Afternoon Edition: Live Blog on Egypt and Other Things

This is a live blog and open thread.

Minx here, and I thought I would post a few stories on Egypt, as well as other things going for fellow news junkies like me.

I have to say that during all this coverage of the Egyptian Revolution, Al Jazeera has represented women tremendously. They have had so many female news reporters in the field, giving such moving and fantastic reports and interviews. It has been the best part of the day for me to listen to the women’s voices on the YouTube – AlJazeeraEnglish’s Channel.

So much better to hear than the droning on and biased filled reporting on the U.S. MSM channels. If you have a chance please send @AJEnglish a tweet supporting these women reporters. It seems pathetic in this day to have to thank a news organization for giving a voice to women journalist, when so many MSM’s do not.  (I made sure that our Sky Dancing Twitter sent a thank you tweet. It was important for me to let them know how appreciative we are to hear these women journalist.)

Okay, on with the articles that are being published about today’s historic events in Egypt.

BBC News – Middle East after Hosni Mubarak: impact of a revolution

How wrong we were.

When the unrest began in Tunisia, most experts (myself included) said the country’s long-time strongman, President Ben Ali, would crush it and survive.

When he abruptly fled the country and unrest spread to Egypt, most experts (myself included) said Egypt was not Tunisia and that the country’s long-time strongman, Hosni Mubarak, would crush it and survive.

The last few weeks have turned every expectation on its head and led even the most seasoned observers to wonder where the region is heading.

So here are some thoughts, from a chastened observer, about the likely fall-out.

Quiet Worries as Israel Watches an Ally Depart – NYTimes.com

JERUSALEM — As the streets of Gaza exploded with celebration on Friday night with masked Hamas militants marching defiantly to cheer the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Israelis reacted with quiet and deep concern because the regional leader on whom they had relied most was suddenly gone.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained the same studied silence it has sustained for more than two weeks on the assumption that nothing it said could serve its interests: if it praised the pro-democracy movement, it would be seen as disloyal to its ally, Mr. Mubarak. If it favored Mr. Mubarak, it would be dismissed as supporting dictatorships.

Mubarak’s Swiss Assets Frozen – WSJ.com Dak mentioned this in a comment on the earlier post, just thought I would give you a link bout it.

The Swiss government froze assets possibly belonging to departed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and his entourage Friday, marking the latest efforts by the Alpine nation to crack down on illicit holdings in its banks.

The Foreign Ministry said Friday the government had frozen “any potential assets” belonging to Mr. Mubarak and his “associates.” The freeze goes into effect immediately and lasts for three years.

Where next for Hosni Mubarak? Wealth and fears of prosecution will dictate future | World news | The Guardian

Mubarak said in his first speech during the uprising on 1 February that he would not leave his homeland, pledging to “die on the soil of Egypt and be judged by history”.

But exploratory discussions involving the Saudis, the US and the UAE have reportedly taken place about him moving to Dubai. One important issue is immunity from any prosecution he might face on charges of crimes against humanity after 300 deaths and documented abuses by the security forces.

According to the London-based paper al-Quds al-Arabi, revelations about the Mubarak family fortune and possible legal action over that are also a factor in planning for a post-presidential future.

11-2-11 | Al Jazeera Blogs

Finally a recent date has come to pass reflecting positively on the people of the Middle East. They richly deserve it. September 11, 2001, was a horrendous crime against the world. But on this day it’s worth remembering that those who attacked on that day drew inspirations, at least in part, from the hands of their torturers in Egyptian jails.

On 11/2/11, the world can collectively celebrate, as it witnesses a persistent civilisation courageously revolting to earn their freedom, secret police be damned.

That Mubarak was an authoritarian dictator kept on political life support by the West, especially the United States Congress, will remain fresh in people’s minds, and a stain on America’s own foreign policy.

But all that’s for the historians. After dithering and taking wishy-washiness to new levels since the revolution began, President Obama’s foreign policy team is resigned to the category of regional irrelevance that it merits. So too are the Johnny-come-latelies in the EU and elsewhere, who only phoned in their support once the presidential plane was wheels up for Sharm El Sheikh.

I just posted these links and highlighted a bit of each, I wanted to get this post up so look for any thoughts in the comment section.

In other news:
The leaked campaign to attack WikiLeaks and its supporters – Glenn Greenwald – Salon.com

Julian Assange’s lawyer makes graphic defence during extradition hearing | Media | The Guardian

And finally…Along the lines of Dak’s post yesterday…

ThinkProgress » Former Bush-Cheney National Spokesman Thinks Muslims Are Incapable Of Democracy: ‘This Is The Middle East’

Well let’s have it…what are you finding out there on the ole’ circle box?