FIRST READ:
THE U.S. IS FOILED IN ITS ATTEMPT
TO HIJACK THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION
http://www.antipasministries.com/other/article202.htm
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN EGYPT REVEALS
THE DEPTH TO WHICH THE AMERICAN ELITES
USE DEATH SQUADS IN PRESERVING
THE AMERICAN EMPIRE
http://www.antipasministries.com/other/article122.htm
Egypt Declared 'Islamic State' in New Constitution; Christians and Jews Protected?
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/07/egypt-declared-islamic-state-in-new.html
Egypt’s women wonder which is worse; being a Christian or woman
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/07/egypts-women-wonder-which-is-worse_18.html
Protests as Clinton holds meetings in Egypt
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/15/world/africa/egypt-clinton/index.html
From Elise Labott, CNN
July 16, 2012 -- Updated 2007 GMT (0407 HKT)
Clinton
said she was in the city to answer critics who believe Washington has taken sides in Egyptian
politics. There were already vocal protesters at the start of her visit to the
consulate, forcing the ceremony to be moved inside.
"I want to be clear that the United States is not in the business, in Egypt, of choosing winners and losers, even if
we could, which, of course, we cannot," Clinton said at the ceremony to reopen the
consulate, which was closed in 1993 because of budget constraints.
"I have come to Alexandria
to reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the Egyptian
people and for their democratic future."
The protesters threw the tomatoes,
shoes and a water bottle as the staff walked to their vans after the ceremony
and riot police had to hold back the crowd. A tomato hit an Egyptian official
in the face.
Clinton's
van was around the corner from the protesters, and a senior State Department
official said her car was not hit.
The chants of "Monica"
refer to Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern who had an affair with Clinton's husband, former
President Bill Clinton.
Earlier Sunday, Clinton
held a closed-door meeting with the head of Egypt's military leadership, Field
Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, whose military council is in a political tug
of war with new President Mohamed Morsy.
Egypt's military leaders took
control of the government after a popular uprising toppled former President
Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, promising to hand over control after elections.
But after this year's elections, the
military council issued a decree stripping the presidency of much of its power.
And more than two weeks after Morsy took office, the country remains in the
throes of domestic political chaos. The president has no Cabinet and the
country has no parliament.
Clinton met with Morsy on Saturday and urged
him to assert the "full authority" of his office. She stressed that
it is up to the Egyptian people to shape the country's political future, but
also said the United States
would work "to support the military's return to a purely national security
role."
Clinton and Tantawi, who met for
just over an hour Sunday, discussed the political transition and the military
ruling council's ongoing dialogue with Morsy, said a senior State Department
official, who described the meeting on condition of anonymity.
Later Sunday, in meetings with
representatives from civil society groups and Christian leaders, Clinton addressed concerns from some who have been
skeptical of the United States'
neutrality in Egypt's
political transition, another senior State Department official said.
"There has been some suspicion,
some assertion, and we heard some of that today, that somehow the U.S.
has put its finger on the scale in favor of one side or another in this
transition," the official said. "And she wanted in very, very clear
terms, particularly with the Christian group this morning, to dispel that
notion and to make clear that only Egyptians can choose their leaders, that we
have not supported any candidate, any party, and we will not."
As she left the country Sunday
night, Clinton
said her two days of meetings showed her the Egyptian people "have
legitimate concerns, and I will be honest and say they have legitimate fears
about their future."
Egypt's
fragile economy has been a top item on Clinton's
agenda during the trip. The secretary of state also met with business
entrepreneurs affiliated with Flat6Labs, an organization that provides seed
money, mentoring and work space to small Egyptian companies to help them
realize their concepts.
"Thanks to all of you for being
willing to take a risk," she said.
Clinton
aides said the secretary of state wanted to visit Cairo
early after Morsy's swearing-in to show that the Obama administration wants to
help the new government improve Egypt's
economy.
In meetings with Morsy and Tantawi, Clinton discussed a U.S. economic package that would
relieve as much as $1 billion in Egyptian debt and help foster innovation,
growth and job creation, officials said. She also said the United States is ready to make
available $250 million in loan guarantees to Egyptian businesses.
Tantawi told Clinton that what Egyptians need most now is
help getting the economy back on track, one senior State Department official
said.
Egypt's military is the foundation
of the modern state, having overthrown the country's monarchy in 1952. Tantawi,
a 76-year-old career infantry officer, fought in Egypt's
1956, 1967 and 1973 wars with Israel.
The Supreme Council of the Armed
Forces, which Tantawi heads, currently wields legislative power, having ordered
the dissolution of parliament after the country's highest court ruled that it
had been elected under invalid laws.
Morsy tried to call it back into session
after he was sworn in, but the court reaffirmed its decision, so the military
council retains lawmaking powers until a new parliament is sworn in near the
end of the year.
In the presidential election, Morsy
edged out Ahmed Shafik -- the last prime minister under Mubarak -- winning
nearly 52% of the votes cast.
He resigned from the Muslim
Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party shortly after the results were
announced, in an apparent effort to send a message that he will represent all
Egyptians.