Amazing Speech By A War Veteran

Since this video speaks for itself, I will refrain from commenting on its contents. I will say, though, that viewers should keep an open mind when listening. This is a man that has been there and done that. That counts for a lot in my book.

It stands in sharp contrast to the mindless, idiotic commentary we hear on these topics every day in the mainstream media by people that don't have one iota of the guts displayed by this brave soldier.

"Anonymous" Interview on Al Jazeera

It's another day and yet another example of how Al Jazeera is taking CNN, BBC and other "top" news networks to school comes to light. Here is a video interview conducted with members of the activist hacker group Anonymous. Wearing the  Guy Fawkes masks, and probably using voice synthesizers, they comment on how they helped the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. They also emphasize how they go out of their way to not harm regular people during their operations. Impressive stuff.

Enjoy:



What's particularly hilarious is the story of HB Gary, a security firm whose CEO claimed he knew, and was about to expose, the identities of several leaders of the group. As you saw in the video above, that didn't end so well. Not only did they deface the site and publish thousands of internal company emails, but it now appears there might be a congressional investigation as reported by the Washington Post:

A group of House Democrats is calling on Republican leaders to investigate a prominent Washington law firm and three federal technology contractors, who have been shown in hacked e-mails discussing a"disinformation campaign" against foes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to be released Tuesday, Rep. Hank Johnson(D-Ga.) and more than a dozen other lawmakers wrote that the e-mails appear "to reveal a conspiracy to use subversive techniques to target Chamber critics," including "possible illegal actions against citizens engaged in free speech."

The lawmakers say it is "deeply troubling" that "tactics developed for use against terrorists may have been unleashed against American citizens."

The call for a congressional probe marks the latest development in the controversy over tens of thousands of e-mails stolen from HBGary Federal, whose computer system was attacked in early February by members of a loose collective of unidentified hackers known as Anonymous.

Now, the embattled CEO of HB Gary has reportedly resigned his post!

They really should have apologized when they received this warning:



Oh well, some people only learn the hard way...

Report: Italian Mafia and Ukranian Mercenaries Helping Gaddafi

A disturbing piece of news is making its way through the blogosphere, and that is that mercenary Ukrainian pilots are flying Libyan MiGs to fire on protesters in Tripoli. The same source indicates the Italian mafia is involved in some capacity in aiding the beleaguered dictator. Here is the text of the report:


According to a STRATFOR diplomatic source in the region, Ukrainian pilots are flying Libyan MiGs to fire on protesters in Tripoli.


The source claims the Italian mafia is also assisting the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and that boats operated by Italians have attacked demonstrators in Benghazi and Tripoli.


The source's information indicated that the Egyptian army has prevented a convoy of trucks carrying aid to Libya from crossing the border, as the Egyptian military is unhappy with potential regime change in Libya.


Meanwhile, demonstrators in Tripoli are planning to reach Bab al-Aziziyya, a bastion for the Libyan regime. The Libyan army unit that guards the road leading to Bab al-Aziziyya has joined the demonstrators, according to the source. The source's information has not been verified.


Additionally, Italian parliamentary sources have been quoted as saying that a large number of Italian air force helicopters and the navy have been ordered south. Also, all Italian air bases have been placed on alert according to the same sources.

Rare Syrian Protest - February 17 2011

On Thursday February 17, a shop keeper was trying to park his car near hi place of business in downtown Damascus, Syria. He was stopped by a traffic cop who insulted him and called him an ass. Typical verbal abuse by a tool of one of the most brutal dictatorial regimes in the Arab world. The man replied: " you would make 60 asses". The traffic cop then hit the man, still sitting in his car, with his stick. The man jumped out of the car to defend himself and engaged the assailant. At that point two other traffic cops came to the aide of their comrade and thoroughly beat the man...in the middle of the street.

Some people are really dumb.

The screams of the shopkeeper quickly drew other shopkeepers into the street who stood horrified at the sight they saw. Quickly and spontaneously, the shopkeepers closed their shops and marched into the street to confront the police. As word spread, approximately 4,000 people packed the narrow street demanding justice. The police had by then retreated into the doorway of a building and were completely surrounded. 

The crowd started chanting " The Syrian people will not be degraded". Soon enough police cars arrived on the scene and right after...the Minister of Interior! The minister then proceeds to plead with the crowd to be calm and patient, assuring them that justice will be served.

Here is the video:

Could the beating of this shopkeeper be the spark that ignites the passions of the Syrian people as was the case in Tunisia? Time will tell.

Ex-CIA Analyst, Ray McGovern, Beaten, Bloodied and Arrested

Well this is just sad.

In what can be described as the epitome of irony, ex-CIA senior analyst Ray McGovern was beaten, bloodied and arrested as he stood in silent protest at a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week.

The topic of Mrs. Clinton's speech? Why freedom of expression of course!!

Here is a video interview with McGover, post attack and with bruises to show, with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now:




What's shocking is that Mr. McGovern is not a nobody in political circles. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia profile:

McGovern was a mid-level officer in the CIA in the 1960s where his focus was analysis of Soviet policy toward Vietnam. McGovern was one of President Ronald Reagan's intelligence briefers from 1981–85; he was in charge of preparing daily security briefs for Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush, the National Security Advisor, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Cabinet. Later, McGovern was one of several senior CIA analysts who prepared the President's Daily Brief (PDB) during the first Bush administration.

Upon retirement, McGovern was awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medal from Bush (which he later returned, see below^[1]) and worked for Washington-based non-profits before becoming co-director of the Servant Leadership School in Washington. Now, McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C.


However, McGovern also has a conscience:

McGovern has been an outspoken commentator on intelligence-related issues since the late 1990s.^[2] He was heavily critical of the government's handling of the Wen Ho Lee case in 2000.^[3] In 2002 he was publicly critical of President George W. Bush's use of government intelligence in the lead-up to the war in Iraq.^[4]

In 2003, together with other former CIA employees, McGovern founded the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity or VIPS. The organization is dedicated to analyzing and criticizing the use of intelligence, specifically relating to the War in Iraq. In January 2006, McGovern began speaking out on behalf of the anti-war group Not in Our Name. According to the group's press release, McGovern served symbolic "war crimes indictments" on the Bush White House from a "people's tribunal."

Here is a video of McGovern calling Rumsfeld out on the lies that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq:

This man should be honoured for his service, consulted with because of his experience and respected for his opinions. He should be put on a pedestal!

It's a shame that's not the case.

From Bahrain to Saudi - Cracks Appearing

By now virtually everyone on the planet has heard of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt as well as the pro-democracy movements in several Arab countries.

One of the more vicious government reactions to these protests has been that of Bahrain. The government sent in the military which proceeded to brutally fire on the crowds with live ammunition. These military thugs were shooting to kill, generating many head and upper body injuries. In fact, the first two protesters killed were SHOT IN THE BACK!!!

So far there are at least 5 deaths and thousands of injuries reported.The bulk of the wounded are taken to the Salmaniya Medical Complex, which is struggling to cope with the volume of wounded.Doctors are appealing for medical supplies...

Keep in mind that Bahrain has a total security force of 20,000 and a population of almost 800,000 people. Additionally, and unlike Egypt, the military is reviled because it is made up of foreign expats from countries like Yemen, Jordan and Pakistan. They are MERCENARIES.

Yesterday the Gulf Cooperation Council (whose member states are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) said they will go as far as using military force to protect the Bahraini regime and insure that protests don't spread to their countries. Oh and by the way , they sit on 45% of the world's crude oil reserves.

Today there are reports of Saudi military convoys entering Bahrain through the bridge that links the two countries. In this YouTube video, at the 0:50 mark, a driver captures part of the military convoy zooming past the traffic in a dedicated lane:




The unrest has spread to Saudi Arabia where today a small group of Saudi Shiites protested in the eastern province town of Awwamiya asking for the release of shiite political detainees who are being held in prison without trial.

Here is a YouTube video showing the small group of protesters and the line of police vehicles driving towards them as is captured by the driver:




Also today, Reuters is reporting that:

JEDDAH, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Saudi authorities have detained several activists who tried to set up the kingdom's first political party, human rights activists said on Saturday.

The top oil exporter and U.S. ally is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any form of public dissent, does not have an elected parliament or any political parties.

Saudi Islamists and opposition activists this month launched a political party called the "Islamic Umma" in a rare challenge to authority inspired by unrest triggering regime change in Tunisia and Egypt.

"There are four in custody now. Five were arrested, two were outside the country and the others were questioned and released," said Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Riyadh-based activist and head of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, who has been following the case.

By the way Jeddah is all the way on other side of the country in the western province on the Red Sea. It's inhabitants are almost 100% Sunni, not Shiite.

IT'S ON.

Mubarak Thugs Kill Lone Unarmed Protester!!!

This video is the reason why governments should fear the people and not the other way around. At around minute 1:35 you will see a lone, unarmed, male protester advance up the alley trying to prevent the police from firing on the protesters behind him by turning himself into a human shield. His arms raised he stares defiantly at the police, whose guns are trained on him.

Then their guns go off and he is murdered in plain sight.

I am speechless.

The Tell: What Politicians Really Think About Egypt - UK Version

This post, and hopefully others to follow, aims to help people analyze the words of politicians and determine where they truly stand and what they think. This will be done using the powerful method of contrasts. The topic at hand is whether all the "talk" of supporting pro-democracy protests and opposition groups is sincere or is simply lip service designed to hedged against the success of these movements.

Let's face it. Politicians talk a good game. That's how they get elected. Voters the world over often suffer from a case of cognitive dissonance a few years after a politician they voted for has been in power. That's because, more often than not, politicians don't follow through on the promises made during their election campaigns. It leaves the voters confused and dismayed, if not disillusioned.

So what are we to do when faced with a great speech on a campaign trail, or anywhere else for that matter?

We have to learn to read between the lines.

Take the case of two prominent UK politicians, both discussing the recent pro-democracy protests in Egypt.

1- Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, who is the current official envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East (US, EU, UN and Russia), as well as working with JP Morgan Chase in a "senior advisory capacity". His job is to mediate the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Interesting choice for a peace broker since he was the UK Prime Minister that sent his countrymen to a war in Iraq based on falsified intelligence, but I digress.

Here he is being interviewed by CNN's Piers Morgan on the events in Egypt (interview starts at minute 2:00):



Now for the analysis of some highlights (author's interpretations between brackets):

BLAIR: The question is, then, what emerges from that? And in particular, I think the key challenge for us, really, is how do we help partner this process of change and help manage it in such a way that what comes out of it is open-minded, fair, democratic government? 


(We need to find another, younger, version of Mubarak that will be equally brutal in suppressing his people and will continue to act as our agent in the region. We need to find this man quickly and trick the people into believing that he is their choice when in reality he's ours.)


MORGAN: Nobody seems quite sure what to say about President Mubarak. Depending on who you talk to, he's been a force for good or a force for evil. The people are clearly in Egypt making their feelings clear. Where do you stand on him?

BLAIR: Well, where you stand on him depends on whether you've worked with him from the outside or on the inside. And for those of us who worked with him over the -- particularly now I worked with him on the Middle East peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians, so this is somebody I'm constantly in contact with and working with.

And on that issue, I have to say, he's been immensely courageous and a force for good. Inside Egypt, and I have many Egyptian friends, it's clear that there's been a huge desire for change. So where you stand on President Mubarak very much depends on, you know, whether you've been dealing with him as an outsider on something like the peace process or whether you're somebody, I think, who's obviously an aspiring middle class there that are wanting now the same types of freedom and changes that people have elsewhere. 


(He's not such a bad guy come on Piers! I mean he does whatever we want. I pick up the phone regularly and tell him what to do and what to say. Sure he could be temperamental sometimes but who isn't? I hear some people are complaining he  doesn't give them enough freedom, but all those people are inside Egypt so I don't give a $%^&. Notice how he fails to call him a dictator!)


BLAIR: Well, first of all, let's just be very clear, Piers. Hosni Mubarak is not Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein took a country that -- when he came to power had a GDP they had roughly the equivalent of Portugal and Spain and devastated it.

Hosni Mubarak, to be fair, has presided over an Egyptian economy that's something like doubled in the last decade. But I don't think the west should be in the slightest bit embarrassed about the fact that it's been working very closely with President Mubarak over the peace process, and it has, by the way, but at the same time, it's been urging change within Egypt. 


(He's an obedient poodle, unlike that former puppet of ours, Saddam, that went rogue on us all of a sudden. Mubarak is great because he gave our corporations all the concessions that they wanted and sure he skimmed 50-70 billion dollars off the top but who's counting? Certainly not the 40% of the population that make under $2 a day...until now...gulp)


MORGAN: Can I ask you, Mr. Blair, I mean how do you find your job? I mean many people would argue you've gone into an absolute hornet's nest here because you were a British prime minister through the war in Iraq and indeed Afghanistan.

How do you feel being a peace envoy in an area of the world where a lot of Arabs don't trust you and don't like you?

BLAIR: Well, some do, some don't. I mean not everybody was in favor of keeping Saddam Hussein in place and many people regarded the attacks on America of 9/11 of appalling -- of an appalling nature. So you know you've got different strands of opinion there.

Over, you know, the past and my role, for example, as a strong ally of America or a strong ally of Israel, I never hide that. Not that I could if I wanted to. I make it clear that I'm in favor of democratic government and I'm in favor of bringing about change within the region.

Now I think one part of that change is a viable peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But it's also precisely about making sure that dictators like Saddam can't stay in power. 


(Piers! Must you highlight that I'm a tool and nobody outside the corrupt puppet regimes in the region listens to what I say!  Yes, I am an agent of America and Israel, and yes I am working here on their behalf, but I will always pay lip service to "democracy" because it doesn't cost me anything to say it and it sounds good. My job is to make sure the Israelis continue subjugating the Palestinians and terrorizing them as well as making sure that all of the puppets stay in line. Otherwise they get what Saddam got.) 


2- George Galloway, a former UK member of parliament for 23 years, who has been a very outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, the Bush and Blair administrations, the Israeli abuse of the Palestinians and the dictatorships in several countries in the Arab world, including Egypt.

In fact, he led an aid convoy to the stricken and boycotted people of Gaza, passing through Egyptian territory and due to clashes with Mubarak thugs that were trying to enforce the boycott he was deported and declared persona non grata. The BBC article says that a year before that event (in 2009):

"In a speech last year Mr Galloway described Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak as a "criminal" and "outlaw of the Arab world" and called for his overthrow."


Here he is giving a speech in support of the pro-democracy rallies in Egypt (Wed 2 February 7pm: Public Meeting: Solidarity with the Egyptian Uprising):



Notice the CONTRAST in language:

"When the tyrant will escape with his ill-gotten gains and his family members, but that fools and hirelings like him working for that regime would be lucky to avoid being strung up from the street lamps.

I was wrong Mubarak is not a person without a status. He has a status, and that status is murderer, torturer, dictator and he should be on trial."

(Can language be clearer than that? Not by much if at all, especially when compared to the pussy-footing we saw from Blair earlier)


" 40 Million of whom, are living on less than a dollar a day. We keep hearing this is a revolution being organized facebook and twitter. Well 40 million Egyptians don't have bread! Never mind, mobile phones and computers! This is something not to be forgotten."

(Galloway brilliantly cuts through the "Newspeak" to remind us what is ailing the Egyptian people is hunger and poverty. This is proof of the failed economic policies and rampant corruption of the Mubarak regime that has impoverished a once great nation to the benefit of a dictator and his cronies)


"I tell you these media sources and governments like Cameron's and Obama's support this revolution like a rope supports the hanging man. There's no pleasing them. This revolution if successful cannot possibly be in their interest, therefore they must wish it to fail or be derailed, just as a matter of objective reality."

(Again a brilliant Galloway moment where he speaks the truth about the agenda of the US and UK governments vis a vis the revolution. Wow.)


" If there are any forces in Egypt, on the revolutionary side, who are holding themselves back for the purpose of not seeming like a Muslim revolution, after today WE NEED ALL FORCES ON THE STREETS TO TAKE THIS REVOLUTION FORWARD TO VICTORY."

(Have you ever heard a Western politician so emphatically support the revolution? CONTRAST again with the stuttering, hesitant lip-service of Blair)


"Don't trust the armed forces of Egypt. Don't fall for this guff, that it's a people's army. Yes, fraternize with the ordinary soldiers. Yes, give them flowers. Yes, embrace them. Yes, proselytize for the revolution amongst them. Yes, embrace and try to win them. But the generals and the military brass of the Egyptian armed forces are bought and paid for in Washington and will do exactly what Washington tells them to do."

(Galloway exposes what is obvious to the informed viewers of the unfolding events in Egypt. The Egyptian military brass is bought and paid for. See this, this and this. Galloway is warning the Egyptian people not to fall for the bait and switch game which the powers that be hopes will produce a new Mubarak to maintain the status quo and, at the same time, convince the Egyptian people that they have advanced change and democracy)


In conclusion, I think it's obvious who is speaking his mind truthfully, courageously and backing it up by actions. It is also clear who is being disingenuous, at best, and who's actions are a stark contrast to his words.

Both of these politicians vie for your vote.

Remember that next time.

ITANIMULLI

Well this is ummm...odd to say the least !

If you type ILLUMINATI backwards you get ITANIMULLI...

Wanna take a guess as to where www.itanimulli.com will take you? Click to find out. You won't believe it....

That's right it takes you the home page of the US National Security Agency. The most secretive of all the US intelligence agencies. Here is an excerpt of the Wikipedia site on the NSA:

"The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) is acryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defenseresponsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S. governmentcommunications and information systems,^[1] which involves cryptanalysis andcryptography.

The NSA is directed by at least a lieutenant general or vice admiral. NSA is a key component of the U.S. Intelligence Community, which is headed by theDirector of National Intelligence. The Central Security Service is a co-located agency created to coordinate intelligence activities and co-operation between NSA and other U.S. military cryptanalysis agencies. The Director of the NSA is also the Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command – Network Warfare.^[2] NSA's work is limited to communications intelligence; it does not perform field or human intelligence activities. By law, NSA's intelligence gathering is limited to foreign communications, although incidents such as the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy have occurred."

I am not sure what to make of this. It could be a practical joke, although that is doubtful considering the secretive nature of the NSA. One possibility is that it is a method of tracking the spreading of this link throughout the internet in an effort to identify those sites and or individuals that are interested in and/or are anti-establishment (which often translates into conspiracy theories about Freemasonry, Illuminati, Builderberger, Trilateral Commission, CFR etc...).

Whatever the reason, this is just a tad bit too spooky for my taste...

Saudi King Supports Mubarak!!!

If there has ever been a WTF moment in Saudi politics this is it.

News wires are alive with a report that Saudi King Abdullah is publicly endorsing Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak whom Egyptian protesters want out of power.

Saudi Arabia’s state news agency reported that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud criticized the protestors (claiming they are instigated by "infiltrators") and strongly backed Mubarak.

The king said protesters were "exploited to spew out their hatred in destruction . . . inciting a malicious sedition” and that outside agitators “infiltrated into the brotherly people of Egypt, to destabilize its security."

"No Arab or Muslim can tolerate any meddling in the security and stability of Arab and Muslim Egypt by those who infiltrated the people in the name of freedom of expression, exploiting it to inject their destructive hatred," King Abdullah was quoted as saying.

"As they condemn this, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and government declares it stands with all its resources with the government of Egypt and its people," the Saudi agency added.

In addition, the king reportedly phoned Mubarak early Saturday and "reassured” him about the situation in Egypt.

Who is advising this guy? Is he trying to piss his population off? Doesn't he know that many Saudis are already outraged by his permission to Ben Ali, the deposed Tunisian dictator, to live in Saudi Arabia? Doesn't he know that practically every single person in the "Arab Street" is virulently anti Mubarak?

This is sure to have some repercussions.

Jeddah Protest - Jan 29 2011

It's official, the demonstration in Jeddah is taking place in front of the Municipality in protest of the severe lack of infrastructure, and corruption, that led the city to be inundated this week causing billions of dollars of damages for the second time in two years.

The protest has it's own twitter feed : #JeddahProtests

News reports are saying that at least 50 people have been arrested by the police.

Here is a video of the peaceful demonstration:

Saudi Hiccup?

As riots raged in Cairo on Friday and dominated the news wires around the globe, Saudi Arabia, it appears, may be getting ready to join the list of Arab nations protesting their governments.

In the port of Jeddah relatively heavy rainfall combined with a non-existent drainage system to wreak havoc on the city and its 4 million inhabitants. The city is literally flooded and the torrential, and very rare, rains have caused around $ 1 Billion USD worth of damages.

So far there are 11 dead and over 100 injured as a result. Incredibly, over 11,000 cars were stranded in floodwaters as water levels were reported to be 4 meters (13.2 feet) deep in some areas. Rescue helicopters have ferried almost 500 people to safety!

Oddly enough, and unfortunately for the government, the same scenario happened in 2009!

Back then it was dubbed Saudi's "Katrina Moment". Over 122 people were killed (some estimate it was more like 500) and hundreds injured as the government fell on its face during the response effort.

That led to widespread discontent and a fury of criticism of the local government mainly via, you guessed it...Facebook. The main theme was "Where are the billions in oil revenue going?".

Back in 2009 and according to the CS Monitor:

Mr. Khair, the lawyer, says he intends to file a class action suit against Jeddah's municipality. He does not think any official will be forced to resign, he adds. "In Saudi Arabia, we didn't hear about someone leaving his office."

The attorney says that the Facebook page was a useful alternative because street protests are illegal in the kingdom. The Internet "is the only way. We don't have another way," he says.

The episode has demonstrated "how technology allows people to shout out loud. I have never seen this before in Saudi," says Asaad, the lecturer. Even if people commenting on Facebook "use pseudonyms, it's a start," she adds. "But nowadays, people are using their real names."

Which brings us to today.

A mass blackberry messenger message has gone out in Jeddah calling for a demonstration on Saturday, the 29th. It says:

“On Saturday there will be a demonstration in front of the municipality for Jeddah … gather as many people as you can,” the message ran. “We need brave men and women. We don’t want any more lies … We have to do something.”

Another message also sent via Blackberry urged all government and private sector employees to hold a general strike next week in protest at the authorities’ neglect of the city’s infrastructure.


This is very serious news if it happens. The ruling Saud family's main areas of support are centered around the capitol city, Riyadh. There are long standing historical tensions with the people of the western provice, Hijaz, of which Jeddah is the largest city. Jeddah is also the second largest city in Saudi Arabia overall and is the port of arrival to the more than 2 million Muslims who make the pilgrimage to Mecca every year.


Also, in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia are most of the shunned Shia Muslims of the country. They are regarded as infidels by some hardline Wahhabists and face a glass ceiling when working in public bureaucracies. There have been tensions there also and several protests.


Here is an excellent paper about the ethnic and religious background of Saudi Arabia.


In addition to the religious and social tensions in Saudi, perhaps the economic tensions are the greatest of all. According to a recent report by Booz & Co., unemployment in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 13-14% in 2008. Additionally, 48% of Saudis between the age of 20-24 are unemployed as well as 31% of Saudis between 25-29.


70% of the population is under the age of 34 and the Median age is 24.9. 


In other words, the powder is dry...


Here is a video of the clashes between police and Saudi Shia's (keep in mind the source is Iran's Press TV)




Here is a video of the catastrophic floods in Jeddah this week:

Anonymous Hacker Group Joins Egypt Resistance

The famous hacker group Anonymous has just announced that it is joining the Egyptian resistance and has launched "Operation Egypt".

"Anonymous wants you to offer free access to uncensored media in your entire country," it said in a Facebook posting.

"When you ignore this message, not only will we attack your government websites, we will also make sure that the international media see the horrid reality you impose on your people!" it said.

Here is the video announcement:

US Senate To Reintroduce Internet "Kill Switch" Bill

According to an article in CNET, the US Senate is planning on reintroducing a bill, initially introduced last year by Senators Lieberman(I-Conn.) and Collins (R-Maine), that would allow the US president to take control over privately owned computer systems in the case of a "National Cyber Emergency".

Here's the kicker...that act "shall not be subject to judicial review"

In light of the events in Egypt, where the government has reportedly shutdown internet access ahead of tomorrow's planned mega protest, this should send a chill down the spine of every freedom loving American.

Hopefully this will never come to pass, but the mere presence of this proposed legislation should settle the argument about "that would never happen over here".

More from CNET:

The revised Lieberman-Collins bill, dubbed the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, works this way: Homeland Security will "establish and maintain a list of systems or assets that constitute covered critical infrastructure" and that will be subject to emergency decrees. (The term "kill switch" does not appear in the legislation.)

Under the revised legislation, the definition of critical infrastructure has been tightened. DHS is only supposed to place a computer system (including a server, Web site, router, and so on) on the list if it meets three requirements. First, the disruption of the system could cause "severe economic consequences" or worse. Second, that the system "is a component of the national information infrastructure." Third, that the "national information infrastructure is essential to the reliable operation of the system."

At last week's event, Milhorn, the Senate aide, used the example of computers at a nuclear power plant or the Hoover Dam but acknowledged that "the legislation does not foreclose additional requirements, or additional additions to the list."

A company that objects to being subject to the emergency regulations is permitted to appeal to DHS secretary Janet Napolitano. But her decision is final and courts are explicitly prohibited from reviewing it.

President Obama would then have the power to "issue a declaration of a national cyberemergency." What that entails is a little unclear, including whether DHS could pry user information out of Internet companies that it would not normally be entitled to obtain without a court order. One section says they can disclose certain types of noncommunications data if "specifically authorized by law," but a presidential decree may suffice.

"No amount of tightening of what constitutes 'critical infrastructure' will prevent abuse without meaningful judicial review," says Berin Szoka, an analyst at the free-market TechFreedom think tank and editor of The Next Digital Decade book. "Blocking judicial review of this key question essentially says that the rule of law goes out the window if and when a major crisis occurs."

For their part, Lieberman and Collins say the president already has "nearly unchecked authority" to control Internet companies. A 1934 law (PDF) creating the Federal Communications Commission says that in wartime, or if a "state of public peril or disaster or other national emergency" exists, the president may "authorize the use or control of any...station or device."

In congressional testimony (PDF) last year, DHS Deputy Undersecretary Philip Reitinger stopped short of endorsing the Lieberman-Collins bill. The 1934 law already addresses "presidential emergency authorities, and Congress and the administration should work together to identify any needed adjustments to the act," he said, "as opposed to developing overlapping legislation."

Egypt Boiling Over - Day 3

There are several confirmed riots all over Egypt on this third day of anti-government protests. The police are now using real ammunition in addition to the standard tear gas and water cannons. There are

The confirmed cities where the riots are taking place are: Cairo, Alexandria, As Suways (Suez), Port Said and Sallum (on the border with Libya).

The riots appear to be particularly violent in As Suways, a port city with a population of 500,000 which sits at the entry way to the Suez canal (on the Red Sea), a critical link for global shipping routes. It appears from the videos below that the city is in a state of chaos and there are even reports of tanks having entered the city. Any disruption to the operation of the canal could have a dramatic impact on commodity pricing and availability.

Here is a video of the violence in As Suways during the day (the 27th)



Then in the early evening...



and at night...




Ahead of the mega demonstration planned for tomorrow, Friday which is part of the weekend, which millions of people are expected to turn out for, it looks like the Mubarak regime's situation can be summed up as follows:

Egypt Boiling Over - Past Midnight

It is now well past 2 AM in Cairo and tens of thousands of protesters are still gathered in one of Cairo's largest squares, which is appropriately named Liberation Square.

There are confirmed reports of at least two civilians killed, one police officer killed, several hundred wounded and several hundred arrested.

Twitter is alive with reports of police following protesters down side roads and arresting them. Many reports of live ammunition being used along with the tear gas and water cannons we saw before.

Here is a video from Liberation Square in Cairo showing the police firing tear gas:



Here is a video from a demonstration in Alexandria, also at night, where a building sized picture of President Mubarak is set on fire to cheers from the crowd:

Egypt Boiling Over - At Night

Here is another set of videos showing the protests going on well into the night as it is now past midnight in Cairo!

Unconfirmed reports are circulating on Twitter that Egyptian workers at Heathrow have spotted the wife of President Mubarak, Suzan, arriving in London!

Video of a crowd in downtown Cairo chanting "The fall of the regime is what the people want"



Here is a video from the BBC Arabic service showing that the protesters are not affiliated with any political parties and are just regular citizens expressing their frustration and demanding their rights!

The reporter says that most of the protesters have been peaceful despite the tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons.



Video of the Secretary of the National Democratic Party (Mubarak's party) youth chapter burning his membership card!

Egypt Boiling Over

Warning: Graphic material. Not for the faint of heart.

Here is a an excellent live update stream from the Guardian about the demonstrations taking place all over Egypt today, many of which have turned violent. The government forces are cracking down on the protesters with batons, tear gas and water cannons.

Here are some videos sent to this blog by various Egyptians:

MUST SEE VIDEO: As the police bring in a water cannon (minute 1:23), a brave Egyptian protester stands in front of the truck, all alone, halting its path and gets hit with the full force of the water!!! Inspiring and energizing the crowd!

Reminiscent of the "tank man" in Tienanmen Square!



Video of a badly beaten police officer being carried by protesters who are screaming for an ambulance:



Video of protesters climbing to rip up a large poster of Mubarak!




Video of a crowd chanting "Revolution, Revolution until victory"



Video of a demonstration in the city of Bour Said

Algeria Next?

Over the past 60 days, the world watched with bated breath as the people of Tunisia ousted President Ben Ali, their dictator of more than 23 years. The protests were sparked by the self immolation of a young man, Muhammad Bouazizi. Only 26 years old, Bouazizi set himself on fire in front of a local governor's office after failing to find a job. Immediately riots erupted all over the country in exasperation due to high unemployment, rampant corruption and sky-rocketing food prices.

Less than a month later, Ben Ali had fled the country to Saudi Arabia.

The world wondered, could this spread? If so, who's next?

Soon enough riots erupted in Jordan, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan and even Saudi Arabia.

The commonalities are clear. Fed up with rising food prices, raging unemployment and massive government corruption, the people of these Arab countries are no longer willing to tolerate the status quo. Combine that with years of living in a pressure cooker of no political freedom, no freedom of speech, no freedom to congregate and all the other niceties that come with living under dictatorial regimes and you have a very incendiary, pun not intended, situation.

The rulers of these countries have been attempting to control the situation by putting in place various measure, such as price controls on food, to help appease the people.

It doesn't look like it's working...

The most violent protests have been in Algeria.

A bit of background first. Algeria is a country situated in North Africa along the Mediterranean coast. It had a population of 35 Million and a nominal GDP/capita of $ 4,477 in 2010. Its inhabitants are of Arab or Berber ethnic origin and over half of them can speak French as a second language. Algeria gained independence from France in 1962 after an incredible 1 million plus people gave their lives in resistance to the French occupation*.

Since its independence, Algeria has been plagued with corrupt regimes and semi constant civil war. In the 90's the Algerian civil war claimed another 200,000 lives.

It now looks like things are flaring up again. Already two people have set themselves on fire and there are reports the number is as high as seven.

A peaceful protest turned violent on Saturday, the 22nd of January, as riot police tried to disrupt the march, resulting in 42 injuries. As in Tunisia, they were protesting high unemployment, high food prices, high inflation and a high degree of indifference from the ruling class!

As I'm a big believer in the power of video as a means of communication, here are some assorted videos related to the unrest in Algeria:





Even the famous hacker group Anonymous has gotten in on the action and has issued the following warning to the Algerian government:




To be sure these are troubled times. People can tolerate many things...but hunger isn't one of them.


*This is a conservative estimate.