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Subscribe to RSSCAIRO -- Egypt's military chief has expressed frustration at the involvement of soldiers in tackling the country’s political unrest, describing the strategy as “very risky.”
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On the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, huge crowds take to the streets in five cities.
Defense minister Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, who is also head of the country's army, issued a statement on his Facebook page Thursday as rival politicians met for talks in a bid to end some of the deadliest violence since the 2011 downfall of Hosni Mubarak.
He said: "The involvement of the armed forced in political conflicts and going down to the street again after handing over power is very risky.
“Since emerging from political life completely and now having focused on training functions and raising combat effectiveness over the past several months, Egypt is qualified to deal with the enemy and respond at any time, and not with handling protests and demonstrations organized by fighting political powers."
His exasperation with the country’s political instability follows days of clashes on streets in Cairo and elsewhere that have left more than 60 dead. Protesters have called for the removal of new President Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist.
A meeting in Cairo on Thursday was convened by Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, head of the thousand-year-old al-Azhar university and mosque, one of the few institutions still seen as neutral in a society that has become increasingly polarized, according to Reuters:
Participants signed a document pledging to renounce violence and agreed to set up a committee of politicians from rival groups to work out a program for further talks.
Ejijah Zarwan, who analyzes Egyptian politics for the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Thursday's intervention by al-Azhar was important, but it was far from clear whether it would be enough to calm the streets.
"It's a good first step. Certainly it will help the formal opposition to be very clearly on record as opposing violence," he said. But he added: "The people fighting the police and burning buildings are not partisans of any political party. They might not even vote."
On Tuesday, Sissi warned the struggle between political forces in Egypt could “lead to the collapse of the state.”
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"Egypt's military chief has expressed frustration at the involvement of soldiers in tackling the country’s political unrest, describing the strategy as “very risky.”"
Rightly said. Time has come to act right now and side with those opposing Sunni Islamic extremists like Muslim Bloodhounds and their gangs.
Mubarak had more than 90 percent votes in the elections. Still he was overthrown by Egyptians.
The uprising or revolution against Mubarak has been hijacked by some of the most retrograde and Sunni Islamic haters and killers like Muslim Bloodhounds, Salaffi and others.
Despite election rigging they could hardly manage 65 percent of votes.
These Sunni Islamic extremists will start inventing enemies and start their hating and killing as in other places. They can't contribute anything positive to any place. They will deliver only tears and bloods.
All sane Muslims, females, minority sect tribes, army personnel (it will be difficult to work for them with Islamic extremist crazies), Christians and other helpless.
All should join hands and kick out each and everyone of them for better and saner Egypt.
Hell Jonathan, Chicago and parts of Detroit had 115% voter turnout and 100% for Obama, not sure how that's possible but its obviously OK with our monitoring system.
@ Joe - Go to factcheck . org and look up "Voting conspiracies". What you quote as fact above re: voter fraud has been totally and completely debunked.
I would imagine that the truth that what you posted has been completely discredited is probably its own conspiracy to you, though.
Right; factcheck would never, ever, ever, post anything that was not the absolute truth.
The problem in Egypt and in other parts of the Middle East is that there is a "goal" but no "plan" to achieve it. When you overturn a government you must replace it with something that provides hope and leadership to the nation. That does not exist in Egypt. Just wanting something does not guarantee it. This is also true in Syria. There must be someone in Egypt that is charismatic who can get all of the people behind him and be willing to allow him (or her) the time to get the job done. I empathize with the Egyptian people who want a better way to live but I fear you have a lot of hardship ahead of you.
Ron46, empathy is totally different from sympathy. I totally sympathize with the Egyptian people, as I do the Libyans and Malians, and especially the Tuareg. But to empathize with the people above is to have been one of them. Should you happen to be Egyptian, or have a healthy dose of Egyptian in your blood, I personally see no way to enpathize with them. But if you don't then you can only sympathize with them. At least that is the way I was taught, both in High School (in Libya during the 1960s) and in college. If you are Egyptian or have a lot of same in your blood, my fault and I appologize.
As for Joe and Steve, I suggest both of you tighten your tin foil hats. I neither sympathize nor empathize with either of you. Go to the Fool News site and comment. If you don't like NBC News, then DO NOT READ IT. Otherwise, keep your moronic statements to yourself when you hit the site and don't post them to the 'Vine.
"Everything you read on the internet is true." ---Abraham Lincoln
Guess that "Hope and Change" hasn't worked for them very well either.
Revolutions are messy business and there are many bloody episodes and false starts. The American Revolution lasted 8 years, then it took another 6 years to come up with a Constitution that united the country. So cut them some slack, will you?
When hope and change are directed by seventh century bigoted Sunni Islamic haters and killers, then it is only tears and blood.
That has been the track record of Islam since its birth.
Egyptians not liking Saudi Royal Rule? Relax, Saudi Arabia's growing Muslim Kingdom offers NO RIGHTS for WOMEN, KORAN based LAW, & NO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!
Saudi Royal House of Saud consists of a megalomaniac, despotic and bigoted ruler and highly corrupt, despotic, bigoted seventh century mindset 5000 princes and princesses.
These maniacs of all kinds have assembled huge battalions of girls and women from all over the world.
Females, even the assembled ones, don't have any rights.
Religious freedom is only for Royal family and their gangsters.
Even Shiites don't have religious freedom!
One can't understand: how those people like Hillary, McCains, UN and its agencies, Human rights groups, women rights groups, religious freedom warriors miss Saudi Arabia and the most beastly rule by House of Saud.
May be: many are scarred and some are paid off!
Let the USA soldiers do it for you. They have a opening coming up. Donations always accepted.
Keep on fighting for your freedom, Egyptian youths. never settle for Sharia Law ,once you settle for that ,the Burke, lashings and death to all Non Muslims ,is not far behind. Your government will not be ruled by elected officials but by the Imams and crazy radical clerks.
The current Sunni "Imams and crazy radical clerks" are some of the craziest world has seen in the history of humans.
Time has come to wipe out Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the fountainheads of Islamic extremist rampage all over the world.
You might say he is a "sissi" with regards to military intervention.
Syria is killing it's civilians right now. Arab Africans are killing fellow Africans right now. Saudia Arabia is denying rights to women right now. Iran is preventing journalists from speaking the truth right now. Iran, Syria, Hezballah and Hamas, are engaged in weapons smuggling to use against the Jewish state right now.
And yet the world focuses on houses.
Were this not Israel, the Palestinians would've have a snow ball's chance in hell of getting any attention to their cause. But because it's the Jewish state, the one and only Jewish state, they are the darlings of the world. The Kurdish population is much larger than the Palestinians and yet they don't have a state. Turkey is not paraded around the UN or the focus of reports. Why? Because they're not Jews.
When the world ends its fixation with the Jews, they can begin to focus on the real problems.
Well, Pokin', hate to poke a hole in your statement, but Kurdistan is a state from the former Soviet Union. There's a large population of Kurds there, thus the name. The ones that live in the countries you named know that and choose to live where they do.
And please leave your hatreds for another thread, like Fools News threads.
Note to Morsi: clean up your act before the army steps in to take over the government, again
Poor Egypt. You have allowed your young people to destroy your country. Better Mubarak had used the army to restore order rather than have a country in chaos. But of course, that wasn't possible. Since we pay for the Egypt's army it was a simple thing for Obama to threatened the generals with no support if the army fights the insurgency. That is our new policy for the Middle East...to support change, instead of stability.
so you know obama threatened this? how do you? lol.
and I thought our policy was to support democracy, not dictators. here's a clue for ya: its not our "new" policy, look at iraq and bush for example.
Are you going to start a local "we love stalin and mao and hitler" fan club? after all, they had "stability" too! :)
Eventually the whole may 1 day be all run Islamic Muslim
It might be helpful to define what the military in Egypt exactly is for it is quite different than in the U.S. In the first place, it is a completely separate entity from the Executive, Legislative (Parliament), or Judicial branches of government here. It does not have a Commander in Chief like we do. Further it includes more than the Army, Navy, and Air Force. A visual would be that of an umbrella with each spoke one of the individual Services. However, there are many more spokes that fall under this umbrella. For example, the fire departments and EMS/Ambulances also fall under the Military umbrella. Further the police forces fall under this umbrella as well. The Police forces include the Antiquities Police, Riot Police, and Traffic Police. All these entities fall under the S.C.A.F (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) It is important to note the neutrality of the Military here. They cannot vote (they are ineligible). Further it is the duty of each male to do some form of Military Service or Civil Service before the age of twenty-seven (27) years. This service lasts one year. The Copts or others who are against war or military action (The Copts were pacifists up until now) serve their duty in Civil Servant positions such as the Fire Dept. or Ambulance Services. After their one (1) year they are free to either become active voluntary participants or can return to the private sector. There are A LOT of younger people serving in the military. Two years ago when the Mubarak regime fell, it was very symbolic when all the tanks turned their turrets simultaneously AWAY from the people. The people trust the military more than they do the President and Muslim Brotherhood. And it is the responsibility of the Military to keep the Egyptian PEOPLE safe. They answer to the people directly.
Further the Egyptian Air Force is very well trained for they train WITH our (the U.S.'s) Air force. It is very common to see bilateral desert maneuvers between the Americans and Egyptians. Alexandria and Port Said accommodate our Naval Vessels including a deep water port for our Air Craft Carriers. However, due to the issues in Port Said any American vessel was moved out to sea or transferred to Alexandria for safety and security reasons.
Finally, many of the Military Engineers (both Military and civil) go to Washington State for educational and air training.
I hope this helps people further understand the Military structure here.
In kind regards.
Here is an idea set up fighting rings schedule fighting matches between the MB and the Secularists. Let them fight it out and televise it for the Egyptians to watch. Maybe that will finally slake their bloodlust.
That's funny. When the army was protecting Hosni Mubarack (same army, same generals) they didn't think anything at all about wading in with teargas and real bullets to disperse the rioters. Now it's 'risky'. What a crock. The Egyptians don't know what they want or how to get it.
Backtobasics ~ 1076842....You are incorrect. The S.C.A.F. is run by different generals now. Tantawi retired. Supposedly he is an "Advisor" but has not been seen. General Wadid Boutros is leading the Fire & Ambulance services. He is Coptic and will not allow (or at least fight against) military intervention.
Further, during the revolution two (2) years ago it was not the Military who attacked the protestors. They were hired mercenaries ~~ many of whom carried Saudi papers. The important thing that happened after The Day of Rage (as it is called here) was that the Army tanks simultaneously turned their turrets away from the people. It was NOT the Military/Army who fired on the protestors.
I feel someone has to bring up the subject of Pot Holes.. all the bombs are creating terrible holes in the streets. Who is going to fix them?? Some one must eventually have to face up to the task. Would it not be better if the bombers stopped making the pot holes in the streets? I suggest the gallant young men move into the desert and simply make Sandballs like the Snowballs the folks make in the winter. Honestly it would be much much more fun and while doing that they could have time to think how foolish it is to War. War has never in History solved anything.
Lived in the Sahara Desert, warren and it really doesn't snow there. However, go to the Mountains of the Moon or the Atlas Mountains or any of the Mountain chains in Africa and above a certain height in certain areas, all areas in Africa, and it does snow.
Maybe your head is too full of pot to see the holes.
Revolutions are always crazy. When people are ready for normal, they will start looking to those offering it. But for now, they are drunk on freedom.
It would appear that Egypt, has collapsed. The army must step in and take control of the country.