Wedding feeds debate on Egypt presidency

Posted on By 3arabawy

A report by AP’s Lee Keath:

The bride is the daughter of a rich businessman. An intelligence chief was the witness at the wedding. And the lavish party celebrating the week-old marriage was held Friday night at the very resort where world leaders gathered to discuss Iraq.
But Egypt’s real attention is on the groom, the son of President Hosni Mubarak and — many Egyptians believe — his heir-apparent. The marriage has put new attention on the son’s controversial political role, and the uncertainty it creates in a key U.S. ally.
Gamal Mubarak, whose father has ruled with authoritarian powers for 26 years and turned 79 on Friday, has long denied any interest in running the country. In an interview this week, he repeated that, telling the Arabic satellite TV channel Orbit, “I’m not looking for any executive post.”
But key leaders in Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party clearly want him to succeed his father, and many Egyptians think he has been tapped to become president.

Hypocrisy carnival مهرجان النفاق

Posted on By 3arabawy

Below is an English translation of a “birthday card” signed by “Egypt,” sent by the state-owned daily Al-Akhbar to our beloved President on his birthday:

My dear child,
On the celebration of your birthday, I find myself at a loss as to what kind of gift I should offer you, my most beloved child.
On this happy occasion I asked myself: Should I offer you a flower, watered with the water of the Nile, and that flourished in the embrace of the palm trees… and as I presented it to you, it took the shape of 70 million of my sons and daughters?
Or should I take the traditional course and light a candle for your birthday, and all my sons and daughters would gather round as they sang with a beautiful voice and with all their heart ‘happy birthday Mr. President’?
Shall I just plant a kiss on your forehead my beloved son?
What can I do to express my happiness on the day of your birthday… well I will recount, on this happy occasion, something precious in my mind, your long and difficult path which takes you to my heart, my memory and my feeling.
You are a powerful eagle soaring the skies… teaching my enemies lessons they cannot forget, and you protect me from the shame of defeat.
You, my beloved child, tackle the difficult issues like a noble fighter, carrying my sons and daughters to security, comfort, allowing the flower of freedom to bloom and sing the melodious tunes of democracy.
You tower above all patiently, while some of my children try to tarnish the forum of freedom, abusing the democracy which you have welcomed through doors and windows.
You have been patient with some of my children who have lost their way, and wished they could see the light. You didn’t try to silence any voice or break any pen, for the sake of freedom and democracy. You treated them like a noble knight.
I know you don’t like praise… but you are a part of me and with the rest of my sons and daughters, you are my wealth.
Happy Birthday,
Egypt

US troops admit abusing Iraqis

Posted on By 3arabawy

From Al-Jazeera:

Almost one in ten US combat troops deployed in Iraq have mistreated a civilian, according to a new survey conducted by an army mental health advisory team.
The report, released on Friday, also found that less than half of the soldiers and marines surveyed would report a fellow serviceman for killing or injuring an innocent Iraqi…
More than a third of the 1,320 soldiers and 447 marines surveyed said that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or marine, while almost 38 per cent said torture should be allowed in order to gather “important information about insurgents”…
The survey showed only 47 per cent of soldiers and 38 per cent of marines agreed that non-combatants should be treated with dignity and respect.