State Dept Suggests Egyptian Government Involved In Attacks On Journalists In Egypt

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

State Dept Suggests Egyptian Government Involved In Attacks On Journalists In Egypt

As counter- and pro-Mubarak government protests have become increasingly violent over the past few days in Egypt, foreign journalists have been harassed, beaten, arrested, and detained throughout the country. Most notably, CNN’s Anderson Cooper reported yesterday that his crew had been attacked; a Fox News reporter and producer were hospitalized after being targeted. Today, the State Department suggested that the Egyptian government may be involved in the campaign. Spokesperson PJ Crowley said today that “these do not seem to be random events”:

CROWLEY: There are very strong indications that this is part of a concerted effort. I can’t tell you who is directing it, but with the increasing number of instances of people roughed up, journalists’ cars attacked, offices broken into, journalists detained, these do not seem to be random events. <…> I think at this stage we have information that has primarily come from you all which says that, in various interactions that you’ve had today, the Ministry of Interior personnel have been involved.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/03/state-journalists-egyp/

[burrowowl]

1. K&R

No kidding!

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[RKP5637]

3. Recommend!!! n/t

[Earth_First]

4. Is there ANY doubt?!

:facepalm:

[TheMadMonk]

5. Add in the number of "civilian casualties" of mob violence found to be carrying...

...police ID on their arrival in hospital a couple of days ago.

I don't doubt that Mubarak is doing his best to hold onto his "throne", but I also believe that he has accepted his ouster, and that as much as this state sponsored "counter violence" is intended to crush the "rebelion" if at all possible, it also provides the cover necessary to finalise any "asset stripping".

Also the bigger the quagmire he leaves behind him, the less time anyone will have to devote attention to recovering his "stollen billions".