Wow, The New York Post is Reporting on What's Happening in North Africa

[Turborama]

Of course, it does come with a dousing of News Corp.'s political agenda (Arab with a lowercase a in the title sets the tone) and is over a month late, but I have to admit to being surprised that they're covering it at all ...

The arab world afire

New battle cry: 'Democracy!'

Last Updated: 10:28 PM, January 26, 2011
Posted: 10:28 PM, January 26, 2011

=snip=

In Cairo, the police and the regime's hired thugs intervened to break up several demonstrations. But the message has reached most Egyptians, thanks to satellite TV, Facebook and twitter.

In Algeria, a smaller protest caused a bigger fracas between crowd and police. Again, most Algerians heard the message of anger and resentment, thanks to modern communications.

Morocco, which has experienced what its leaders call "controlled democracy" for years, has witnessed demonstrations of various sizes in more than 20 cities.

In Libya, which has one of the most suffocating regimes among the Arab countries, a small protest last Sunday shook Benghazi, the country's second city.

Even Saudi Arabia has seen an unprecedented demonstration in the southern city of Jizan, where on Monday a young man set himself on fire to protest "oppression and poverty." Protesters in Morocco and Algeria have also copied the suicide of Muhammad Bouazizi -- a college graduate who burned himself to death, igniting the Tunisian revolt.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/the_arab_world_afire_gVOGiLM77lOK5tQBmuXkAM

[Catherina]

1. Surprisingly objective for the Post Rec'd n/t

[HEyHEY]

2. I'd like to believe this will end up in democracy......

I'd like to believe that.

[sabrina 1]

3. Interesting. Maybe Murdoch is taking all the criticism of his Empire

to heart.

Or, more likely, he sees the writing on the wall and wants to gain footing with the new governments should these protests succeed.

Regardless, it is strange to see an article like that in the NY Post.

The world is rising up against Global Capitalism.

Strong winds of change are blowing across the globe.

Btw, Turborama, did you see the interview on Al Jazeera with the rep. from the State Dept. about Egypt?

It was an incredible interview with the AJ reporter asking the kind of questions I wish U.S. reporters would ask here.

[Turborama]

4. No, I missed that one. Can you remember which show it was?

I'll have a look on their YouTube channel for it.

Re: Strong winds of change, have you come across this article yet about China's leader getting a bit nervous?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4712190

[sabrina 1]

5. Let me look for it again. It was an interview, today I believe

with a rep. from the State Dept. Can't remember his name. But he tried to avoid the questions of the AJ reporter who was excellent. He pressed him about the people's concerns, which the State Dept. guy tried to gloss over, such as torture (he really didn't want to talk about that, we never ask our government about torture) and oppression etc. State Dept. guy didn't want to answer and kept returning to the prepared talking points. It was really fun to watch as American officials are used to the lapdog press we have here who would never ever ask those kinds of questions.

I have so many tabs and links open, if I find it I'll post it here.

Meanwhile, I just posted an OP about Egypt, and I was so excited to see that Elbaradei is returning to Egypt to talk to the protestors on Friday. I was trying to think who could take over if Mubarak is toppled. Now I know! He would be a natural choice.

Check out the OP if you get a chance :-)

Oops, here is the link http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=283424&mesg_id=283424

[Turborama]

7. I know you're going to find this discssion very interesting indeed

I saw it earlier and they've just added it online: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x547906

It's well worth sitting back with a coffee and watching the full 24 minutes in full screen.

Any luck finding that interview yet?

[aquart]

6. I thought it was "bread, freedom, and dignity."

Which, pardon me, is quite different.