Egyptian Soldiers Open Fire on Unarmed Morsi Supporters, At Least 43 Dead, 300 Wounded

[cali]

A vivid illustration of why military coups are generally a fucking awful idea. Senator Leahy is right. He said a couple of days ago we must, under the law, cut off all aid to Egypt

Egyptian soldiers opened fire on hundreds of unarmed supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi early Monday as they were praying before dawn outside the facility where he is believed to be detained, dozens of witnesses said.

At least 43 civilians were killed, all or most of them shot, and more than 300 wounded, doctors and health officials said. Security officials said one police officer died as well.

The attack marked a sharp escalation in the confrontation between the generals who forced out the president and his Islamist supporters in the streets.

Dozens of Islamists who had gathered in vigil for Mr. Morsi denied there was any provocation for the attack. Two bystanders who had supported Mr. Morsi’s ouster also said that the demonstrators were unarmed and ran in terror as the attack began.


<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

[cali]

1. Senator Patrick Leahy: ‘Our law is clear,’ U.S. must cut off aid to Egypt

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday the United States was required by law to cut aid to Egypt following a coups d’etat.

“The Morsi government has been a great disappointment to the people of Egypt, and to all who wish Egypt a successful transition to responsive, representative government under the rule of law,” he said in a statement. “He squandered an historic opportunity, preferring to govern by fiat rather than work with other political parties to do what is best for all Egyptians. Egypt’s military leaders say they have no intent or desire to govern, and I hope they make good on their promise.”

“In the meantime, our law is clear: U.S. aid is cut off when a democratically elected government is deposed by military coup or decree,” Leahy added. “As we work on the new budget, my committee also will review future aid to the Egyptian government as we wait for a clearer picture. As the world’s oldest democracy, this is a time to reaffirm our commitment to the principle that transfers of power should be by the ballot, not by force of arms.”

The Democratic senator cited the Fiscal Year 2012 State Department And Foreign Operations Appropriations Act in particular. The law prohibits the United States from sending funds to the government of a country whose democratically-elected leader has been deposed by the military.

<snip>

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/03/senator-patrick-leahy-our-law-is-clear-u-s-must-cut-off-aid-to-egypt/

[kentuck]

2. Some bad shit.

going down.

[cali]

3. The Military is in charge and unsurprisingly they're running amok

how else to characterize them in light of this mass murder?

[dipsydoodle]

4. Each time I check out tv news here in the UK

the number of deaths just keeps increasing.

[malaise]

5. Stupid fucks

Military coups are always bad.

[cali]

6. More bad news:

Egypt: ElBaradei's appointment put on hold

Egypt's new president has backed away from an announcement that pro-reform leader Mohamed Elbaradei would be the interim prime minister.

A spokesman for interim President Adly Mansour, Ahmed el-Musilamani, told reporters on Saturday that consultations were continuing, denying that the appointment of the Nobel Peace laureate was ever certain.

However, reporters gathered at the presidential palace were ushered into a room where they were told by an official to wait for the president who would arrive shortly to announce ElBaradei's appointment.

A senior opposition official, Munir Fakhry Abdelnur, tells the Associated Press that the reversal occurred because the ultraconservative Salafi el-Nour party objected to ElBardei's appointment and mediation was underway.

<snip>

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/06/egypt-violence-morsi/2494179/

Mansour is a puppet of the military

[dipsydoodle]

7. Egypt unrest: Interim leader Adly Mansour calls for calm

Egypt's interim leader has expressed sorrow over the deaths of at least 42 people near a barracks in Cairo, urging restraint amid ongoing unrest.

Adly Mansour also said he had ordered an investigation into the deaths.

The Muslim Brotherhood says its members were fired on as they staged a sit-in for ousted President Mohammad Morsi, while the army said "terrorists" tried to storm the barracks.

The Brotherhood's political wing meanwhile called for an "uprising".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23230221

[cali]

8. Yeah, that'll be effective

and he's lying. There are lots of eyewitness accounts that refute his claims.

[dipsydoodle]

9. I think Adly Mansour translates to

'ardly Worthit.

[Dash87]

10. The military won't relinquish power, imo.

Not this time. They may put in a puppet that bends to their will, but they will retain power.

[JCMach1]

12. Military had a different spin on this...

just watched a bit of their news conference on Al Jazeera... essentially saying the Morsi supporters provoked the military.

Truth?

Probably somewhere in between...


What I do take away from this however is that Egypt is on the verge of a complete melt-down and possible Civil Unrest.

Can't even think to call it a war... How about a festering urban canker that never resolves itself...

This could get really, really, ugly.

[cali]

13. Man, this is just awful

You don't have to sympathize with the MB to see that.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/08/muslim-brotherhood-massacre-morsi-supporters

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

14. The military has a long history of torture and abuse against the MB

That was one of the reasons I was concerned about this military coup.

I sure didn't like the constitution they seemed to ram through, but I am definitely opposed to the military stepping in... It wasn't like we got our constitution right the first time.

Either way my heart goes out to all Egyptians.

[Junkdrawer]

15. Arab Spring...Civil War Summer....Invasion Fall....Nuclear Winter????

I don't like where this is going.....

[friendlyFRIEND]

16. then maybe unarmed Morsi supporters shouldn't be throwing teenage

Anti-Morsi protestors off of roof tops.

[FarCenter]

17. They need a "whiff of grapeshot" to restore order, and soon.

Without order, there will be no tourists.

Without tourists, there will be no foreign exchange earned.

Without foreign exchange, there will be no wheat imports.

Without wheat imports, there will be no bread.

Egypt is on its way to a downward spiral as a failed state.