Xandu posted:

It's been a front page story in the NYT every day for over a week. Top US reporters (Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Nick Kristof, etc) have all been reporting on it.

Some people just don't pay attention to the rest of the world.

Blurry Gray Thing posted:

"Wait, Muslims? There aren't any Muslims in Egypt."
"No, there definitely are. It's a pretty Muslim country."
"But what about, y'know, Osiris and stuff?"

Is that better or worse than going on about the Muslim Brotherhood establishing a theocracy?

Narmi posted:

Regarding Bahrain, is the government still trying to place the blame on "violent protesters" for the more serious injuries and deaths? Nobody seems to be buying it.

NYT source

quote:

@iranproxy
iran proxy
Leader.ir is down ;-) MA HASTIM. #iranelection

quote:

audi intervention possible

Analyst Ibrahim al-Khayyat believes that the "strong tribal alliance" among Gulf states could prompt a "Saudi military intervention" to help the Bahraini monarchy.

Khayyat said fear of instability in Bahrain is not limited to Gulf states, and that the United States will not accept undermining the regime in Bahrain, home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

London-based analyst Abdulwahab Badrakhan said "any change in a Gulf state will encourage change in others which is not acceptable to regimes amid a global and Arab environment conducive to change."

"Gulf monarchies feel endangered by any protest demanding a change of regime or even a constitutional change because the regional situation, especially the standoff with Iran, will justify not bowing to demands," he said.

Badrakhan said Gulf states will "go too far to support the regime in Bahrain, the weak point in the region," because of its Shiite majority and limited resources.

Analysts believe the predominance of Shiites in the protests reduces their chance of achieving their goals.

"Shiites in Bahrain should not place their legitimate demands within a sectarian framework but in a national formula ... as this can take out (a perceived) Iranian factor in the protests," Dakheel said.

Although the Bahraini protests can affect Shiites in the neighbouring oil-rich Eastern province of Saudi Arabia "it will not affect the stability of the Saudi political system," he said.

The director of the Far East and Gulf Military Analysis, Riyadh Qahwaji, said the sectarian factor does not favour the protests in Bahrain, adding that the army, which is loyal to the regime, is capable of facing demonstrators.

"The sectarian factor will not aid the Bahraini protests because they are seen from the Iranian angle," Qahwaji said.

He said the Sunni-dominated Bahraini army is capable of facing the protests, unlike the case of Egypt and Tunisia, but OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia must step in in to provide substantial aid to Manama.

Pureauthor posted:

The thing that gets me is how similarly all these revolution stories are playing out. It's like the various dictators never spent their period in power figuring out a less stupid way of attempting to retain control in the face of a discontented populace.

Apology posted:

This could get mighty ugly.

Pureauthor posted:

The thing that gets me is how similarly all these revolution stories are playing out. It's like the various dictators never spent their period in power figuring out a less stupid way of attempting to retain control in the face of a discontented populace.

tetsul posted:

How could that not end well for them? "People, I'm sure some of you have heard of a instability happening with our neighbors as people looking for freedom and democratic reform face off against their authoritative dictator. But don't worry, I, your authoritative dictator, have sent your sons and brothers to destroy those peaceful protesters."

Patter Song posted:

The way it ends "well" is by cowing them through violence. "Well" is in quotation marks for obvious reasons: it's a horrendous outcome for everyone else and only a short-term "win" for the regime.

The thing is, this isn't sending "the people's" sons and daughters against them. By most accounts, this is a revolt dominated by Bahrain's 70% Shia majority and the military is mostly composed by Bahrain's 30% Sunni minority protecting the interests of Bahrain's Sunni ruling elite. The military knows that their social group would really lose out in a successful revolution and the government can play up the whole "sectarian strife" thing to keep them motivated: "These aren't your brothers and sisters you're fighting, they're schismatic heretics" etc. (Of course, there's only so much you can play that card against the overwhelming supermajority of your country)

Blurry Gray Thing posted:

I don't want to sound like one of those technophile assholes - but it really is because of the spread of technology. The dictators are using old methods that just don't work with all these new forms communication around. All of a sudden, people are talking to each-other. They find out that a lot of people feel the same way they do. They find out about other places where people in a similar situation did something about it. They can plan a protest - and be pretty drat sure that, when they show up, there will be far too many people there to simply arrest.

A dictator counts on ignorance. People let themselves be oppressed only when they think there's nothing they can do about it.

quote:

@husambajis
Husám Bajis
Clashes broke out in Sulaimaniya in Iraqi #Kurdistan #Iraq

Apology posted:

Preliminary reports that the people in Iraq are rising too:


So much for the $774,838,900,000 and counting money that the US spent establishing a puppet democracy there, eh? YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!!!

Apology posted:

Preliminary reports that the people in Iraq are rising too:


So much for the $774,838,900,000 and counting money that the US spent establishing a puppet democracy there, eh? YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!!!

ChaosSamusX posted:

Um, did you just quote costofwar.com? Because they said the wars cost over 1 quadrillion dollars since 2001. There's no possible way that could be correct. So could someone qualify or clarify this figure?

EDIT: My bad, I thought that was 775 trillion, not 775 billion.

ChaosSamusX posted:

Um, did you just quote costofwar.com? Because they said the wars cost over 1 quadrillion dollars since 2001. There's no possible way that could be correct. So could someone qualify or clarify this figure?

EDIT: My bad, I thought that was 775 trillion, not 775 billion.

Aqua Bear posted:

Is the Al Jazeera feed not working for anyone else right now? Is it just me?

Dieting Hippo posted:

Hey, did you hear about the protests in the capital of Bahrain?

"Manama? Nah."

Intel5 posted:

I think Bahrain is getting ugly enough for the US to start pulling strings publicly with little or no blowback. I don't know what our ties to them are, and thus what we could/would do, but I hope the administration does something to stop this from turning into a total bloodbath.

quadratic posted:

Gorbachev thinks it may happen. http://on.wsj.com/gIKwhY

Shageletic posted:

I'm sure as hell not an expert, but Arab countries in the middle east have a long shared history, religious and lingual homogeneity, similarities involving societal pressures fueling the revolution, even strains of pan-Arabism reinforcing a sense of "if it could happen there, it should happen here." Russia seems to be pretty disconnected from all that.

Al-Saqr posted:

Toadofsky posted:

Is the goal with these protests specifically democracy or do they just want change in general?

I have a strange mix of happiness that people are protesting against their corrupt governments and sadness that people are dying. Some of these pictures are very disturbing.

quote:

Good morning. Governments around the Middle East are bracing themselves for protests and violence today as the unrest in the region continues to spread.

Bahrain
In Bahrain this morning many thousands of mourners called for the downfall of the monarchy as they began burying the dead after an assault on protesters at Manama's Pearl roundabout on Thursday night which left five dead. Today's calls for the king to go were seen as an escalation of demonstrators' demands; the uprising began with calls for a weakening of the Sunni monarchy's hold on top government posts and measures to address discrimination against the Shia majority. Two funerals have taken place, with one more to go this morning – after which protesters plan to march to Pearl roundabout, something that may cause a confrontation with police and security forces.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/18/bahrain-mourners-call-downnfall-monarchy

Libya
In Libya, soldiers were deployed on to the streets of Benghazi, after thousands took to the streets overnight to protest about security forces killing an estimated 24 demonstrators. The city was quiet this morning, but a witness reported shooting last night and the BBC said 10 people had been killed. Funerals are expected today that could act as a catalyst for further protests. Pro-government supporters were also out on the streets this morning. Crucially, there was little sign of anti-government protest in Tripoli, the capital. Ian Black has more on yesterday's protests here. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/17/libya-day-of-rage-unrest

Egypt
Thousands of Egyptians gathered for prayers this morning and a planned victory march through Cairo's Tahrir Square, the site of the protests that led to the fall of the president, Hosni Mubarak, a week ago today. The demonstrations will also act as a warning to the army – which took power after Mubarak stepped down – that protesters want to take a more active role in the country's transition to democracy.

Yemen
New protests are also expected today in Sana'a, Yemen's capital. Yesterday saw a sixth day of clashes between pro-democracy protesters and government loyalists in the country. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/feb/17/yemen-protests-in-pictures

Iraq
About 1,000 protesters in Basra, the southern Iraqi city, are demonstrating to demand better services from the government, jobs and improved pensions. They warned that today's protest would be peaceful, but others in the future might not be. At least five people have been killed at protests throughout the country this week.

Our correspondents throughout the region and Middle East experts and reporters in London will be keeping you updated throughout the day.

Reveilled posted:

I can't help but wonder if Egypt might start actively formenting revolution in other nations once the country is back on its feet. If/when a new civilian reigime led by the opposition groups comes to power, it's going to be pretty unpopular amongst the kings and dictators of the rest of the Arab-Iranian world, especially if the unrest continues for a prolonged period. If that happens, active support for the protestors in other nations would be in Egypt's national interest.

Shanakin posted:

I came across this nice map locating where most of the major events are throughout the region. It probably hasn't gotten everything but I haven't come across a better one yet.

google map from SBS news

quote:

Anti-Gaddafi demonstrators have taken over several cities in eastern Libya but have suffered scores of deaths, according to exiled opposition groups in London.

Government troops have withdrawn from al-Bayda, the scene of earlier confrontations, and protesters have blocked the runway to prevent military reinforcements arriving, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya maintains.

Mohamad Ali Abdalla, the deputy director of the NFSL, said:

quote:

I was told that there were 13 deaths in the city of al-Bayda alone last night and six more in Benghazi.

In al-Bayda, the city has been taken over and protesters are dismantling the runway to stop any military planes landing.

In total, there have been 30 deaths in Benghazi since demonstrations began on January 15th. Some of those who died were injured citizens who had been taken to al-Jala hospital in Benghazi.

Members of the revolutionary committee were shooting the injured who were brought in. I was told this by a nurse in al-Jala Hospital.

The government's revolutionary committee headquarters have been captured in other places, the FNSL claimed. In Ajdabiya, in north-eastern Libya, demonstrations were in charge of the city.

There have been few demonstrations further west nearer to the capital, Tripoli. In the western mountains, nearer to Tunisia, protesters have also been out on the streets.

Several opposition sites have reported that Gaddafi's regime has been relying on French-speaking soldiers, or "mercenaries" drawn from neighbouring Chad to crack down on the demonstrations

quote:

Al-Jazeera's live blog features video footage on YouTube showing protesters in the city of Tubruq tearing down a "green book" monument on Thursday. The green book was written by Muammar Gaddafi, outlining his political philosophy.

quote:

• Bahrain: After the funerals of protesters killed in recent violence, demonstrators were expected to head back to Manama's Pearl roundabout. Tens of thousands turned out for the funeral of Mahmood abu Taki see 10.30am). The protesters' demands seem to be getting more radical, with calls for the monarchy to be removed (see 11.33am).

• Egypt: An estimated 1 million people have gathered in Tahrir Square in an event celebrating the fall of Hosni Mubarak and putting pressure on the army to include demonstrators in the country's transition to democracy (see 12.21pm). Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a controversial cleric, gave a strikingly non-sectarian speech.

• Libya: Reports claim up to 50 people have been killed in anti-government protests in the east of the country – but it is very hard to verify information from Libya. Reports claim al-Bayda has been taken over by anti-government protesters. But there was little sign of anti-Gaddafi feeling in Tripoli, where the Libyan leader paraded among crowds of supporters (see 12.17pm).

• Yemen: Crowds are demonstrating against Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president, in the capital, Sana'a, and elsewhere. The biggest demonstration – tens of thousands of people – was in Taiz, where reports said eight people had been wounded by a hand grenade (see 12.12pm).

• Jordan: Eight people have been injured in Amman in clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators (see 12.28pm).

• Iran: There were calls for the execution of opposition leaders (see 12.03pm).