From Prisoner to President

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi declared official winner of Egypt elections

Islamist Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected president of Egypt with 51.7 percent of last weekend's run-off vote, defeating former general Ahmed Shafiq, the state election committee said on Sunday.

He succeeds Hosni Mubarak, who was overthrown 16 months ago after a popular uprising. The military council which has ruled the biggest Arab nation since then has this month curbed the powers of the presidency, meaning the head of state will have to work closely with the army on a planned democratic constitution.

Voter turnout at the runoff election was 51.85 percent, the chief of chief of Egypt's election commission said.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters burst into cheers on Cairo's Tahrir Square, waving national flags and chanting "Allahu Akbar!" or God is Great, greeting a dramatic victory.

Morsi, a 60-year-old, U.S.-educated engineer who spent time in jail under Mubarak, won the first round ballot in May with a little under a quarter of the vote. He has pledged to form an inclusive government to appeal to the many Egyptians, including a large Christian minority, who are anxious over religious rule.

The military council will retain control of the biggest army in the Middle East, whose closest ally is the United States. Morsi has said he will respect international treaties, notably that signed with Israel in 1979, on which much U.S. aid depends.

"President Morsi will struggle to control the levers of state," Elijah Zarwan, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in Cairo.

"He will likely face foot-dragging and perhaps outright attempts to undermine his initiatives from key institutions. Faced with such resistance, frustration may tempt him fall into the trap of attempting to throw his new weight around," Zarwan told Reuters. "This would be a mistake.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/muslim-brotherhood-candidate-mohammed-morsi-declared-official-winner-of-egypt-elections-1.443585

[Karee 4,191]

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/muslim-brotherhood-candidate-mohammed-morsi-declared-official-winner-of-egypt-elections-1.443585

Not good. The nuts out there are gonna see this is some kind of validation. He's already talking about "Martyrs" Not a good sign.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Karee

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Not good. The nuts out there are gonna see this is some kind of validation. He's already talking about "Martyrs" Not a good sign.

Well... a lot of people said the same thing when George W. was re-elected....

Anyway, I'm not so sure that Israel is more concerned about an MB candidate winning the election than they would be if an army candidate had won. Consider the history of the modern Egyptian military. Some 40 years after former President Nasser's death, the Egyptian military continues to be the most powerful political entity in the country. Since Nasser, it has completely controlled Egypt and its presidencies, and it intends to continue to do so. Sadat came up through the military and had been appointed as Nasser's deputy. Mubarak was the same - came up through the military, and was selected as deputy by Sadat.

But Mubarak was stupid and made a huge, fatal mistake. About three years ago, he started insisting that his son Gamal be the one to take over the presidency upon his father's death or retirement, and he demanded that the army support this. The army, having a Nasserite, leftie, anti-royalist ideology, was absolutely opposed to this idea. Gamal, the privileged and pampered son of billionaire Mubarak, is not a military guy - he has no military background or training.

So the army used the opportunity of Tahrir Square to get rid of Mubarak. Didn't you wonder why they stood aside and allowed the people to take him down ? And all without any real negative effect on the military's own power structure.

The Egyptian army is the enemy of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. That's why they made changes before the elections to strip power from the presidency, because they know their people and saw the writing on the wall.

But now ask: does the Egyptian army hate the peace treaty with Israel as much, or even more than the Muslim Brotherhood ? Probably, yes. Their take is: Israel has violated that treaty countless times. Also, the military has not forgotten Israel's surprise attack of 1967, or its mass murder of Egyptian POWs in the Sinai.

The army is staying quiet for now, happy to keep taking the money from the U.S., investing it in their equipment and troops, and getting stronger. They know they have to stabilize the economy, get a president and a real constitution, and create jobs instead of letting the money be dumped into Mubarak's Swiss bank accounts. But this is a culture and a society based on honor, and revenge for wrongs is a big part of that honor.

Israel may have dodged a bullet with the MB.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Not good. The nuts out there are gonna see this is some kind of validation. He's already talking about "Martyrs" Not a good sign.

Arab Spring......... LOL

[Karee 4,191]

Well... a lot of people said the same thing when George W. was re-elected....

Anyway, I'm not so sure that Israel is more concerned about an MB candidate winning the election than they would be if an army candidate had won. Consider the history of the modern Egyptian military. Some 40 years after former President Nasser's death, the Egyptian military continues to be the most powerful political entity in the country. Since Nasser, it has completely controlled Egypt and its presidencies, and it intends to continue to do so. Sadat came up through the military and had been appointed as Nasser's deputy. Mubarak was the same - came up through the military, and was selected as deputy by Sadat.

But Mubarak was stupid and made a huge, fatal mistake. About three years ago, he started insisting that his son Gamal be the one to take over the presidency upon his father's death or retirement, and he demanded that the army support this. The army, having a Nasserite, leftie, anti-royalist ideology, was absolutely opposed to this idea. Gamal, the privileged and pampered son of billionaire Mubarak, is not a military guy - he has no military background or training.

So the army used the opportunity of Tahrir Square to get rid of Mubarak. Didn't you wonder why they stood aside and allowed the people to take him down ? And all without any real negative effect on the military's own power structure.

The Egyptian army is the enemy of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. That's why they made changes before the elections to strip power from the presidency, because they know their people and saw the writing on the wall.

But now ask: does the Egyptian army hate the peace treaty with Israel as much, or even more than the Muslim Brotherhood ? Probably, yes. Their take is: Israel has violated that treaty countless times. Also, the military has not forgotten Israel's surprise attack of 1967, or its mass murder of Egyptian POWs in the Sinai.

The army is staying quiet for now, happy to keep taking the money from the U.S., investing it in their equipment and troops, and getting stronger. They know they have to stabilize the economy, get a president and a real constitution, and create jobs instead of letting the money be dumped into Mubarak's Swiss bank accounts. But this is a culture and a society based on honor, and revenge for wrongs is a big part of that honor.

Israel may have dodged a bullet with the MB.

At the end of the day it gives Israel a reason to keep bombing Gaza. Benny and his nut friends are just waiting for an excuse. They got it.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

At the end of the day it gives Israel a reason to keep bombing Gaza. Benny and his nut friends are just waiting for an excuse. They got it.

Um, what ?

In fact, the changes in Egypt are a continuing incentive for Israel *not* to attempt another Cast Lead. The IDF will limit themselves to what they've been doing over the past year - smaller-scale strikes that always manage to kill civilians and usually draw retaliation from the smaller militant groups. They're actually a calculated attempt to draw this retaliation, so that they can keep stalling on making a final settlement while they continue annexing the West Bank, and milking the U.S. for more Iron Dome money. The plan is to squeeze the Gazans out into Egypt, so they need the door open that way.

[Karee 4,191]

Um, what ?

In fact, the changes in Egypt are a continuing incentive for Israel *not* to attempt another Cast Lead. The IDF will limit themselves to what they've been doing over the past year - smaller-scale strikes that always manage to kill civilians and usually draw retaliation from the smaller militant groups. They're actually a calculated attempt to draw this retaliation, so that they can keep stalling on making a final settlement while they continue annexing the West Bank, and milking the U.S. for more Iron Dome money. The plan is to squeeze the Gazans out into Egypt, so they need the door open that way.

Ok then. You watch. Those nuts in Tel Aviv are gonna use that election to show the world "we have terrorists on our doorstep" Don't be naive.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Ok then. You watch. Those nuts in Tel Aviv are gonna use that election to show the world "we have terrorists on our doorstep" Don't be naive.

Israel already says that 24-7.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/gaza-militant-killed-rockets-hit-israel-092652577.html

Gaza militant killed as rockets hit Israel

By IAN DEITCH | Associated Press – Sat, Jun 23, 2012

ERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli airstrikes killed one Gaza militant and injured 17 people in the coastal strip Saturday while a rocket from the Palestinian territory wounded one Israeli. The country's military chief of staff summoned senior officers to discuss the latest flare-up in violence.

A military spokesman said Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz convened "an urgent meeting" to discuss ways of dealing with the Palestinian attacks. Gaza militants fired over 20 rockets and mortar shells on Saturday alone, bringing the week's rocket tally to about 150.

The military spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, gave no other details about the meeting.

The latest flare-up is the most serious in months. Over a million people in southern Israel live in range of the rockets and the Israeli military has advised the residents to make sure they can get to a bomb shelter quickly.

Early Saturday morning, an Israeli airstrike killed a Palestinian militant as he rode his motorcycle in Gaza. In two other airstrikes 17 Palestinians, militants and civilians, were wounded and several buildings used by the Islamic militant Hamas group, which rules the coastal territory, were damaged.

The Israeli military said it hit "terror sites" and that it holds Hamas accountable for any attacks originating from the Gaza Strip.

Also, an Israeli was seriously wounded Saturday when a Gaza rocket smashed through a factory roof. Rockets from Gaza also hit a school in the Israeli border town of Sderot. The school was closed for the weekend so no one was hurt but the building was damaged. Several other Israelis were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks this past week.

The spike in violence began on Monday when two gunmen infiltrated into Israel along its border with Egypt's Sinai peninsula and killed an Israeli Arab construction worker who was part of a crew building a border security fence meant to avert such attacks. Later, a little known al-Qaida-inspired group, the Mujahedeen Shura Council of Jerusalem, claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the gunmen as an Egyptian and a Saudi.

Since then, Gaza gunmen have fired barrages of rockets and mortar rounds at Israel, wounding several Israelis and damaging apartment buildings.

Israel responded with airstrikes on militant targets that gave killed at least 9 Palestinians and wounded more than 20 so far.

Meanwhile, Gaza health official Ashraf Al Kedra said a boy was killed in a playground during an airstrike Saturday morning in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said they didn't attack that area.

Military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich later called the allegation a "false rumor" and said that according to intelligence information, the boy was killed by "ordinance belonging to one of the terror groups." Palestinian rockets often misfire and explode inside Gaza.

The latest escalation has drawn in militants from Hamas, which rules the territory but has largely refrained from attacking Israel since a war more than three years ago. Other Palestinian groups persisted with rocket assaults and other attacks on Israel during that time.

[Karee 4,191]

Israel already says that 24-7.

Yeah but now they have an excuse. I can see CNN now. "Egyptian terrorists have infiltrated our border on the Sinai Peninsula"

Benny get's to use some of that ammo we give him.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I will post the timeline...

Yeah but now they have an excuse. I can see CNN now. "Egyptian terrorists have infiltrated our border on the Sinai Peninsula"

Benny get's to use some of that ammo we give him.

They say that all the time. It's nothing new.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/gazans-celebrate-brotherhood-victory-egypt-174030114.html

Gazans celebrate Brotherhood victory in Egypt

By IBRAHIM BARZAK | Associated Press – 6 hrs ago

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Strip erupted in celebratory gunfire on Sunday with news that the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate won the presidency in neighboring Egypt, but one person was killed.

Tens of thousands of joyous Palestinians took to the streets across the territory after Egypt announced that Mohammed Morsi won last weekend's runoff election, the first time an Islamist has won that nation's highest office.

Gunmen fired automatic weapons in the air, while mosque loudspeakers rang with prayer. Some revelers handed out candy on street corners. Others waved Egyptian flags and blasted the country's national anthem from car speakers.

A Gaza health official said that one person was killed and six others wounded by celebratory gunfire.

Gaza is ruled by the militant Islamic Hamas, a local offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt's ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, collaborated with Israel in a blockade of Gaza they said was necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas.

Now Gaza residents say they are optimistic that the new Egyptian leader will improve relations with the impoverished Palestinian territory.

"Today is new era for us in Gaza. The days of suffering due to the Egyptian authorities are over," said Rawhi Talab, 51, a food store owner. "It's a day of joy ... I voice my hope that Egypt will work to improve our life here," he said.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh phoned Morsi to congratulate him on becoming Egypt's first Islamist president. "This is a victory for all Arabs and Muslims, and this is God's promise to his believers," the Hamas leader said to the newly elected president.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum and other Hamas leaders followed developments closely on TV and went ecstatic when the announcement came that the Brotherhood won. "This is a victory for Egypt and the revolution and the Arab people," Barhoum said.

Gaza resident Alam Mansour handed out candy to revelers. "Today is a festival for Gaza," the 25-year-old engineering student said. "I am sure that the president of Egypt will lead the Islamic nation to great prosperity, and he will help us here in Gaza," he said.

Hamas plans a rally Sunday evening in support of Morsi.

Gaza has a 15-kilometer (9-mile) border with Egypt's Sinai desert and one official border crossing between the two.

Edited June 25, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[Karee 4,191]

I will post the timeline...

They say that all the time. It's nothing new.

Yeah but now they have a scary person running the show in Egypt. The IDF is gonna take full advantage of that.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yeah but now they have a scary person running the show in Egypt. The IDF is gonna take full advantage of that.

Gaza looks at this as a victory but it's going to be their downfall if anything. More arms are going to be smuggled into Gaza after this election which means more rocket fire into Israel. The IDF is going to go back into Gaza and level it again but this time Egypt might get a taste of the IDF also. The US is already selling moth balled destroyers to Israel to be refitted.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Yeah but now they have a scary person running the show in Egypt. The IDF is gonna take full advantage of that.

Why is he scary ? Do you have any specifics ?

Anyway, the Egyptian military is still the power that is in control... I tried to explain that to you.

Gaza looks at this as a victory but it's going to be their downfall if anything. More arms are going to be smuggled into Gaza after this election which means more rocket fire into Israel. The IDF is going to go back into Gaza and level it again but this time Egypt might get a taste of the IDF also. The US is already selling moth balled destroyers to Israel to be refitted.

The Egyptian military wants that $2 billion in aid to keep coming from the U.S. If they were interested in allowing mass weapons to be smuggled into Gaza, it would already be happening.

Israel wants the rocket fire; that's why it keeps egging it on. (I am playing a game right now, but I will post the timeline shortly.)