I meant to send this when it came out, but it was the day after the State of the Union speech, and the arab world began erupting. I sent reports on the latter and analyses of the speech and its ramifications. I'm glad I waited. It's a good-as-possible analysis of the situation, with enormous implications for the world, by Robert Fisk, the Edward R. Murrow of the area. Then, a just-received call to protest the brutality of the repression going on right now, throughout Egypt. It's for a demonstration tomorrow at the Egyption Consulate in Los Angeles. -Ed
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-a-new-truth-dawns-on-the-arab-world-2194488.html A new truth dawns on the Arab world Leaked Palestinian files have put a region in revolutionary mood By Robert Fisk: The Independent.uk: 26 January, 2011 The Palestine Papers are as damning as the Balfour Declaration. The Palestinian "Authority" - one has to put this word in quotation marks - was prepared, and is prepared to give up the "right of return" of perhaps seven million refugees to what is now Israel for a "state" that may be only 10 per cent (at most) of British mandate Palestine. And as these dreadful papers are revealed, the Egyptian people are calling for the downfall of President Mubarak, and the Lebanese are appointing a prime minister who will supply the Hezbollah. Rarely has the Arab world seen anything like this. To start with the Palestine Papers, it is clear that the representatives of the Palestinian people were ready to destroy any hope of the refugees going home It will be - and is - an outrage for the Palestinians to learn how their representatives have turned their backs on them. There is no way in which, in the light of the Palestine Papers, these people can believe in their own rights. They have seen on film and on paper that they will not go back. But across the Arab world - and this does not mean the Muslim world - there is now an understanding of truth that there has not been before. It is not possible any more, for the people of the Arab world to lie to each other. The lies are finished. The words of their leaders - which are, unfortunately, our own words - have finished. It is we who have led them into this demise. It is we who have told them these lies. And we cannot recreate them any more. In Egypt, we British loved democracy. We encouraged democracy in Egypt - until the Egyptians decided that they wanted an end to the monarchy. Then we put them in prison. Then we wanted more democracy. It was the same old story. Just as we wanted Palestinians to enjoy democracy, providing they voted for the right people, we wanted the Egyptians to love our democratic life. Now, in Lebanon, it appears that Lebanese "democracy" must take its place. And we don't like it. We want the Lebanese, of course, to support the people who we love, the Sunni Muslim supporters of Rafiq Hariri, whose assassination - we rightly believe - was orchestrated by the Syrians. And now we have, on the streets of Beirut, the burning of cars and the violence against government. And so where are we going? Could it be, perhaps, that the Arab world is going to choose its own leaders? Could it be that we are going to see a new Arab world which is not controlled by the West? When Tunisia announced that it was free, Mrs Hillary Clinton was silent. It was the crackpot President of Iran who said that he was happy to see a free country. Why was this? In Egypt, the future of Hosni Mubarak looks ever more distressing. His son, may well be his chosen successor. But there is only one Caliphate in the Muslim world, and that is Syria. Hosni's son is not the man who Egyptians want. He is a lightweight businessman who may - or may not - be able to rescue Egypt from its own corruption. Hosni Mubarak's security commander, a certain Mr Suleiman who is very ill, may not be the man. And all the while, across the Middle East, we are waiting to see the downfall of America's friends. In Egypt, Mr Mubarak must be wondering where he flies to. In Lebanon, America's friends are collapsing. This is the end of the Democrats' world in the Arab Middle East. We do not know what comes next. Perhaps only history can answer this question. Like Robert Fisk on The Independent on Facebook for updates f/ 3, 258 people like this (as of 6 AM, January 27) *** ***please forward widely*** Los Angeles Stands in Solidarity with the Egyptian People Protest at the Consulate General of Egypt Demand the release of political prisoners 4929 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE #300 LOS ANGELES CA 90010 Sat, Jan 29th, Noon-1:30 PM Inspired by the successful ouster of the tyrant of Tunisia and the continued mobilizations in that country for justice,the Egyptian people have organized massive marches and rallies throughout their country for the past 3 days, fighting off vicious police attacks and mass arrests to call for the ouster of the hated Mubarak regime. They have shown they will not give up - even in the face of guns, tear gas and other weapons supplied and paid for by the United States. Hundreds of activists have been jailed and we demand their immediate release. A free Egypt is the key to justice throughout the Arab world. Come stand in solidarity with the brave people of Egypt!l Contact [email protected], or call 213-309-2713 to endorse and support the rally. You can also call the Egyptian Consulate General to demand a release of the prisoners TEL: (323) 933-9700 (323) 933-9757 (323)933-1401 FAX: (323)933-9725 ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
