If the demands of the people are not realized within the defined period it will be incumbent to announce a road map for the future.
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
After listening to the general speak those words and others on a national TV broadcast one can reasonably assume that Egyptian President, Mohammed Morsi has just received an offer he can't refuse.
It was a rough Sunday for many in Cairo and beyond. NBC reports that massive anti Morsi demonstrations turned deadly and at least 16 were killed and an estimated 700 injured. Before the night was over the Cairo headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood became a smoking shell after crowds heaved Molotov cocktails and ran off with everything from furniture and files to air conditioning units.
The general described the entire scene as an "unprecedented expression of the people's will." He explained to Mr. Morsi that he'd better meet with the opposition leadership in the next 48 hours, or the military would resolve the crisis and oversee the "road map's" implementation.
It really doesn't get much clearer than that. Especially when reports are that Morsi was not notified in advance of the speech.
NBC quotes Yasser Hamza, a leader of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, as saying, "For an institution of state to come and stage a coup against the president, this will not happen. Any force that goes against the constitution is a call for sabotage and anarchy." You can almost hear the quiver in the guy's voice as he speaks. Images of Baghdad Bob immediately come to mind.
The opposition leadership gave Morsi until 5pm Tuesday local time to resign. If he doesn't they say they will call for nationwide strikes.
Obviously Morsi doesn't give a rat's ass about what the opposition thinks, however if he has truly lost the military's support he might want to consider hopping the next flight out of Cairo International Airport. A hundred thousand or so pissed off people in the streets is one thing, but a column of tanks headed right at you is another entirely.
Whatever happens, Egypt seems headed for chaos. Even if Morsi goes there are plenty of people backing him who are going to be just as angry and capable of violence as the current opposition is. And in truth you never know if there could be certain elements within the army and air force that will side with him also.
Indeed, simple chaos might be the least of the myriad of bad options when you consider the possibility that all of Egypt could be tossed into the black hole of a full fledged civil war.
Morsi has been given 48 hours, but the reality is his country is in for an extended period of pain, suffering, and violence.
Meanwhile, here in the U.S. Sarah Palin, in her never ending campaign to remain relevant and on camera, has threatened to pull out of the GOP and begin her own party.
Why anyone is still paying attention to her is beyond comprehension, but apparently someone does. It could well be as comedian Russell Brand once said, "People want to fuck her. That is why they tolerate the other stuff." Right now the other stuff is that Ms. Palin is quite upset with the immigration reform bill and republicans who might support it. She claims that if the GOP continues to, "abandon the principles that built this party of Lincoln and Reagan" she will, in concert with radio talk show host, Mark Levin, form the Freedom Party. She believes the new party will attract those with a, "libertarian streak that much of us have."
There you have it, The republican party is rancid with closet liberals who might think acts of governing are actually a good thing. The pure of thought and breeding should have nothing to do with them.
Obviously Levin would be the brains of this new outfit. He graduated summa cum laude from Temple at age nineteen with a Phi Beta Kappa key. He also served as chief of staff for Attorney General Ed Meese during the Reagan era and as an advisor to several of old Dutch's cabinet members.
Ms. Palin on the other hand went to four different schools before graduating from the University of Idaho. Her practical political experience includes being a two term mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and a governor who resigned after only three years. Her vice presidential run with John McCain has become a legend. Unfortunately for both her and McCain the legend is named Barak H. Obama.
Since then her desperate attempts at keeping her head above the dark waters of oblivion have ranged from antics best reserved for Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz, to the outright pitiful.
Of course if Ms. Palin acts on her threat and does siphon off a large block of the most rigidly right wing faithful from the republican standard, I know of at least one person who will be exceedingly happy, not to mention grateful. Her name would be Hillary Rodham Clinton.
So--we are off into another week. There is nothing quite like lethal rioting and the idiocy of a run amok ego to kick it off.
Yes, it appears we need all hands on deck. The seas and weather look to be heavy over the next six days.
And please, don't forget your life jackets. As always, safety comes first.
miserere nobis
7-1-13
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