A lot of good analysis on the Egyptian crisis is out. My favorite reads are some great recent articles by Haroon Moghul at Religion Dispatches, and by Shadi Hamid; Brian Katulis also offers up a strong analysis.
Disappointed in U.S. response from the beginning of the crisis. The long-standing U.S. practice of selling out democratic values in exchange for foreign policy (read: economic) interests clearly is now catching up with the US, putting them in an untenable public squeeze. Personally, it's disheartening to witness this country's lack of integrity regarding democratic ideals.
Given the mood and resolve on the street, my fear is the longer Mubarak stays, the longer, the more tense and unstable any transition process will become, as various factions seek to exploit the post-demonstration economic fallout and sociopolitical vacuum on top of the existing conditions that gave rise to the unrest. Mubarak needs to go, and as soon as possible.
Media coverage has generally been good, with CNN ground reporters and (particularly their tweets) providing excellent and compelling street detail. I've been less impressed with CNN anchors, who still raise the "radical Islam" boogieman/ratings driver even after all their guest experts and analysts have continuously and consistently across the board put that scenario in its proper perspective. Al Jazeera English becomes my principal MSM outlet of choice, offering live streaming video, and online stalwarts Enduring America offers their usual excellent live blog and aggregation.
CNN was also quite behind the curve (or else just reluctant) in collating and surfacing the numerous eyewitness accounts and reports of the plainclothes police involvement in the pro-Mubarak "supporters" today.
The sudden appearance of thugs-as-demonstrators after a previous invisibility seemed suspicious at the outset, showing more organization (well supplied and deployed, some groups arriving in buses). I wonder -- not positing, just curious -- if the US had prior wind of such a development, when the US urged all non-essential personnel to leave and Marines moved to secure the U.S. Embassy.
Events unfolding throughout the night and into the day -- police ID cards discovered among those faction members, accounts on Twitter that people were in fact paid and/or "requested" by their employers to join pro-government groups, selective coverage/spin on state TV, the targeting of foreign journalists, and the apparent restoration of Internet service -- all point to a poorly coordinated media attempt by the Mubarak regime.
Its hard to say who the target audience was for this effort. The selective coverage and spin on State TV-- pointing the finger at the Muslim Brotherhood for the Molotov cocktails, the denial of government involvement in the pro-Mubarak groups -- clearly was designed to impart the message to Egyptians that only Mubarak could provide stability. The targeting of foreign journalists could also be viewed as part of that staging and/or an actual attempt to impede world coverage. As incredulous and naive as that may seem, Mubarak's two recent speeches since the crisis reveal a surreal stubborn disconnect from the realities and wishes of the anti-government demonstrators. Regardless of the intent, it's no coincidence that the roughing up of journalists and escalating violence directly coincides with the release of the pro-Mubarak "supporters."
It's also no coincidence (and no less clear) that the internet was restored today as well. If the regime hoped to extend its spin to the outside world, it clearly didn't understand the scope and predominant sentiment of SM activity on the ground (and would be counter to the journalist rough-ups). There is also, to my knowledge and Twitter monitoring, no pro-Mubarak Twitter chats (save for one attempt at organizing a meeting). It appears the regime opened the internet without its own plan to capitalize on it.
As the situation deteriorates at this hour, the military needs to commit to their conscience. Are they with the people, or not?
I continue to pray, watch, and support as best I can.
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