tierartz - A) It's not the media's job to help Egypt move forward. It's their job to report on what's going on.

B) Positivity does not sell as well as negativity. The general populace is more likely to tune in longer for ongoing coverage of an event that is seen as a "crisis" or "meltdown". And while I'm not saying this is a good thing, it simply is what IS. People will read a positive news item, say a piece about a dog rescuing it's family from a house fire, and think "Aw, that's nice." They may even forward that story to some of their friends. But on the whole, it's the disasters that have people tuning in for constant updates. Hurricane Katrina, earthquake in Haiti, 9/11 attacks - these all get people watching which means money for the networks. One recent exception I can think of is perhaps the day that the Chilean miners were rescued.

C) There have been positive tidbits about the Egyptian protests reported in places. The human chain to the protect the museum in Cairo comes to mind.

I don't know where you have been. They have shown on American TV night after night the citizens protecting their neighborhoods. We will see how positive the Egyptians are when they form government or if they allow the Iranian "thugs" to grasp control of the country. There are wonderful people, only if you are not Jewish.

Rachael--I couldn't agree with you more. The media merely sells what people want to see--carnage.

Yes tierartz, but the Mubarak supporters were attacking the journalists. The people want freedom, which the media has been reporting. You have to report the story as it is, you want things reported biased.

Tierartz I don't know what media sources you've been reading/watching, but I've heard many positive reports from the media, from how the army is a very respected force that refuses to turn on the Egyptian people to the neighborhood patrols and checkpoints you referenced. I heard how a reporter was frisked 12 times upon entering Tahrir square to ensure he had no weapons, and I've heard that plenty of food and water had been distributed to the people so they could remain, peacefully, in the square. The coverage I have seen and read (MSNBC, CNN, NBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Al Jazeera) up until now has been very focused on the fact that this is a turning point in Egypt and perhaps in the Middle East, and has been very, very focused on how peaceful this amazing event has been (up until now) and the upbeat, almost celebratory tone of the protestors.

But now things have turned violent and people are being killed. Do you believe that the media shouldn't report on these things? That they shouldn't report the truth of what they see and hear?

I did see something positive last night on ABC news. The crew was arriving on a flight late at night. On board was a young man going to see and check up on his grandmother. He couldn't get a taxi, so the news crew took him in their business. They were stopped several times and had identification {passports, etc}checked. Some where soldiers, but many where stated to be people that lived in the areas looking for looters. When they finally gotto the apartment, They were challenged by the people who lived there, "Who are you? What do you want?" After the grandson was checked out and confirmed, They were left alone, but watched from a distance to make sure THEY were not accosted by troublemakers.

I saw a report on exactly what you are describing a few days ago. Including interviews. A reporter had landed at the airport and was en route to the hotel - and her film crew interviewed these protective groups along the way. They were helpful.

Tierartz: I've seen several positive news reports. Maybe you are only hearing what you want to hear. I saw reports in the beginning about how peaceful the protests were, how postitive the demonstrators were, how the people who lived in the neighborhoods were stopping cars and searching them to make sure they weren't being looted, the chain of people protecting the museum, and many more examples of positive behavior. The reports got bad when the melee began. You don't want to hear the negative? Tell that to the thugs who are behaving like neanderthals, and let the reporters do their job and report what his happening, good or bad.

Bud news just coming in, Some reporters have been attacked by pro-Mubarak (Read this as probably undercover security police) on the street and in their hotels. And Egyptian TV has just sent a warning to clear the square now, or else.

Former Muslim Brotherhood (MB) lawmaker Mohammed al-Beltagi said the MB, the National Association for Change (NAC) and the protesters would stand by their decision to refuse talks with the regime until Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigns, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported Feb. 2. The opposition parties that agreed to talks, including the Wafd and Tagammu parties, only represent themselves, not the people, al-Beltagi said. The recent violence in Tahrir Square marks Mubarak's last effort to retain power, al-Beltagi said, adding that Mubarak was forcing people to choose between losing their lives or keeping him for 10 months. Several of the "pro-Mubarak" have been found to have ministry of interior ID's, and have admitted they were ordered to attack.

To 'tiarartz': What are you talking about? They media has been reporting on all that. And how people across Egypt have been protecting their neighborhoods with sticks, bats, swords, etc.

This whole thing is a sad development because Egypt has always seemed so stable and above the fray of volatile countries in the Middle East. Anyway, times have changed and I hope that all Egyptians can come together for this great and historic country. My biggest concern is the peace between Egypt and Israel. The relationship between the two countries have been a model of stability. I was troubled with what a number of the protesters have been saying about their anger at Mubarak's support of Israel. If the peace agreement that was brokered by Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, and Mennachem Begin falls apart when this dust settles, we are all in for a difficult time in the Middle East.

I think that the media coverage of the events have been fairly good and even.

tierartz,

The media had been showing some of the positives up until it became more negative. I have seen several interviews and pictures and videos of the Egypt people helping each other. It's to bad it has come to this. I had wondered how soon it would become an issue that all of these media people were showing and talking about what is going on (free press). Considering internet had been shut down I knew it would become an issue soon. It's unfortunate!

Lets look at the facts:

where did you get the report about the 'pro mubarak' protestors having Ministry id's...I'm not doubting you, I just want to read about it.

Yes and no. The media wants to sell a story, I know this. People are desensatized right now and only chaos seems to attract their attention, also a known. But how are you supposed to elavate humanity if you cater to its depraved situation right now? There's a time and place for things, you need to dumb down things at times. You need to compromise when you're a literature buff who's trying to teach the importance of ancient texts to a high school kid. But you are NOT justified to feed the very situation which leads to their low state. If people are so put-off by the wording of something that they refuse to seek it that's on their own head. I can't help but lament how far humanity has fallen as we substitute an educated and cultured society for a society driven by primal thought. I really don't give a rip if there's animosity towards foreign journalists even if they're from the USA. That is not what concerns me. What concerns me, and SHOULD concern you, is what we're seeing: A sudden destablizing of the Middle East. Did you hear? Yemen's ruler is also announcing he won't be extending his reign. These dictators are seeing the tides of change. With Egypt's government being brought down by peaceful protests (save for the supporters of the government getting involved this has been a remarkably peaceful transition) and Yemen reacting with fore-sight you seen a chain reaction of events (begun by Tunisia) that could very well lead to a total reworking of the ruling class in the Middle East. As news spread (and it will spread, no matter what gets blacked out) this could effect many other countries who have ruled and kept power simply because the boss claimed Divine Mandate.

I actually am excited about this happening within my own life time. Of course the damage and lost of life is regrettable but people are making a stand for what they believe counts. Wasn't sure if I'd see much beyond stagnation. Perhaps I'll see a few other nations of interest be humbled; My eye is watching more than just the Middle East.

Internal Security Forces Creating Problems for Egypt's Army

January 30, 2011 | 0034 GMT

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Egyptian plainclothes police arrest a protester in Cairo

Related Special Topic Page

• The Egypt Unrest

STRATFOR has received multiple reports Jan. 29 indicating that plainclothes police from Egypt's internal security apparatus are the main drivers behind the growing insecurity in the streets over the past 24 hours.

It is important to keep in mind that historically, animosity has existed between Egyptian police and army officers. The Interior Ministry, according to STRATFOR sources, wanted to prevent the military from imposing control in the streets. It appears that the absence of police on the streets Jan. 29 was (at least in part) encouraged by the outgoing interior minister, who was sacked the same day along with the rest of the Cabinet. Egyptian plainclothes police allegedly were behind a number of the jailbreaks, robberies of major banks and the spread of attacks and break-ins in high-class neighborhoods. The idea behind the violent campaign was to portray the protesters as a public menace and elicit a heavy-handed army crackdown to embroil the military in an even bigger crisis.

Some of these allegations could be part of the military's campaign to break the back of the internal security forces in order reassert its authority over the state. What is clear is that army-police rivalry in Egypt is intensifying, carrying significant security implications for those currently in the country and for the military's ability to bring Egypt back to a state of relative stability.

johnnyt, There you go. Also live from Fox, and news crews that are filming the people that grabbed the pro-Mubarak people who attacked them just a few minutes before.

I feel deeply and have compassion on the news reporters, they need to be kept safe and protected.

I dont like to say this in light of certain reproters who have been hurt.

Look at the crowds and use common sense, stay away from trouble. The reporters want the cutting edge story but sometimes they are just creating more trouble and also putting other people at risk. We dont want to see the reporters harmed or killed for current cutting edge story.

Peace

I am sure that when any news reporter goes to any Rally/demonstration whether peaceful, or disorderly, there is a high potential for violence. Think of how it would be if they did not go. Many Americans are still trying to get out of Egypt. Think of them as a relative of yours. What would you feel like if you could not be aware of their welfare. These Reporters are aware of the danger that they place themselves in at the onset. Yet they go anyway to keep the public aware. This is not about a contest between News Stations, this is to make us aware about what is really going on in the World. To the ones who appear to be happy about the Reporters being attacked, this speaks volumes about your propensity for violence. I hope that all of the Reporters are safe. There have been many positive reports about the Demonstration, by the Reporters and the President, but the news has to be unbiased and if you do not want to see and hear the truth, why not go to Egypt and do your own reporting. Try watching CNN for news that is unbiased. Some people just like MESS and will go to any length to find and start it. I watch all of the News station in order to get the truth. By doing this, I can make up my own mind as to what is going on.

Lets look at the facts:

Thank You! I have to go for a while because real life calls. I'm going to look it over and examine better when I get back.

Also, I'll look it up later...but who or what is STRATFOR?

Thanks again.

Egypt: Military Attempting To Prevent More Counter-protesters From Entering Tahrir Square

February 2, 2011

The Egyptian military is attempting to prevent more pro-government counter-protesters from pushing into Cairo's Tahrir Square, the BBC reported Feb. 2. However, there are too few soldiers to completely impose order, so the most they have been able to do is prevent large numbers of these counter-protesters from entering the middle of the square by pushing them to the edges. The arrival of these groups seems to have strengthened the antigovernment protesters' resolve, stopping what had been a gradual flow of protesters away from the square

STRATFOR’s global team of intelligence professionals provides an audience of decision-makers and sophisticated news consumers in the U.S. and around the world with unique insights into political, economic, and military developments. The company uses human intelligence and other sources combined with powerful analysis based on geopolitics to produce penetrating explanations of world events. This independent, non-ideological content enables users not only to better understand international events, but also to reduce risks and identify opportunities in every region of the globe. They are used by most news agencies, and many Government entities. As an aside, When Russia invaded Georgia a while back, I got street-to-street movement of Russian forces.

Look at the "PEACEFUL" protesters now. These are the people who have the best interests of Egypt at heart?

Looks like our media was wrong about their motives. I guess you don't have to use violence when you can loot freely. Now that people are challenging their disruptive rioting, they are behaving like the common thugs that they are.

Funny, our media describes violent Egyptian rioters as "peaceful" but our non-violent Tea Party rallies as violent.

Maybe if the media set aside it's liberal ideology for just a little while, we could get to some of the facts.

Such as: Where is this going? What do the protesters want other than Mubarak to resign? How do they plan to govern? Would that Government respect minority rights? We heard what they don't want, what do they want?

These are the questions you ask BEFORE we end up with another Lebanon.

ALMA-2922126, you posted :To the ones who appear to be happy about the Reporters being attacked, this speaks volumes about your propensity for violence. Who on earth , or even here, seems happy about attacks on anyone, especially reporters? I must have missed that.

OK, found them farther down the post. Sick, very sick. Unfortunately, Journalism 101 : "If it bleeds, it leads."

Who are the pro-Mubarak protesters?

Questions arise about whether the Egyptian government is behind the violencemsnbc.com news services
updated 2 hours 56 minutes ago 2011-02-02T20:23:33

The Egyptian regime has turned its thugs loose again ...

The tactics used against protesters at the last election have appeared with redoubled viciousness

So who are these people? In support of the president, they throw Molotov bottles and plant pots from the tops of buildings onto the heads of women and children. To establish stability and order, they break heads with rocks and legs with bicycle chains. To have their say in the debate they slash faces with knives. Who are they? Well, every time one of them is captured his ID says he's a member of the security forces. And his young captors simply hand him to the military who are standing by.

All you people who cannot condemn the violent crimes against journalists, because your so caught up in your own self-centered belief about what you think this mess in Cairo is all about. None of you know what it is all about, especially when you see it change at the drop of a dime today. Sure we can hear from "Pro-Murbarak" people who seem to only be able to resort to violence, and what they are pissed off about shows that they have no idea what the journalists are there for. It is so typical of these foreigners who condemn Americans and what the journalists are doing (which is trying their best to deliver a fair and neutral new story of what is really happening in Cairo." Now you think it is going to be balanced when the thugs, or whomever the hell they are have resorted to violence to get their point across and now that they have frightened the journalist, who were doing what they could to give them their national New "voice," but the screwed it up and now they will not have any journalists willing to sacrifice their life for a group of people who it turns out seem to have no idea what they want except what Arabs are used to doing and that is fighting, not like real men (if indeed they know how to fight like real men without using a group to beat up one person or other weapons) but to use other means to show their cowardliness and lack of manliness by using rocks, knives, bats, groups of Arabs beating one journalist up.

These cowards and the people who support them will be the first to try and get back into the US to either spread their cowardliness here or taken advantage of the numerous benefits they have here that they do not have their. I challenge any Arab who has shows their cowardliness by beating up on innocent journalists, to stay there in your own country where the life is filled with violence, fighting, very tough times for you there in hour homeland that every single coward who can only throw bombs, beat-up journalists with your Arab friends on one journalists. (tThis makes you all looks like ladies, not men. When you scream your beliefs in the camera, you look like girls on steroids. It is really sad how pitiful you look. I wish you could one day see how corrupt and violent you all are. You look pitiful onTV.) Stay there in your Arab nation, since you hat e americans so much, take it out on your own friends and families in your own country. Cowards, cowards, cowards---but when the line to come to America is open and you have played your little games during this time, I bet you will be one of the first to get back in the USA. Why don't you just stay in your own country since you enjoy that way of life so much. That is my suggestion to you.

The journalists that were hurt and any innocent other innocent humans, my payers are with you.

tierartz, since you live in Egypt, can you tell me anything factual about what is pasted below. Thank you. :==================================================================

Lets look at the facts

RiverDog-1572451

In 2005, Government "supporters" who's nickname was loosely translated as "4 Dollars" (because they were paid the equivalent $4.00-US and a Viagra pill) would go into crowds of demonstraters in Egypt, pull women out and rape them.

• !

#1.30 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 9:30 AM CST ========================== Could you please state the EXACT location where you found this information. I looked for it through several sights and found only one set on google under "'4 dollars 2005 Egypt". It referenced several restaurants, drug store,s and QUITE the surprise, YOUR POST, printed above.

• 2

• !

#1.44 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 12:37 PM CST

A lot of Muslims are violent too. As an outside observer I think that both sides are unreasonable and are causing much of the world's problems.

Hey all,

i have read some of your comments all, i'm not sure what is this link i'm texting you on and honstly i dont care i just want to make something clear:

Islam has nothing to do with all this people though God watches what we are all doing and i guess it all comes to the end to how do we look at each other ,how do we get our work done,how honest are we in every little thing we do, how honest are we with ourselves is the most important of all.

Seek the truth where ever it may be with your own way, think before you judge anything and you can't judge people cause you are just the same at the end.

Try to be fair as much as you can, with yourself before others.

wish for your brothers and sisters what you wish for yourself

And again make sure you have done the right thing and repent to God if not.

People keep blaming the jews for the trouble. Does anyone honestly think that if Israel was evacuated and left emptied there would be peace? The Jordanians, Syrians, Palistanians, Egyptians, Arabians ect. ect. cannot coexist over there and live in peace.

Yea, they all know you pretty much cannot do any more damage to someone who is mentally defective.

Bulldog.... Thanks for the smile... Love the comment! I never saw a CNN reporter who did not have a beating coming...... Perhaps when they start telling ALL the truth instead of what fits Mr. Obama's agenda best, they will return to being a front line news organization instead of the network everyone USED to work for. (I wonder if Chris Mathews got a "Thrill" up his leg when Cooper was getting pummeled?) Now its the network that everyone left because of their differences with the Management on content and what they could and could not say. Just wait G.E. puts the their thumb so hard on on NBC because of all the Administrations work with them that NBC follows CNN and CSNBC into complete irrelevance to all but the sever leftist mental cases.

Gay ranchero Anderson Cooper wants the news up close ,,, well he got, when you are in an explosive situation these things happen. Now for these so called journalist to start whining about being ruffed up .. WISE UP

I agree with bulldog. I think some of these guys walk around doing interviews like A.C. like they are something special or some kind of saving grace or something. Anderson, leave out the DRAMA,YOUR FEELINGS and just report the news not what you wish it was or how it could be it is what it is. Let those folks work it out.

The guys attacking the news people were Mubarak's group. Anti democratic and suppressive. So of course they would not bother FOX news people. Thanks for pointing that out.

The Gay reference is a little childish. Or should we start labeling all correspondence, such as

"heterosexual Diane Sawyer reporting live from......"

No bulldog, it's just that FOX NEWS reporters aren't there as there is no profit in it for them or Sarah Palin + they don't care about people who aren't white.

Wow... the race card was brought in. :( Shame.

mygirl1:

You have Internet Explorer 9. I tried posting here yesterday and posted nothing but my name!

I went back to IE8 and everythings normal.

He is reporting on what is happening....including the attacks on himself. That's what reporting is, telling what is happening. Why is it that the dumbest posts use an expression like "Duh"?

What you're seeing is journalism. Rare, I know.

What are you talking about? Take sides?

WychDoctor you truly are an imbecile. After the last 10 years of "standing up and taking sides" you would think Americans would have learned our lesson. Standing up does not make you any more of a man. Personally I think he has handled the situation well and so far has kept America out of it. This is not a war for democracy, Egypt already wants that, so why should we stick our noses and billions of dollars into it.

President Obama must walk a very thin line between supporting the people and their new Egypt while balancing relations with US ally the old Egypt. Turn off Glen Beck and maybe your blindfold will come off. D0uc4e

Just curious....what would have him do....specifically?

Did you remember what country he's President of before you thought of your response? We're not living in 1800's anymore...or even 2002. We can't just impose our will. We've pretty much used that capability up. If you want to drop all pretense about having the moral high ground and don't care about further distressing the Treasury, and reducing our standing around the globe then maybe charging in with the Marines might be your tactic.

johnnyt- Did you remember of what country he's President of before you thought of your response?...

I remember wondering what country Barack Obama was campaigning to be president of when I saw him stand with his chin in the air and refuse to cover his heart during our National Anthem while John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and the others did honor this traditional sign of respect and love for our country - a clear and intentional symbol of disrespect.

It is still shocking that people voted for this man. Maybe next time we can elect Mahmoud Ahmadinijad. I'll bet he will say many of the same things about America as Obama.

timetraveler100:

It seems you might actually know he's the President of USA, not the President of Egypt.

I'll ask you the same question....what is that you would have him do? Any answer that's straight and to the point? ..........I'll check back but I'm not hopeful.

timetraveler,

still in shock? The election was over 2 years ago. Get over it. I rarely see people cover their heart when the national anthem is played unless their military( I'm a veteran and seldom do it unless I happen to have a hat on and will remove it and cover my heart). Usally the people covering their hearts are grandstanding and acting like they're better than everybody else. That's the category I put you in. Get over yourself.

timetravler100

johnnyt- Did you remember of what country he's President of before you thought of your response?...

I remember wondering what country Barack Obama was campaigning to be president of when I saw him stand with his chin in the air and refuse to cover his heart during our National Anthem while John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and the others did honor this traditional sign of respect and love for our country - a clear and intentional symbol of disrespect.

Was that the same email circulating by you dolts where the song actually being played was Hail to the Chief - not the national anthem?

Know how I figured that out? Electrical synapses firing between neurons. How did you figure it out?

Mike-416 - Another lie from a blind Obama supporter.

It was the National Anthem being played. You can look it up on youtube and watch it your self.

In other words, you don't know what in the hell you're talking about.

AGREED

you want the reporters to leave....so that the "real" reporters can go there? What? You really mean you want right wingers there only?

Supposed news reporters? What exactly is your definition of a news reporter? Ahhhh....it's coming to me now.....Limbaugh and Beck!!

Hey, Dan G., would you or I go into the heart of all that chaos for any reason? I give all of those reporters a lot of credit.

The on site news reporters were doing fine before all the News Anchors showed up to put their face in the limelight. The network news anchors should keep to reading the news which is the only job their good at. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to send a gay reporter to Muslim dominated countries - you're only asking for trouble.

Right after the Shah of Iran fell, I saw the same behavior in those 30 year old "College Students" just before our Embassy was assaulted. They would stand around, picking their noses till they saw a Camera then lose their collective minds, Chanting and Screaming, then run home and ask "Did you see me on T.V?... Did you see me on T.V?"

The US was NEVER a Democracy. That's a false talking point drummed up by people who couldn't come up with anything better to say and hoped that the uneducated who were listening wouldn't pick up on it!

I can't recall anyone from Egypt asking for help, can you point to who said it?

You remember 9/11 and who was doing what...

I'm so sick of that line. You're like a broken record that is capable of playing one song, the worse song on the album, over and over again.

Are you going to be saying that for the next 60 years too? Like the people's fathers who went to fight the Krauts, Nipps, Charlies, Muzzies (the first time), Pinkos and who ever else the USA has gone to war with? Do you live just to drudge up bad memories so you feel like you're justified in your hate? Why so stubborn? Why so immature and foolish? Aren't you sick of hating? My gosh, it comes to my attention that the words "Remember the Maine" has been used for the past 230ish years of USA history; both before the event and after (obviously). All the current generation does is replace "the Maine" and hey, look at that: You're generation has a new slogan to shout and demand bloody vengence with. Heck, proably the only reason you don't say "Remember the Battle of Big Horn" is because you can't justify the entire theft of a country from dozens of tribes of Indians. Goll I'm sick of people fighting over petty things and wishing for their stupid revenge! And then your decendants suffer a bit of revenge from the very people you extracted payment to satiate your blood lust and the cycle begins again. You have no idea how glad I am that my fascination with, and adoration of, the USA met harsh reality and logic.

The truth is we're a broken people with no real direction and we fight because we fear for what we think is our reality and when that reality meets someone else in theirs conflict shall begin. You think the USA didn't deserve 9/11? I agree. But don't tell me the USA couldn't forsee that comming. Don't tell me you're right to be shocked that other nations were celebrating the event. That's about as believable as the USA not seeing Pearl Harbor comming. It was going to happen. You can sit and moan; demanding the whole world remember your pain, if you want, or you can get up and learn from it. And the lesson isn't that your enemies need to die. It's more, often than not (and for that very reason it's always ignored), that you've been asleep at the wheel. Sorry to break it to you harsly, but we need it.

Doc:

Who do you think would do those kind of things....seriously. There's much jockeying going on, I'm sure, but who's doing what?

The progression you desrcibe sounds like just about every other revolt.

If that's what will happen, and I agree with you to certain extent, what should the people of Egypt have done? Nothing at all? Just keep on keepin' on? Theirs is a movement by the people. It will no doubt have people trying to hi-jack it. The poor and disenfranchised have done the hard and dangerous work to lay the groundwork and now the 'power brokers' will come in and take over and assemble the country to their requirements without a wit to the needs and wants of the people who made it all possible. My hope is that The people themselves can pull off a miracle and form a government that gives them all the things they want.

I spent 2 1/2 years in Iraq and found the reporting to be better covered by Fox than any other News Network.

You obviously didn't watch any other news organization.

And who do you represent? Are you a citizen of Egypt? Sunshine is the best antiseptic.

I've seen Reporters that thought their press credentials made them bullet proof. Heck, I trained with Army Medics who thought that by being a Medic they would have a life expectancy greater than 20 seconds in a Firefight just because they were Medics.

I have some great pictures of the reviewing stand where Anwar Sadat was assassinated. People forget that he was the one who was changing Egypt for the better even though you could call him a Dictator. The same will happen with anybody who tries to change the status quo in that Country. Lebanon has a better chance of getting straightened out before Egypt does.