The day part of the Internet died: Egypt goes dark

[Dinner]

Mubarak's thug police have now taken to driving speeding police cars and trucks into crowds of people killing dozens. It's clear they want the protesters off the streets and they are willing to randomly kill people to get their way.

[Dinner]

The new Vice President of Egypt is going to be making a statement today. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Why is it even remotely interesting? She was appointed a couple days ago by Mubarak because she's a Mubarak yes-man. All she'll do is spew the dictator's line and blame innocent people for the dictator's violence and murder.

[Egbert]

Apparently, mubarak is saying he would like to resign but can't because that would leave Egypt in disorder. I guess, in politician speak, that he means he hasn't the slightest intention of resigning and will cling to power until the bitter end.

The army is refusing to shoot the protesters so I wonder if they will decide it might be an idea to sort out the thugs Mubarak sooled onto the protesters and then maybe sort out Mubarak? Thast would be a military coup but ...... what else can be done?

[SlowwHand]

Whatever. The best thing that the USA, and all others, can do is let this play out. It is what it is. Egypt needs to sort it out.

[Lonestar]

Apparently, mubarak is saying he would like to resign but can't because that would leave Egypt in disorder. I guess, in politician speak, that he means he hasn't the slightest intention of resigning and will cling to power until the bitter end.

The army is refusing to shoot the protesters so I wonder if they will decide it might be an idea to sort out the thugs Mubarak sooled onto the protesters and then maybe sort out Mubarak? Thast would be a military coup but ...... what else can be done?

I'm betting the Military is going to invite Mubarak to exit peacefully. The restraint the military is showing probably has less to do with kindness on the part of the Egyptian General Staff and more a worry that running protestors over with M113s will result in Uncle Sugar turning off the tap.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Why is it even remotely interesting? She was appointed a couple days ago by Mubarak because she's a Mubarak yes-man. All she'll do is spew the dictator's line and blame innocent people for the dictator's violence and murder.

She? And apparently the White House's transition plan involves the VP organizing the reforms.

[germanos]

The restraint the military is showing probably has less to do with kindness on the part of the Egyptian General Staff and more a worry that running protestors over with M113s will result in Uncle Sugar turning off the tap.

I suspect it has more to do with the fear that the conscripts will disobey orders and desert to the opposition. The scale of this uprising suggests that many conscripts would be demonstrating right now had they not been drafted.

[Traianvs]

I suspect it has more to do with the fear that the conscripts will disobey orders and desert to the opposition. The scale of this uprising suggests that many conscripts would be demonstrating right now had they not been drafted.

That and the fact that the army is really one big enterprise that has a stake in just about every industry in Egypt. They're waiting to see who wins the bout. When the generals see which way the wind is blowing they'll be wanting to secure their interests. Basically they're looking to further their interests, nothing more. In any case they have more to gain with stability than any true democratization.

Whatever happens, the outcome'll be less revolutionary than what happened in Tunisia.

[BeBMan]

Fail:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Fashion house Kenneth Cole Productions (KCP) became the target of the Internet's collective wrath on Thursday after the company's namesake chairman tweeted a promotion that joked about this week's escalating protests in Egypt.

The controversy began after Kenneth Cole posted the tweet to the company's official twitter account, around 10:30 a.m. ET: "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online... -KC." The post included a link to the company's online store.

* 258
*
*

* Email
* Print

The "KC" at the end of the tweet indicated the tweet was written by Kenneth Cole himself, the company's chairman and "chief creative officer," and not by a marketing assistant or some other employee.

It came at a time when the political situation in Egypt is deteriorating rapidly, with increasing reports of violence against both anti-government protestors and impartial foreign observers in the area. CNN's Anderson Cooper was attacked by protesters on Wednesday, punched several times in the face.

Within an hour of the post, Kenneth Cole apologized, saying " we weren't intending to make light of a serious situation. We understand the sensitivity of this historic moment." The tweet was also tagged "KC" to indicate it was written by Cole.

The original tweet was also deleted late Thursday afternoon.

"I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt," Cole then wrote on his official Facebook account. "I've dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate."

The well-known U.S. shoe maker has a history of edgy advertisements that reference news events and social issues. The company currently has a line of handbags and accessories made of rubber (Cole's products are traditionally made of leather) the proceeds of which go to HIV/AIDS research. The advertising slogan is "Save a Hide, Wear a Rubber."
0:00 /2:44Google is no Facebook or Twitter

Even after the apology, reaction by Twitter users and bloggers was swift and vicious. Many twitter users called the tweet "repulsive" and "in bad taste."

Kathleen Schmidt, who works in public relations and uses the twitter username BookGirl96, joked "I wouldn't want to be in Kenneth Cole's shoes right now."

Investors were less concerned about the whole PR debacle. Shares of Kenneth Cole were up 1.8% in late-afternoon trading. To top of page

Bolding? It wasn't me!

http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/03/news/companies/KennethCole_twitter/index.htm

[germanos]

Whatever happens, the outcome'll be less revolutionary than what happened in Tunisia.

From what I understand nothing revolutionary happened there (either). Sure, the top dog left, some of his extended family have been rounded up, but what else? I expect the Egyptian change to be more significant, although it won't be revolutionary. If they would just end the state of emergency for crying out loud! That would be a revolution in itself.

[giblets]

Mubarak leaves the ruling party but is still president... seems like a stupid move, all it does is send a message that the protests are getting somewhere.

[Lonestar]

I suspect it has more to do with the fear that the conscripts will disobey orders and desert to the opposition. The scale of this uprising suggests that many conscripts would be demonstrating right now had they not been drafted.

No way. I mean, that MAY play part of it but that wouldn't prevent the Republican Guard from carrying out it's "protect the regime" duties. By sitting on the sidelines the Egyptian general staff can say to Uncle Sugar "while the actual government may be a bunch of oppressive *******s, we in the military are responsible caretakers whose job is to protect the country from foreign nations and that's it."

If, on the other hand, Republican Guard Abrams start rolling through Cairo running over people that tap is being switched into the "off" position.

[germanos]

Yes, that MAY play part of it as well.

Meanwhile, US diplomacy has ****ed up things big again.

'Critical' leadership

Mr Wisner, a former ambassador in Egypt, was sent by President Obama to Cairo on Monday, apparently to urge Mr Mubarak to announce his departure.

"We need to get a national consensus around the pre-conditions for the next step forward. The president must stay in office to steer those changes," he told the Munich Security Conference.

"I believe that President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical - it's his chance to write his own legacy.

"He has given 60 years of his life to the service of his country, this is an ideal moment for him to show the way forward."

"We have great respect for Frank Wisner and we were deeply appreciative of his willingness to travel to Egypt last week," said state department spokesman PJ Crowley.

"He has not continued in any official capacity following the trip. The views he expressed today are his own. He did not co-ordinate his comments with the US government."

On Friday Mr Obama urged the Egyptian president to make the "right decision", without explicitly saying he should step down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12374753

This is incredible: Hosni the dictator has ruled his country with an Iron Fist for 30 years under emergency rule, no democracy or Rule of Law whatsoever and now he must steer the transition? He has had his whole ****ing life time for that! And the US keeps backing him?

[dannubis]

Whatever. The best thing that the USA, and all others, can do is let this play out. It is what it is. Egypt needs to sort it out.

I'd never thought I'd see this day but:

[Egbert]

This is incredible: Hosni the dictator has ruled his country with an Iron Fist for 30 years under emergency rule, no democracy or Rule of Law whatsoever and now he must steer the transition? He has had his whole ****ing life time for that!

Unfortunately we may see a transition to a new dictator when (if?) Mubarak goes. All of the apparatus for Dictatorship is in place. Whoever inherits that apparatus may decide it is a good idea to keep it. I'm afraid I don't give much for the chances of democracy suddenly flowering in Egypt. This seems to be more about bread than democracy so whoever does take over will need to address the issue of "bread" but may have very good prospects of continuing to rig elections, make people "disappear" and so forth. Perhasps I am being overly pessimistic?