THE POISONED NECKLACE Social Network Users Call for Days of Rage in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Algeria Forwarded with major commentary by Emanuel A. Winston, Mid East Analyst & Commentator The uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt have not been spontaneous but, were planned, funded, organized and armed by the Muslim Brotherhood – probably in sync with a nuclear Iran. The “Social Networks” have done too good a job. They intend to reach their declared goal of a Global Caliphate for Islam by implementing their own form of “Shock-and-Awe” – a forced project by consecutive and sequential “Days of Rage” in every Muslim country in the encircling ring around the Middle East and North Africa. They have laid out their plans precisely in “Facebook” with ‘pretty pictures’: DAYS OF RAGE to be held in YEMEN, February 3 and 11; BAHRAIN: February 14; LIBYA: February 17; ALGERIA: February 4 and 17. We have previously written about these Muslim countries labeling them: “THE POISONED NECKLACE”. Count them left-to-right: Morocco (maybe), for sure: “Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. That numbers 15 or 16 Muslim countries in a row, ready to rumble for a Global Islamic Caliphate. A total of 57 Muslim countries in the world are likely to join if any or all of these countries are successful in initiating a successful world uprising. Provoking an uprising against their own Arab/Muslim dictators is not that difficult, given their brutal treatment of their own people. The trick is to follow-up a popular uprising by riding in on the back of those rioting in the street, thinking they are going to get freedom, only to find that they have fallen into the hands of predatory Islamist/Jihadists who will rule them with even greater brutality in the name of Allah. The pattern was set by Iran and, so far it’s being repeated perfectly. When the history of this colossal blunder is written, it will be laid correctly at the feet of an inexperienced man-child president, a pro-Arab State Department and America’s vaunted 16 Intelligence Agencies who either failed to detect the Islamic build-up or were ignored if they tried to alert a president who is appeasing Islam. What do the countries of the Free West have ready to stop the imminent threat of Islamic Shari’a Law to the democratic, freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press and pursuit of happiness? First, they need to understand what they’re up against. That means that they must commence an urgent, in-depth study of Islam and its well-known M.O. (Modus Operandi). Second, they must unite in common purpose to defend our way of life and liberty. Third, they must thoroughly internalize that this is a religious war. Fourth, they must know that this is literally a fight for life or death. COMMENTARY BY EMANUEL A. WINSTON ### Inquiry and Analysis Series Report No. 662|February 2, 2011 By: Y. Yehoshua* Egypt/Inter-Arab Relations As part of widespread calls on Facebook for opposition activity against the Arab leaders, numerous Facebook groups and accounts were created calling for popular intifada throughout the Arab world, including Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Algeria. The pages called for non-violent and apolitical demonstrations, with some of them providing precise instructions regarding how to behave during the demonstrations. Following are examples of some of the pages that appeared on the social network: A day of rage is being planned in Yemen for February 3, 2011. One of the Facebook pages on the topic said: "O, Yemeni people, we will prepare for a non-violent popular demonstration [on February 3]. The demonstration is not affiliated with any political organization or religious sect. We ask that you help us to publicize this page."[1] Another page provided instructions on how to behave during the course of the demonstrations: not to descend into anarchy, to treat police officers respectfully, and to avoid any expressions of political or sectarian affiliation and to chant unified slogans condemning oppression and tyranny.[2] Following are examples of Facebook pages launched in anticipation of the demonstrations planned in Yemen: "Day of Rage in Yemen, February 3" "Day of Rage in Yemen, February 3" "Freedom Day, February 3" A Picture Posted to the Above Page A day of rage is being planned in South Yemen for February 11, 2011. Following is a Facebook page launched to support the cause: "The February 11 Intifada in the South" http://www.facebook.com/February11PopularAnger Demonstrations are being planned in Bahrain for February 14, 2011. One of the Facebook pages launched in support of the cause claimed that the popular uprising slated for this date would demand quick political reforms and improved living conditions for all citizens without discrimination.[3] According to another page, the demonstrators' goals were judicial independence, elections for the Shura Council, representation for all sects in the government ministries, the restoration of seized lands and property, and the release of all political prisoners.[4] Following are some examples of Facebook pages created in anticipation of the demonstrations: "February 14, 2011, Revolution Day in Bahrain" "Day of Rage in Bahrain, February 14" http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-fy-albhryn-14-fbrayr/184881771544525 "February 14, Bahraini Day of Rage" "February 14 Revolution, Day of Rage in Bahrain" http://www.facebook.com/pages/thwrt-14-fbrayr-ywm-alghdb-fy-albhryn/195630250462820 A day of rage is planned in Libya for February 17, 2011, against Libyan leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi. Facebook pages launched in support of the cause called on users to go out into the streets en masse to join in protest demonstrations. A communiqué appeared on various such pages that said: "Together, we will take part in creating a bright future for a free Libya. Our, the youth's, goal, is to live a life of honor, like the people in the oil countries, which respect their citizens and provide them with all the welfare services, such as housing, work and a value for human of life." The communiqué called for the mobilization of as many people as possible to participate in the demonstrations, and asked participants not to resort to violence and to use unified slogans that reflected their Libyan identity, rather than sectarian or party slogans. It likewise explained how to avoid being hit by tear gas, and what to do if hit.[5] Following are examples of the pages launched for the cause: "The February 17, 2011 Intifada – Let Us Make It a Day of Rage in Libya" http://www.facebook.com/17022011libya "The People Want to Topple the Regime – Libya, February 17" "The Great Libyan Youth Are Revolting against Qadhafi the Dictator" http://www.facebook.com/pages/shbab-lybya-alzym-ythwr-ly-alqdhafy-aldktatwr/177530102284922 Pictures from Facebook Pages Launched in Anticipation of the Libyan Day of Rage Libya Next in Line after Egypt and Tunisia "Revolution for Libya" http://www.facebook.com/17022011libya#!/photo.php?fbid=107204229356483&set=o.197898230226131 "Liberation Day, February 17" In response, Facebook pages were created expressing opposition to the planned demonstrations and in support of Al-Qadhafi. Following are some examples: "Against February 17 and the Attempt by the Malicious to Sow Civil War" "The Security of Libya and the Libyans Is a Red Line" http://www.facebook.com/pages/amn-lybya-wallybyyn-kht-ahmr/150673284986214 Demonstrations in Algeria are being planned for February 4, 11, 17, and 25, in support of which several Facebook pages were created. Following are examples: "The Algerian Day of Rage, February 4 and 11. Spread [the Word] as Much as You Love Your Homeland" "The Algerian Day of Rage, February 17" This page also contains information about the Libyan day of rage planned for the same day. http://www.facebook.com/25February#!/pages/ywm-alghdb-aljzayry-17-fyfry-fbrayr/178061292235282 *Y. Yehoshua is Director of Research at MEMRI. [1] http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-fy-alymn-3-fbrayr/126356774101823#!/pages/ywm-alghdb-fy-alymn-3-fbrayr/126356774101823?v=wall. [2] http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1713982743674&set=o.352812767076#!/photo.php?fbid=191238600900014&set=o.352812767076. [3] http://www.facebook.com/pages/thwrt-14-fbrayr-ywm-alghdb-fy-albhryn/195630250462820. [4] http://www.facebook.com/pages/ywm-alghdb-aljzayry-4-fbrayr-w-11-fbrayr-anshrha-bqdr-hbk-lwtnk/179636112074677#!/pages/14-fbrayr-ywm-alghdb-albhryny/148483188542420?v=info. [5] http://www.facebook.com/notes/libya-al-mostakbal/byan-bkhsws-mzahrt-17-fbrayr-ywm-alghdb-fy-lybya/173923919319284. The communiqué also appeared on a number of opposition websites in Libya:http://alsature.wordpress.com/ ; http://www.libya-watanona.com/letters/v2011a/v31jan11z.htm. WINSTON MID EAST ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY February 20, 2011 Email: winston@winstonglobal.org Please disseminate & re-post. If you publish, send us a copy. Many of our articles appear in freeman.org;JewishIndy.com; gamla.org.il/English. Outgoing mail is virus-checked. To be removed from this list, please send your Email address. POISONED NECKLACE: PART 2 FORWARDED BY EMANUEL A. WINSTON DOHA, Qatar — Following sympathy demonstrations in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, on Friday, Feb. 4, protesters there have declared a "day of rage" on Feb. 14, nine years to the day after the country declared itself a constitutional monarchy. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, a Sunni, rules over a Shiite-majority population that has long called for greater political representation -- though certainly without the urgency that has characterized recent opposition rhetoric, which includes a list of 14 demands: "releasing all [political] detainees and compensating them, reforming the judiciary system … banning alcohol and prostitution … [and] halting torture and human rights abuses." Is the revolution coming to the Persian Gulf states? The Persian Gulf was meant to be immune to the types of social and economic pressures that have been thought to be the catalysts for recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The oil-rich Gulf monarchies, from Kuwait to Oman to Bahrain, have so far remained largely untouched by the wave of political protests sweeping across the region. But in the past few days, that has begun to change. Now, the Arabian monarchs -- historically protected from the need to democratize by their massive oil fortunes and close relations with the West -- are confronting a serious and growing threat to their legitimacy from protesters empowered by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Bahrain has a long history of subduing its Shiite minority, which has been involved in past attempts to take over power, dating back to the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain, an Iran-backed Shiite group that attempted a coup in 1981. Last August, possibly cracking down in prelude to the Oct. 23 parliamentary election, the government detained hundreds of Shiites during anti-government street protests. Many of the detainees allege that they were tortured while in jail. In the days before the election, government officials blocked the opposition party's website and banned local news coverage of the arrests. Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al Wefaq, the main Shiite political group, alleged that at least 2,000 voters were blocked from casting ballots in October because of incomplete lists. Al Wefaq has claimed that Bahraini leaders gerrymandered voting districts and created a program to give citizenship to Sunnis from across the Middle East to alter the country's demographic balance. The government has also clamped down on the press and NGOs, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, blocking websites and arresting activists. And 25 Shiites from last fall's round-up are currently being tried under terrorism charges (two in absentia), trials that have only inflamed sentiments on both sides. The latest protests are being organized by the same Shiite groups that organized the last round of demonstrations in the fall. But they are joined by Islamists, human rights activists, intellectuals, and several Sunni groups, according to Christopher Davidson, an expert on the Persian Gulf region at Durham University in Britain. In an attempt to address popular grievances, King Hamad this week ordered a hike in food subsidies and reinstated welfare support for low-income families to compensate for inflation, according to the state-run Bahrain News Agency. Opposition groups expect further concessions during a scheduled speech by the king on Feb. 12. But these efforts may not go far enough to stave off a revolution, Davidson said. "Bahrain is the most likely of the Gulf monarchies to face a broad opposition-led demonstration," he told me. "[The problem] is not merely a sectarian issue, but rather a widespread concern over an increasing wealth gap between regular Bahrainis and the ruling elite. I believe there is potential for an unseating of the current regime." In a statement on their Facebook page, organizers of the Feb. 14 rally accuse the Sunni-lead government of "suppress[ing] the legitimate rights of the people" and call for a new constitution and investigations into "economic, political and social violations." "Events in Tunisia and Egypt convinced the Bahraini [opposition] that change could happen if there is a will," said Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. "People have realized that they are stronger than they thought." And Bahrain seems to just be the tip of the spear. Unrest is spreading across the Gulf states, with coordinated anti-government protests also planned in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "By the beginning of March, we will have an idea if serious unrest in the Gulf is likely," said Davidson. In Kuwait, planned protests are being scheduled to coincide with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the country's independence from the British Empire. The Kuwaiti government also appears to be shelling out for domestic peace. In an attempt to stave off discontent, the government recently announced a $5 billion domestic aid package. And just a day after the protests broke out in Egypt, the Kuwaiti parliament approved further legislation to grant each citizen 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars, or $3,580, and subsidize the cost of basic food items over the next 14 months. The payouts will begin Feb. 24 and will be given to all Kuwaitis over 21 years old. The emir's office claimed that this grant was a one-time deal to celebrate Kuwait's 50th anniversary of independence. But, "given the nature of the gift -- specifically to offset high food costs -- this seems to be too much of a coincidence," Davidson said. Meanwhile, in another attempt to show good faith, Kuwait Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Khaled al-Sabah resigned this week amid an investigation that a Kuwaiti citizen was tortured to death in police custody. A cross-faction opposition group called "The Fifth Fence" postponed until March 8 a planned anti-government rally as a result of the minister's resignation. "We still believe that the departure of this government is the only step that fulfils our demands," the group said in a statement promising that demonstrations would continue. Activists in the United Arab Emirates have also begun to mass in protest of the government's treatment of citizen bloggers and activists. In July, police arrested four UAE citizens after they attempted to organize a protest against an increase in gas prices, according to a Human Rights Watch report released last month. Educated youth in the UAE are angry with the governments' strong-arm tactics to curtail freedom of speech and association, and citizens in the poorer emirates are angry about fewer job opportunities. Here, the opposition is made up of an educated younger generation, along with Islamists and citizens of poorer emirates such as Ras al Khaimah. Unlike in Bahrain and Kuwait, no large-scale protests have yet been planned. But human rights bloggers and student activists took to Twitter and Facebook to decry the arrest last week of a former teacher, Hasan Muhammad al-Hammadi, who was arrested after coming out in support of Egypt's anti-Mubarak demonstrations in a speech during Friday prayers. UAE officials were outspoken in their support for Hosni Mubarak from the beginning of clashes in Egypt. If there's a quiet spot in the region right now, it's Qatar, the world's top liquefied natural gas exporter, which experts say is unlikely to experience anything like the agitation going on in Bahrain and Kuwait. Qatar has never suffered rulers as oppressive as those in Bahrain or, certainly, in Egypt. Meanwhile, its GDP is huge and the country is booming, expecting to spend $100 billion over the next five years on infrastructure projects including road and rail networks planned before it was chosen as host of the 2022 soccer World Cup, as well as air-conditioned stadiums. As a result, Qataris see their interests as aligned with the government's. The same is probably not true for Qatar's neighbors -- as we will learn for certain very, very soon. HALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty ImagesJennifer Koons is a freelance reporter and a former journalism teacher at Northwestern University in Qatar.Middle East Crisis Part IX – Social Network Users Call for Days of Rage in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Algeria
Introduction
Day of Rage in Yemen on February 3
Day of Rage in Bahrain on February 14
Day of Rage in Libya, February 17
Facebook Pages Opposed to the Demonstrations, In Favor of Al-Qadhafi
Days of Rage in Algeria throughout February
Blow-Up in the Gulf: The revolution arrives in Bahrain … and Kuwait, and the Emirates.
BY JENNIFER KOONS | FEBRUARY 11, 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
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