy, corruption, and tyranny of the Mubarak regime, the Muslim Brotherhood’s motto of “Islam is the solution” sounds all the more prescient. The idea that a dictator like Mubarak is a true countermeasure towards Islamic extremism in Egypt is ultimately flawed – if anything, Mubarak’s regime is feeding Islamic extremism in Egypt. [...]

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