Arab World

Aerial video of Cairo in the wake of the military atrocity against the Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins shows Cairo aflame. ITN compares it to the 1973 war, but it reminds me of 1952, when angry crowds attacked British-linked establishments in events that helped provoke the Young Officers’ coup.

On Wednesday morning, the State Security police in Egypt used earth movers to tear down the barricades around the huge sit-ins at al-Nahda Square in Giza and Rabia al-`Adawiyya square in Cairo. They left one street open at each location and demanded the crowds disperse, saying that no one would be pursued who voluntarily left. […]

In the midst of its political crisis, Egypt also faces rising food prices that are hitting the poor hard. This rise comes on top of tremendous price increases for staples under deposed president Muhammad Morsi this past year, as a result of the government not importing enough wheat and the 15% fall in the price […]

Egyptian Revolution of 1952 “the Communists called it a military dictatorship . . .” “Gen. Muhammad Naguib was considered a Muslim Brotherhood sympathizer . . .” plus ça change . . .

Sen. John McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham were apparently asked by President Obama to go to Egypt and try to mediate the conflict between the Egyptian military and the Muslim Brotherhood. They are saying some of the right things while in Cairo. The problem is that they have no credibility on the issues involved. 1. […]