January 28, 2015

A Tale of Two Houses: Sisi Mourns House of Saud, Obama Scorns House of Netanyahu

Photo: A needless murder by Egyptian police of a female socialist activist on the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. The Sisi regime only buries itself with such brutal acts.

An excerpt from, "Egypt Cancels Revolution Fete to Mourn Saudi King who derailed Revolution" by Juan Cole, January 26, 2015:
In a great irony, the Egyptian government attempted to cancel the commemoration of the January 25 revolution four years ago, on the grounds that the late King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia needed to be mourned. The Saudis played a sinister behind-the-scenes role in undermining budding Egyptian attempts at democracy, and appear to be complicit in the coup against the Muslim Brotherhood government of Muhammad Morsi in 2013 (though to be fair, that government was very widely hated). 
As it was, dissidents from the left and from the Muslim religious right did manage to mount rallies to protest the authoritarian turn of the current Egyptian government. The police reacted horribly, deploying live ammunition at the protesters– killing 18 and wounding 52. 
National security police and plainclothesmen had a heavy presence throughout the capiteal of Cairo.
Not a wise move by Sisi.

An excerpt from, "Obama Won't Meet with Netanyahu During Visit to Congress" VOA, January 27, 2015:
American officials last week said President Barack Obama will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits Washington in March. The U.S. Congress has asked the Israeli leader to speak to a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. House Speaker John Boehner said he did not contact the Obama administration about the visit before inviting Mr. Netanyahu. 
Many observers see the invitation as a way for Republican Party lawmakers to criticize the administration’s policy toward Iran.

President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu do not agree on the best way to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Mr. Netanyahu has questioned Mr. Obama’s support of international talks to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.
Not a wise move by Boehner.