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: