9/15/2013
Café Liwan, Huwailaat Golfe Persique et Méditerranée
Ici, j'ai appris que le safran du café arabe vient de l'Iran.
9/05/2013
McNamare Ground Ops Coffee Machine
Toute nouvelle étrangère ou locale viendra ce cafe and l'aérodrome de Detroit, maintenant desservie
non par Northwest, mais par Delta, partenaire toujours de KLM.
J'ai trop sommeil apres le vol de Detroit a Amsterdam pour penser, mais mes pensees sont avec l'Iran, tellement mis en cause par le gouvernement USA, France, et Angleterre. On dira que le vouloir des etats unis a
non par Northwest, mais par Delta, partenaire toujours de KLM.
J'ai trop sommeil apres le vol de Detroit a Amsterdam pour penser, mais mes pensees sont avec l'Iran, tellement mis en cause par le gouvernement USA, France, et Angleterre. On dira que le vouloir des etats unis a
8/18/2013
Café de Flore - BBC Arabic élégance et galantrie Egypte contre les pro-Morsi
photo-vue depuis la terasse du Flore, Brasserie Lipp en face
Video de la vue du TGV
8/17/2013
From my apartment
All other comments shall be from my apartment...after a pleasant drive to the KLM office near the Meridien Hotel and back, I listened to the balanced coverage of the events in Cairo on BBC and CNN. They give too much credence to the Muslim Brotherhood, who have set about attacking government buildings and continuing to get themselves killed instead of reconciling themselves with the exiting times advancing the role of the Egyptian people finding space in politics that was heralded in by the huge, 19 million demonstrations of June 30.
Here is the not so surprising defense of the bad, rather violent and provocative protests the Muslim Brotherhood misguides (and hence sacrifices its followers) into, given by Oxford professor Tariq Ramadan on the BBC TV news tonight Click here Since this is private on Sound Cloud, I'll just summarize some of the craziness of his argument, which is also typical of the Muslim Brotherhood spokesmen, and most current orientalist scholarship, which is quite openly serious about religion, and still tied into the study of the collapse of the caliphate with the rise of the colonial revolutions. I believe that the Muslim Bretheren want the return of the authentic caliphate, which makes them, as a consequence, serious study for academics interested in "The Sleeping Giant," which was the Ottoman Empire before and after World War 1. Anyway, Tariq Ramadan gives the typical complaint about the breakup of the peaceful sit-ins, and chastises Obama for not cutting off military aid to such a country that is "not part of our democratic tradition," with this military "coup." It is exactly what the spokespeople for the Muslim Bretheren are saying.
8/16/2013
McNamara Ground Ops Coffee Machine -- improved in Amsterdam
Next to the Mediterranean Sandwich Bar is "le Grand Cafe," picture below:
Here is a little "MOV" of what it is like to be in the KLM City Hopper from Nice to Amsterdam, leaving at 6:25:
Fishawi, Cairo Poetry
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
The western commentators and hard line Islamicists can't see the poetry of the dismantling of the Rab'a Al-Adawiyya Mosque sit-in,
Poetic justice. Fishawi is closed under curfew tonight, but, then, the evenings in Hussein were as wonderful as usual this Ramadan, I'm sure.
8/09/2013
Café de flore, Café St. Germain, Paris
Café crème, tartine 6 euros 90
8/07/2013
Uni Cafe, SprachLehrinsitut
Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg. Near this nice little cafe, always full of people in the summer, is the "UniMuseum," where I learned that Freiburg Univ. was found in 1457, run by Jesuits, then played a role in the Enlightenment under Maria Theresa and Joseph II. It opened to women a bit before WW II. Heidigger was president, and Hannah Arendt, as well as many Nobel laureate were there. The SprachLerninstitut helps teach languages. They use an Amer. Univ. in Cairo book for Arabic.
Must find out about this French play about women, flowers? and the Quran, by a certain Schmidt.
Must find out about this French play about women, flowers? and the Quran, by a certain Schmidt.
McNamara Ground Ops Coffee machine- vigilantiism
A little bit of American history to understand the outrage over the Zimmerman Aquittal.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution outlawed slavery, made it the law of the land that all men could vote, and granted power to the federal government to take action against Ku Klux Klanners and other vigilante thugs who employed lynchings and mob violence against the social progress of Radical Reconstruction. Anti-vigilante laws were adopted in many areas of the country. The abolitionists and their allies who dominated the Congress sent federal troops to the South to defend freed Blacks and their allies.
1877 withdrawal of Federal troops and the end of 40 acres and a mule (Radical Reconstruction)
But with the 1877 withdrawal of federal troops from the South and other counterrevolutionary moves by the Northern rulers, the reactionary forces were given free rein and were ultimately successful in dealing the greatest blows ever inflicted on the working class in the U.S., a body blow that included the imposition of Jim Crow segregation.
Supreme court overturns 1876 New Orleans court conviction of 100 Colfax, Louisiana vigilantes
In 1873 some 150 heavily armed vigilantes attacked and murdered an equal number of out-gunned African-Americans, many members of the city’s militia, who were defending the county courthouse in Colfax, La. The U.S. Attorney in New Orleans indicted nearly 100 of the attackers under the enforcement provisions of the 14th Amendment, affording equal protection of the laws to all. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the justices unanimously overturned the convictions in 1876, ruling the amendment only applied to actions carried out by state governments. This notorious ruling — still the law of the land — was a milestone blow to the fight against vigilantism and racist violence.
facts quoted from the Militant
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution outlawed slavery, made it the law of the land that all men could vote, and granted power to the federal government to take action against Ku Klux Klanners and other vigilante thugs who employed lynchings and mob violence against the social progress of Radical Reconstruction. Anti-vigilante laws were adopted in many areas of the country. The abolitionists and their allies who dominated the Congress sent federal troops to the South to defend freed Blacks and their allies.
1877 withdrawal of Federal troops and the end of 40 acres and a mule (Radical Reconstruction)
But with the 1877 withdrawal of federal troops from the South and other counterrevolutionary moves by the Northern rulers, the reactionary forces were given free rein and were ultimately successful in dealing the greatest blows ever inflicted on the working class in the U.S., a body blow that included the imposition of Jim Crow segregation.
Supreme court overturns 1876 New Orleans court conviction of 100 Colfax, Louisiana vigilantes
In 1873 some 150 heavily armed vigilantes attacked and murdered an equal number of out-gunned African-Americans, many members of the city’s militia, who were defending the county courthouse in Colfax, La. The U.S. Attorney in New Orleans indicted nearly 100 of the attackers under the enforcement provisions of the 14th Amendment, affording equal protection of the laws to all. When the case reached the Supreme Court, the justices unanimously overturned the convictions in 1876, ruling the amendment only applied to actions carried out by state governments. This notorious ruling — still the law of the land — was a milestone blow to the fight against vigilantism and racist violence.
facts quoted from the Militant
8/06/2013
Uni Cafe, Freiburg am Briesgau
Pres de cette ancienne université ou Heidigger et Hanna Arandt ont vécu:
Reisenzentrum Bahnhof Café, Freiburg am Breisgau
J'ai envoyé de jolies cartes achetées a Gallimard a Paris, aux 5 Cubanos (maintenant les quatre qui sont toujours en prison) aux USA.
Pensant a l'importance de la traduction faite par Pathfinder des 2 déclarations de Havane en arabe. Il y a des rapporteurs de notre journal préférée qui sont maintenant au Caire.
Je pense aussi a l'importance des chercheur allemands, comme Brockelmann, ici dans cette ville universitaire allemande.
Quelques photos du quartier universitaire dans la ville médiéval:
Pensant a l'importance de la traduction faite par Pathfinder des 2 déclarations de Havane en arabe. Il y a des rapporteurs de notre journal préférée qui sont maintenant au Caire.
Je pense aussi a l'importance des chercheur allemands, comme Brockelmann, ici dans cette ville universitaire allemande.
Quelques photos du quartier universitaire dans la ville médiéval:
8/04/2013
Cafe de Flore, Paris
Au Café de Flore on parle de la banqueroute de la ville de Detroit
Mais que les parisiennes et parisien s'habille avec l'élégance a la mode en été!!
Mais que les parisiennes et parisien s'habille avec l'élégance a la mode en été!!
With Detroit bankruptcy,
rulers target unions (front page)
BY BRIAN WILLIAMS
The city of Detroit filed for bankruptcy July 18 in the largest such municipal filing in U.S. history. The move by Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr — appointed with broad powers by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in March to run Detroit, effectively replacing the city’s elected officials — involves tearing up all city labor contracts and targeting in particular pensions and health care of public workers.
rulers target unions (front page)
BY BRIAN WILLIAMS
The city of Detroit filed for bankruptcy July 18 in the largest such municipal filing in U.S. history. The move by Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr — appointed with broad powers by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in March to run Detroit, effectively replacing the city’s elected officials — involves tearing up all city labor contracts and targeting in particular pensions and health care of public workers.
Of the city’s $18 billion in long-term debt, more than $3.5 billion is owed to the pension fund for 10,000 current employees and 20,000 retirees, along with some $6 billion for retirees’ health care costs. Through bankruptcy proceedings, Orr is seeking to slash funds owed to these workers by more than 90 percent, reported the Wall Street Journal. At the same time, $7 billion in municipal bonds secured by casino profits and utility taxes, held by the propertied rich, are protected.
However, Orr has also threatened to force wealthy general-obligation bondholders — whose $530 million in investments are guaranteed in the state constitution — to take a substantial “haircut.”
Working people in Detroit have been pummeled by the capitalist economic crisis. The official unemployment rate in May was 16.3 percent. The city’s population, currently 700,000, has declined 25 percent since 2000. More than one-third of workers live below the government’s official poverty level, according to the U.S. Census.
The city of Detroit, like all U.S. government bodies, has financed its day-to-day operations through selling municipal bonds. The $3.7 trillion municipal bond market is a prerogative of the very rich. These pieces of paper are guaranteed by the “full faith and credit” of the government agency that issues them.
The fact that Orr threatens to go after some bondholders has evoked a fierce outcry from those who defend the municipal bond market as sacrosanct. Such proposals “would flatten the traditional hierarchy of creditors, putting … a retired librarian on par with an investor holding a general obligation bond,” the New York Times said.
While workers’ benefits are slashed and union contracts torn up by bankruptcy courts, capitalist investors, contractors and others have been preparing to cash in on the backs of the bankruptcy.
Orr and others have made it clear that once the debts are wiped clean and health care, pensions and union contracts gutted, the city will issue new bonds for a round of construction and other projects, promising large profits for those in the know who get in early.
7/31/2013
Fishawi, Cairo
The the pro-2-party democracy west puts the pressure yesterday and today on the Egyptian people to accept the "democracy" slogans of the Muslim Bretheren - sugar-coated, cry-baby Islamists - at face value.
Announcement by ministry of interior
Baradei and Ashton press conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IE76dy-r2Tc
I listened to this video with "Nashwa Hawashi" a muslim anti-morsi activist.
I listened to this video with "Nashwa Hawashi" a muslim anti-morsi activist.
It's very longhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGakXA8NMkc
An announcer on "ONtveg" ridicules Safwat Hijazi, who is, I guess someone who tries to defend the pro-Morsi crowd:
7/29/2013
Shati' Tea and Felafel Shop, Gaza
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
Vue de Shati' Camp de refugies d'al-Majdal, Gaza
7/27/2013
McNamara Ground Ops Coffee Machine, Detroit
Today is the day the Muslim brotherhood started their chaotic protest against General Sisi's call-out for the big anti-Morsi demonstration the day and night before. Their 4am march toward a military base, which I think was a provocation, was met with tear gas and rubber bullets. I find it impossible to believe that the police shot at them. I think more likely it was a rival faction within the Muslim Brotherhood.
Today in Egypt it is NOT, NOT like when the National Guard from Taylor, near here, marched into Detroit with armor and guns. But it is sort of a 46 year anniversary of the July 23 police riot tonight. What a difference with Egypt, where the Western media can't understand a Military officer calling for a massive demonstration. They get so worried about it that they hold off sales of Phantom jets for a while.
The next morning, the 28th of July, I remembered the name of the spokeswoman for the Muslim Brotherhood on BBC TV: Mona Qazzaz The western commentators aren't much more conscious of the facts. But they're very good at rhetoric.
The next morning, the 28th of July, I remembered the name of the spokeswoman for the Muslim Brotherhood on BBC TV: Mona Qazzaz The western commentators aren't much more conscious of the facts. But they're very good at rhetoric.
7/26/2013
Fishawi, le Caire "Awdet Ar-Ruh" Retour de l'Esprit (titre d'un roman de Tawfiq Al-Hakim)
En pensant aux événements au Caire, pendant le Ramadan, me voici a un drôle de restaurant américain dans la partie moderne de Jubayl. Je commençais a parler de cet étrange épisode ou les universités américaines se spécialisent dans les sectes de l'islam. J'espère que la reprise du débat en Egypte sur la sécularisation va mettre cette épisode de théocratie (fondement de l'état juive, et réponses des Frères Musulmans, et autres, au faux gauchisme de la lutte anti-colonial) dans le passé lointain, maintenant que l'Egypte essaie de se mobiliser pour un retour de l'esprit..."audet ar-ruh"عودة الروح
Friday July 26, 12 noon YouTube video from Nile TV "Panorama" showing arrival of demonstrators in Isma'iliyya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kommzo3Poig
Friday July 26, 12 noon YouTube video from Nile TV "Panorama" showing arrival of demonstrators in Isma'iliyya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kommzo3Poig
7/24/2013
Fishawi, Jeddah: Teaching Arabic
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
Actually this painting is probably of the fishermen with their dhows here in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, not on the Jeddah Side, where Fishawi Coffee Shop in Maidan Al-Bai'a is.
The connection with learning is with the "Poetry House," in Bahrain, the restored house of the Bahraini poet Ibrahim Al-Arrayyed. He corresponded with the poets of the Nahda, and I was reminded of my original interest in the writers of this period in Arabic, Tawfiq Al-Hakim, Taha Hussein, Fadwa Touqan, May Ziadeh, Mikha'il Nu'aimi, whom I read at Shemlan. Thinking of these, I made the "Philosophy of Teaching" essay below:
Philosophy of Teaching,
From my perception as a long-time
tourist-archaeologist in the Arabic-speaking countries, I see Arabic literature
and art as being a continuation and elaboration of the humanist tradition of
the Greeks and Romans, with a dash of Iranian and African spice.
I believe that in teaching Arabic, it is
important to make frequent references to the important transmission and
elaboration of the discoveries of the Greeks to the universities and the
merchant class of the 12th century and onwards in Europe, and (Ben
Franklin’s) America. In France, and, I
believe, in England and Italy, too; students learned Arabic from anthologies of
great pieces of Arabic writing, just as my third year Arabic teacher, Andras Hamori at Princeton shared his doctoral
work with us. I remember he simply
photocopied the Amr Al-Qais poem we studied from Chrestomathie Arabe,
the University of Paris Sorbonne Arabic anthology, which even included the
proclamations in Arabic, written by Paris scholars, for Napoleon’s 1798 campaign
in Egypt.
Thus, even in beginning Arabic classes,
with the modern, “communicative style” textbooks, I like to supplement these
texts with some things the students could read seriously, translating word for
word, and think about: passages from Matta
bin Younis’ 9th century Arabic translation of Aristotle’s Poetics,
for example, or the from Mas’oudi’s 10th century history(al-Murug
al-Dhahab) where he mentions the pre-Socratics of Miletus.
Universal “humanist” Arabic writing, even
as simple quotations--for example, a phrase from Soliman Bustani’s 19th
century translation of the Iliad, from the Arabic original of Burton’s Arabian
Nights translation, or from a play or poem by the Levantine and African
writers of the 1930’s through 70’s “Nahda,” (Renaissance)--makes the Arabic
class not just an exoticism, but a basis for the student and teacher to
familiarize themselves with humanist thought in general.
As a refreshing, almost comic relief, I
delight in teaching “getting-around-the-town,” or colloquial Arabic, as an
important way of absorbing, and actually using classical Arabic vocabulary. I am able to add my experience in Egyptian,
Lebanese, and Saudi colloquial to teaching the colloquial in tandem with the
classical Arabic. In the colloquial, too,
there is a rich humanist tradition on which I can tap as a teacher: Bairam Al-Tunisisi’s poems in colloquial,
Tawfiq al-Hakim’s and Ghassan Kanafani’s “colloquial in quotes,” and
“classical-with-a-Palestinian-colloquial rhythm,” for example.
On the more specifics of minute by minute
teaching, I have a whole panoply of English-Arabic grammar comparisons, whiteboard
talk and tape-recorder listening-speaking teaching methods developed from my
years of teaching English to Arabs.
Learning a foreign language is always a way of improving one’s own
language, and my experience in explaining English nuances to Arabic speakers
puts me in a good position to make studying Arabic a source of better understanding
and use of one’s own language.
7/13/2013
Cafe de Flore, Paris an account of gallantry
Tonight, we think of the pleasant Ramadan evenings in Fishawi, Cairo; but in the Cafe de Flore we talk of the courage and determination of the Egyptian people, including women in the Tahrir demonstrations who come to "outnumber" the dwindiling pro-Morsi protests. Women have often been attacked by the Morsi thugs, as noted in the caption to this picture in the Militant:
(front page)
Millions celebrate ouster
of Islamist gov’t in Egypt Workers defend space to organize, fight
The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest capitalist party in the country, organized large actions to defend Morsi’s government. Clashes took place between Morsi supporters and opponents in Cairo, Alexandria and other parts of the country. Residents of Cairo’s Manial neighborhood told the Arab news service Al Arabiyathat they saw Brotherhood supporters armed with automatic weapons, machetes and sticks.
When military helicopters flew over Tahrir Square June 30 dropping Egyptian flags, demonstrators cheered the army’s signal they would back the protests against attempts by the Brotherhood to drown them in blood. “We don’t have the weapons the Brotherhood has,” Karam Youssef, owner of a small bookshop in a Cairo suburb, told the Militant by phone July 7. “We couldn’t defeat them on our own. It would have been chaos.
“There were people from all aspects of society at Tahrir Square — middle-class, working-class, poor people and lots of women,” said Youssef. “Millions of people were in the streets all over the country, more even than during the protests against Mubarak.”
The protests, initiated by Tamarod (Rebel), a group of young people who had collected 22 million signatures demanding Morsi’s resignation, were fueled by the deteriorating Egyptian economy, government attempts to put a lid on growing labor struggles, opposition to the Brotherhood’s attempt to impose their sectarian vision of Sunni Islam on political and social life and anger over violent attacks by Brotherhood thugs.
In the last few weeks before Morsi was ousted, a nationwide fuel shortage caused long waits at gas stations and rolling electricity blackouts affected millions, especially in working-class neighborhoods.
Workers take advantage of space
“Workers still face the same old problems,” Mohamad Ahmad Salem, a spokesperson of the Egyptian Democratic Labor Congress, said by phone from Mahalla, before Morsi’s ouster. “The police are still raiding meetings of workers trying to organize unions and the number of detained workers has increased.”
“The number of workers in unions has at least doubled since Mubarak was overthrown,” Fatma Ramadan, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions, told the Militant July 1 from Cairo.
Last December Morsi forced through a new constitution that restricted democratic rights, union organization and freedom of worship. It passed with the participation of less than one-third of eligible voters.
“We didn’t get rid of a military regime to replace it with a fascist theocracy that enforces extremist regulations in the name of religion,” 12-year-old Ali Ahmed told Egypt’s El Wady newspaper at a protest last October.
Capitalist factions jockey for power
According to the Financial Times, the military has set in motion corruption investigations of Muslim Brotherhood-owned businesses, including those of Khairat al-Shataer, a real estate and textile mogul.
The Egyptian military is itself the largest single employer in the country, owning a wide range of businesses, real estate and factories.
On July 9 Mansour appointed former Finance Minister Hazem El-Beblawi prime minister and ElBaradei as vice president for foreign relations. Mansour issued a “road map” for writing a new constitution and holding parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five to six months.
White House failed to broker deal
According to the New York Times, the White House tried to broker a deal that would have allowed Morsi to remain president by bringing bourgeois opposition parties into the government. Morsi refused.
Meanwhile, the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait announced plans July 9 to provide a total of $12 billion to the Egyptian government in hopes of stabilizing and shoring up whatever regime comes together — with the military as the perpetual main pillar of bourgeois rule.
| AP/Amr Nabil |
| July 5 mobilization in Cairo’s Tahrir Square marks fall of Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohammed Morsi. Zinab al-Saghier, front, lost eye during recent clash with Morsi supporters. |
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
The talk at Cafe de Flore tonight is on the grace and gallantry of these massive rejections in Egypt of the strictness and dour nature of the Muslim Brotherhood government. This article from the militant which just came on line early Saturday morning, July 13 has just the right tone of inspiration and optimism...
Vol 77/No. 28 July 22, 2013 (the Militant came out early today because they are going the the active workers conference in Oberlin, Ohio this weekend.)(front page)
Millions celebrate ouster
of Islamist gov’t in Egypt Workers defend space to organize, fight
BY SETH GALINSKY
Millions of people across Egypt are celebrating the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-led government, having succeeded in defending the political space opened by the overthrow of the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship less than two and a half years ago.
In the midst of massive protests, the military high command ousted Morsi on July 3, arresting him and other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and shutting down much of the group’s media. They suspended the new Islamist constitution — pushed through by the Morsi government at the end of last year — that had become a source of contention with both workers and competing factions of the capitalist class.Millions of people across Egypt are celebrating the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-led government, having succeeded in defending the political space opened by the overthrow of the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship less than two and a half years ago.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the largest capitalist party in the country, organized large actions to defend Morsi’s government. Clashes took place between Morsi supporters and opponents in Cairo, Alexandria and other parts of the country. Residents of Cairo’s Manial neighborhood told the Arab news service Al Arabiyathat they saw Brotherhood supporters armed with automatic weapons, machetes and sticks.
When military helicopters flew over Tahrir Square June 30 dropping Egyptian flags, demonstrators cheered the army’s signal they would back the protests against attempts by the Brotherhood to drown them in blood. “We don’t have the weapons the Brotherhood has,” Karam Youssef, owner of a small bookshop in a Cairo suburb, told the Militant by phone July 7. “We couldn’t defeat them on our own. It would have been chaos.
“There were people from all aspects of society at Tahrir Square — middle-class, working-class, poor people and lots of women,” said Youssef. “Millions of people were in the streets all over the country, more even than during the protests against Mubarak.”
The protests, initiated by Tamarod (Rebel), a group of young people who had collected 22 million signatures demanding Morsi’s resignation, were fueled by the deteriorating Egyptian economy, government attempts to put a lid on growing labor struggles, opposition to the Brotherhood’s attempt to impose their sectarian vision of Sunni Islam on political and social life and anger over violent attacks by Brotherhood thugs.
In the last few weeks before Morsi was ousted, a nationwide fuel shortage caused long waits at gas stations and rolling electricity blackouts affected millions, especially in working-class neighborhoods.
Workers take advantage of space
Working people have been able to take advantage of the space opened up by Mubarak’s overthrow and the ensuing conflicts among competing capitalist factions to begin organizing themselves to defend their interests. The power struggle among the propertied rulers — represented by the army on one hand and the Muslim Brotherhood on the other — only sharpened, while labor battles, political discussions and efforts to organize among the toilers grew.
Protest actions, from sit-ins to strikes and demonstrations, mushroomed from just under 200 a month during Mubarak’s last year to more than 1,000 a month recently. The rulers’ hopes, including among the military high command, that a Brotherhood-led government would have better success than they had in putting an end to these struggles, were dashed.“Workers still face the same old problems,” Mohamad Ahmad Salem, a spokesperson of the Egyptian Democratic Labor Congress, said by phone from Mahalla, before Morsi’s ouster. “The police are still raiding meetings of workers trying to organize unions and the number of detained workers has increased.”
“The number of workers in unions has at least doubled since Mubarak was overthrown,” Fatma Ramadan, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions, told the Militant July 1 from Cairo.
Last December Morsi forced through a new constitution that restricted democratic rights, union organization and freedom of worship. It passed with the participation of less than one-third of eligible voters.
“We didn’t get rid of a military regime to replace it with a fascist theocracy that enforces extremist regulations in the name of religion,” 12-year-old Ali Ahmed told Egypt’s El Wady newspaper at a protest last October.
Capitalist factions jockey for power
After Morsi was arrested and his government dispersed, the military high command appointed Adly Mansour, head of the High Constitutional Court, as interim president. At first the National Salvation Front reported that Mohamed ElBaradei, former director general of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency, would be named prime minister. But the Nour party, a Salafist Islamic group that broke with Morsi in the midst of the mass protests, objected.
On July 8, while various factions were still vying for their share of power, more than 50 supporters of the Brotherhood demanding Morsi’s return were killed when soldiers and police opened fire on a sit-in in front of the Republican Guard headquarters, where they believe Morsi is being held.According to the Financial Times, the military has set in motion corruption investigations of Muslim Brotherhood-owned businesses, including those of Khairat al-Shataer, a real estate and textile mogul.
The Egyptian military is itself the largest single employer in the country, owning a wide range of businesses, real estate and factories.
On July 9 Mansour appointed former Finance Minister Hazem El-Beblawi prime minister and ElBaradei as vice president for foreign relations. Mansour issued a “road map” for writing a new constitution and holding parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five to six months.
White House failed to broker deal
For decades Washington has backed the military and a succession of dictatorial regimes in Egypt to promote capitalist stability in the region. After Mubarak’s fall, the Barack Obama administration continued to send some $1.3 billion a year in aid to the army, while seeking collaborative relations with Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.
President Obama has released one statement since Morsi’s overthrow, calling on the Egyptian military “to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government” and to “avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsy and his supporters.” Many in Egypt view Obama as a supporter of the Brotherhood regime, while Brotherhood supporters feel betrayed. Widespread distrust or hatred for Washington appears to have only increased on all sides.According to the New York Times, the White House tried to broker a deal that would have allowed Morsi to remain president by bringing bourgeois opposition parties into the government. Morsi refused.
Meanwhile, the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait announced plans July 9 to provide a total of $12 billion to the Egyptian government in hopes of stabilizing and shoring up whatever regime comes together — with the military as the perpetual main pillar of bourgeois rule.
7/10/2013
foreign and domestic news, you will have from McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit;
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
Please see my blog of 16/12/2012 for background to what they call now the "Anti-Morsi" protesters.
The massive demonstrations in Egypt are the Egyptian people opening up political space further and further, but they need protection from rough elements; hance the Egyptian Army comes to the rescue. We will see for a time the Army harking back to the Nasser era, which will repeat itself, just as Marx noted so brilliantly in 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte. (télécharger la version française)
Flore, Fishawi, Shati, McNamara ...Foreign and domestic news from McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit
All accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, shall be under the article of
Café Flore, Paris; poetry, under that of Fishawi, Jeddah or Cairo; learning under the title of the Shati Tea-and-Falafel-shop, Gaza; foreign and domestic news, you will have from
McNamara Ground Ops Lunchroom, Detroit; and what else I shall on any other subject offer, shall be dated from my own apartment.
On the thirtieth of June, I felt that the masses of Egyptian people were giving a resounding "No" to Islamicists. I still think that; and today, on the 10th of July, as Ramadan starts and the Islamicists camping outside the Rabi' Al-Adawiya mosque to be fed for free and fast during the day, my hope is that the majority of Egyptians will celebrate in the evenings in the rest of Cairo, the way Egyptians have always done. The BBC had a little snap shot of Lise Doucet, the Canadian on BBC, in the Khan Al-Khalili area in front of the "fanous" sellers. That reminded me of the tremendous festivity of Ramadan, which only the Egyptians know how to do. The Syrians never quite got it. Ramadan is dreary in Syria. Indeed, the pictures of Homs, bombed to pieces, bombed out, from Bashar Al-Assad's crushing of the uprising there, are a telling commentary on the difference between Egypt and Syria.
7/06/2013
From my apartment
Mon journal politique est "de mon appartment," comme dans Addison and Steele.
De retour maintenant de Costa Coffee a la Tour Rossais, de Manama, je lis les nouvelles de l'Egypte.
De retour maintenant de Costa Coffee a la Tour Rossais, de Manama, je lis les nouvelles de l'Egypte.
From behind board of Electricity, Al-Rossais Tower, Manama, Bahrain: Italo-American Coffee Shop
Blog interessant en Arabe sur l'histoire et la culture de Bahrain et, ici sur la maison du poete, Ibrahim al Arayyeid:
J'avais appris l'existance de ce blog au Musee National de Bahrain, et, ici, un lien vers la maison du poete dans le quartier Al-Houra, a Manama. Je n'ai pas pu trouve la maison.
J'avais appris l'existance de ce blog au Musee National de Bahrain, et, ici, un lien vers la maison du poete dans le quartier Al-Houra, a Manama. Je n'ai pas pu trouve la maison.
6/27/2013
Café Taht Essour et Opérations de terre café automatique, McNamara Terminal, Detroit
Snowdon toujours entre la Russie et l'Equador. Mandela toujours vivant, mais c'est grave.
Ici dans la cantine des ouvriers de terre à l'aeroport de Détroit, maintenant, notre café est loin de Starbucks, Doha, pres de Dhahran en Arabie saoudite, et n'a tres peu en commun avec les "Cafés de la Méditerranée," sujet de ce blog. Tout de meme, la Tunisie de Hadi Jouini (qui chante ici A'tifii اعطفي de Bairam at-Tunisi), et le Liban de Fairuz est dans nos esprits, par la radio.
Dans les annees 30, Hadi Jouini faisait partie des poetes et musicisens du cafe, Taht Essour, (voir Wikipedia) avec Bairam At-Tunisi, grand poete de la langue parlée d'Egypte.
Peut-être la vu de son café, Taht Essour, ressemblais à ce photo de Sète, pres de Montpellier, en France:
Ici dans la cantine des ouvriers de terre à l'aeroport de Détroit, maintenant, notre café est loin de Starbucks, Doha, pres de Dhahran en Arabie saoudite, et n'a tres peu en commun avec les "Cafés de la Méditerranée," sujet de ce blog. Tout de meme, la Tunisie de Hadi Jouini (qui chante ici A'tifii اعطفي de Bairam at-Tunisi), et le Liban de Fairuz est dans nos esprits, par la radio.
Dans les annees 30, Hadi Jouini faisait partie des poetes et musicisens du cafe, Taht Essour, (voir Wikipedia) avec Bairam At-Tunisi, grand poete de la langue parlée d'Egypte.
Peut-être la vu de son café, Taht Essour, ressemblais à ce photo de Sète, pres de Montpellier, en France:
6/20/2013
McNamara Ground Operations Coffee Machine in break room, Detroit
And the BBC covers "Challenge Detroit" where young professionals can come in and "work" for NGO's. How lucky I was to have lived in Detroit when there was still some important industry there. The capitalists have all but moved out of Detroit, now.
Fishawi Coffee Shop, Cairo
J'appris au BBC que le premier ministre de l'Egypte, Mohammad Morsi, a placé comme gouverneur de Luxor, un membre des Frères Musulmans qui a participé dans le groupe qui a fait les attentats aux tourists de Luxor! Bien sur les Luxorois se plaignent.
1/14/2013
Cafe de Flore, Paris
L'islamisme nie la riche culture du moyen orient, en mettant en sa place une ignorance monotone et sans nuances. Nallino serait outrage que les islamistes de Mali on confisque les manuscrits de l’université de Timbuktoo.
1/13/2013
McNamara Ground Ops Coffee machine: Jan. 13, 2013 anti Israeli settlement protest dismatled
We heard today that Israel has dismatled the peaceful, non-violent protest against the Israeli settlements in the West bank.
At the same time Saudi Arabia has sent tents, blankets, and wheat to the Refugees from the fighting in Syria. Behind the scenes is the problem of Israel not allowing any Arabs into its borders or occupied West Bank.
At the same time Saudi Arabia has sent tents, blankets, and wheat to the Refugees from the fighting in Syria. Behind the scenes is the problem of Israel not allowing any Arabs into its borders or occupied West Bank.
12/16/2012
McNamara Ground Operations Lunchroom Coffee machine, Detroit
How far from Cairo, but how close we are. Comme nous sommes loin du Caire, mais comme nous sommes pres d'elle.
Articles du Militant en français
Le président égyptien
restreint les droits politiques Au milieu de manifestations de masse, les travailleurs
défendent l’espace pour s’organiser
PAR SETH GALINSKY
Depuis le 22 novembre, lorsque le président égyptien Mohamed Morsi a décrété que toutes ses décisions étaient « définitives et contraignantes » jusqu’à ce qu’une nouvelle constitution soit adoptée, des centaines de milliers d’opposants et de partisans de son gouvernement ont participé à des manifestations concurrentes à travers le pays.
Mohamed Morsi, un dirigeant des Frères musulmans, a annoncé le 9 décembre qu’un référendum sur une nouvelle constitution codifiant des restrictions sur les droits démocratiques, les syndicats et la liberté de culte, aurait lieu le 15 décembre, ignorant les appels d’une série de partis d’opposition bourgeois et de nombreux syndicats pour que le vote soit reporté. Mohamed Morsi a déclaré qu’il avait autorisé l’armée à arrêter des civils pour maintenir « l’ordre public » jusqu’à ce que le vote soit terminé.
Mohamed Morsi a également modifié le décret stipulant que ses décisions ont force de loi et ne peuvent pas être portées en appel devant un tribunal, en affirmant que cela ne s’applique qu’aux « déclarations constitutionnelles. » Quelques jours plus tôt, il avait appelé à un dialogue avec les dirigeants de l’opposition.
Mohamed Morsi a été élu en juin suite à la déposition du dictateur Hosni Moubarak par l’armée en février 2011 après plusieurs semaines de protestations par des centaines de milliers de personnes inspirées par le mouvement qui a renversé la dictature de Ben Ali en Tunisie. Les protestations se sont poursuivies contre le régime militaire qui a remplacé Moubarak au début.
Sous prétexte de consolider la « révolution » et d’empêcher un retour au régime militaire direct, les Frères musulmans — le plus grand parti capitaliste du pays et le mieux organisé — essaient de réduire l’espace que les travailleurs ont conquis au cours de cette lutte.
Dans plusieurs villes, opposants et partisans des mesures se sont affrontés, faisant des morts et des blessés des deux côtés.
Préoccupé par une nouvelle série d’actions de masse à travers le pays, le président Barack Obama a appelé le président égyptien le 6 décembre et a « salué l’appel au dialogue avec l’opposition lancé par Mohamed Morsi, » selon un communiqué de presse de la Maison Blanche. « Il est essentiel pour les dirigeants égyptiens de toutes tendances politiques de mettre de côté leurs différences et de s’entendre sur une façon de faire progresser l’Égypte, » a-t-il dit. Mais les partis d’opposition ont rejeté l’appel à moins que le référendum ne soit reporté.
Bien que le projet de constitution utilise le mot « liberté » 42 fois, il limite la liberté d’expression en interdisant l’outrage aux prophètes ou aux individus. Il contient des dispositions qui sont très largement perçues comme un renforcement de l’application de la charia et qui limitent la liberté de culte. Cela permet le contrôle par l’État des finances de l’église chrétienne copte et l’élimination des protections pour les adeptes de la foi baha’ie. Environ 5,3 pour cent des 80 millions d’Égyptiens sont des chrétiens coptes.
Le projet de constitution compromet également le droit des travailleurs à s’organiser en précisant qu’un seul syndicat est autorisé « par profession. » Depuis le renversement de Moubarak, des centaines de nouveaux syndicats ont été formés, souvent en concurrence directe avec la fédération soutenue par l’État.
Le projet de constitution élimine une clause de l’ancienne constitution qui interdit la discrimination « sur la base du sexe, de l’origine, de la religion et de la foi. »
Poursuivant l’alliance difficile entre les Frères musulmans et le haut commandement militaire, la constitution autorise des procès militaires contre des civils ayant commis « des crimes qui touchent les forces armées » et garde le budget militaire secret. Les hauts responsables de l’armée sont un secteur clé de la classe capitaliste égyptienne. L’armée possède de grandes usines et des fermes, contrôlant entre 20 et 30 pour cent de l’économie du pays.
Les intérêts des travailleurs
« Les décrets du gouvernement ne sont clairement pas dans l’intérêt des travailleurs, » a déclaré au Militant Ibrahim Hamdi, un travailleur d’une usine textile appartenant à l’État à Mahalla El Kubra, lors d’une interview téléphonique le 8 décembre. « C’est pourquoi des milliers d’entre nous avons participé à des manifestations exigeant qu’ils soient abrogés. »Bien que la plupart des travailleurs des ateliers ne soient pas partisans des Frères musulmans, « Nous essayons de discuter avec ceux qui sont avec Morsi, de les rallier, » a-t-il dit.
« Nos principales exigences syndicales portent sur la sécurité au travail et des investissements publics pour remettre les machines en marche et ainsi embaucher plus de travailleurs, » a ajouté Ibrahim Hamdi, notant en passant que des milliers de travailleurs ont perdu leurs emplois au cours des dernières années.
« La constitution dit que les femmes doivent être protégées et ceci est vraiment inquiétant, » a dit au Militant Alea Murad, une jeune diplômée collégiale qui travaille dans une université au Caire. « Je suis une musulmane pratiquante mais les Frères déforment certains textes religieux pour les interpréter à leur manière. Ils veulent ramener des lois faisant qu’un mari peut décider si sa femme peut travailler ou non, si elle peut s’inscrire à l’université ou si elle peut voyager. Comme si ça ne suffisait pas que nous n’avons pas accès à beaucoup de domaines d’emplois. »
Alea Murad a dit que certains de ses proches, beaucoup d’ingénieurs ou de professeurs, sont partisans des Frères musulmans. « Avant que Mohamed Morsi soit élu, nous parlions beaucoup de nos désaccords, la discussion était plus acceptable. Mais maintenant, ses partisans deviennent de plus en plus haineux, » a-t-elle dit.
Le Front du salut national qui a été formé pour s’opposer aux mesures de Mohamed Morsi est dominé par des politiciens capitalistes. Il est dirigé par Mohamed el Baradei, l’ancien chef de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique, organe de l’ONU, et dirigeant du Parti constitutionnel ; Amr Moussa, ancien chef de la Ligue arabe et à une certaine époque le ministre des Affaires étrangères de Moubarak; Al-Sayed al Badawy, le chef du Parti Wafd qui a joué le rôle d’opposition loyale durant le régime de Moubarak; et Hamden Sabbahi, le chef du Courant populaire nassériste.
Le front inclut aussi plusieurs groupes sociaux-démocrates et radicaux de la classe moyenne, incluant Al-Tagammu, le Parti d’alliance populaire socialiste et le Parti social-démocrate.
Le haut commandement militaire a essayé de se prétendre au-dessus de la mêlée. « Nous soutenons l’appel à un dialogue national pour atteindre un consensus qui unira tous les segments de la nation, » a déclaré le porte-parole des forces armées Ahmed Mohamed Ali le 8 décembre. « Les forces armées ont toujours assuré la sécurité de la nation et de son peuple. »
Depuis qu’il a pris le pouvoir, Mohamed Morsi a maintenu plusieurs des politiques issues autant de Moubarak que du régime militaire intérimaire qui a lui succédé immédiatement après sa chute. Et comme ses prédécesseurs, il a appelé les travailleurs à cesser de faire grève pour des salaires plus élevés et de meilleures conditions de travail.
Les Frères appuient l’austérité du FMI
Le premier ministre égyptien Hisham Kandil a entamé des négociations avec le Fonds monétaire international à propos des conditions d’un prêt de 4,8 milliards de dollars que le gouvernement de Mohamed Morsi a demandé afin d’atténuer les effets de la crise économique, incluant une baisse importante du tourisme et des investissements étrangers ainsi qu’un déficit budgétaire estimé à 27,5 milliards de dollars.Selon les termes de l’accord, le gouvernement a déjà commencé à réduire les subventions pour le gaz de cuisine et l’électricité et planifie d’en réduire plus, y compris pour la nourriture. « Nous avons besoin de faire cela graduellement pour s’assurer que cela peut réussir, » a dit Hisham Kandil au Financial Times de Londres en octobre. « Il n’y a pas de bon moment pour implanter un programme de réformes. »
Le 9 décembre, Mohamed Morsi a annoncé qu’il imposait de nouvelles taxes sur les boissons gazeuses, la bière, les cigarettes, les services de téléphone cellulaire, l’huile de cuisine, les fertilisants et les pesticides dans la perspective d’obtenir le prêt du FMI. Plus tard dans la soirée, il annonçait que ces mesures étaient suspendues « jusqu’à ce que le niveau d’acceptation publique soit clair. »
« Morsi n’a plus de légitimité, » a dit par téléphone Gamal Abu’l Oula Hassamin, directeur du Centre pour les syndicats de métiers et les services aux travailleurs qui aide les travailleurs à s’organiser à Mahalla. « Les travailleurs des ateliers, les autres travailleurs et les résidents du quartier discutent de ce qu’il faut faire. »
Georges Mehrabian à Athènes, en Grèce, a contribué à cet article.
(front page)
Articles du Militant en français
Le président égyptien
restreint les droits politiques Au milieu de manifestations de masse, les travailleurs
défendent l’espace pour s’organiser
PAR SETH GALINSKY
Depuis le 22 novembre, lorsque le président égyptien Mohamed Morsi a décrété que toutes ses décisions étaient « définitives et contraignantes » jusqu’à ce qu’une nouvelle constitution soit adoptée, des centaines de milliers d’opposants et de partisans de son gouvernement ont participé à des manifestations concurrentes à travers le pays.
Mohamed Morsi, un dirigeant des Frères musulmans, a annoncé le 9 décembre qu’un référendum sur une nouvelle constitution codifiant des restrictions sur les droits démocratiques, les syndicats et la liberté de culte, aurait lieu le 15 décembre, ignorant les appels d’une série de partis d’opposition bourgeois et de nombreux syndicats pour que le vote soit reporté. Mohamed Morsi a déclaré qu’il avait autorisé l’armée à arrêter des civils pour maintenir « l’ordre public » jusqu’à ce que le vote soit terminé.
Mohamed Morsi a également modifié le décret stipulant que ses décisions ont force de loi et ne peuvent pas être portées en appel devant un tribunal, en affirmant que cela ne s’applique qu’aux « déclarations constitutionnelles. » Quelques jours plus tôt, il avait appelé à un dialogue avec les dirigeants de l’opposition.
Mohamed Morsi a été élu en juin suite à la déposition du dictateur Hosni Moubarak par l’armée en février 2011 après plusieurs semaines de protestations par des centaines de milliers de personnes inspirées par le mouvement qui a renversé la dictature de Ben Ali en Tunisie. Les protestations se sont poursuivies contre le régime militaire qui a remplacé Moubarak au début.
Sous prétexte de consolider la « révolution » et d’empêcher un retour au régime militaire direct, les Frères musulmans — le plus grand parti capitaliste du pays et le mieux organisé — essaient de réduire l’espace que les travailleurs ont conquis au cours de cette lutte.
Dans plusieurs villes, opposants et partisans des mesures se sont affrontés, faisant des morts et des blessés des deux côtés.
Préoccupé par une nouvelle série d’actions de masse à travers le pays, le président Barack Obama a appelé le président égyptien le 6 décembre et a « salué l’appel au dialogue avec l’opposition lancé par Mohamed Morsi, » selon un communiqué de presse de la Maison Blanche. « Il est essentiel pour les dirigeants égyptiens de toutes tendances politiques de mettre de côté leurs différences et de s’entendre sur une façon de faire progresser l’Égypte, » a-t-il dit. Mais les partis d’opposition ont rejeté l’appel à moins que le référendum ne soit reporté.
Bien que le projet de constitution utilise le mot « liberté » 42 fois, il limite la liberté d’expression en interdisant l’outrage aux prophètes ou aux individus. Il contient des dispositions qui sont très largement perçues comme un renforcement de l’application de la charia et qui limitent la liberté de culte. Cela permet le contrôle par l’État des finances de l’église chrétienne copte et l’élimination des protections pour les adeptes de la foi baha’ie. Environ 5,3 pour cent des 80 millions d’Égyptiens sont des chrétiens coptes.
Le projet de constitution compromet également le droit des travailleurs à s’organiser en précisant qu’un seul syndicat est autorisé « par profession. » Depuis le renversement de Moubarak, des centaines de nouveaux syndicats ont été formés, souvent en concurrence directe avec la fédération soutenue par l’État.
Le projet de constitution élimine une clause de l’ancienne constitution qui interdit la discrimination « sur la base du sexe, de l’origine, de la religion et de la foi. »
Poursuivant l’alliance difficile entre les Frères musulmans et le haut commandement militaire, la constitution autorise des procès militaires contre des civils ayant commis « des crimes qui touchent les forces armées » et garde le budget militaire secret. Les hauts responsables de l’armée sont un secteur clé de la classe capitaliste égyptienne. L’armée possède de grandes usines et des fermes, contrôlant entre 20 et 30 pour cent de l’économie du pays.
Les intérêts des travailleurs
« Les décrets du gouvernement ne sont clairement pas dans l’intérêt des travailleurs, » a déclaré au Militant Ibrahim Hamdi, un travailleur d’une usine textile appartenant à l’État à Mahalla El Kubra, lors d’une interview téléphonique le 8 décembre. « C’est pourquoi des milliers d’entre nous avons participé à des manifestations exigeant qu’ils soient abrogés. »Bien que la plupart des travailleurs des ateliers ne soient pas partisans des Frères musulmans, « Nous essayons de discuter avec ceux qui sont avec Morsi, de les rallier, » a-t-il dit.
« Nos principales exigences syndicales portent sur la sécurité au travail et des investissements publics pour remettre les machines en marche et ainsi embaucher plus de travailleurs, » a ajouté Ibrahim Hamdi, notant en passant que des milliers de travailleurs ont perdu leurs emplois au cours des dernières années.
« La constitution dit que les femmes doivent être protégées et ceci est vraiment inquiétant, » a dit au Militant Alea Murad, une jeune diplômée collégiale qui travaille dans une université au Caire. « Je suis une musulmane pratiquante mais les Frères déforment certains textes religieux pour les interpréter à leur manière. Ils veulent ramener des lois faisant qu’un mari peut décider si sa femme peut travailler ou non, si elle peut s’inscrire à l’université ou si elle peut voyager. Comme si ça ne suffisait pas que nous n’avons pas accès à beaucoup de domaines d’emplois. »
Alea Murad a dit que certains de ses proches, beaucoup d’ingénieurs ou de professeurs, sont partisans des Frères musulmans. « Avant que Mohamed Morsi soit élu, nous parlions beaucoup de nos désaccords, la discussion était plus acceptable. Mais maintenant, ses partisans deviennent de plus en plus haineux, » a-t-elle dit.
Le Front du salut national qui a été formé pour s’opposer aux mesures de Mohamed Morsi est dominé par des politiciens capitalistes. Il est dirigé par Mohamed el Baradei, l’ancien chef de l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique, organe de l’ONU, et dirigeant du Parti constitutionnel ; Amr Moussa, ancien chef de la Ligue arabe et à une certaine époque le ministre des Affaires étrangères de Moubarak; Al-Sayed al Badawy, le chef du Parti Wafd qui a joué le rôle d’opposition loyale durant le régime de Moubarak; et Hamden Sabbahi, le chef du Courant populaire nassériste.
Le front inclut aussi plusieurs groupes sociaux-démocrates et radicaux de la classe moyenne, incluant Al-Tagammu, le Parti d’alliance populaire socialiste et le Parti social-démocrate.
Le haut commandement militaire a essayé de se prétendre au-dessus de la mêlée. « Nous soutenons l’appel à un dialogue national pour atteindre un consensus qui unira tous les segments de la nation, » a déclaré le porte-parole des forces armées Ahmed Mohamed Ali le 8 décembre. « Les forces armées ont toujours assuré la sécurité de la nation et de son peuple. »
Depuis qu’il a pris le pouvoir, Mohamed Morsi a maintenu plusieurs des politiques issues autant de Moubarak que du régime militaire intérimaire qui a lui succédé immédiatement après sa chute. Et comme ses prédécesseurs, il a appelé les travailleurs à cesser de faire grève pour des salaires plus élevés et de meilleures conditions de travail.
Les Frères appuient l’austérité du FMI
Le premier ministre égyptien Hisham Kandil a entamé des négociations avec le Fonds monétaire international à propos des conditions d’un prêt de 4,8 milliards de dollars que le gouvernement de Mohamed Morsi a demandé afin d’atténuer les effets de la crise économique, incluant une baisse importante du tourisme et des investissements étrangers ainsi qu’un déficit budgétaire estimé à 27,5 milliards de dollars.Selon les termes de l’accord, le gouvernement a déjà commencé à réduire les subventions pour le gaz de cuisine et l’électricité et planifie d’en réduire plus, y compris pour la nourriture. « Nous avons besoin de faire cela graduellement pour s’assurer que cela peut réussir, » a dit Hisham Kandil au Financial Times de Londres en octobre. « Il n’y a pas de bon moment pour implanter un programme de réformes. »
Le 9 décembre, Mohamed Morsi a annoncé qu’il imposait de nouvelles taxes sur les boissons gazeuses, la bière, les cigarettes, les services de téléphone cellulaire, l’huile de cuisine, les fertilisants et les pesticides dans la perspective d’obtenir le prêt du FMI. Plus tard dans la soirée, il annonçait que ces mesures étaient suspendues « jusqu’à ce que le niveau d’acceptation publique soit clair. »
« Morsi n’a plus de légitimité, » a dit par téléphone Gamal Abu’l Oula Hassamin, directeur du Centre pour les syndicats de métiers et les services aux travailleurs qui aide les travailleurs à s’organiser à Mahalla. « Les travailleurs des ateliers, les autres travailleurs et les résidents du quartier discutent de ce qu’il faut faire. »
Georges Mehrabian à Athènes, en Grèce, a contribué à cet article.
(front page)
Egyptian president moves to restrict political rights Amid mass protests, workers defend space to organize AP Photo/Petr David Josek Dec. 9 protest at presidential palace in Cairo against draft constitution pushed by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi that restricts democratic rights, unions and freedom of worship. BY SETH GALINSKY Since Nov. 22 when Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi decreed that all his decisions are “final and binding” until a new constitution is passed, hundreds of thousands of opponents and supporters of his government have joined competing demonstrations across the country. Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced Dec. 9 that a referendum on a new constitution—which codifies restrictions on democratic rights, unions and freedom of worship—will take place Dec. 15, pushing aside calls to postpone the vote from a range of bourgeois opposition parties and many trade unions. Morsi said he had authorized the army to arrest civilians to maintain “public order” until the vote is over. Morsi also modified the decree that his decisions are law and cannot be appealed in court, saying that this only applies to “constitutional declarations.” A few days earlier he called for a dialogue with opposition leaders. Morsi was elected in June following the military’s removal of dictator Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 after several weeks of protests by hundreds of thousands, inspired by the movement that overthrew the Ben Ali dictatorship in Tunisia. Protests continued against the military regime that at first took Mubarak’s place. Under the guise of consolidating the “revolution” and preventing a return of direct military rule, the Muslim Brotherhood—the largest and best organized capitalist party in the country—is moving to close down space working people won in the course of that struggle. In several cities opponents and supporters of the measures have clashed, with dead and wounded reported on both sides. Concerned about provoking another round of mass actions in the country, President Barack Obama called the Egyptian president Dec. 6 and “welcomed Morsi’s call for a dialogue with the opposition,” according to a White House press release. “It is essential for Egyptian leaders across the political spectrum to put aside their differences and come together to agree on a path that will move Egypt forward,” he said. But opposition parties rejected the call, unless the referendum was postponed. Although the draft constitution uses the word “freedom” 42 times, it limits free speech through prohibitions on insulting prophets or individuals. It includes provisions widely viewed as tightening the application of sharia law and limiting freedom of worship, allowing state control of the finances of the Coptic Christian church and eliminating protections for followers of the Baha’i faith. About 5.3 percent of Egypt’s 80 million people are Coptic Christians. It also undermines workers’ right to organize by specifying that only one union is allowed “per profession.” Since the removal of Mubarak, hundreds of new unions have been formed, often in direct competition with the state-backed federation. The draft eliminates a clause from the old constitution that prohibited discrimination “on the basis of sex, origin, religion and creed.” Continuing the uneasy alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood and the military high command, the constitution allows military trials for civilians “for crimes that affect the armed forces” and keeps secret the military budget. High-ranking army officials are a key section of Egypt’s capitalist class. The military owns large factories and farms, controlling between 20 and 30 percent of the country’s economy. Interests of workers “The government decrees are clearly not in the interests of workers,” Ibraham Hamdi, a worker at a state-owned textile mill in Mahalla El Kubra told the Militant in a Dec. 8 phone interview. “That is why thousands of us have participated in demonstrations demanding they be repealed.” While most workers in the mills are not supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, “We try to discuss with those that are with Morsi, to win them over,” he said. “Our main union demands revolve around job security and public investments to get the machines working in order to hire more workers,” Hamdi added, noting that thousands of workers have lost their jobs over the last several years. “The constitution says that women are to be protected and that is really worrying,” Alaa Murad, a recent college graduate who works at a university in Cairo, told the Militant. “I am a practicing Muslim, but the Brotherhood twists certain religious texts and interprets them in their own way. They want to bring back laws that a husband can control whether a woman works or not, apply to university or travel without his permission. It’s bad enough already that we don’t have access to a lot of occupations.” Murad said some of her relatives, many engineers or professors, support the Muslim Brotherhood. “Before Morsi was elected, we used to talk about our disagreements, discussion was more acceptable,” she said. “But now his supporters have become more vicious.” The National Salvation Front formed to oppose Morsi’s moves is dominated by capitalist politicians. It is headed by Mohamed el Baradei, former head of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency and leader of the Constitution Party; Amr Moussa, former Arab League head and at one time Mubarak’s foreign minister; Al-Sayed al Badawy, head of the Wafd Party, which played the role of a loyal opposition during the Mubarak regime; and Hamden Sabbahi, leader of the Nasserite Popular Current. The front also includes several social democratic and middle class radical groups, including Al-Tagammu, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party and the Social Democratic Party. The military high command has tried to portray itself as above the fray. “We support the call for national dialogue, to reach a consensus that unites all segments of the nation,” Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali stated Dec. 8. “The Armed Forces have always ensured the security and safety of the nation and its people.” Since taking office, Morsi has kept in place many policies both of Mubarak and the interim military regime that immediately followed his ouster. And like his predecessors he has called on workers to stop striking for higher wages and better working conditions. Brotherhood backs IMF austerity Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund over the terms of a $4.8 billion loan Morsi’s government has requested to weather the economic crisis, including a sharp drop in tourism and foreign investment and a budget deficit estimated at $27.5 billion. As part of the deal, the government has already begun cuts in subsidies for cooking gas and electricity and plans to cut more, including for food. “We need to do it gradually and to make sure it can succeed,” Kandil told the London Financial Times in October. “There is no good time to implement a reform programme.” On Dec. 9 Morsi announced he was imposing new sales taxes on soft drinks, beer, cigarettes, cellphone services, cooking oil, fertilizers and pesticides as part of getting the IMF loan. Later that night he announced the measures were on hold “until the degree of public acceptance is made clear.” “Morsi no longer has legitimacy,” Gamal Abu’l Oula Hassamin, director of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, which helps organize workers in Mahalla, said by phone. “Mill workers, other workers and neighborhood residents are discussing what to do.” Georges Mehrabian in Athens, Greece, contributed to this article. @The Militant Dec. 14, 2012 ___________________
12/01/2012
Qahwa Fishawi, le Caire
Carlo Nallino, qui a donna des cours de litterature arabe du jahiliyya jusqu'aux omayyades, serait surpris de voir les manifestations des integrists qui soutiennent les freres musulmans aujourd'hiu a l'universite du Caire.
8/24/2012
6/06/2012
Shati' Tea and Falafel Shop, Gaza
Sitting by the paintings of Vaserelly, thinking of Gaza, the sea, and how people don't realize how cooped up we are in Gaza. Not as bad as the prisons, though.
6/02/2012
McNamara Ground Ops Coffee Machine, Detroit
June 1, 2012: Detroit News coming into Work. -- Assad's "Shabiha" killed some "factory workers" in a bus in western Syria (Banias?), yet the politicians persist in worrying about Syria falling into "sectarian warfare." It is THEY who fomented the sectarianism in the Middle East. What Assad, and the other bourgeois rulers in the Middle East are worried about is the organization of the workers and farmers into an opposition, nothing more complicated explains Assad's tactics.
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