AJE reporter on the phone from the square just said some of the protesters are resigning themselves

[Turborama]

to their possible deaths. :cry:

A protester told him to send out a message to his family and the world that if he dies he died for Egypt (paraphrasing).

Another AJE Reporter said the Mubarak mob are very organized, are building massive barricade, smashing street lights & piling up stones.

Apparently it looks like they are just about to make a massive attack.

Streets surrounding the square are blocked and the protesters are trapped.

Reporter outside the square just reported that cars pulling up full of molotov cocktails.

Unconfirmed reports of snipers just been reported on the phone (edit at 9:13PM EST).
(My wife said earlier - last night Indonesian time - that snipers were used by Suharto in Jakarta in the 1998 revolution. since then I've been worried the same thing could happen in Cairo.)

ETA:

3:46 am Skirmishes continue, with rocks and Molotov cocktails being fired off between anti-government protesters and Mubarak's supporters.

3:15 am Anti-government protesters are collecting rocks at a couple of the entrances to Tahrir Square in preparation to an attack. One of our Web producers reports that almost everyone in the square seems injured, is bandaged and limping. The mood there is "pretty fatalistic" with the anti-government protesters certain that the pro-Mubarak forces are "there to eliminate them".

3:01 am Al Jazeera's correspondent and Web producer report: Heavy police presence at the national museum, with anti-government protesters banging on metal railings and rocks raining down. Pro-Mubarak protesters have an "endless supply of molotov cocktails" that they're tossing at the anti-government demonstrators.

2:26 am AJE Web producer reports that tension is rising at Kasr al Nil (bridge) entrance to Tahrir Square, saying "They expect an attack here."

1:47 am Al Jazeera correspondent, reporting from just off Tahrir Square reports that dozens of Mubarak supporters have erected a barricades on either side of a road, trapping anti-government protesters. They are also gathering stones, breaking streetlights and putting on balaclavas, covering their faces, apparently in preparation for a fresh standoff with anti-government protesters. Sources tell our correspondent that the men preparing for the standoff are police officers.

Keep up to date here: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/02/live-blog-feb-3-egypt-protests

Livestation are probably the best way to watch AJE if you download the free standalone player (they also have many other global news stations): http://www.livestation.com/downloads

Livestation website version: http://www.livestation.com/channels/3-al-jazeera-english-english

ETA 2:

Interesting and timely repeat of a "http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/witness/">Witness" program has just started which is about how pro-democracy blogging began in Egypt in 2007. News will be back on in 1/2 an hour. Worth watching this, though. It's a very good example of how excellent AJE are for their short documentaries. It also shows how on the ball they are when it comes to what's going on in the world.

[rucky]

1. and the Army is...?

[Junkdrawer]

15. ....waiting for the excuse to declare martial law and disburse the crowds?

:shrug:

[inna]

42. +

Makes one wonder what would happen if this was taking place here, doesn't it.

[sabrina 1]

119. Just read that the army has now said they will fire on PRO-MUBARAK

thugs if they have to. Everyone is waiting for him to step down. The army is under orders to do nothing, it seems and that was confirmed by an AJ reporter who overheard an army officer on the phone, asking what he should do after the violence started. He appeared shocked by the response he got on the phone, the reporter said.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I can hear ..gunfire?

Watching AJ now, after a long break.

[alsame]

4. Sometimes that gunfire is the military shooting in the

air to break things up. It happened a few times this afternoon.

[RandomThoughts]

3. That is actually the tactic that was used in USA protest

at Conventions a few years back, and WTO, try to cordon them in a closed location.


There are millions of people in Egypt, the protesters are not trapped.

[tavalon]

127. Some are

They are kettled. And it may be because they are about to be exterminated. Not good. Sure, Egypt will survive, but if one happens to be in that square, they may well die for their revolution. That sucks.

[Blue Meany]

140. I remember this was a favorite tactic of some police in the 1960s:

They would surround or corner a demonstration and the order them to disperse. Then they would beat people who tried to follow that order. I narrowly escaped one such event in Berkeley by slipping through the back door of a store and exiting through the front.

[sufrommich]

5. It doesn't look that way right now on Al Jazeera. It looks like

the pro democracy group is pushing back.

[justiceischeap]

8. I don't think what we're seeing on AJE is live footage

But I could be wrong. They usually have "Live" next to Cairo when the footage is live.

[sufrommich]

10. No, I think you're right. My mistake.Thanks. nt

[Turborama]

22. That was a live phone call from a reporter who was in the square witnessing what is going on.

18 minutes until the live news comes back on...

[justiceischeap]

6. Speculation is that the attack will come at dawn. nt

[KansDem]

20. And since Cairo is seven hours ahead of New York City...

That could be only a few hours from now. It's 3:40am there as I type this...

[hlthe2b]

7. Good God....

If true, time for Obama to tell the Egyptian Generals visiting in DC that they are out of time and MUST intervene or lose $1.5 billion aid towards their military hardware.

[justiceischeap]

9. Those generals left on Friday of last week. nt

[hlthe2b]

13. I'm betting the Pentagon has their "phone number..."

and are on a "first name" basis....

[sabrina 1]

123. I would think so!

We are not living in the dark ages, even in Egypt I'm sure they did not block the government's phone lines. All we hear are excuses for the U.S. decades long support for these thugs who we were still calling 'our friends and allies' last week. And if he had been smart enough NOT to allow any violence, and had managed to stay in power, we would still be calling him an ally and a friend.

It is U.S. policy that has to change now. We the people have to demand that this government stop supporting dictators. It's way, way past time that the American people started doing something about our own government.

Thanks for your clear headedness. It's amazing how much some people will tolerate and excuse if it is their party who is responsible. Shameful, really.

[bobbolink]

16. Past time. Waaaay past time! There are petitions to sign... please do so.

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[Turborama]

65. Is this the petition you mean?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x314821

If not, do you have easy access to the links?

Thanks in advance!

:hi:

[bobbolink]

68. That's one... this is another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x334183

[Turborama]

78. Thank you

Kicked and rec'd.

[bobbolink]

80. Thanks. Sorry if I was a bit brusque... I was so wrapped up in the Egypt coverage.....

:(

This is a nail-biter....

[Turborama]

85. No worries, I understand

It sure is.

[Catherina]

11. Waves of thugs with white weapons and molotov cocktails arriving now

Jan25voices LPC: Waves of thugs, in greater numbers than before, carrying white weapons and molotov cocktails attempting to enter Tahrir #jan25 #egypt
5 minutes ago via web


Stay strong. Don't cry now. We can cry later. They need our strength :hug:

[sufrommich]

14. Did you see the report on Jan25 on AJ? Turns out he's a

student in Los Angelos with friends in Egypt who kept in touch with him and passed on info.

[sabrina 1]

124. I had not seen that report, thanks for the information sufromich.

[aquart]

26. "White weapons"?

What kind of weapon is white? I'm pretty sure they don't mean snowballs.

[leveymg]

12. What happened to the Army, and all those nice, friendly tanks and smiling soldiers?

Or, is this just another Tienenman Square in the making? Another Free Market Totalitarian society in the making.

[eleny]

17. They're very brave

[Fokker Trip]

18. Its terrifying to hear them. No way to help.

Its so easy to imagine the scene as Mubaraks thugs build the barricades and bit by bit close off escape routes for the pro-democracy protesters. Its hard to imagine that they won't attack en masse at some point.

I'm sure Mubarak wants the square taken so it can be removed as a symbol. Just like in Tienanmen square.

Shouldn't Obama be able to pull strings with the Egyptian military to get them to intervene? What's the aid good for if it doesn't buy some influence?

[Generic Other]

19. Turn them into martyrs and the state falls even faster!

Soilidarity for the protesters!

[L. Coyote]

21. There is a lot of fatalistic propaganda being sent out right now, check the facts

They have resisted successfully for 12 hours, the attacks have failed, and only one front remains. the Square is no longer cut off.

***** EGYPT Live Blog ***** Al Jazeera English: Live Stream Feb. 3 *****
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x333645

[Turborama]

24. I am reporting what is being said on the phone from protesters and reporters in the square

And posting quotes from the blog which I originally gave you the link to.

[aquart]

23. Please God protect them.

[sabrina 1]

25. What about the army? A former State Dept. buy on CNN

just said the army is going to have to make a choice by Friday. Are they with the people or with the Dictator?

[Oak2004]

27. Believe it or not, resignation to one's own death is, under the circumstances, the strongest morale

Activists, revolutionaries, and yes, even the military, have long known/commented on that. Why? Because people resigned to their own deaths cannot be frightened into submission.

[Turborama]

31. That makes sense. Resignation and no fear of death = strength of resolve.

Good points well made.

[tavalon]

128. You are actually 100% correct

That said, this is heartbreaking. Mubarek must leave. Now. And the US must support the resisters, the revolutionaries, the Egyptian protesters and they must do it now.

[Turborama]

28. Live news back on. 3 killed, 1,500 injured so far. Reporter is back on the phone.

The pro-democracy guys are fighting back and giving as good as they get. He's reporting there's no gunfire in the square yet.

[Turborama]

29. MACHINE GUN FIRE IN THE SQUARE!

[Turborama]

30. Lots of gunfire. Tanks moving in. Pro-Democracy protesters chanting "Leave!" Resolve still strong.

[Turborama]

32. Female protester saying the BBC reporting that Muslim Brotherhood own the square but this is a lie

She's 33 and desires democracy, the democracy she has read about in books and seen on TV all her life.

She's saying everyone is tired and they don't have the energy to react to the gunfire.

[Turborama]

33. SHIT! That was/is a lot of gunfire and the protesters have gone all silent now. n/t

[Turborama]

34. Our correspondent reports that the tank on the bridge has positioned itself is in the direction of

4:23 am Reuters reports that one protester has been killed. Our correspondent reports that the tank on the bridge has positioned itself is in the direction of the gunfire, toward where the anti-government protesters are, at a smaller square near Tahrir Square.

4:20 am Gunfire ricocheting off the October 6 bridge,with a tank moving toward where anti-government protesters are.

4:16 am AJE Web producer reports that there is automatic heavy caliber gunfire at Tahrir Square, which is probably the army trying to keep people at bay. "So much gunfire," he says. There are reports of seven people being wounded.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/02/live-blog-feb-3-egypt-protests

[thewiseguy]

35. Egyptian army is a joke

WTF are they doing? Why do people have to die because a scum like Mubarak wants to hold on to power for a few more months?

[Turborama]

36. GAME CHANGER? Democracy protesters have taken over the 6th of October overpass/bridge!

[Bragi]

43. No, not a game changer /nt

[Turborama]

44. How do you know? If they have taken over the bridge then things are starting to move

in the pro-democracy protesters' favor. It means reinforcements are on the way. Remember that over 2 million demonstrators came out the other day.

[Bragi]

47. I don't think street tactics will likely be decisive

Strategy will be more important than tactical skirmishes. It would be bad if failure to take control of the bridge decided things, but I don't see this as likely.

It's an amazing event unfolding. Do you this uprising is or may be the most intensive all-platform political global event ever?

Just wondering

[Turborama]

51. Do I think this uprising is or may be the most intensive all-platform political global event ever?

In my lifetime, yes. In my almost 42 years I have never witnessed anything like this and the effects of what happens either way are going to have a ripple effect all over the world.

And to think the Egyptians were inspired to give it another go by what happened after a Tunisian graduate set himself on fire in protest against being arrested for selling fruit and vegetables: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=131780

(edited to add clarity)

[Bragi]

61. I agree.

Thanks for your thoughts.

9/11 was also of great magnitude, but social media barely existed then, and global multi-platform media integration wasn't anything near what it is now.

Far as I know, no other sentient being before today has been able to concurrently follow in one day an uprising in Egypt, and an epic cyclonic storm hitting Queensland, Australia. Yet I was able to do just that today.

Not sure what that means.

[Turborama]

64. Thanks for yours

I knew that we'd be on the same wavelength for most things, apart from the other contretemps we've had over 'you know what'. ;-)

I think I know what you mean when you say you're not sure what that means.

What are the possible future implications for the powers that be?

[Bragi]

67. Great question

But alas, I've not the time to do it justice.

I must retire now, but let's resume the thread again soon.

[Turborama]

69. Sure, I understand. BTW "Calls for weekend protests in Syria" --->

Just posted in LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4719966

[tavalon]

130. That is one of the most important questions

and I promise you many of us on the ground are musing about that very thing. But even more important, every single leader of every single country, not only in the ME but globally is thinking about that. If we still had the Dimwit Dubya, he wouldn't be thinking about it, but basic thought is beyond him, much less such complex musing.

You know, DU is so big that often names go by and I'll kind of recognize them just as I guess a few here might notice mine. But then there are the ones that many if not all of us know. I didn't particularly notice your username before - not saying that I might not have said something to you before, but in this time of Egyptian revolution, you have become, to me at least, one of the leaders in keeping us informed. You and Catherina. You more during my usual night hours and her during my occasional day hours. I'm sure this is getting exhausting to you and if you need to step back, do so without guilt, but man you have been such an amazing source of information during this time. A week ago, I didn't know your name and now I look for your posts. Thanks again. Really.

[Turborama]

141. Thank you so much!

I really appreciate your feedback, it means a lot and it let's me know that it has been/is all worthwhile.

I know what you mean, DU is enormous! I have made a few friends here now, but it did take a while to find them.

Regarding taking a step back... I've been running on adrenaline and coffee for about a week now. I took a break last night and thought I'd watch Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp to give my mind a bit of a rest from it all, trouble is I dropped off about 15 minutes in, lol.

I just got up, it's 5am here, and I'm about to get going again with the adrenaline and coffee...

:hi:

[tavalon]

129. I thought the Iranian uprising was the biggest thing I had seen

I was so heartbroken when that broke down. But I never in my wildest dreams thought what is happening in Egypt would happen. And yes, I think, I hope, it will have global ramifications.

[Fokker Trip]

37. The Al Jazeera anchor is great.

The pro democracy protesters are certainly holding their own. Hopefully a lot more pro democracy protesters will show up at daybreak or earlier.

[Turborama]

41. She really is doing a fantastic job keeping on top of this very fast moving situation

Taking multiple calls from various sources on the ground.

[Turborama]

38. Thousands of pro-democracy reinforcements on the way, apparently.

It's a third person report from the reporter on the phone so isn't 100% guaranteed.

This truly is a battle that will decide Egypt's future.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. At this point some of us need to ... stick to US press

to monitor them.

MSNBC is doing actually fairly well FOR US STANDARDS.

[Turborama]

40. Why? So it can be Americanized? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Let's put it this way

Engel lived in the area, he is trying to explain the nuances which other networks are missing.

[Turborama]

53. Right, OK. But are they getting phone calls in from all over the area giving live reports

on what's happening as it's happening? Phone calls from Egyptian citizens and reporters, who are living there now and work in AJE's Egypt bureau?

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. He has contacts

he lived there. As I said, American media needs to be monitored, I am about to turn on FOX, just to see if they can make heard or tails of this...

[Turborama]

56. Wow, please try and take regular breaks and report back to let us know

Thanks for taking one for the team.

I'm finding AJE's live coverage unmissable. I'll check out the MSNBC stuff later on YouTube.

:hi:

[tavalon]

132. As she said below, it is necessary to monitor American media,

so we can correct them and not allow them to spin this incorrectly to people who don't know better. Between work, a child with autism and a really busy life, I'm sticking with the best news team, Al Jezeera, but I'm glad someone is watching the American media as a watchdog.

[tavalon]

131. Thank you for watching that because, you're right, we do need to monitor them,

not to get news but to make sure they aren't propagandizing middle America, where many really do get all of their news. I, for one, am watching Al Jezeera and since I also have a really busy life, I don't really have time to watchdog the locals, so thanks for doing that.

[L. Coyote]

45. Map from ***** EGYPT Live Blog ***** Al Jazeera English: Live Stream Feb. 3 *****

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x333645

[Turborama]

46. Very useful map, thanks a lot!

:hi:

[Fokker Trip]

48. fantastic, Thats what I need while I'm listening to the reports. Thanks.

[Turborama]

49. Very tired and sad sounding Fatima on the phone. Bodies everywhere.

[OhioChick]

83. Bodies everywhere?

Just wow.... :cry:

Thanks for keeping up with this news, I really appreciate it.
I just watched AC and it's rather useless, coverage from Al Jazeera is so much better.

[tavalon]

133. Al Jezeera has been good for quite a while

This is the thing that is going to put them on the map. Not that that is the most important thing here, not by a long stretch. But they are comporting themselves like the fine news organization they are. And given that there is not much likelihood that they have Rupert Murdoch's money stream, all the more amazing.

[tavalon]

134. This is the hearbreaking part of the revolution

I guess I had a very long shot hope that it wouldn't come to this. These people died as Patriots but they are still dead. I hate this.

[Fokker Trip]

50. Where would that reuters camera be on that map do you think?

Great news that more pro-democracy protesters are on the way. Hopefully that report is accurate.

They are doing an amazing job of getting live reports from the square.

[Turborama]

55. Very distraught Egyptian lady on the phone now. She's saying it's a battlefield. Bodies & wounded.

Everywhere.

[EFerrari]

58. @monasosh n/t

[Turborama]

62. THanks a lot! I don't use Twitter (yet) so put it into "Realtime"

Well worth checking out, if you haven't already: http://www.google.com/search?q=%40monasosh&num=100&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&prmd=ivnsu&tbs=mbl:1&tbo=u&ei=yiVKTcj4Os7xrQe1k5nKDg&sa=X&oi=realtime_result_group_more_results_link&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CEUQ5QUwBA

:hi:

[tavalon]

135. I'm embarrassed to say

I haven't been able to figure out twitter. I tried during the time with Iran, but I really didn't understand it and I still don't. I feel stupid because I'm really computer user savvy so I feel like I should be able to just jump on to the next big thing. But I don't understand how it works and haven't found anyone who can tutor me.

[Turborama]

144. I know exactly what you mean.

I'm really computer savvy, too, and I'm trying to work it out now. I felt really dumb not being able to work out how to use it but Beth gave some great tips below: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=334809&mesg_id=337251

My main worry was that it'd be too time consuming (DU takes up all my free time anyway and I just can't afford to get involved with another social networking site that's addictive - that's why I hardly ever go to Facebook anymore).

However, it's fairly easy to use -as Beth showed - and is really good as another resource for breaking news, which is my thing.

:hi:

[Fokker Trip]

60. I think her name was Mona Seif

[Turborama]

71. Thank you and welcome to DU!

Google's Realtime is on fire with Tweets about her: http://www.google.com/search?q=Mona+Seif&num=100&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&prmd=ivnsuo&tbs=mbl:1&tbo=u&ei=xS1KTdC9HYSIrAfczrWEDw&sa=X&oi=realtime_result_group_more_results_link&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q5QUwAA

:hi:

[Turborama]

93. Her brother is on the phone now n/t

[Cleita]

57. Wow, like Masada in Israel when they all died rather

than give in to the Romans.

[Turborama]

59. They are not "pro-Mubarak supporters" they are Mubarak's police in civilian clothes!

Instead of doing actual real police work, they must have been spending the past week training for this!

[Fokker Trip]

63. I believe that you're right.

[Turborama]

73. Reporter giving an account of what she witnessed when they were setting up the siege

And it sounds exactly like they had been trained to do what they were doing. They even had logistics set up smoothly, regular deliveries of supplies. People being tasked with specific jobs, residents in the area being warned to stay inside as it was going to get real violent in a while.

Fuckers. I hope Cameron meant what he said: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4719724

[defendandprotect]

88. MSNBC/Brian Williams mentioned internet back on this morning/Wednesday... and they

think Mubarak put it back on so they could organize this attack by thugs --

some of them hired for $17 a day to do Mubarak's killing!!

[tavalon]

137. They kettled them

Like what the English police did to those kids protesting tuition hikes. But those kids, other than being radicalized, got out pretty unscathed. As soon as I realized they were being kettled, I knew something awful was coming. Damn it, I hate feeling so helpless. It hurts to watch this and not be able to do anything except be a witness.

[tavalon]

136. Yes, I think you're right

Mubarek is a minion of the devil, if you believe such things.

[Turborama]

66. Did she just say that the US will stop aid to Egypt if this violence continues?

I need something like a Valium, I think. This is doing my head in.

[Fokker Trip]

72. I didn't hear her say that, it would be great if the US took that position

Its stressful to watch but I can't leave my desk to get anything else done.

I can't imagine what its like to be in the square. The unrelenting stimulation and stress would really wear a person down quickly. Must be very exhilarating too.

Finally dawn is there.

[Turborama]

70. Democracy protester on the phone now. VERY brave man. He wants Mubarak gone NOW!

Tamril Saaid (sp?) He's had a beating and been hit by multiple rocks but is not giving up. I wish I could give him a hug right now!

[Fokker Trip]

74. It would be so good to be there to help in some way.

Their struggle is so much the same as the struggle every population in the world faces and its never been clearer to me that its the same everywhere.

Brave souls.

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. They have crossed into that strange land

of dead man walking. This is how solders function in combat... trust me, it is weird.

[buzzard]

82. They are witnessing mans inhumanity to man, an untenable situation

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. Yes but they have also crossed to that point

every soldier that enters an active combat zone knows he (or she) is already dead. It is a matter of time... so that disconnect allows the mind to function.

It is weird, and it is almost impossible to explain. Owen's WW I poetry is probably one of the best at explaining it.

[defendandprotect]

89. Egyptian protesters have not killed the "thugs" ... they've taken their ID ... turned them in...

somewhere -- was it a metro station? but they haven't killed them!

[Fokker Trip]

76. Watching the close-ups of the pro-democracy rock throwers.

Its gotta feel pretty good to pitch a rock at those pro-Mubarak thugs.

With the beautiful architecture this could be any European capitol or even NYC.

[Fokker Trip]

77. A slingshot could be a very potent weapon in the square right now

[Turborama]

79. Mubarak tried to take over the square and FAILED! Friday is going to be something else

After what just happened I don't think the pro-democracy protesters are going to be very happy. To put it very mildly.

[kenny blankenship]

81. Many certainly will be killed. Mowed down inside the Square. Hunted down outside the Square

Tracked down and liquidated for months afterward if they manage to escape.

Only if Hosni Mubarak's leash is yanked hard enough to choke him dead will these insanely brave protesters survive.

[defendandprotect]

90. What they're saying is, knowing Mubarak, if they left now... they'd be hunted down

by Mubarak and killed --

What they need is another 1 million or 2 million Egyptians to join them!!

[kenny blankenship]

92. I'm sure they're right

He has been a very nasty man for a very long time. I don't see him getting sentimental in his old age, either.

[Turborama]

84. One man just got "arrested". Which side was he on and who was doing the "arresting"?

[Turborama]

86. OK, looks like the news will be back on in 25 mins. Just as well, I need a break after 4 hours

Time to go outside for a bit and look at some nature...

[TheKentuckian]

91. This minds me...

Civilians need more parity with their military rather than less.

"Gun control" is a sucker's bet for sheep to the slaughter under the thumb of overwhelming superiority.

[Solly Mack]

94. k/r

[Turborama]

95. Very very brave guy on the phone now. Talking about how they were prepared to "give up their bodies"

And reminiscing on how wonderful the massive protest was, and now central Cairo looks like a war zone.

[Turborama]

96. They had a human chain around the women and children in the middle of the square

People were delivering food and water over 16 hours of fighting.

POWERFUL 1st hand witness account!

[highplainsdem]

97. This is his Twitter account: http://twitter.com/alaa

http://twitter.com/alaa

I found it after seeing someone mention in the Twitter feed for #Jan25 that he was on AJE.

[Turborama]

125. Thanks a lot!

Added to my brand new Twitter account.

@DUTurborama

:hi:

[Turborama]

98. Al Jazeera English deserve a Peabody Award for this excellent coverage. Particularly the anchor

Who has been doing an incredible job handling all the calls and keeping on top of events over the past 6 hours or so. Need to look up her name and send her an email of gratitude.

[wisteria]

99. Why don't they leave and have their leaders negotiate with the government?

Continued insistance that Mubarak leave the country and no willingness to negoatiate may not help their cause.

[Turborama]

101. Because they will be hunted and killed if they give up now

Not my answer, the answer given by Mona Seif when she was on the phone a couple of hours ago. And her brother who was talking just now said the same thing.

[tavalon]

138. They will be hunted down and killed if they do that

They've made the choice to stand as Patriots and yes, likely be killed. If I'm ever in that situation, I hope I have the bravery of these men and women and children of Egypt.

[EFerrari]

100. Suggested twitter feeds from AJ reporter Dima Khatib

Dima_Khatib Dima Khatib أنا ديمة
by Elazul
Get live reporting from protesters on Tahrir Square: @Alaa @RamyRaoof @aGharbeia @monasosh @Sandmonkey @WaelAbbas @3arabawy #jan25

[Turborama]

102. Does this mean you have pushed me over the edge to finally start a Twitter account?

I'm worried it'll be too time consuming, though....?

[highplainsdem]

103. You don't need a Twitter account to follow theirs. The messages are public.

http://twitter.com/RamyRaoof

http://twitter.com/alaa

http://twitter.com/aGharbeia

http://twitter.com/monasosh

http://twitter.com/Sandmonkey

http://twitter.com/WaelAbbas

http://twitter.com/3arabawy

Edited to add all the links to their Twitter accounts.

[Turborama]

105. Cool, thanks!

I'll keep my eyes on them.

[highplainsdem]

106. You're welcome! I just edited my post to include all the links.

[EFerrari]

107. You will love it.

It's no maintenance. You follow whom you like and read or don't read, never need to delete anything. Tight, compressed messaging, an info junkie's dream. :)

[Turborama]

109. OK, you and Sabrina win. I'm in.

Now trying to figure out how it works.

I'm @DUTurborama

Not sure how to use that name or anything yet....

[EFerrari]

110. You won't ever have to use it.

Other people will when they send something directly to you.

You only need to use @ + a user name when you want to address a tweet to someone else. Like @48thave if you want to send me a tweet.

Otherwise, you use #(hashtag) when you want to enter a stream.

If you use key words, your tweet will wind up there in all likelihood anyway.

[Turborama]

111. Thanks for the tips!

On edit, just sent my 1st tweet to you as a test. Hope it makes it through...

[EFerrari]

113. In the window "What's happening?"

You can type @48thave + a message and hit enter. That should do it.

[EFerrari]

114. One more tip before I turn in.

There are sites you can use to shorten links. The one I know is this one: http://bit.ly/

You paste long links into their deal, and you get a much shorter one to use on twitter. :hi:

[Turborama]

118. Thanks again!

I'm learning how to use it now.

Sleep well if you read this before you crash, and good morning if you don't. :hi:

[Turborama]

104. 8 agent provocateurs (APs) being held by protesters in the local metro station.

I saw live footage of some apparent APs being busted and taken to the soldiers about 15 minutes ago before my computer went wobbly and I had to reboot.

Just found a pic on the live blog of what I described above...

[Turborama]

108. Nazli Hussein on the phone now, saying the army are only firing in the air. n/t

[Turborama]

112. Group of Democracy protesters have caught another AP and have taken him to the army

Some started to beat him but others were chanting, "No, we're peaceful!" and they stopped.

[boppers]

117. Provocateurs vs Peaceful for the camera?

Sometimes I really have to wonder about the level of theater....

Have I become so inured to violence and death that I am disconnected from the reality?

Has the showmanship of violence and death, projected by media, crated a disconnection?

Are there cultural barriers which prevent me from understanding the "show"?

Example: Child is shot. Dead.

Is the transport of that child a media event, or not?

[Turborama]

120. Or, is it highly likely they are actually catching APs?

Given what's been going on in Egypt, I think so.

[boppers]

121. Is your sig throwing a flower packet?

What do you endorse?

[Turborama]

122. I don't know, I didn't make the graphic. It came with the link at the time.

I endorse people clicking on the link to watch Al Jazeera English.

[boppers]

142. Current image is less violent:

[Turborama]

143. So? Are you trying to dictate to me what image I use in my sig line or something? n/t

[boppers]

145. Nah, just noticing a dichotomy, and offering a suggestion.

Based on the footage I saw tonight, things are ugly all around, and people are fighting for their lives, and ideals, with pretty primitive means.

[Turborama]

115. Soldiers forming human chain between the two groups to try and stop the violence?

Is that what she just said? If so, wow!

[muriel_volestrangler]

116. Reuters: Pro-Mubarak supporters seen carrying knives, sticks moving towards Tahrir Square

according to a witness. (8:28 AM GMT, 10:28 local time)
http://live.reuters.com/Event/Unrest_in_Egypt

BBC radio reported a few minutes they had arrived at the square.

[tavalon]

139. Good

Maybe there will be less violence if there are international journalists there.

[Turborama]

126. Amazing! Editor in chief for Egyptian State "Nile TV" whislteblowing on the phone to AJE right now

Realtime has gone on fire about it: http://www.google.com/search?q=shahira+amin&num=100&hl=en&sa=X&prmd=ivnso&tbs=mbl:1&tbo=u&ei=5J1KTefcOsGxrAfVzMWCDw&oi=realtime_result_group_more_results_link&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ5QUwAA