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Hope mixes with fear as Egyptian army prepares to overthrow Morsi

"The army ultimatum has bred relief among many Egyptians, weary of what they see as Mursi’s clumsy, power-grasping rule, and who see the army as the only national institution capable of getting a chaotic revolutionary transition back on track. Signs of Egypt’s latest political uproar pop up everywhere downtown. Vendors selling socks and jewelry have supplemented their wares with small Egyptian flags. Guy Fawkes masks – an emblem of protest against authority around the world – cover store mannequins. Anti-Mursi chants break out on street corners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHope mixes with fear as Egyptian army prepares to overthrow Morsi

Egyptian ministers resign in wave as Army deadline nears

"Egyptian foreign minister Kamel Amr became the sixth minister to tender his resignation from the Morsi government. Amr follows the ministers for tourism, environment, communications and legal affairs and water utilities. Morsi, along with the Egyptian prime minister, met with the head of the armed forces for a second day on Tuesday. Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported that millions have staged demonstrations against President Mohamed Morsi’s government since Sunday. Prior to Amr’s resignation, the other four ministers had stated that their move came as an act of 'solidarity with the people’s demand to overthrow the regime.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian ministers resign in wave as Army deadline nears

Glenn Greenwald: ‘Obama Admin Using Snowden as an Example in War on Whistleblowers’

"Glenn Greenwald, The Guardian newspaper columnist who first published Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA surveillance programs, joined Fox and Friends this morning and said that there are many more secrets still to come to light. While he declined to specifically say what they were at this time, he did say, 'There are vast programs of both domestic and international spying that the world will be shocked to learn about that the NSA has engaged in with no democratic accountability.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: ‘Obama Admin Using Snowden as an Example in War on Whistleblowers’

Egypt’s Tamarod protest movement

"Tamarod is a new grassroots protest movement in Egypt. The group, whose name means 'rebel' in Arabic, claims it has collected more than 22 million signatures for a petition demanding President Mohammed Morsi step down and allow fresh presidential elections to be held. Following Sunday's massive demonstrations, in which millions of people took to the streets in Cairo and other cities, Tamarod gave the president an ultimatum to resign or face a campaign of 'complete civil disobedience'. It urged 'state institutions including the army, the police and the judiciary, to clearly side with the popular will as represented by the crowds'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt’s Tamarod protest movement

Egyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

"Egypt’s presidency on Tuesday rejected an army ultimatum threatening to intervene if Islamist President Mohamed Morsi did not meet the demands of the people, raising the stakes in the country’s political crisis. The army statement, read out on television Monday, had given Morsi 48 hours to comply with its call. 'If the demands of the people are not met in this period… (the armed forces) will announce a future roadmap and measures to oversee its implementation,' it said. But in a statement issued overnight, the presidency insisted it would continue on its own path towards national reconciliation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

Bush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance

"Former President George W. Bush is insisting that a NSA Internet surveillance program started during his administration 'guaranteed' civil liberties, and that Edward Snowden 'damaged the country' by leaking details about it. In an interview with CNN, Bush was confident that 'the Obama administration will deal' with Snowden and the fallout from his leaks. 'I think he damaged the security of the country,' he explained. 'I put the program in place to protect the country, and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed.' The former president added that his program had found 'the proper balance' between privacy and security." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance

Bush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance

"Former President George W. Bush is insisting that a NSA Internet surveillance program started during his administration 'guaranteed' civil liberties, and that Edward Snowden 'damaged the country' by leaking details about it. In an interview with CNN, Bush was confident that 'the Obama administration will deal' with Snowden and the fallout from his leaks. 'I think he damaged the security of the country,' he explained. 'I put the program in place to protect the country, and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed.' The former president added that his program had found 'the proper balance' between privacy and security." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance

The United States v. Aaron Burr

"Defenders of unconstitutional and intrusive mass surveillance of American citizens by the National Security State have deemed him a traitor, while opponents of such malignant and reprehensible police state practices have proclaimed him a hero. The crucial issues surrounding Snowden call to mind one of the most profound legal cases ever tried, that of The United States v. Aaron Burr. Burr was one of the most intriguing and mysterious persons in the early years of the Republic. Vilified and portrayed as a traitor, there are other dimensions to his character not always presented or portrayed in accounts by court historians." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe United States v. Aaron Burr

The United States v. Aaron Burr

"Defenders of unconstitutional and intrusive mass surveillance of American citizens by the National Security State have deemed him a traitor, while opponents of such malignant and reprehensible police state practices have proclaimed him a hero. The crucial issues surrounding Snowden call to mind one of the most profound legal cases ever tried, that of The United States v. Aaron Burr. Burr was one of the most intriguing and mysterious persons in the early years of the Republic. Vilified and portrayed as a traitor, there are other dimensions to his character not always presented or portrayed in accounts by court historians." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe United States v. Aaron Burr

Protesters in Egypt attack ruling party Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters after deadly clashes

"The headquarters of Egypt’s ruling Muslim Brotherhood was overrun by youths who ransacked the building after those inside were evacuated on Monday following a night of violence that killed eight people. By far the bloodiest incident of Sunday’s mammoth and mostly peaceful protests against the Brotherhood and President Mohamed Mursi, it began after dark and continued for hours, with guards inside firing on youths hurling fire bombs and rocks. Medical sources said more than 100 people were wounded. A security source put the total number of dead across the country since Sunday at 17, with 781 injured." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProtesters in Egypt attack ruling party Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters after deadly clashes