The Game of Nations Part 1

الوسوم

Abdel Fattah Al Sisy., Egyptian people, Iraq, Muslim Brotherhood, New World Order, SCAF, the Arab Spring, US ally

Interesting times we live in. The games nations play remind me of those that are played in microcosm by humans. Unfortunately, when it is nations that are playing, the destiny of so many people is in the balance, I wonder at the temerity of those playing the games.
To my way of thinking the beginning of all the “Arab Spring” was a few years back when the economy of the US started spiraling downwards. Something drastic had to be done to balance this. So with a few think tanks, a few “visionaries”, economists, strategists and dreamers, they came up with the idea of a “New World Order”. How to achieve that took a bit longer and the actual implementation started with the demolition of Iraq. The invasion “to establish democracy” ended up by achieving exactly what was planned from the very beginning, a failed state in Iraq. OK, one done, two to go. With three strong armies in the region, the plan was to take them down. The armies of Iraq, Syria and Egypt. With Iraq down there were just Syria and Egypt left. It was easy to get Syria into trouble. A fairly controllable number, where population is concerned, and many different factions that made it easy to start a split and a fragmentation of the whole. With an unpopular leader at the helm, it was easy to start a “revolution” to get rid of the dictator. So they started applying the 4th generation war of imploding the state. This was not enough though, the army was very strong, and even though the “rebels” were provided with the latest equipment, still the Syrian army had supremacy. So drastic measures had to be taken and Al Qaeda was called in.
Egypt was another kettle of fish. The plans for Egypt had been brewing for quite some time, and the alliances worked on and cemented over the years. It was decided that the only way to subdue Egypt was to have the very strongly organized and extremely well heeled Islamic fundamentalist organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, rule Egypt. This organization, with its headquarters for the International office in London, managed to convince the over-eager American decision makers that they were the right group which can run Egypt and control it with an iron fist.
So the “Arab Spring” touched Egypt on 25 January 2011. Mubarak who had been in power for 30 years was easily removed after a “popular uprising” by the galant youth. Euphoria was the reaction, and many a vicious and criminal act were swept under the carpet of the newly gained freedom. Even older veterans who should have known better, were swept away on a high wave of patriotism.
The Supreme Council for the Armed Forces (SCAF) was named by Mubarak to run the country after his removal. Big question mark. How could a deposed leader name his successor, when the constitution had succession clearly defined, till another president is elected? But these questions were drowned in the clashing cymbals of victory. SCAF was made up of a few tired old men who had not seen war in 30 years and who had become fat cats on their own through setting up many an industrial and agricultural enterprise, and by lining their pockets very generously, both from the income of said enterprises, as well as the annual American military aid. All these men wanted was to retire with full honors and keep all their businesses intact. So when suddenly they were in the limelight and had to step up and take over, they panicked and turned to the one entity they thought could help out in “controlling” the masses.
The Brotherhood, on its part, to prove to those in power that they are an entity to be reckoned with, and to prove to the Americans that they were a worthy partner, put their plans into overdrive. From the very early days of the revolution, they contacted their counterpart in Gaza, Hamas. They facilitated Hamas’ entry into Egypt and they started the terrorizing of the people. First they broke into the prisons where the Hamas and Brotherhood members were held, let them out, and partially demolished the prisons, threatening the rest of the prisoners with death if they did not take off. At the same time all main police stations were attacked and the officers and personnel in these stations killed, their weapons stolen. Chaos ruled. The American plan was working. But the Egyptian people did something that gave all other parties pause. Automatically, without any leadership or coordination, but through word of mouth, then through FB, Egyptians organized themselves into civil home watch groups, each entity responsible for the buildings on one street. They took shifts, and carried out their duties religiously. After the first flurry of looting, while the police stations were being attacked, crime went down drastically with the home watch groups in place. This was the first hint that should have given America pause for thought. But they were so happy with the success of their plans, the Brotherhood was doing an excellent job in demolishing the police once and for all, and the doddering old men were in their pockets. All looked well with the world. In due course they acknowledged the “glorious revolution” heaped accolades on the heads of the youth of Egypt who should be taken as shining examples of peaceful freedom fighters, and the rest of the plan was being implemented. With the Brotherhood in an uneasy alliance with the army, the roadmap leading to the ascendancy of the Brotherhood to the throne of Egypt was being executed, step by step.
What came next is history. Morsi took over through a huge operation of fraud and intimidation, and the Brotherhood showed its true colors as an international terrorist organization that had Egypt by the throat. The people started revolting again to get rid of a worse dictator than ever Mubarak was, because this one was bringing in foreign, armed elements to subdue the people. The army was neutralized by removing all those doddering old men and by bringing in new blood in the person of Abdel Fattah Al Sisy.
In April 2012 a little known group of Egyptian youth started a peaceful movement called Tamarod or Rebel. Very little attention was given to it. But when it started firing the imagination of ordinary Egyptians who had become totally disillusioned by the Brotherhood and its methods, some in the Brotherhood started taking notice. The usual thuggery was practiced at first, several volunteers were beaten, offices looted and burned, but the Tamarod movement had taken such a hold of the Egyptian people’s imagination as their only salvation, that the people, again, for the second time, without coordination or leadership, formed themselves into voluntary protective groups to the Tamarod movement, its workers and its offices. This should have been the second thing that should have given America pause for thought and re-assessment. But no, they were still reassured by the Brotherhood that they had full control of Egypt and the Egyptians.
The full shock to the world at large, and America and the Brotherhood in particular came on June 28 when Tamarod announced the number of petitions signed by the people asking for the deposition of Morsi. Over twenty two million Egyptians had signed. Shock on the part of the Brotherhood, who just denied this and accused them of fraud. But when a call went out to the people to take to the streets on a June 30, the one year anniversary of Morsi’s becoming President, things started to look more serious.
Up to April the people were not sure where Al Sisy’s sympathies lay. The Egyptian people felt that they were on their own. If they wanted to get rid of that gang that took over Egypt, they would have to do it on their own. An unarmed, peaceful people, taking on a fully armed terrorist organization, who probably had the army on its side as well. These were very, very dark days for most Egyptians. Depression, gloom and worry were at their most intense, but so was the determination to do something about it.
Some time in April, Al Sisy took the opportunity of the graduation of a military class and gave a speech that was televised. I had not seen it that day, like most people I did not think that anything interesting would be said. But by next day it went viral. The man just stood there, very low profile, in a calm low voice, got the message through to the people that the army had their back. Like many others, when I heard this I broke down and cried. We were not alone. Now we really had a chance in fighting those terrorists.
When on June 30 millions of people took to the streets, America and the Brotherhood started scrambling to put a lid on the situation. But then Al Sisy stepped in to tell Morsi that the situation was serious indeed and that he either steps down of his own accord, or calls for early presidential elections. That the people were on the rampage and nothing short of that would satisfy them.
It is here that the game of nations begins in earnest.
To be continued.

Progress

الوسوم

Christian Amanpour, Egypt, lying terrorists, media, Morsi, Nightmare, rehearsal, SCAF, video clips

For the past three years, ever since the 25 January 2011 revolution, every time I get together with my friends we have nothing to discuss except what is going on in the country. After all we have been through, and especially the one year under SCAF and worse still the one under Morsi, we are just now starting to feel the relief of being free of all that. Like someone who had undergone major surgery and was just now getting over the initial shock of the trauma.
When we describe it as a nightmare we are not far off. The feeling of hope being dashed is much worse than no hope at all. The euphoria which followed the removal of Mubarak can only be compared to the joy and relief of removing Morsi. But with the latter, we have become cynical, because of all the experiences we went through all these previous months. We still have hope, but have become far more suspicious, and quite impatient. We are no longer tolerant of what is perceived as either weakness or hesitation.
Our current problem with the Government is that it is perceived, not only as hesitant and weak, but worse still, of having elements with hidden agendas which are not in favor of Egypt or the Egyptians. I have been fearful of our time turning into one comparable to McCarthyism in the US after WWII. Witch hunting is one of the ugliest aspects of any upheaval. But right now I am not sure that we do not have a lot of “witches” in a great many places of authority still.
The Deputy Prime Minister is one highly targeted figure. He was associated with Goldman Sachs which makes his name mud. But he is a very intelligent and professional economist. What he is not is a diplomat. In an interview with CNN’s Christian Amanpour he made some statements which, when quoted in or out of context, have put him in a very poor light indeed, as attacking Egypt. This is typical of what is happening in Egypt now. We do not know who is trustworthy and who is not. So it is much easier to hurl accusations right and left, and believe all the worst about any known figure. The behavior of said public figures isn’t helping either. None seems to have any idea of how to handle the media and what should be said or not said, so all unscrupulous reporters are having a field day. The added talent of perfecting use of Photoshop has made it practically impossible to ensure the authenticity of anything. There are so many official looking documents that have turned out to be forgeries. But the humorous part is all the clips taken of rehearsals by the sheep (Brotherhood), where they are showing scenes of violence or of “dead bodies”. One of the funniest videos is of a supposedly wounded MB, with blood all over the front of his T-shirt, lying flat on his back with eyes closed. The film is being shot from an angle where the “patient’s” legs are nearest to the cameraman. A paramedic with gloves on approaches him and lifts his t-shirt to look at his “wound”. As the man had his eyes closed he did not realize that he was being examined until the t-shirt was lifted clear to show no wound beneath all that “blood”. The reaction of this supposedly unconscious man, was to lift his foot and forcefully nudge away the paramedic!! Hilarious, and all recorded on film. Another very funny tape is the row of “shrouded bodies” (most of them with footwear on) where one of them uncovers his face and asks have we started yet, with the nearer ones convulsing with laughter! And these are supposed to be the evidence of the “atrocities” committed by the police and the army. If anything, the sheep seem to have a warped sense of humor, at least the foot soldiers do. The higher up in the hierarchy the humorless they become.
Yesterday, after Morsi’s trial session was over, one of the organizers of the gathering outside the court held up a hand written poster saying: “Dismissed. Those going to Giza and out-of-town go to the top of the bridge. For Cairo, under the bridge”. Like a tour guide telling his people where the buses were! That was a “spontaneous” demonstration by the sheep! Typical!
I must say that the general atmosphere in the country is becoming more relaxed. Mentally we know that we are still not out of the woods, but emotionally, the fact that the Brotherhood are now publicly exposed as the lying terrorists that they are, has given the general population a sense of relief. This is why now when my friends and I meet our conversations are more general, still touching upon the country’s state, but other subjects are now introduced. I was very happy the last time our group met we started discussing going as a group for a few days to Al Gouna on the Red Sea for a much-needed R&R. We are starting to take control of our lives again. Welcome back to life, Egyptians.

Interim Rule by SCAF – Mohamed Mahmoud

الوسوم

SCAF

On Friday 18 November 2011 the MB and Salafis called for a march to Tahrir to proclaim the revolution as an Islamic revolution. The black flags of Al Qaeda were flown, as well as the green ones of Saudi, and that of Palestine. Missing from all that was the Egyptian flag. It was dubbed the Friday of Kandahar. This display greatly provoked the rest of the population that surged back into Tahrir to try to wipe out the bad taste of such “terrorist” displays trying to take over their own revolution. It was a preview of things to come. The following week was one of the bloodiest in the history of the revolution.
This was considered the second wave of the revolution of January 25, 2011, after which none of the people’s demands were met, on the contrary violent oppression was the rule.
The police’s brutality in dealing with the demonstrators who were armed only with stones and fireworks, was legendary. The number of casualties was in the hundreds and the injured in the thousands. Not only was it obvious that physical liquidation of the demonstrators was the aim, but the demolition and repeated attacks on the field hospitals was a very prominent feature of that massacre.
It lasted a full week, after which there were very strong condemnations by local and international Human Rights organizations, and after which the UK banned export of any deterrents to the Egyptian Government to be used against the people. It appeared that some gas that is used in war, and that not even sanctioned by the international community, was used during that week. It was a real massacre in both proportion and violence, and that for the second month running after the one in Maspero the previous month.
This went a long way towards spoiling the already sour relationship with the police force. Especially galling was the fact that many a young revolutionist was deliberately blinded by a police sniper dubbed the “Eye Sniper”. He was caught on tape and his picture plastered all over the Internet when he was shooting at some demonstrators and catching someone in the eye. The cheering on of his men, and the comment of one in particular, became notorious for its brutality and callousness.
The situation was deteriorating very badly all over the country and SCAF was scrambling trying to keep their heads above water.
A group of 19 elderly officers who had not had a war in three decades, whose business enterprises were flourishing and who would have been quite content to keep the status quo with Mubarak and retire peacefully with their fortunes intact. But with Mubarak handing over the reins of government to them, they were put on the spot. No experience in handling civil affairs, they were easy prey to the MB who convinced them that this was their forte and that they have been a shadow government for eighty years. So with relief they relinquished the actual reins to them. This was not known to the general public until much later, until after Morsi took over. But there were a few indications very early on like the inclusion of outright MB members, or sympathizers, in the committee formed to amend the Constitution in March 2011. This tug of war over the rule of Egypt was to culminate on 12 August 2012 when Morsi retired Tantawy and Enan. But that is for a later date.
This second massacre left deep wounds in the Egyptian psyche, for it cemented the fact that people in uniform, even though they were Egyptians, were now considered the enemy. This chasm would take a far larger tragedy to dissolve it and for all Egyptians to unite again in one cohesive whole.
Continued … Interim Rule by SCAF – Port Said

Interim Rule by SCAF – Maspero

الوسوم

Christian Youth Movement of Maspero, Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood, SCAF

To understand how Morsi came about ruling Egypt for one nightmare year, the previous 16 months of SCAF’s rule have to be briefly reviewed
Hussein Tantawy and Sami Enan were the two most prominent figures in SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) the Military body that ruled Egypt from February 11, 2011, when Mubarak handed over the rule to them, up to June 30, 2012 when Morsi was sworn in. The relationship between SCAF and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is a long and complicated love-hate relationship. Throughout the year and four months of SCAF’s rule, many a massacre took place where the people blamed the Supreme Council, and the Supreme a Council on its part categorically denied any wrongdoing. This was blatantly unbelievable, because the ones undertaking all the atrocities were in uniform. So a rather sarcastic trend started about a “third party” being the real culprit. Many a joke was made about this third party, and it was only after Morsi took over and the MB started implementing the same tactics that the people realized that these tactics were one and the same being used right throughout. During SCAF’s rule there was a massacre practically every month, but three of them stood out glaringly, for the number of people killed, and the brutality by which they were killed. The first was on October 9, 2011.
During the revolution, Christians, for the first time in recent history, played a prominent role. Traditionally Christians kept a low profile and a very peaceful appeasing demeanor, which resulted in a mainly peaceful coexistence between them and the Muslim majority. In most cases not only was it peaceful, but was one of affection and mutual respect. Until it was to the advantage of whoever was ruling at the time, to distract the people’s attention from what he was doing, by fermenting sectarian friction. Then religious discrimination flared up. But since the beginning of the revolution Christians stood shoulder to shoulder with their Muslim countrymen, all against one Dictator. On that particular day, October 9, 2011, the Christian Youth Movement of Maspero, a newly formed patriotic group, set up a march from Shubra, a predominantly Christian old sector of Cairo, to Maspero, where the national television building is situated. The march was a peaceful one, men, women and children all carrying candles and either a cross or the flag.
Once they reached Maspero, suddenly, uniformed men sprang out from behind the barricade around the TV building, and started shooting. Panic ensued, people started running in all directions when suddenly two army armored vehicles started ploughing into the throng. This carnage resulted in 29 dead and several hundreds injured. Some of the dead were killed by bullets at close range, like a now famous figure, Mena Daniel, others were squashed by the armored vehicles running over them. In the meantime, the official, government run TV had an anchorwoman screaming on screen for the Egyptian people to come help their army that is being massacred by the Christians. A surge of patriotic citizens rushed towards Maspero, and on the way attacked any known Christians in the area, to avenge their army. Once they got to Maspero and saw the carnage, the whole thing turned 180 degrees, and the people started helping the Christians. Some of the most heroic and gallant acts were enacted that night. Groups of men in uniform kept hunting Christians at the neighboring buildings where a few fled for sanctuary.
A group of 17 including a priest in traditional dress, sought sanctuary in the building where the offices of the brother of a friend were. He, a Muslim, took them in and hid them in a locked room. When the marauding uniformed group came looking for any Christians, he said none were there. They asked to see the ID’s of his staff. One of them was a Christian. This young man was pistol whipped and viciously kicked before these uniformed men left. The chivalrous man, Mohammed Gohar, kept the 17 Christians hidden for two days before things settled down and they could individually or in twos sneak back home.
This massacre cemented the already strong ties forged during the revolution, between Christians and Muslims. Bullets did not discriminate. We were all one, facing a brutal, vicious enemy. At the same time it created a strong feeling of antipathy for uniforms.
This question of the uniforms is very important, for after Morsi took over it was slowly revealed how the MB had army and police uniforms duplicated and distributed, either to their local militia, or worse still, with army uniforms, to Hamas personnel. If ever there was a definition of betrayal, that is it. And that is one of the reasons why Morsi is now being arraigned for trial accused of, to begin with, torturing protesters, but more accusations are being prepared as the evidence piles up against him.
Next: interim SCAF Rule – Mohamed Mahmoud