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Subscribe to RSSThe Egyptian Information Ministry tells CNN it's shutting down mobile phone networks ahead of tomorrow's "March of the Millions" demonstrations.
While it hasn't been established that the government is behind the failure of Egypt's last public Internet service provider, the report confirms widespread predictions that it would seek to cut off communications with the outside world before the demonstrations begin.
Many of those predictions got out to the rest of the world over a service Google set up over the weekend, which allows people to tweet by voice mail.
"No Internet connection is required" to use the service, Google said on its official blog Monday. "We hope that this will go some way to helping people in Egypt stay connected at this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone there."
Many Egyptians are already taking advantage of the service, called Speak2Tweet; you can hear their tweets here. Presumably, traffic on that account will dwindle as cell networks go down overnight, but it shouldn't dry up completely, since the service works with landlines.
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I hope the people in Iran see what mass protest can accomplish. Ahmajinedad and the Mullahs should be heading for the hills and the people taking heart from these protests in Egypt. It takes critical mass then the people WIN! Let Freedom ring from every hill and hamlet!
I foresee our internet and wireless service being cut off soon when the protests start about our economy, our jobs, our borders and our elected leaders ignoring the facts
Yea, but they can't shut off our guns.
Tripod, when's that? 2259? It's not happening any time soon so you can snip the tea bags off your NRA hat now.
@lynseypug
We know teabugs are violent gun-worshipers. No need to show off.
Difference between Egypt and US is our leaders (whether you agree with them or not) respect the rule of law. We have regular legitimate elections and the results of those elections are honored and we don't use military and the like to enforce the retention of those in power. While our system is not perfect, which of the commentors here would move to Egypt or any other country?
This can only make things get uglier!!!
Iran is different in that Egypt is a secular regime.
The Egyptian army likely won't slaughter their own people if ordered to do so by Mubarek. It is precisely at the point that Mubarek issues such an order that he loses the army and the revolution is complete.
The revolutionary guard in Iran, OTOH, more likely would slaughter their own people because such an order could be perceived as God's will, since it would be coming from the Ayatollah who speaks for God.
From what I read on various news sources, not to mention pictures, it appears to me that the Egyptian army is siding with the protesters, as the army is not doing anything to prevent the protests. Yes, the tanks may be in the street providing a blockade, but it is the Egyptian police in Cairo, Suez and Alexandria that are shooting guns filled with rubber bullets, water hoses and tear gas at the crowds, not the army.
In fact, there is at least one known army member who has crossed over and joined the protesters, according to articles and pictures.
The egyptian army said they wouldn't fire on PEACEFUL protestors, but they would do what's necessary to contain NON-PEACEFUL demonstrations.......i.e., people throwing things, using weapons, etc.
Ha! Yeah, that's crazy. It's so frustrating to deal with religious zealots who think a magic man in the sky listens to them murmur their wishes before bedtime.
Pretty sure people can survive without internet and cell phones.
To bad they are devistating themselves. Hope they stored up reserves in advance.
They have done great harm to one of their biggest industries (Travel)
To bad they don't have a plan. Regardless of who rules the country they still need a plan on exactly what kind of economic reforms will help their economy.
It just doesn't seem that anyone has articulated anything!
People will embrace the opposite of their oppressors even if it is just a different flavor of oppression
Thanks JUXTAPOSITIONER for your keen insightS into this unprecedented event. Your perceptive observations have clarified everything that had been troubling me.
Why doesn't that stupid ass government shut the lights off and hit the road.Delusional idiots all of them.
It's a power play. Mubarak wants to stay in power, which he has had for 30 years. The firing of all Cabinet members and hirings of a VP and others is merely to act as a temporary measure. Once the protests have all been squelched, then he will resume what he had done for the past 30 years--reigning over all of Egypt. I'm surprised that he has not deemed himself a pharoah.
Egyt's President - This is a warning from ONE USA citizen. Shutting down communications is outrageous to us here in the USA, and I am sure in Canada, Mexico and South America, all the islands, Australia. You had better turn on the communications IMMEDIATELY OR ALL HELL IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE. HELL LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. WE FIND THIS BEHAVIOR OF YOUR OUTRAGEOUS AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. TURN THE COMMUNICATIONS BACK ON, IMMEDIATELY.
Or what? What are you going to do about it? Do you really think they are reading your post?
This is what happens when gov'ts take peoples' rights and give them squalor while the elected officials live high and mighty. The little man gets tired of repression and strikes back. Then, toavoid others from knowing what is happening inside the borders, all communication is cut.
The little people spoke, the gov't ignored. The gov't breaks the little peoples' backs and the little people come together for an old fashioned overthrow.
If Obammy and his merry band of idiots don't pay heed to this, the US will soon see a similar incident.
Same goes for Steven harper and his band of thieving fools in canada.
I don't fear the right-wing nutjobs (formerly the Republican Party) led by Sarah "Dippy" Palin, Glenn Speck & Lush Limpballs. There will not be a revolution here. You may not like President Obama, but that is your right. In Egypt, if one expresses dissatisfaction with their leader, that person can be imprisoned and tortured. Here, you are allowed to say what you want about our leaders in the White House, Congress and government overall, with the exception of threatening their lives or the lives of their loved ones.
If you don't like it, you are free to leave. Go to South America, since you are so unhappy with things in North America.
No actually we are JUST like Egypt.....you can scream, protest, or do whatever you want and Obama and Pelosi IGNORE YOU and ram stuff down your throat anyhow....HOW DO YOU FIGURE ITS MUCH DIFFERENT? To be a "free nation"....that shouldnt happen.
I saw signs in Egypt the protesters were carrying saying " US why do you support dictators? "
I was thinking to myself....Ummm cause WE HAVE ONE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY TOO ? That would be MY GUESS....... ? All evil dictators seem to like the same things they do to the people......
Obama was giving a speech saying how "awful it was they shut down the cell phones and internet " over there.....DID ANYONE TAKE NOTE THAT HE JUST SIGNED A BILL TO DO THE SAME THING HERE ANYTIME HE DEEMS "NECESSARY" ????? Well....READ UP....HE DID.....recently too.
He JUST signed a bill for an "INTERNET KILL SWITCH" ...HIMSELF......and yes, we arent in Egypt Dorothy......
Remember this - the net is essentially impossible to kill in the US - too many T-1 connections PLUS there are numerous "satellite connections",
You believe that ? Really ?
Really, wait til this ice storm/blizzard cuts it's path across the US or the first major overload to the power grid, or the next massive earthquake.
Yeah, I'm 'dam tired of this' too. I'm "damn tired" hearing ridiculous unfounded claims and conspiracy theories regurgitated back from those who get spoon-fed propaganda by crazy people. Some of whom believe in magic underwear and the mysterious holy ocean tides.
"Here, you are allowed to say what you want about our leaders in the White House, Congress and government overall, with the exception of threatening their lives or the lives of their loved ones."
Ever heard of the Patriot Act?
Obama send a military satellite over Egypt and turn on their communications. Problem solved. Screw their stupid president.
I so agree Eygpt no matter what needs communication, let the people have a voice.
Why must we, the US taxpayers, have to furnish communication for another country at our expense? That's one of the reasons that the US is hated and targeted by terrorists, our government is always sticking their noses is another country's business. Yet, we can't even effectively police our own streets, nor fund our prison system properly for the safety of the public.
And the security of Israel? Why cant they defend themselves? What exactly do we owe them? The Holocaust has been over for years, they don't need us any longer. They're simply using us for their national security, at our expense. It's OK for us to provide them with weapons of mass destruction, but for whatever reason, it seems to be a crime for another Middle Eastern country to possess such a weapon.
No wonder the rest of those countries in that region doesn't like us.
Cat
Dear Cat, u have just pinpointed the true reason for all the hatred targeted towards the US
Besides Bill Maher on HBO, who would want to miss that.
Oh, Michael 1742652, I don't know what planet you have been living on, but it is the tax breaks to the rich and the deregulations to the banks and sending jobs overseas by the republicans that have sold the middle class into poverty. Where have you been. I'm for neither party and don't even vote anymore because it is so hopeless, but you should know what you are talking about.
Hope that you have hope for your vote that can change ...
A lot of starfish on a beach, we just have a pair of hands, and we can only pick up one starfish at a tme fo save one, and only if we have time for we do need to take care our own things...
And, we still have a little time to pick up one at a time to save one.
If you don't vote your have no right to complain! No matter how bad things are you must vote..... You sound like you think thing through. Think about and vote next time you have a chance by not voting you have given up.....
Whenever I need any data/ research, I just GOOGLE... YAHOO... BING...
Thanks. Democracy will survive and arise with the integrity of TECH.
Mr. Biden, do you still think Mubarak is NOT a dictator?
i think this is where biden and obama wanted to do to this country, it might even work but we the people will stand together.
I do not know why your news media lie all the time. I have my family in Egypt and they told me about protestors that when they are 1000-3000 , media here makes them 100 000 and 150 000. Have your media told ppl around about the demonstrations that are in support to the regiemen.
Your media here says that we donot know how can we say Mubarak is a president although he was not elected. This president is elected and he is the president of Egypt till he leaves. When your media talks about him, they should talk with the ultimate respect. your media needs to stop lying to ppl and tell facts.
I saw earlier they went to prisons and showing areas and claims it is for torture and this is why ppl attack the prisons. Right, this is why all prisons were attacked at the same time. I do not know wht is the media want adn why are they lying. Do you know that if Egypt has become bad, your economy is going downhill. are you willing to pay 4 and 5 $ for your gas.
Please, talk about incidents in absolute correct way. present the other side. Present people who are calling the news media all the time in support for the Mubarak. People who wanted changes but want mubarak
I want him in Egypt
Why attack the prisons? They're designed for public safety. There's a major shortage of them in the US, yet we destroy those in other countries, allowing terrorists (that survive) to escape.
And if Egypt goes south, it will have little effect on our economy. The gas may rise a bit a first, then it'll drop right back down. That's the problem between the US & Middle East, is Oil, and the US is being held hostage over it, everytime a crisis breaks out, gas prices rises.
Mainly due to the "anticipated" loss of supply, which never happens (except in the early 70's).
We need to show them that we don't give a rat's a** about them, their attitude will change fast.
Cat
No justice, no peace.....
It's true there is a dictator,but, ElBaradia is not the one to take over unless you want Iran in the door in a heart beat. The people haven't seen anything yet if that happens. I just think our administration is trying to walk a line and I believe it's going to find they should have taken a stand for the people and democracy.
Obama had no interest in helping the people of Iran when they were trying to obtain change in their government and Iran is being ruled by maniacs. If he now supports the people of Egypt what kind of government will there be? One ruled by religious fanactics like Iran?
No government should have this kind of control over media, free commerce, public utilities, and freedom of speech.