Egypt Presses Ahead with NGO trials

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Somewhere along the way I read Thomas Friedman's opinion on Egypt's Step Backward. Those who know me here know me well and that I'm a big fan of the New York Times and particularly Michael Slackman. I am aware some of you really don't like Friedman and prefer Robert Fisk. I've been following his article in The Independent. My husband also really likes him. I found it interesting that Thomas Friedman's opinion and my husbands seemed to be the same on the issue of the prosecution of the American NGO's in Egypt and what it had to do with the old ways of the regime. That it is the big bluff of Egyptian nationalism against foreigner intervention that the regime falls back on.

My husband was shocked to find that Egypt is pressing ahead with the prosecution of the NGO's today. Here is the article: Egypt Presses Ahead with NGO Trials of Americans

The trial of 16 Americans and 27 others opens Sunday at a Cairo courthouse in what critics say is a politically charged case linked to a government crackdown on nonprofit groups that has touched off the deepest crisis in U.S.-Egyptian relations in decades.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Here is an update at what happened with the open of the trial. Link

There are 43 defendants in the case -- 16 Americans, 16 Egyptians, as well as Germans, Palestinians, Serbs and Jordanians. They have been charged with the illegal use of foreign funds to foment unrest and operating without a license. But the investigation fits into a broader campaign by Egypt's rulers against alleged foreign influence since the ouster of longtime rule Hosni Mubarak last year.

13 Egyptian were in court, none of the Americans were but 7 of them have been banned from leaving the country. The trial has been adjourned until April 26th this year.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yesterday I watched Secretary Clinton testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations. When questioned on the NGO's the first thing she said is that she believed the situations would be resolved very soon.

This morning I woke to the latest news from my hubby telling me that the judge on the case stepped down and that an American military plane arrived in Egypt and all the American's names that were on the no fly list were taken off. I checked online and it's true.

Cairo Airport told American NGO's can leave

My husbands comment on the subject is that "he told me so", and that the government was bluffing the entire time by selling the people the old line of Egyptian Nationalism and even when they're bluffing they're being stupid. There were other things they did that even their own media made fun of them for. Such as coming up with evidence after arresting a Canadian that it was the "Teddy Bear Coalition" that was behind the interference in the country. It was a big joke on Valentine's day when that news broke.

[Ban Hammer 13,555]

this is a regional specific topic and it's fine where it is, please stop reporting it.