12-09-2012, 04:03 AM
Revolutionary Program: American Embassies Attacked in Egypt and Libya
Cairo(CNN) -- Angry protesters attacked U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya and Egypt onTuesday, citing in both instances an online film considered offensive to Islam.
In Cairo, several men scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy and tore down its American flag, according to CNN producer Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who was on the scene.
In Libya, witnesses say members of a radical Islamist group called Ansar al-Sharia protested near the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, where NATO jets established no-fly zones last year to blunt ground attacks from then Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
The group then clashed with security forces in the city, blocking roads leading to the consulate, witnesses said.
The Libyan government notified the United States that an employee at the U.S.Consulate was killed, a State Department official told CNN.
The State Department does not have independent confirmation of the death, the official said. The nationality of the worker was not immediately known.
Libya's General National Conference condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death of a number of individuals." Lawmakers said in a statement Tuesday night that they were investigating.
Middle East attacksagainst U.S.
It was unclear whether the two attacks were coordinated, CNN national security contributor Fran Townsend said Tuesday night.
Protesters storm U.S.embassy walls
"One such breach of an embassy or consulate's walls orsecurity on any given day would be tremendous news. ... The fact that two ofthem happened on the same day that is the 9/11 anniversary where Americans are remembering those that we lost, you have to ask yourself, what are American officials trying to understand about this and whether or not these two are related?" she asked.
In Egypt, police and army personnel formed defensive lines around the U.S. Embassy in an effort to prevent demonstrators from advancing, but not before the protester saffixed a black flag atop a ladder in the American compound.
The black flag, which hangs in full view from inside thecomplex, is adorned with white characters that read, "There is no God butAllah and Mohammed is his messenger," an emblem often used by Islamicradicals.
A volley of warning shots were fired as a large crowdgathered around the compound, although it is not clear who fired the shots.
Areyou there? Share your images and videos.
Egyptian groups point to U.S.websites, including YouTube, that have scenes from the film. Some anti-Muslimblogs also have flagged the movie.
In a series of disjointed scenes, filmmakers depict ProphetMohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer.
Most of the Muslim world considers depictions of Mohammed tobe blasphemous and deeply offensive.
It was not clear late Tuesday who produced the film andunder what auspices.
Embassy officials issued a warning to Americans in Egypt,telling them to avoid the demonstrations which "may gather in front of theU.S. Embassy, or Egyptian government buildings such as the People's Assemblyand Ministry of Interior."
"It is unclear if large numbers will take to thestreets, but clashes may occur should two opposing groups come into contactwith one another," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. "Largegatherings and non-essential travel in and around downtown and Garden Cityshould be avoided this afternoon."
Frenzied protesters could been seen Tuesday afternoonholding up bits of a shredded American flag to television camera crews whilechanting anti-U.S. slogans.
An embassy phone operator told CNN that the compound hadbeen cleared of diplomatic personnel earlier in the day, ahead of the apparentthreat, while Egyptian riot police and the army were called in.
"This is an expression of a feeling that is thought tobe an insult," said Nizih El Naggary, a spokesman for the Egyptian ForeignMinistry. "But events like this are extremely deplorable. And we have towork to get things under control."
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday, pledging toprotect embassies and warning of the protests' potentially debilitating effectson the Egyptian economy.
"There are police forces at the demonstrations,"El Naggary said. "They should be protecting the embassy and asking peopleto leave."
Several individuals claimed responsibility for organizingthe demonstrations Tuesday, including Salafist leader Wesam Abdel-Wareth, whois president of Egypt'sconservative Hekma television channel.
Mohamed al-Zawahiri -- the brother of al Qaeda leader Aymanal-Zawahiri -- added, "We called for the peaceful protest joined bydifferent Islamic factions including the Islamicc Jihad (and the) Hazem AbuIsmael movement."
"We were surprised to see the big numbers show up,including the soccer Ultra fans," he said. "I just want to say, howwould the Americans feel if films insulting leading Christian figures like thepope or historical figures like Abraham Lincoln were produced?"
He added that "the film portrays the prophet in a veryugly manner, alluding to topics like sex, which is not acceptable."
The U.S. Embassy in Cairoannounced that it had canceled visa services for Wednesday.
It also said in a statement that it "condemns thecontinuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings ofMuslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
"Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone ofAmerican democracy," the statement said. "We firmly reject theactions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt thereligious beliefs of others."
Demonstrations elicited a mixture of reactions from theEgyptian street, where last year tens of thousands turned out in opposition toformer Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
This summer, Egypt'sfirst Islamist president, Mohamed Morsy, was sworn into power at Tahrir Square, the scene of the nation's revolution in2011.
Though Tuesday's embassy protests are the first that Morsyhas dealt with, Egyptrecently produced similar scenarios when protesters attacked the Israeli andSyrian embassies in unrelated episodes.
"These protests are a bad image for Egypt,"said a Cairo street vendornamed Ahmed. "Of course I'm against insulting Islam, but it's theundereducated, poor people who are out here causing problems."
"All I want for Egyptis security and stability," he said. "And as you can see this isn'tit."
The incident occurred on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11attacks as crowds gathered across the United States in somber remembrance of a day thatleft nearly 3,000 people dead.
Tuesday's focus on the controversial film also drewcomparisons to outcry generated from a 2008 movie produced by an anti-MuslimDutch lawmaker, which then sought to portray Islam as a violent religion.
Geert Wilders' film "Fitna," which he releasedonline, featured images of terrorist acts superimposed over verses from theQuran.
http://www.bikyamasr.com/77280/remember-...-takedown/
CAIRO: A fewdozen Egyptian protesters climbed an outer wall of the United States Embassycomplex in Cairo on Tuesday eveningand tore down the American flag, replacing it will another flag that read"There is no God but God and Mohamed is His Messenger." Shocking? Onlyslightly.
Flashback to August 2011 in front of the building housingthe Israeli Embassy in Egypt.Then, a thin fence was erected to supposedly keep protesters from storming theembassy, housed on two upper levels. We know that didn't work. But the mostpopular event of that demonstration which saw protesters storm a lower levelto the embassy and toss documents from the windows was a young man who scaledthe outer side of the building to take down the Israeli flag and replace itwith the Egyptian flag, gives a clue as to why Egyptian protesters might havedecided to climb the US embassy walls on Tuesday.
During the August 2011 protests, the man dubbed "Flagman"was praised, promoted and even given a flat free of charge by the Egyptiangovernment for his "patriotic" effort. For most Egyptians he was viewed as ahero, his act of "bravery" given numerous praise on social media networks atthe time.
On Tuesday, Egyptians had gathered in front of the USembassy to protest what can only be described as a barbaric and insulting filmcreated by an Israeli-American "filmmaker" and promoted by ultra-conservativeJews, Christians and Coptic Christians.
For Egyptian Muslims of all walks of life, young, old,liberal and conservative, the film that portrayed the Prophet Mohamed as apedophile, violent and sex addict, is a red line in Egypt.
So when there was no security presence in front of theembassy, undoubtedly the idea of taking down the American flag sprouted fromthe memory of how the "Flagman" was praised. The protesters jumped on the wall,a few hopped down and took down the flag, replacing it with a symbolic Islamicflag not in any way related to al-Qaeda as many Western reports were so quickto point to.
The move, while being roundly condemned by many punditsinside Egyptand abroad, is likely to be seen in a positive light. This was evidenced by thereaction at a local cafe only a few blocks from the embassy, where they smiledand clapped in support of the action.
This is important. Egyptians are not going to sit lightly asa film is attacking its Prophet. And without a real security presenceattempting to block any advance on the embassy, moving on the embassy seemedthe logical move.
On top of this was the reporting that labeled the protesters"Islamists" missed the true nature of those present on Tuesday. A quick walkthrough the protest showed it was not "bearded men" gone crazy, but a mix ofEgyptian society, from young football fans to middle-class citizens as well asthe ultra-conservatives. Insulting Islam will always bring forth across-section of Egyptand this must be highlighted.
At the end of the day, the USresponded appropriately, sending a statement earlier in the day on Tuesday thatcondemned the film. While it may have been too little too late, thedemonstration on Tuesday shows there is a serious need to look at freedom ofspeech, in Egyptand how it will differ from the American view on the topic.
Egyptis moving in a positive direction. The country has had free elections. Mediahave largely been more open, despite a few hiccups that need to be resolved.But at the end of the day, just as Europe has outlawedHolocaust deniers, Egypt'sconception of freedom of speech may not, and never, include insulting Islam asthe film did.
Egyptians are angry, and rightfully so. The film, "Innocenceof Muslims" is downright disgusting. Does that mean the US Embassy should havebeen attacked? No. It does a disservice to the cause of Muslims in their angertowards the film, but understanding why, the historical nature of angryprotests in the country and remembering the "Flagman" and his story, adds muchunderstanding to how this situation played out.
BM
Cairo(CNN) -- Angry protesters attacked U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya and Egypt onTuesday, citing in both instances an online film considered offensive to Islam.
In Cairo, several men scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy and tore down its American flag, according to CNN producer Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who was on the scene.
In Libya, witnesses say members of a radical Islamist group called Ansar al-Sharia protested near the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, where NATO jets established no-fly zones last year to blunt ground attacks from then Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
The group then clashed with security forces in the city, blocking roads leading to the consulate, witnesses said.
The Libyan government notified the United States that an employee at the U.S.Consulate was killed, a State Department official told CNN.
The State Department does not have independent confirmation of the death, the official said. The nationality of the worker was not immediately known.
Libya's General National Conference condemned the attack, saying it "led to the regrettable injury and death of a number of individuals." Lawmakers said in a statement Tuesday night that they were investigating.
Middle East attacksagainst U.S.
It was unclear whether the two attacks were coordinated, CNN national security contributor Fran Townsend said Tuesday night.
Protesters storm U.S.embassy walls
"One such breach of an embassy or consulate's walls orsecurity on any given day would be tremendous news. ... The fact that two ofthem happened on the same day that is the 9/11 anniversary where Americans are remembering those that we lost, you have to ask yourself, what are American officials trying to understand about this and whether or not these two are related?" she asked.
In Egypt, police and army personnel formed defensive lines around the U.S. Embassy in an effort to prevent demonstrators from advancing, but not before the protester saffixed a black flag atop a ladder in the American compound.
The black flag, which hangs in full view from inside thecomplex, is adorned with white characters that read, "There is no God butAllah and Mohammed is his messenger," an emblem often used by Islamicradicals.
A volley of warning shots were fired as a large crowdgathered around the compound, although it is not clear who fired the shots.
Areyou there? Share your images and videos.
Egyptian groups point to U.S.websites, including YouTube, that have scenes from the film. Some anti-Muslimblogs also have flagged the movie.
In a series of disjointed scenes, filmmakers depict ProphetMohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer.
Most of the Muslim world considers depictions of Mohammed tobe blasphemous and deeply offensive.
It was not clear late Tuesday who produced the film andunder what auspices.
Embassy officials issued a warning to Americans in Egypt,telling them to avoid the demonstrations which "may gather in front of theU.S. Embassy, or Egyptian government buildings such as the People's Assemblyand Ministry of Interior."
"It is unclear if large numbers will take to thestreets, but clashes may occur should two opposing groups come into contactwith one another," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. "Largegatherings and non-essential travel in and around downtown and Garden Cityshould be avoided this afternoon."
Frenzied protesters could been seen Tuesday afternoonholding up bits of a shredded American flag to television camera crews whilechanting anti-U.S. slogans.
An embassy phone operator told CNN that the compound hadbeen cleared of diplomatic personnel earlier in the day, ahead of the apparentthreat, while Egyptian riot police and the army were called in.
"This is an expression of a feeling that is thought tobe an insult," said Nizih El Naggary, a spokesman for the Egyptian ForeignMinistry. "But events like this are extremely deplorable. And we have towork to get things under control."
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement Tuesday, pledging toprotect embassies and warning of the protests' potentially debilitating effectson the Egyptian economy.
"There are police forces at the demonstrations,"El Naggary said. "They should be protecting the embassy and asking peopleto leave."
Several individuals claimed responsibility for organizingthe demonstrations Tuesday, including Salafist leader Wesam Abdel-Wareth, whois president of Egypt'sconservative Hekma television channel.
Mohamed al-Zawahiri -- the brother of al Qaeda leader Aymanal-Zawahiri -- added, "We called for the peaceful protest joined bydifferent Islamic factions including the Islamicc Jihad (and the) Hazem AbuIsmael movement."
"We were surprised to see the big numbers show up,including the soccer Ultra fans," he said. "I just want to say, howwould the Americans feel if films insulting leading Christian figures like thepope or historical figures like Abraham Lincoln were produced?"
He added that "the film portrays the prophet in a veryugly manner, alluding to topics like sex, which is not acceptable."
The U.S. Embassy in Cairoannounced that it had canceled visa services for Wednesday.
It also said in a statement that it "condemns thecontinuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings ofMuslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."
"Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone ofAmerican democracy," the statement said. "We firmly reject theactions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt thereligious beliefs of others."
Demonstrations elicited a mixture of reactions from theEgyptian street, where last year tens of thousands turned out in opposition toformer Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
This summer, Egypt'sfirst Islamist president, Mohamed Morsy, was sworn into power at Tahrir Square, the scene of the nation's revolution in2011.
Though Tuesday's embassy protests are the first that Morsyhas dealt with, Egyptrecently produced similar scenarios when protesters attacked the Israeli andSyrian embassies in unrelated episodes.
"These protests are a bad image for Egypt,"said a Cairo street vendornamed Ahmed. "Of course I'm against insulting Islam, but it's theundereducated, poor people who are out here causing problems."
"All I want for Egyptis security and stability," he said. "And as you can see this isn'tit."
The incident occurred on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11attacks as crowds gathered across the United States in somber remembrance of a day thatleft nearly 3,000 people dead.
Tuesday's focus on the controversial film also drewcomparisons to outcry generated from a 2008 movie produced by an anti-MuslimDutch lawmaker, which then sought to portray Islam as a violent religion.
Geert Wilders' film "Fitna," which he releasedonline, featured images of terrorist acts superimposed over verses from theQuran.
http://www.bikyamasr.com/77280/remember-...-takedown/
CAIRO: A fewdozen Egyptian protesters climbed an outer wall of the United States Embassycomplex in Cairo on Tuesday eveningand tore down the American flag, replacing it will another flag that read"There is no God but God and Mohamed is His Messenger." Shocking? Onlyslightly.
Flashback to August 2011 in front of the building housingthe Israeli Embassy in Egypt.Then, a thin fence was erected to supposedly keep protesters from storming theembassy, housed on two upper levels. We know that didn't work. But the mostpopular event of that demonstration which saw protesters storm a lower levelto the embassy and toss documents from the windows was a young man who scaledthe outer side of the building to take down the Israeli flag and replace itwith the Egyptian flag, gives a clue as to why Egyptian protesters might havedecided to climb the US embassy walls on Tuesday.
During the August 2011 protests, the man dubbed "Flagman"was praised, promoted and even given a flat free of charge by the Egyptiangovernment for his "patriotic" effort. For most Egyptians he was viewed as ahero, his act of "bravery" given numerous praise on social media networks atthe time.
On Tuesday, Egyptians had gathered in front of the USembassy to protest what can only be described as a barbaric and insulting filmcreated by an Israeli-American "filmmaker" and promoted by ultra-conservativeJews, Christians and Coptic Christians.
For Egyptian Muslims of all walks of life, young, old,liberal and conservative, the film that portrayed the Prophet Mohamed as apedophile, violent and sex addict, is a red line in Egypt.
So when there was no security presence in front of theembassy, undoubtedly the idea of taking down the American flag sprouted fromthe memory of how the "Flagman" was praised. The protesters jumped on the wall,a few hopped down and took down the flag, replacing it with a symbolic Islamicflag not in any way related to al-Qaeda as many Western reports were so quickto point to.
The move, while being roundly condemned by many punditsinside Egyptand abroad, is likely to be seen in a positive light. This was evidenced by thereaction at a local cafe only a few blocks from the embassy, where they smiledand clapped in support of the action.
This is important. Egyptians are not going to sit lightly asa film is attacking its Prophet. And without a real security presenceattempting to block any advance on the embassy, moving on the embassy seemedthe logical move.
On top of this was the reporting that labeled the protesters"Islamists" missed the true nature of those present on Tuesday. A quick walkthrough the protest showed it was not "bearded men" gone crazy, but a mix ofEgyptian society, from young football fans to middle-class citizens as well asthe ultra-conservatives. Insulting Islam will always bring forth across-section of Egyptand this must be highlighted.
At the end of the day, the USresponded appropriately, sending a statement earlier in the day on Tuesday thatcondemned the film. While it may have been too little too late, thedemonstration on Tuesday shows there is a serious need to look at freedom ofspeech, in Egyptand how it will differ from the American view on the topic.
Egyptis moving in a positive direction. The country has had free elections. Mediahave largely been more open, despite a few hiccups that need to be resolved.But at the end of the day, just as Europe has outlawedHolocaust deniers, Egypt'sconception of freedom of speech may not, and never, include insulting Islam asthe film did.
Egyptians are angry, and rightfully so. The film, "Innocenceof Muslims" is downright disgusting. Does that mean the US Embassy should havebeen attacked? No. It does a disservice to the cause of Muslims in their angertowards the film, but understanding why, the historical nature of angryprotests in the country and remembering the "Flagman" and his story, adds muchunderstanding to how this situation played out.
BM