Middle East

Signs of a Shift Among Egyptian Protesters to Antigovernment, From Pro-Morsi

"As tens of thousands gathered in the streets of Cairo for the ninth Friday of protests against the takeover, few carried the posters of Mr. Morsi’s face that were once the banner of the Brotherhood’s 'anti-coup' coalition. Instead, almost everyone held a sign with a logo memorializing the mass killing by security forces of hundreds of Morsi supporters on Aug. 14. In at least one march by thousands of demonstrators in the neighborhood of Mohandiseen, many carried signs opposing both the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement behind Mr. Morsi, and the new government installed by General Sisi." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSigns of a Shift Among Egyptian Protesters to Antigovernment, From Pro-Morsi

Soviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

"A Soviet soldier who disappeared more than 30 years ago on the battlefield in Afghanistan has been found alive and well and living under the name of Sheikh Abdullah in the western Afghan city of Herat. According to officials, local residents rescued Khakimov from the battlefield and treated his wounds with herbs. The Soviet soldier remained with the man who helped him, and acquired medical skills. Khakimov – an ethnic Uzbek, originally from Samarkand – married a local Afghan woman and settled in the Shindand district. His wife later died. The couple had no children. Some 264 Soviet soldiers who fought in the 1979-1989 war in Afghanistan are still missing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSoviet soldier who disappeared 30 years ago in Afghanistan located

Egypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

[April 2013] "Russia’s and Egypt’s presidents compared notes on economic and international cooperation on Friday. Mohamed Morsi is on an official visit to Moscow as Egyptian society seethes, with almost 50 people injured in the latest violent clashes. 'Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak announced that Egypt proposed sending a delegation to Cairo 'to resume cooperation in peaceful nuclear projects' to jointly construct new nuclear power plants. Cairo plans to build 4 GWt of nuclear power facilities by 2025, Novak said. Cairo has also invited Moscow to step in joint developing of uranium mines in Egypt, he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt invites Russia to mine uranium, build nuclear power plants

Egypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

"The Saudi-Russia-China alliance is designed to break the Egypt-U.S. relationship. The new alliance reflects how U.S. influence is waning in the Middle East. After many decades of driving events in the Middle East — and spending incalculable national treasure — the U.S. is about to lose big. New alliances in Egypt reflect Saudi-Russian-Chinese efforts to help keep hard-line Islam under control. The Saudis fear Brotherhood-style religious fervor. Russia wants to control the spread of hard-line Islam in its southern regions — Chechnya comes to mind — while China has issues with hard-line Islam in its western regions. And the U.S.? There’s no sense of consistency coming from Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt Crumbling: “The Most Important Event so Far of the 21st Century”

Egypt’s political chaos decimates historical treasures

"Magdy Tahami looks in disbelief at what remains of Egypt’s tiny Mallawi museum. The ground is littered with glass from the display cabinets, which once housed its precious collection, after a mob attacked and looted the building, during a nationwide crackdown on Islamist protesters. Before, hundreds of antiquities, statuettes, gold and jewels told the history of Egypt, from pharaonic times to the Muslim caliphs, from the Omayyad dynasty in the 7th century to the Fatimids in the 12th, and touching on Greek and Roman antiquities. For 20 years, these historic treasures were assistant-director Tahami’s whole life." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt’s political chaos decimates historical treasures

Egypt court orders Hosni Mubarak freed

"An Egyptian court has ordered the release on bail of former President Hosni Mubarak in a corruption case. Analysts say Mr Mubarak's release - if it happens - would be seen by many as a sign the military is rolling back the changes that flowed from the 2011 uprising. European Union foreign ministers on Wednesday held urgent talks to determine a response to the clampdown. Arms are provided by individual countries rather than the EU as a whole, mostly by Germany, France and Spain. The UK has already suspended some of its military help." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt court orders Hosni Mubarak freed

Lawmaker: Lindsey Graham ‘a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood’

"According to The State, state Sen. Lee Bright (R) slammed Graham for fulfilling Obama’s request to visit the country alongside Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), saying that instead of listening to constituents’ concerns during the congressional recess, Graham 'has instead chosen to take his time to be a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood.' Bright, one of three Republican challengers for Graham, told the Associated Press that his trip to Egypt with McCain would fuel the country’s recent instability. 'They are outsiders, trying to come in and tell them how to operate internal affairs in their country,' Bright said to the AP." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawmaker: Lindsey Graham ‘a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood’

Muslim Brotherhood faces ban as Egypt rulers pile on pressure

"Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood risks political elimination, with the new army-backed government threatening to ban the Islamist organization after launching a fierce crackdown on its supporters that has killed hundreds. Struggling to stamp its authority on Egypt following the ousting last month of President Mohamed Mursi, the country's new rulers have upped the rhetoric, saying the Arab world's most populous nation is at war with terrorism. The crackdown has, however, drawn messages of support from key Arab allies like Saudi Arabia, which have long feared the spread of Brotherhood ideology to the Gulf monarchies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMuslim Brotherhood faces ban as Egypt rulers pile on pressure

Brother Of Al-Qaeda Chief Al-Zawahiri Reportedly Detained In Egypt

"Egyptian authorities have arrested the brother of al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri, a security official said Saturday. He said Mohammed al-Zawahri, leader of the ultraconservative Jihadi Salafist group, was detained at a checkpoint in Giza, the city across the Nile from Cairo. Mohammed al-Zawahri's group espouses a hard-line ideology but was not clandestine prior to Egypt's July 3 coup. He was allied with ousted President Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist, whose supporters are now taking to the streets to protest the killings of its supporters in a security crackdown last week. The official declined to give further details. He spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to talk to the press." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBrother Of Al-Qaeda Chief Al-Zawahiri Reportedly Detained In Egypt