Occupy Wall Street Plans an Egyptian Expedition

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/11/occupy-wall-street-plans-egyptian-expedition/44890/

It started with activists looking to the Middle East for inspiration, now Occupy Wall Street actually plans to go to the Middle East: On Thursday it approved $29,000 to send 20 observers to Egypt's election two weeks from now. Not all in the movement are happy about the decision, but with the protest encampment's budget swelling into the high six figures, they can certainly afford it. In yet another example of Occupy Wall Street becoming a microcosm of a larger society, it now has a foreign policy debate on its hands.

A lot of details about the Egypt trip still need working out, but the basic plan, according to the proposal that passed the General Assembly on Thursday night, is this: The organizers, at the behest of Egyptian civil society groups, will send 20 activists to Egypt to monitor the Nov. 28 elections. They'll consist of two to four representatives from six of the existing Occupy working groups, including press, movement building, direct action, mediation, and medical. The significance is mostly symbolic, but they say their participation will "work to protect and support the civilian monitoring efforts of Egyptian activists on the ground and constitutes a concrete stand against the use of American weapons against peaceful demonstrators." The $29,000 includes 20 tickets at $1,200 each, $20 per person for daily lodging, and $50 per person for daily food and transportation.

So how effective can the delegation actually be? Nathan Brown, professor of political science at George Washington University, talked to Dylan Ratigan producer Megan Roberston, calling the plan a "brilliant move."

“The world monitoring, in Arabic, can also mean”oversight” or “control.” “Monitors” sound like people who are coming in to take over. Now, there’s some sort of nationalist pride that can be set off — Egyptians may see it as, well, we’re teaching the Americans for a change. It can play into that very easily,” says Dr. Brown. “It’s a good political move because its an effective way to have a retort to the nationalist argument against monitoring.”

[MADem]

1. I think that is an ASININE waste of money. I should think donors would be outraged.

Sounds like a complete boondoggle to me.

Leave the "election monitoring" to people who know what the hell they're doing--like President Carter.

This is not a "good political move." It's a fucking vacation for movement elites--didn't take 'em long to start acting just like Congress. IMO.

We've got issues that need addressing at home. Why not use that money to hold a fucking JOBS SUMMIT?

I roll my eyes...this is a total crock o'shit:

But the plan doesn't sit well with all in Occupy Wall Street, nor its contributors. On Twitter, a guy who donated to the movement expressed his disapproval: "Did not give to OWS for them to occupy Egypt. 99% who are having it tough occupying their homes will not be happy." Another wrote, over two tweets, "it is the right of the OWS Zucotti to decide what 2 do w/money. But this might make many OWS mvmnts feel disenfranchised bcuz ... this what our govt is doing (spnding $ overseas) when our own citz's r hurting so much financially." Sounds a lot like foreign policy debates right here in the United States.

Last we checked with the movement's budget (way back on Oct. 24), they had about $500,000 in the bank, so they can surely afford it. But one imagines the news of the delegation's approval won't sit well in all quarters. The drummers grumbled pretty loudly after they were denied $5,000 for new equipment, and as divisions within the park grow ever-deeper, such big-money budget decisions promise even further strife. Just like in national politics!

[Gman]

4. OTOH, I don't think their activities will be strictly limited to monitoring

OWS claims the Arab Spring, among other things as their inspiration. In fact, consultation with those directly involved with the Egyptian revolution could give valuable insight to the OWS folks and give them direction on what to do next. I doubt they will only be monitoring. I think it's a worthwhile trip from which they will gain a great deal of knowledge.

[Tejas]

6. Or...

They could simply watch Al Jazeera like the rest of us.

[Gman]

8. Granted, it would be cheaper

But I think the private meetings are important, if in fact they are supposed to happen. I want to think there's more than meets the eye.

[MADem]

9. Damn right! nt

[MADem]

7. I don't care what they do. I think this is a dumbass idea. It's a fucking vacation for movement

elites. A total con job. Disgraceful. They'll probably charge OWS for their passports and luggage, too, and their guided tour of the frigging pyramids.

Why not use the money, if they are so fucking "flush," to rent a few apartments, so people don't have to freeze to death on the streets, and can take a crap and have a shower in safety and warmth? Winter is coming. It's going to get VERY cold.

This absolutely sucks and smacks of BLATANT misuse of funds.

What idiots thought this was a clever idea? I predict the outrage will grow louder once more people realize how their donations are being squandered, for vacations for a few muckety-mucks.

You can be inspired by the Statue of Liberty--that doesn't mean you need a trip to France to experience the "full flavor" of it.

I call BULLSHIT on this.

[Gman]

10. Benjamin Franklin went to France to enlist support and solicit guidance

That worked pretty well.

[MADem]

12. Yeah, like there's a "King of France" over in Cairo who will fund a revolution.

Please. Don't play fast and loose with the truth in a failed attempt to make a point.

Ben wasn't over there to get "ideas" from a country ruled by royalty, he was over there (for YEARS--not a couple of days--living in a chateau in Passy) to play Divide and Conquer, kissing the King's ass, and begging for money, ships, weapons and other support from the elites of France, as well as recruiting talented and experienced officers to provide training for the Army and Navy.

He did the "Enemy of my Enemy is My Friend" routine -- and shook down France for cash for the Revolution, because France wasn't very fond of England.

This is not that AT ALL--it is a fucking VACATION for OWS 'elites' who are drinking too much of their own Koolaid, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

This stupid decision could be a major setback if they continue with this dumb idea, despite all the cash they've collected.

[Gman]

13. I guess I'm willing to give them the benefit of a doubt on this one but

If a pattern develops they'll lose folks very quickly including me.

[MADem]

15. They have half a million dollars--why aren't they renting places for people to get out of the cold?

They're planning Egyptian vacations (and it's a great time of year to visit--not too hot, days in the seventies, sunny and clear) while people are shivering in their tents in "solidarity?"

Will they factor in sunscreen and sunglasses into their expenses as well?

No benefit of the doubt from me--this is probably the stupidest idea ever. Put the money--if they have an embarrassment of it-- into helping people prepare resumes and purchase clothing for interviews to find jobs, or into hiring high-end lobbyists and PR firms to shame assholes in Congress into doing the right thing--ANYTHING that gets to the root of the social justice issues.

Sending twenty of the "cool kids" to Egypt while the rest of the "nerds" freeze to the sidewalks is utter bullshit, pure and simple.

This sounds like something out of the frigging ONION--only it's real.

[a simple pattern]

17. You already called bullshit on OWS anyway.

You called them a bunch of kids milling around in the street. Now you're all "concerned" about what they're doing with their money.

[Tejas]

2. What in blue blazes...

Gone to nuke popcorn, brb!

[xchrom]

3. ...

:evilgrin: plz make for 2?

[Tejas]

5. And in doing the math on this,

$29,000 budget.

20 plane tickets x $1,200 = $25,000 for plane tickets.

That leaves $5,000 for expenses (lodging etc).



$5,000 / 20 members = $250 per member.

At $70 expenses per day per member, in 3.5 days their $ is gone.



amirite?

[MADem]

11. Do they all have passports? No? Factor in the passport costs!

They'll need visas, too--that'll be fifteen bucks each on arrival.

They're not planning to walk to their hotel from the airport, are they? They'll need cab fare, unless they're bringing along a former Cairo denizen who will shepherd them along on the indifferent public transportation, or hire a few relatives with a mini-vans--factor THAT in, too.

And just "what" will they be "monitoring?"

This is vomitous. Sheer, unbridled indulgence.

[Gman]

14. Assuming Egypt contributes nothing

I would hope Egypt would at leaat put them up and feed them, at a minimum.

[MADem]

16. Why? They've got half a million bucks. nt