PRESIDENT OBAMA IS DEAD

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS DEAD

THE “CIVILIZED WORLD” IS DEAD

DEMOCRACY IS DEAD

AND HUMAN RIGHTS ARE A MERE CHIMERA


“A MAN DIES WHEN HE REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR THAT WHICH IS RIGHT. A MAN DIES WHEN HE REFUSES TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE. A MAN DIES WHEN HE REFUSES TO TAKE A STAND FOR THAT WHICH IS TRUE.”

THE EGYPTIAN YOUTH, THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS ARE GOING TO STAND UP AMID CAMELS, HORSES AND POLICE CARS CRUSHING INNOCENT LIVES. THEY’RE GOING TO STAND UP RIGHT THERE IN TAHRIR SQUARE, AMID MUBARAK’S THUGS. THEY’RE GOING TO STAND UP RIGHT THERE IN INDEPENDENCE SQUARE AMID THE ARMY’S TANKS AND MUBARAK’S DOGS. THEY’RE GOING TO STAND UP THERE AMID TEAR GAS!

THEY’RE GOING TO STAND UP AMID EVERYTHING MUBARAK CAN MUSTER, LETTING THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW THAT THEY ARE DETERMINED TO BE FREE.

THEY ARE NOT RELYING ON THE HYPOCRISY OF THE SO-CALLED FREE WORLD TO FREE THEM FROM THE TYRANT THE WEST HAS BEEN FUELLING AGAINST THEM FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES WITH THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROWN INTO HIS SWISS ACCOUNTS.


EGYPT'S BLOOD IS ON OBAMA'S HANDS
BY MIKE WHITNEY

THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL WERE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD BY THE SIZE AND
FEROCITY OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS IN EGYPT, BUT THEY HAVE SINCE
REGAINED THEIR BALANCE AND CAUGHT UP TO EVENTS. THE TWO ALLIES
HAVE SETTLED ON A STRATEGY TO PRESERVE THE MUBARAK
DICTATORSHIP (IN SOME FORM) AND ASSURE THAT US-ISRAEL REGIONAL
HEGEMONY WILL NOT BE CHALLENGED. THUS, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER LIP-SERVICE TO DEMOCRACY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS, WHILE COORDINATING EFFORTS WITH MUBARAK TO
MAINTAIN WASHINGTON'S STRANGLEHOLD ON POWER IN CAIRO.

THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS, IS TO QUASH THE REBELLION
WITH FORCE.

YESTERDAY, AFTER PROMISING HE WOULD NOT USE VIOLENCE AGAINST
THE PROTESTERS, MUBARAK DEPLOYED HIS GOONS TO TAHRIR SQUARE
WHERE THEY ATTACKED THE THE ASSEMBLY WITH BATONS, ROCKS, AND
CLUBS. MEN ON HORSEBACK AND CAMELS CHARGED INTO THE CROWD
SENDING DROVES OF PROTESTERS FLEEING IN PANIC. AL JAZEERA
REPORTED THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE MELEE.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE SO-CALLED "MUBARAK SUPPORTERS" WERE NOT
CIVILIANS AT ALL, BUT MEMBERS OF THE FEARED EGYPTIAN SECURITY
FORCES IN DISGUISE. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE OF THE
CLASHES BUT HAS REFUSED TO CONDEMN THE PERPETRATORS. OBAMA IS
NOW STICKING TO A SCRIPT THAT WAS WRITTEN BY POWERBROKERS IN
WASHINGTON AND TEL AVIV.

OBAMA'S SPEECH ON TUESDAY WAS APTLY SUMMARIZED BY AS'AD
ABUKHALIL BLOGGING ON THE ANGRY ARAB WEBSITE. HERE'S WHAT HE
SAID:

"I JUST READ THE SPEECH BY OBAMA: IT CONFIRMED MY SUSPICION,
THAT BASICALLY MUBARAK WAS PERMITTED BY THE US TO DO WITH THE
EGYPTIAN PEOPLE AS HE WOULD LIKE.....EVERY DROP OF BLOOD THAT
IS SPILLED IN EGYPT FROM THIS DAY ONWARDS SHOULD BE BLAMED ON
OBAMA BECAUSE HE HAS EMBRACED THIS NEW STRATEGY OF LETTING
MUBARAK DEFY THE POPULAR WILL OF THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE. I DON'T
TRUST THE EGYPTIAN ARMY: THE TOP BRASS IS HAND PICKED BY THE
US/ISRAEL AND CAN BE EASILY BOUGHT OFF BY A COMBINATION OF
BRIBES, GADGETS, AND PERKS. THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE
EGYPTIAN PEOPLE. THIS IS PART OF THE RULING GROUP OF THIS
TYRANT.

THE SPEECH BY OBAMA WAS A NOT-SO-CODED LANGUAGE THAT LET
MUBARAK DO WHAT HE WISH: THE TALK ABOUT TRANSITION MEANS THAT
HE WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO STAY IN POWER, BECAUSE ISRAEL REALLY
FREAKED OUT AT THE PROSPECT OF EGYPT WITHOUT MUBARAK. ... MAKE
NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT: THIS COULD BE LIKE THE 1953 OPERATION
AJAX IN IRAN. THE US IS NOW ARRANGING FOR A COUP AGAINST THE
WILL OF THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE.. IT REQUIRES UTMOST VIGILANCE
AND STEADFASTNESS AND THUS FAR THOSE QUALITIES HAVE BEEN
ABUNDANT AMONG THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE. THIS MOVE BY OBAMA
TOWARDS EGYPT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS CRIMINAL BECAUSE IT WILL
LEAD TO BLOOD ON THE STREETS.....

I SAY THIS WITHOUT ANY HYPERBOLE, THE US IS WILLING TO HAVE
MILLIONS OF ARAB OPPRESSED, KILLED, AND TORTURED TO PRESERVE
THE EGYPTIAN-ISRAELI PEACE TREATY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT."
(ANGRY ARAB WEBSITE)

ISRAEL'S LEADERS AND SURROGATES IN THE MEDIA ARE "FREAKING
OUT" AS ABUKHALIL NOTES. COMMENTATORS ACROSS THE IDEOLOGICAL
SPECTRUM--FROM THOMAS FRIEDMAN TO ALAN DERSHOWITZ-- HAVE
WEIGHED IN ON HOW THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END IF DEMOCRACY
BREAKS OUT IN EGYPT. CASE IN POINT, HERE'S A CLIP FROM
FRIEDMAN'S LATEST ESSAY:

"I’M MEETING A RETIRED ISRAELI GENERAL AT A TEL AVIV HOTEL.
AS I TAKE MY SEAT, HE BEGINS THE CONVERSATION WITH: “WELL,
EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS IS NO LONGER
RELEVANT.”

THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP THE DISORIENTING SENSE OF SHOCK AND
AWE THAT THE POPULAR UPRISING IN EGYPT HAS INFLICTED ON THE
PSYCHE OF ISRAEL’S ESTABLISHMENT. THE PEACE TREATY WITH A
STABLE EGYPT WAS THE UNSPOKEN FOUNDATION FOR EVERY
GEOPOLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY IN ISRAEL FOR THE LAST 35
YEARS, AND NOW IT’S GONE." ("B.E., BEFORE EGYPT. A.E.., AFTER
EGYPT", THOMAS FRIEDMAN, NEW YORK TIMES)

FRIEDMAN'S ARTICLE IS A SHOCKING ADMISSION THAT "ONLY ISRAEL
COUNTS". BUT WHAT ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM
AND HUMAN RIGHTS; DON'T THEY MATTER OR ARE THE ASPIRATIONS OF
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING UNDER TYRANNY SUPPOSED TO BE
DISMISSED BECAUSE THEY COULD POSE A CHALLENGE TO ISRAEL'S
PRIZED NATIONAL SECURITY? THIS IS CULTURAL NARCISSISM AT ITS
WORST. THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SACRIFICE THEIR
RIGHTS TO SATISFY THE ZIONIST DREAM.


HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE BY JUDITH MILLER OF FOX
NEWS, WHO PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLL IN PROPAGATING THE LIES WHICH
LED TO THE IRAQ WAR. MILLER DISPELS ANY ILLUSION THAT ONE
MIGHT HAVE ABOUT ISRAEL'S COMMITMENT TO LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY.


JUDITH MILLER: "AS LONG-STANDING ALLIES AND ADMIRERS DISTANCE
THEMSELVES FROM EGYPT’S AUTOCRATIC REGIME, PRESIDENT HOSNI
MUBARAK HAS FOUND HIMSELF WITH ONLY ONE SERIOUS ALLY LEFT IN
THE MIDDLE EAST --ISRAEL.

WHILE WASHINGTON HAS PUBLICLY CHIDED ITS STALWART ALLY OF 30
YEARS, URGING HIM TO STOP REPRESSING HIS PEOPLE AND SPEED THE
TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY, ONLY ISRAEL AND TWO CONSERVATIVE ARAB
MONARCHIES -- THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN AND SAUDI ARABIA
-- HAVE PUBLICLY EMBRACED MUBARAK. ...ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SPOKE TO MUBARAK BY PHONE EARLY IN THE
CRISIS, THE ISRAELI PRESS REPORTED, ASSURING HIM OF ISRAEL’S
CONTINUING SUPPORT.....

IT IS EGYPT, FOR INSTANCE, THAT HAS HELPED ISRAEL AND THE
UNITED STATES MAINTAIN THE EMBARGO AROUND THE GAZA STRIP......
CAIRO, LIKE ISRAEL, HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICAL OF IRAN’S EFFORTS
TO FLEX POLITICAL MUSCLE IN THE REGION AND ITS NUCLEAR
POLICIES." ("MUBARAK FINDS A STRONG ALLY IN ISRAEL", JUDITH
MILLER, FOX NEWS)

IS THERE ANY DOUBT WHERE MILLER STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF HUMAN
RIGHTS VS. ISRAELI SECURITY?


PREDICTABLY, OBAMA HAS HAS CAST HIS LOT WITH MILLER,
NETANYAHU, AND OLD FRIEND, HOSNI MUBARAK. IN FACT, IMAD AD-DIN
AD-DIB, THE CHIEF SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUBARAK REGIME, SAID TODAY
ON AL-ARABIYAH TV THAT THE EGYPTIAN ARMY WAS PREPARING A
STATEMENT THAT WOULD BAN ALL FUTURE DEMONSTRATIONS. THAT MEANS
THAT OBAMA HAS GIVEN MUBARAK THE GREEN LIGHT TO CRUSH THE
REVOLT WHILE HE WORKS ON HIS PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGY. WE
SHOULD EXPECT THAT EVERY ACT OF BRUTALITY AGAINST UNARMED
EGYPTIAN CIVILIANS WILL NOW BE ACCOMPANIED BY A STERN REBUKE
FROM OBAMA INVOKING HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO "UNIVERSAL
VALUES AND HUMAN RIGHTS."

WAS THERE EVER A BIGGER CHAMPION OF THE BUSH DOCTRINE THAN
BARACK OBAMA?









THE WEST'S ITCH TO MEDDLE IS NO HELP. LEAVE EGYPT ALONE

OUR SOLE CONTRIBUTION TO MUSLIM STATES WRESTLING WITH
SELF-DETERMINATION IS PLUNGING THEIR NEIGHBOURS INTO BLOODBATH
AND CHAOS

BY SIMON JENKINS

FEBRUARY 01, 2011 - -

WE ARE HYPOCRITES. WE CHEER ON THE BRAVE TUNISIANS AND EGYPTIANS AS
THEY ASSERT THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF THE STREET. HANDS OFF,
WE CRY. LET THEM DO IT THEIR WAY. IT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME,
BUT LET THE PEOPLE GET THE CREDIT AND BE STRENGTHENED THEREBY.
WE GAVE NO SUCH LICENCE TO THE IRAQIS OR AFGHANS. WE PRESUMED
IT WAS OUR JOB TO DICTATE HOW THEY SHOULD BE GOVERNED. WE
ACCUSED THEIR LEADERS OF CRIMES AND DECIDED TO PUNISH THEM
ALL, MASSACRING THOUSANDS. WE DECLARED A "FREEDOM AGENDA", AND
BOMBED THEM TO BITS.

HOSNI MUBARAK OF EGYPT IS ANOTHER SADDAM HUSSEIN, A SECULAR
DICTATOR RULING A MUSLIM COUNTRY WITH A ROD OF IRON THROUGH A
KLEPTOCRACY OF CRONIES. LESS WEALTHY THAN SADDAM, HE HAD TO
RELY ON AMERICAN SUPPORT, BUT HE WAS ONLY A LITTLE MORE SUBTLE
IN HIS RUTHLESSNESS.

WE ARE TOLD THAT THERE WERE SOUND STRATEGIC REASONS FOR
SUPPORTING MUBARAK – AS THERE ONCE WERE FOR SUPPORTING THE
BA'ATHISTS, ASSAD OF SYRIA AND SADDAM HIMSELF. THERE WERE
SIMILAR REASONS FOR BACKING THE BEN ALI DYNASTY IN TUNISIA AND
"BRITAIN'S GOOD FRIEND", THE OUTRAGEOUS COLONEL GADDAFI OF
LIBYA. ALL OFFERED A SUPPOSED BULWARK AGAINST MUSLIM
EXTREMISM, A MONSTER OF WHICH AMERICANS AND BRITONS ARE TOLD
TO SHOW A PATHOLOGICAL, ALL-CONSUMING AND COSTLY TERROR. NOW,
APPARENTLY, THAT NO LONGER APPLIES TO EGYPT.

IN REALITY THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ETHICAL FOREIGN
POLICY. THERE IS SOMETHING PHILOSOPHICAL CALLED ETHICS AND
SOMETHING PRAGMATIC CALLED FOREIGN POLICY. THE ART OF
DIPLOMACY LIES IN NAVIGATING BETWEEN THEM. THE BLAIR-BUSH
"CRUSADE FOR DEMOCRACY" FAILED TO DO SO. IT WAS MOTIVATED BY
THE MOST DANGEROUS THING IN POLITICS, RELIGIOUS FERVOUR.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EGYPT IS PLAINLY EXHILARATING TO ANY
LOVER OF CIVIL LIBERTY. SO TOO WAS GEORGIA'S ROSE REVOLUTION,
UKRAINE'S ORANGE REVOLUTION, BURMA'S SAFFRON REVOLUTION,
IRAN'S GREEN REVOLUTION AND TUNISIA'S JASMINE REVOLUTION. FEW
PEOPLE SCANNING THE PASTEL SHADES OF DESIGNER TROTSKYISM WILL
REMEMBER WHICH WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WHICH NOT, BUT THEY MADE
GREAT TELEVISION.

IN EACH OF THESE CASES PEOPLE BURST OUT IN VISCERAL OPPOSITION
TO DICTATORSHIP. DRIVEN BEYOND ENDURANCE, THEY TOOK THE LAST
OPTION AVAILABLE TO AUTONOMOUS INDIVIDUALS AND MARCHED DOWN
THE STREET. THE OUTCOME DEPENDED ON THE SECURITY AND
SELF-CONFIDENCE OF THE REGIME AND ITS COMMAND OF THE ARMY. IT
RARELY DEPENDED ON THE APPROVAL OR ASSISTANCE OF OUTSIDERS.
INDEED THE MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON DEPLOYED AGAINST AN UPRISING
IN A MOMENT OF NATIONAL CRISIS IS TO CALL IT A TOOL OF FOREIGN
INTERESTS. THIS WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE IN IRAN.

TO WESTERN EYES, WATCHING REVOLUTIONS IS RE-ENACTING OUR OWN
DEMOCRATIC ORIGINS. THEY REMIND US, SOMETIMES SMUGLY, THAT
MUCH OF THE WORLD HAS YET TO FIND THE PATH TO FREE ELECTIONS,
FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY. BUT THEY ARE ALSO THE
POLITICAL EQUIVALENTS OF EARTHQUAKE OR FLOOD. SURELY THESE
PEOPLE NEED OUR ADVICE, OUR AID, AT LEAST OUR RUNNING
COMMENTARY. THE ITCH TO INTERVENE BECOMES IRRESISTIBLE.

BRITAIN, WITH A HISTORY OF INEPTITUDE IN HANDLING EGYPT,
OFFERED ITS PENNYWORTH AT THE WEEKEND. THE FOREIGN OFFICE
SAID: "WE DON'T WANT TO SEE EGYPT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF
EXTREMISTS … WE WANT AN ORDERLY TRANSITION TO FREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS, AND A GREATER FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN EGYPT."

WHO CARES WHAT BRITAIN "WANTS" IN EGYPT? EGYPT IS NOT
BRITAIN'S RESPONSIBILITY ANY MORE, INSOFAR AS IT EVER WAS.
THE US IS IN AN EQUALLY ABSURD POSITION. HAVING INTERVENED FOR
THREE DECADES, BACKING MUBARAK WITH $1.5BN A YEAR FOR ARMED
FORCES ALONE, WASHINGTON HAS SLITHERED FROM DECLARING HIM A
"FORCE FOR STABILITY IN THE REGION" TO "DEMANDING AN ORDERLY
TRANSITION OF POWER". THE MESSAGE TO ALL ALLIES IS THAT AN
AMERICAN FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND WHO WILL VANISH AT THE
FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE.

AMERICA COULD INTERVENE, AS BUSH AND DONALD RUMSFELD MIGHT
HAVE DONE, WITH BLAIR COOING ALONG BEHIND. THEY COULD HAVE
TOLD MUBARAK TO REFORM HIS REGIME BUT HANG IN THERE. SINCE
WASHINGTON REGARDS THE MIDDLE EAST AS A POWDER KEG ABOUT TO
EXPLODE IN ITS BACKYARD, IT SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD TO RUN EGYPT. BUSH WOULD HAVE TOLD EGYPT TO GET
THE "BAD GUYS" OFF THE STREET. WHAT ARE TANKS FOR? WHY ARE
THOSE F-16S BUZZING ROUND THE SKY? DROP BOMBS LIKE AMERICAN
AND BRITISH PILOTS DID ON SERBS, IRAQIS AND AFGHANS. RETAIN
CONTROL OR THE MAD MULLAHS WILL BE AT ALL OUR THROATS. WESTERN
SECURITY IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE LEFT TO THE MOB.

ALTERNATIVELY WASHINGTON MIGHT INTERVENE ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT
MIGHT ARGUE THAT MUBARAK HAS SHOT HIS BOLT AND "ENGINEER
REGIME CHANGE". DON'T RELY ON RIOTERS, HALF OF THEM PROBABLY
EXTREMISTS. AMERICA COULD REMOVE MUBARAK AS IT REMOVED MULLAH
OMAR AND SADDAM HUSSEIN, BY FORCE. GIVE CAIRO A DOSE OF THE
SHOCK AND AWE. THIS IS THE POLICY SUPPORTED ELSEWHERE BY
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVES, THAT THE
WEST HAD A RIGHT AND A DUTY TO ORDAIN REGIME CHANGE IN MUSLIM
COUNTRIES. WHAT WAS GOOD FOR AFGHANS AND IRAQIS MUST BE GOOD
FOR EGYPTIANS – AND PERHAPS EVEN IRANIANS AND PAKISTANIS.

SUCH INTERVENTIONS WOULD BE MAD. HAD THE WEST NOT INTERVENED
IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, I BET THE IRAQI PEOPLE WOULD BY NOW
HAVE FOUND A WAY TO BE RID OF SADDAM. THEY OR THE ARMY WOULD
HAVE DONE WHAT THE TUNISIANS AND THE EGYPTIANS ARE DOING, AND
AT FAR LESS COST IN LIVES, UPHEAVAL AND CHAOS. AS FOR THE
TALIBAN, AS CLIENTS OF ISLAMABAD THEY WOULD HAVE COME TO
PAKISTANI HEEL. THE AFGHANS WOULD BE A THREAT TO NOBODY BUT
THEMSELVES.

WHAT HISTORY WILL CALL THE WARS OF 9/11 HAVE KILLED
IMMEASURABLY MORE PEOPLE THAN DID 9/11 ITSELF. THEY HAVE COST
WESTERN TAXPAYERS BILLIONS THAT WOULD HAVE GONE FAR TO
RELIEVING GLOBAL DISEASE AND FAMINE. AMERICAN AND BRITISH
GOVERNMENTS, FOR REASONS EMBEDDED IN SOME IMPERIAL PARANOIA,
GROTESQUELY EXAGGERATED THE THREAT POSED TO THEM BY THE MUSLIM
WORLD. THEY EMBARKED ON A CAMPAIGN OF INTERVENTION, REGIME
CHANGE AND NATION BUILDING FAR FROM THEIR SHORES. THE CAMPAIGN
HAS BEEN INEPT AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AS WELL AS IN BREACH OF
THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER ON SELF-DETERMINATION.

EGYPT, TUNISIA, IRAN AND PAKISTAN ARE ALL MUSLIM STATES
WRESTLING WITH AGONIES OF SELF-DETERMINATION. THE WEST'S SOLE
CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN TO PLUNGE TWO OF THEIR NEIGHBOURS, IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN, INTO A BLOODBATH OF INSECURITY AND CHAOS.
THIS IS NOT OUR CONTINENT, THESE ARE NOT OUR COUNTRIES AND
NONE OF THIS IS OUR BUSINESS. WE SHOULD LEAVE THEM ALONE.








OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN GUTLESS AND COWARDLY IN DEALING
WITH THE MUBARAK REGIME

ROBERT FISK - DEMOCRACY NOW! VIDEO INTERVIEW FROM CAIRO

"ONE OF THE BLIGHTS OF HISTORY WILL NOW INVOLVE A U.S.
PRESIDENT WHO HELD OUT HIS HAND TO THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND THEN
CLENCHED HIS FIST WHEN IT FOUGHT A DICTATORSHIP AND DEMANDED
DEMOCRACY."

FEBRUARY 03, 2011




TRANSCRIPT

AMY GOODMAN: I WANT TO TURN NOW FIRST, THOUGH, TO ROBERT FISK.
THE LONGTIME MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT
NEWSPAPER IN LONDON HAS BEEN VOTED BEST CORRESPONDENT BY
REPORTERS AND EDITORS IN BRITAIN FOR YEARS. HE’S THE AUTHOR OF
A NUMBER OF BOOKS, INCLUDING THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION:
THE CONQUEST OF THE MIDDLE EAST. WRITING FROM THE STREETS OF
CAIRO, HE WROTE, "ONE OF THE BLIGHTS OF HISTORY WILL NOW
INVOLVE A U.S. PRESIDENT WHO HELD OUT HIS HAND TO THE ISLAMIC
WORLD AND THEN CLENCHED HIS FIST WHEN IT FOUGHT A DICTATORSHIP
AND DEMANDED DEMOCRACY."

WE REACHED ROBERT FISK JUST HOURS BEFORE THE BROADCAST AND
ASKED HIM HIS REACTION TO THE UNFOLDING EVENTS IN EGYPT, AS
WELL AS THE U.S. RESPONSE.

ROBERT FISK: WELL, IMMENSE COURAGE DISPLAYED BY THOSE WHO
ARE DEMANDING THE OVERTHROW, EFFECTIVELY, OF MUBARAK, ODDLY
MATCHED BY THE COMPLETE GUTLESSNESS OF THE U.S.

ADMINISTRATION. IN FACT, THE COWARDICE OF THE LANGUAGE
COMING FROM MRS. CLINTON IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE
ENDLESS CALLS FOR RESTRAINT AND THE ENDLESS CALLS OF MUBARAK
BEING A FRIEND OF AMERICA, ETC.—MUBARAK HIMSELF BEING A
DICTATOR, RUNS A SECRET POLICE STATE, IN EFFECT—AGAINST
THESE LONE EGYPTIANS WHO ARE BEING FILMED BY STATE SECURITY,
WHO ARE BEING FILMED ON TELEVISION AROUND THE WORLD, WHO ARE
GIVING THEIR NAMES, IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS BEING AGAINST
THE REGIME, IT’S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF LOST
AMERICAN OPPORTUNITIES, IN FACT. YOU KNOW, I’M ON THE STREET
WITH THESE PEOPLE. THEY’RE NOT ANTI-AMERICAN. THERE ARE NO
ANTI—NOBODY IS BURNING AMERICAN FLAGS, THOUGH I PROBABLY
WOULD IF I WAS AMONG THEM AND I WAS AN EGYPTIAN IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY’VE BEEN IMMENSELY UNDERSTANDING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SITUATION, BUT OF COURSE IMMENSELY BETRAYED.
WHAT THEY’RE BUOYED UP WITH IS BASICALLY A SIMPLE FACT. WHEN
YOU THROW CONSTANT HUMILIATION AND FEAR AND REPRESSION AND
INCREASED EDUCATION, WHEN YOU THROW OFF YOUR SHACKLES, AS
THE OLD CLICHÉ GOES, WHEN YOU SAY, "I’M NOT AFRAID ANYMORE,"
YOU CAN NEVER RE-INJECT A PEOPLE WITH FEAR. THEY’RE ON THEIR
FEET. THEY MAY GET DEFEATED TEMPORARILY, BUT THEY’RE STILL
GOING TO BE STANDING UP. AND THAT’S WHY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
ARE COMING TO JOIN THE PROTESTERS.

AND NOW WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THAT HAVING SHOWN THEIR
DEFIANCE OF THE STATE SECURITY POLICE ON FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK
IN THOSE BIG BATTLES IN CAIRO, HAVING NOW HAD TO FIGHT
LITERALLY AGAINST THE MUBARAK PEOPLE WITH STONES—I MEAN,
LITERALLY FIGHT AND BE WOUNDED—THEY’RE SHOWING THAT THEIR
COURAGE IS REAL. IT’S NOT JUST VOICES ON A SCREEN THAT ARE
GOING FADE BACK TO MIDDLE-CLASS HOMES LATER OR GO BACK TO
FARMING OR SOMETHING. IT’S THE REAL THING. AND THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT MUBARAK CLEARLY DOESN’T UNDERSTAND. I THINK
THE ARMY IS BEGINNING TO.

THE KEY THAT I’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS HAS BEEN THE
WAY IN WHICH THE ARMY ON FRIDAY WAS TOLD BY MUBARAK TO CLEAR
THE SQUARE, AND THE INDIVIDUAL TANK OFFICERS REFUSED. I
ACTUALLY SAW THEM TEARING OFF THEIR TANK HELMETS, WHERE THEY
WERE RECEIVING ORDERS ON THEIR OWN MILITARY NET, AND USING
THEIR MOBILE PHONES. AND IN MANY CASES, THEY WERE PHONING
HOME, BECAUSE THEY COME FROM MILITARY FAMILIES. THEY WANTED
TO KNOW FROM THEIR FATHERS WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. AND, OF
COURSE, THEY WERE TOLD, "YOU MUST NOT SHOOT ON YOUR FELLOW
CITIZENS." AND THAT, I THINK, WAS THE ACTUAL MOMENT WHEN THE
MUBARAK REGIME BROKE. OR IF WE LOOK BACK HISTORICALLY,
THAT’S WHAT WE’LL BELIEVE. SO I THINK IT IS BROKEN, IT’S
FINISHED, WHATEVER MR. MUBARAK MAY DREAM ABOUT IN HIS
PANTOMIME WORLD. AND I THINK THAT WAS A VERY CRITICAL
MOMENT.

NOW, OF COURSE, THE GREAT DRAMA IS THIS. THE AMERICANS WANT
THE MILITARY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION AND GET RID OF
MUBARAK, BUT THEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MUBARAK’S VICE
PRESIDENT? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE AN EGYPT LED BY THE FORMER
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER FOR MUBARAK, A CHIEF NEGOTIATOR WITH
ISRAEL, ISRAEL’S FAVORITE EGYPTIAN, RUNNING THIS COUNTRY,
AND RUNNING THE ARMY TO RUN THIS COUNTRY? WE’RE GOING TO
HAVE JUST ANOTHER BENEVOLENT MILITARY DICTATOR RUNNING
ANOTHER ARMY WHICH RUNS ANOTHER COUNTRY IN THE ARAB WORLD,
WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT WE’VE HAD ALL ALONG. SO, THE
PROTESTERS, WHO TEND TO BE ABOUT 24 HOURS BEHIND IN WORKING
THIS SORT OF THING OUT—THEY’RE AWFUL TIRED, AND THEY’RE
TRYING TO STAY ALIVE AND SO ON—THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO
STRUGGLE HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLITICAL FUTURE BELONGS
IN THEIR HANDS AND NOT IN ANOTHER BUNCH OF GENERALS WHO GREW
UP UNDER MUBARAK AND GOT TIRED OF HIS RULE. BECAUSE THE ARMY
IS AGAINST MUBARAK, WHICH I THINK IT PRETTY MUCH IS NOW,
DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ARMY IS GOING TO SUPPORT WONDERFUL,
FREE, OPEN ELECTIONS IN EGYPT. IT WILL BE NICE TO THINK SO,
BUT I CAN’T THINK OF AN ARMY THAT’S EVER ACTUALLY DONE THAT
IN HISTORY, CERTAINLY NOT IN EGYPT. SO I THINK THAT THESE
ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP.

AND IT’S BEEN INTERESTING WATCHING THE BEHAVIOR. I MEAN, I’M
RIGHT UP RIGHT NEXT TO THE TANKS AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE STONES
ARE FALLING AND SO ON. YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG
SOLDIER WAS STANDING IN TEARS AS THE STONES WENT IN BOTH
DIRECTIONS PAST HIM. AND HE WAS OBVIOUSLY TORN APART BY WHAT
HE SHOULD DO BETWEEN HIS DUTY AS A SOLDIER AND HIS DUTY AS
AN EGYPTIAN. AND IN THE END, HE JUMPED DOWN FROM THE TANK,
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, CRYING AND THROWING HIS ARMS AROUND
ONE OF THE PROTESTERS. AND THAT—YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A VERY
SIGNIFICANT MOMENT, I THOUGHT, IN THIS. YOU KNOW, IF BIG
HISTORY IS MADE ON THE STREETS, THIS WAS A LITTLE TINY
MICROCOSM OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING OVER. THE ARMY ARE
AGAINST MUBARAK. I THINK THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO COME ACROSS
IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AMY GOODMAN: THAT WAS ROBERT FISK, THE LONGTIME MIDDLE EAST
CORRESPONDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER IN LONDON. HE’S
BASED IN BEIRUT, BUT OF COURSE SPEAKING TO US FROM THE STREETS
OF CAIRO.