Brian Williams on MSNBC bluntly calling the pro-Mubarak forces recruited thugs, gangs

[highplainsdem]

If Mubarak believed the violence would make anyone in the world think his continuation in power was necessary, the news coverage should be telling him he was wrong.

But we need more. We need President Obama and other world leaders to speak out now.

[ananda]

1. Yes, Obama and his admin need to denounce this violence now, roundly.

nt

[Enthusiast]

16. I do not expect Obama

to do the right thing.

[elias49]

2. I've read virtually NOTHING form heads of state.

Where are the western Europeans on the events in Egypt and Tunisia.
Do they think they have no dog in this fight?
I don't understand.

Side note: I really like Brian Williams.

[janet118]

9. Williams was one of the first MSM reporters to . . .

tell how things really were in New Orleans after the levee breach in 2005.

[bklyncowgirl]

11. Don't get Brian Williams pissed. He will tell it like it is. nt

[highplainsdem]

12. True. n/t

[eleny]

3. kr

[sufrommich]

4. They are so obviously thugs it would be hard for even

American television to deny it.

[EFerrari]

5. They have been ordered to target journalists

so their press is not going to be good.

[suffragette]

6. Peter Beaumont from the Guardian is saying the same

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/feb/02/egypt-protests-live-updates

2.29pm: Pro-Mubarak supporters are recognizably police, says Peter Beaumont.

There is no question in my mind that they police, they are central security forces. These are the same guys that were out in force all last week and they have filtered back in again. They are very very recognisable, they are certain kind of people.

At that point the line cut out.


Audio at link.

[dkf]

7. They have that many police?

[suffragette]

8. I would say Beaumont is a knowledgeable reporter

who has extensive experience in the area.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/peterbeaumont
Peter Beaumont is foreign affairs editor at the Observer. He has reported extensively from conflict zones including Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, and has written widely on human rights issues and the impact of conflict on civilians. The winner of the George Orwell Prize for his reports from Iraq he is the author of The Secret Life of War: Journeys Through Modern Conflict

[bklyncowgirl]

14. Not all necessarily police but criminals & thugs who work with the police

I would have to guess that these are criminal gangs who are in cahoots with the government. They get to operate and when the government needs them they get called in to do their thing.

Imagine if, let's say for example one of the political parties in an American city had cut a deal with organized crime to intimidate the public and bash heads if necessary.

[highplainsdem]

10. Al Jazeera just reported that protesters are showing them police IDs seized from pro-Mubarak thugs

[upi402]

13. Film is good

Media here might even show it.


and...Good on Brian Williams!

[JustAnotherGen]

15. Was listening to NPR

On my way into work on the ice rink known as I-287. There was gentleman on the street - Anti Mubarek- who the interviewer tried to cut off when he (the Egyptian man) started to point out:

Why do you think these people have camels and horses?


The reporter tried to speak over him/cut him off and he continued (Paraphrasing)

These are the people that benefit from this government. They have those Camels and Horses as they are a part of the Tourism. They aren't rich but feel like they have a stake in Mubarek. Their okay so everyone else has to just be okay.



So criminals and thugs yes (was watching Williams on MSNBC this morning) - but they are definately a part of the Status Quo too. Until they stuck their noses in this - there was no violence.

[mmonk]

17. Recommended.