Revolutions in the Middle East

[Lernakan]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Mortimer Zuckerman: Muslim Brotherhood would be a disaster for Egypt

Mortimer Zuckerman is a US billionaire and influential member of the American j.e.w.ish community.

He owns the New York Daily News and is a prominent commentator on US policy in the Middle East.

He says if the opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood were to come to power in Egypt it would be a 'disaster' and enormously damaging to US interests in the region.

Stephen Sackur asked him if it is time for the US to rethink its strategy in the Middle East.

watch video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/9383436.stm

[KanadaHye]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Alexander Iskandaryan: Recurrence of Egypt events in Armenia unlikely

Anna Nazaryan
“Radiolur”



What’s happening in Egypt today is not a colored revolution, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan says.

"The population in Egypt and Tunis, which are considered more progressive in the Arab world, can use computers and organize acts of protest, as a result of which we witnessed such development of events. It’s quite possible that Islamists will assume the main role on the political field, which is a serious challenge to the region, including Armenia," he said.

“If Islamists come to rule in Egypt’s politics, serious changes can be expected in the relations between Egypt and Israel. If Israel, which has lost its ally Turkey, loses Egypt, one of the most important countries in the Arab world, it will cause serious changes in the Middle East region,” Iskandaryan said.

According to the political scientist, Iran’s role in the region will grow parallel to the weakening of Israel’s influence. The events in Egypt are unlikely to occur in Armenia, Iskandaryan told reporters.

As for the intention of Armenian MPs to boycott the activity of PACE subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh, the political scientist says “boycotting will be a non-diplomatic step.”

http://www.armradio.am/news/?part=pol&id=19153

[KanadaHye]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

The sad thing is they know innocent people are going to die during these "protests" but they dont care. Look at how many people are dead in Egypt (300) and Tunisia (14) and yet they are saying Armenia should do the same. They think by causing a riot they will help the country? Look at Egypt, the country is in ruins and if the current situation was bad, imagine how many years it will take to reach the level they were at before the riots. The same thing about Armenia. If there are riots we can basically kiss Armenia goodbye. Those war mongering azeris will take advantage and attack. A war plus riots, imagine the death toll from these actions, imagine the toll this will have on the country.

These "uprisings" are instigated through universities and colleges using the unemployed young people as a tool. Who else has nothing better to do all day except hang out in the streets. There is an old saying "idle hands are the devil's tools". You have to keep people busy or they'll think of ways to make trouble.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Taking advantage of the current mess in Tunisia and Egypt, the anti Armenian outlet known as, Public Forum Armenia (PFA), has been essentially calling for social unrest in Armenia. Along with their cohorts at ArmeniaNow, a1+, hetq, and similar anti-Armenian outlets. PFA is mainly doing this through their facebook and twitter accounts. What is really disturbing about this is that there are many Armenians who buy into the anti-Armenian propaganda, without thinking for themselves what their actually supporting.

The sad thing is they know innocent people are going to die during these "protests" but they dont care. Look at how many people are dead in Egypt (300) and Tunisia (14) and yet they are saying Armenia should do the same. They think by causing a riot they will help the country? Look at Egypt, the country is in ruins and if the current situation was bad, imagine how many years it will take to reach the level they were at before the riots. The same thing about Armenia. If there are riots we can basically kiss Armenia goodbye. Those war mongering azeris will take advantage and attack. A war plus riots, imagine the death toll from these actions, imagine the toll this will have on the country.

[Armanen]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Taking advantage of the current mess in Tunisia and Egypt, the anti Armenian outlet known as, Public Forum Armenia (PFA), has been essentially calling for social unrest in Armenia. Along with their cohorts at ArmeniaNow, a1+, hetq, and similar anti-Armenian outlets. PFA is mainly doing this through their facebook and twitter accounts. What is really disturbing about this is that there are many Armenians who buy into the anti-Armenian propaganda, without thinking for themselves what their actually supporting.

[retro]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

I thought this is how they did war in the medieval times.

No small part of the problem is that they are still living in medieval times.

In North Africa, Berber/Amazigh separatism is on the rise and the region has been on the verge of going into open revolt against despotic and inept Arab rule for sometime.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Armenia: Egypt Events Energizing Opposition in Yerevan
February 2, 2011 - 12:13pm, by Marianna Grigoryan
Armenia Egypt Armenian Politics
Inspired by recent developments in North Africa, Armenia’s largest opposition coalition is preparing for “large-scale rallies” in Yerevan’s Freedom Square starting on February 18.

The government’s public response to the announcement by Levon Ter-Petrosian’s Armenian National Congress (ANC) has been muted. But official actions suggest that authorities are taking the potential for an “Egypt Effect” in Armenia seriously. Soon after the ANC revealed its protest plans, Yerevan city officials countered that Freedom Square would be off limits because it would be the scene of “sporting and cultural events” from February 15-March 15.

ANC have leaders say that if they can’t secure permission to rally in Freedom Square via PR efforts and official application procedures, they will simply protest without a city permit.

Freedom Square has long been the preferred site for opposition rallies, and it was the scene of the 2008 post-presidential election crackdown, during which at least 10 people were killed. The date selected for the rally -- the eve of the date of the 2008 presidential election, a vote that the ANC claims was stolen from Ter-Petrosian – is designed to reinforce the opposition message.

Ter-Petrosian, a skilled orator and former president, has repeatedly pledged to restart the ANC’s rallies in Freedom Square and has routinely had to contend with supposed city “scheduling conflicts.” When the ANC has staged protests at other venues in recent years, they have failed to attract large numbers.

This time, timing may be on the ANC’s side, some analysts believe.

Aside from heated discussions among Armenians about the changes underway in Egypt and Tunisia, economic discontent is brewing in Armenia. An ANC demonstration, if it takes place, would come on the heels of angry protests by Yerevan street traders, whose activities were recently banned. High prices – consumer prices in 2010 increased by 8.8 percent compared with the previous year, according to the National Statistical Service – and near-double-digit inflation (9.4 percent in 2010) are fueling a growing sense of discontent.

“Revolutions act like contagions,” said Manvel Sarkisian, a political analyst at the Armenian Center for National and International Studies. “In any event, the incidents in Tunisia and Egypt have already affected Armenia’s domestic life; the opposition has whipped up its excitement, and the authorities are responding accordingly.”

For now, the reactions of both sides are “predictable,” Sarkisian said. For the opposition to succeed in promoting substantive political changes, he added, Ter-Petrosian and others have to move beyond simply talking about holding protest rallies. “They must set goals and achieve them,” Sarkisian said.

The leader of the opposition Heritage Party’s parliamentary faction, Stepan Safarian, agreed; while the complaints of protesters in Egypt and Tunisia may resonate in Armenia amid the simmering discontent about runaway prices and dwindling jobs, staging a rally, by itself, is not much of a political goal. “We need to clarify the issues,” said Safarian. “Occupying Freedom Square cannot be a goal when we face the problem of restoring the rights of the people and many other important issues.”

Eduard Sharmazanov, the spokesperson for President Serzh Sargsyan’s Republican Party of Armenia, downplayed the chances that the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings will prompt a large number of Armenians to take to the streets. “There is some discontent in Armenia, but there are no grounds for a social revolt,” Sharmazanov. “Armenian authorities are determined to carry out reforms to alleviate the consequences of the [economic] crisis.”

One Yerevan pensioner, 63-year-old Janik Avagian, scoffed at such rhetoric, and indicated a readiness to protest. Social and economic conditions, Avagian asserted, were worsening by the day. “Everything gets more expensive, the public utilities, the food, life, and the authorities only give promises,” Avagian said.

In contrast to Avagian, one Yerevan taxi driver said that while events in Egypt had captivated the attention of Armenians, he personally remained reluctant to throw his support behind Ter-Petrosian. The driver, who declined to give his name, voiced disappointment over the outcome of the protest movement in 2008, and expressed the belief that Ter-Petrosian was merely trying to position himself for another presidential run in 2013. “After hundreds of thousands of people attended his rallies, and the notorious events [of 2008], Levon Ter-Petrosian dropped out of sight, and now he shows up again,” said the driver. “Why should I believe him?”

Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter in Yerevan and the editor of MediaLab.am.

that summarizes ter-petrosyan, causes a huge protest, then disappears knowing he will be charged for his actions.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

I thought this is how they did war in the medieval times.

We are heading back in that direction it seems with the degradation of society and values so you're looking at the future

We need some western Armenian voice overs.... "Aman, marte pabuchov dzets goudegor", "Eshoo bess griv genengor!!"

[londontsi]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

I thought this is how they did war in the medieval times.

[Davo88]

Re: Revolutions in the Middle East

Egyptian Army to Forcefully Remove Mubarak - Report

Egyptian army tanks are seen amid supporters and opponents of President Hosny Mubarak fighting each other at the Tahrir square in Cairo, Egypt, 02 February 2011. EPA/BGNES

An unnamed former Egyptian intelligence general quoted by Al Jazeera has stated he expects the army to aid in removing President Hosni Mubarak from office amid protests turned violent again Wednesday.

"I expect the army will act to remove Mubarak from power ... Mubarak is ready to burn the country," said the ex-high ranking security officer according to the Al Jazeera live blog on events in Egypt.

Tuesday the Egyptian army announced that it will not act out against protesters who have vehemently requested the immediate resignation of Mubarak and did not feel satisfied with his promise not to run or let his son run in this year's presidential elections.

Wednesday Cairo became the stage of violent clashes between anti- and pro-Mubarak protesters, which left at least one person dead and hundreds injured.

Pictures from the site show pro-Mubarak activists riding horses and camels and throwing stones and other heavy objects at the multitude.

Some anti-Mubarak protesters have discovered that the ones who attacked them were plain-clothes police officers.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=124845