Egypt: from 2011 demonstrations to today (34 Viewers)
- Thread starter ReBeL
- Start date
imaginary then. at least give me a link.
a year old article but quite informative about armed thugs
Egypt military's economic empire
Calls for accountability and transparency grow at a time the military has fallen out of favour with the public.
The military’s vast economic interests in Egypt are one of those secrets which is not really a secret. Their social clubs, complexes, villages and products are clear for all to see, but their precise hold on the country’s economy has never been determined.
Analysts have predicted the Egyptian military control anything from 15 per cent to 40 per cent of the economy. Even those are wild estimates.
Khaled Fahmy, head of history at the American University in Cairo, calls it a “grey economy, in the sense that we know very little of them, they are not subject to any Parliamentary scrutiny, the Egyptian government auditing office has no control or knowledge of them".
The military has, over decades, created an industrial complex that is well oiled and well funded. In over 35 factories and companies it produces everything from flat-screen televisions and pasta to refrigerators and cars.
It owns restaurants and football grounds. Much of the work force are conscripts paid below the average wage. And it is not just manufactured goods: the military provide services, managing petrol stations for example.
The influence extends far beyond Cairo across Egypt. They are huge land owners in the country.
Prime real estate
We do not know exactly how much land military personnel own, but do a quick drive through Nasr City in Cairo and look at the prime real estate in army hands.
They also speculate on the value of land which has proven very lucrative for them. So too have the joint ventures they have entered into with construction companies building resorts and other complexes.
Their soldiers live in their own mini villages. The army has become a separate entity untouchable by the state with an anaudited economy.
The Egyptian military consists of almost half a million conscripts. They have not fought a war since 1973 and are well funded. These soldiers need to be placated and controlled.
Fahmy explains how under Mubarak a tight lid was kept on his officer corps because of the deep and historic anxiety of a coup [after all it was a coup in 1952 which brought the army to power in the first place].
“Mubarak made sure his high brass are loyal to him and he made sure his mid-ranking officers were put under tight control and one way to do this was to force them into retirement when they get to the age of 50, then the question is what do you do with all these retired officers?”
It’s estimated that up to 250,000 officers were retired under the 30 years of Mubarak’s presidency - a huge number of men and families that needed to be placated and one way was to open up prospects of employment for them after retirement.
Reward for officers
Under Nasser, ex army officers would be rewarded by being given ministerial positions or positions in the provincial governorates.
Under Sadat and Mubarak, Fahmy explains, that was not the preferred options to placate officers and so Sadat and even more so Mubarak would reward army officers by inserting them into this empire and service industry, and reward police officers with political positions.
The military’s economy, like its political dealings is more under the spotlight now than it has ever been. On a grassroots level groups like April 6 are starting a campaign to boycott army made products.
As one member, Salem Mahmoud puts it:“Just like we’re trying to bring them down politically, now we’re also trying to do it economically and redistribute the wealth to the people.”
But the boycott is still at an infant stage, and unlikely to get much traction amongst the majority of the population.
What is of increasing concern to the Generals is the possibility of increased oversight of their budget in parliament. Back in November the government [and, by extension, the army] tried to pass through a constitutional declaration which [amongst other things] would have ensured the army’s budget would remain autonomous and under their direct control.
Critical issue
The people rose up and the declaration never passed, but it was an indication of just how critical the issue of their economy is to the military establishment, and the concern over an elected authority scrutinising it.
So far it does not seem like the new parliament, dominated by Islamists, will want to pick a fight with the army over where it gets it’s money.
But if Egypt is going to be a true democracy complete with transparency of it’s institutions, at some point the military will have to diverge some of it is business dealings and its privileges [subsidies, tax breaks] will be questioned.
In countries around the world the military enjoys a degree of benefits and even secrecy in its operations.
In Egypt where the army is already in hot water with the population, calls for accountability and transparency are growing.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/2012215195912519142.html
a year old article but quite informative about armed thugs
Egypt military's economic empire
Calls for accountability and transparency grow at a time the military has fallen out of favour with the public.
The military’s vast economic interests in Egypt are one of those secrets which is not really a secret. Their social clubs, complexes, villages and products are clear for all to see, but their precise hold on the country’s economy has never been determined.
Analysts have predicted the Egyptian military control anything from 15 per cent to 40 per cent of the economy. Even those are wild estimates.
Khaled Fahmy, head of history at the American University in Cairo, calls it a “grey economy, in the sense that we know very little of them, they are not subject to any Parliamentary scrutiny, the Egyptian government auditing office has no control or knowledge of them".
The military has, over decades, created an industrial complex that is well oiled and well funded. In over 35 factories and companies it produces everything from flat-screen televisions and pasta to refrigerators and cars.
It owns restaurants and football grounds. Much of the work force are conscripts paid below the average wage. And it is not just manufactured goods: the military provide services, managing petrol stations for example.
The influence extends far beyond Cairo across Egypt. They are huge land owners in the country.
Prime real estate
We do not know exactly how much land military personnel own, but do a quick drive through Nasr City in Cairo and look at the prime real estate in army hands.
They also speculate on the value of land which has proven very lucrative for them. So too have the joint ventures they have entered into with construction companies building resorts and other complexes.
Their soldiers live in their own mini villages. The army has become a separate entity untouchable by the state with an anaudited economy.
The Egyptian military consists of almost half a million conscripts. They have not fought a war since 1973 and are well funded. These soldiers need to be placated and controlled.
Fahmy explains how under Mubarak a tight lid was kept on his officer corps because of the deep and historic anxiety of a coup [after all it was a coup in 1952 which brought the army to power in the first place].
“Mubarak made sure his high brass are loyal to him and he made sure his mid-ranking officers were put under tight control and one way to do this was to force them into retirement when they get to the age of 50, then the question is what do you do with all these retired officers?”
It’s estimated that up to 250,000 officers were retired under the 30 years of Mubarak’s presidency - a huge number of men and families that needed to be placated and one way was to open up prospects of employment for them after retirement.
Reward for officers
Under Nasser, ex army officers would be rewarded by being given ministerial positions or positions in the provincial governorates.
Under Sadat and Mubarak, Fahmy explains, that was not the preferred options to placate officers and so Sadat and even more so Mubarak would reward army officers by inserting them into this empire and service industry, and reward police officers with political positions.
The military’s economy, like its political dealings is more under the spotlight now than it has ever been. On a grassroots level groups like April 6 are starting a campaign to boycott army made products.
As one member, Salem Mahmoud puts it:“Just like we’re trying to bring them down politically, now we’re also trying to do it economically and redistribute the wealth to the people.”
But the boycott is still at an infant stage, and unlikely to get much traction amongst the majority of the population.
What is of increasing concern to the Generals is the possibility of increased oversight of their budget in parliament. Back in November the government [and, by extension, the army] tried to pass through a constitutional declaration which [amongst other things] would have ensured the army’s budget would remain autonomous and under their direct control.
Critical issue
The people rose up and the declaration never passed, but it was an indication of just how critical the issue of their economy is to the military establishment, and the concern over an elected authority scrutinising it.
So far it does not seem like the new parliament, dominated by Islamists, will want to pick a fight with the army over where it gets it’s money.
But if Egypt is going to be a true democracy complete with transparency of it’s institutions, at some point the military will have to diverge some of it is business dealings and its privileges [subsidies, tax breaks] will be questioned.
In countries around the world the military enjoys a degree of benefits and even secrecy in its operations.
In Egypt where the army is already in hot water with the population, calls for accountability and transparency are growing.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/2012215195912519142.html
Here's a very recent one http://www.newstatesman.com/world-a...rackdown-anti-government-protesters-has-begun
I know proxification and criminalisation when I see it.
I know proxification and criminalisation when I see it.
this coup is a shame but it would have been a bigger shame to see a non-democrat ruin the growing democratic development of egypt.
hopefully the new government, when elected, will do a better job respecting the democratic values than morsy.
and bitch please to those arguing from a democratic view point yet have no respect nor regards towards democracy.
hopefully the new government, when elected, will do a better job respecting the democratic values than morsy.
and bitch please to those arguing from a democratic view point yet have no respect nor regards towards democracy.
what minority?!?!? turk you r clueless i suggest you sit and care about your country bec you:
1- dont want to believe people who live in this country
2- you r obessed with idea's that are not only wrong they r untrue.
i will not reply to any of your posts in this thread, so i don't lose you as a friend at least in this forum.
you know what egypt is, and you know why egypt is the biggest country in the region. if you don't, read the holy Quran and you will know why. the people of this country love it to bits even when life sucked big time, and life was harsh and all they wanted to do was leave there is a strong bond in this country between the people and there army, and the people and the land of this country.
as for the egyptain military who according to you has only one accomplishment the 6 day war. thanks you, for you stooping to this low level, read the holy prophets hadith regarding the egyptain army
and its coptic people i,e the Christians who are the origianl settlers of this country. as for the miniority i think you r mistakened but there is no point arguing that with you. you have your head locked regarding this.- - - Updated - - -
two can play this game
but i like i already said will not respond to you. keep posting what ever it is you r posting bec you will never believe anything and you choose what u want to believe bec you r taking sides when this has nothing to do with u or your people.- - - Updated - - -
one very last thing turk, the truth will be released soon and you will know many things like who killed our soliders while they were haviing iftar in ramadan of last year in rafah on the border with gaza and why this gruesome crime happened. this is a tiny thing you will find out about the people you r supporting with out knowing there history or the facts on the ground.
@Snoop: forgive me, only today i understood you
the army detained groups from el qassem brigade borders with gaza tightened. this is how the palestinian cause is being traded with.
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the army detained groups from el qassem brigade borders with gaza tightened. this is how the palestinian cause is being traded with.
picture: a member of the MB caught wearing egyptain military clothes and faking being an egyptain army solider.
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i have to reply to you on this video!! shame on you turk!!! this is a video from the city of arish in sinai, and these my dear are islamist militant groups firing rockets on people praying friday prayers!!
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turk these videos you r posting prove there is a plan by these islamists to cause a crack between the people and the army. SHAME ON YOU for doing this and spreading shit like this. you r no different than them.
borders with gaza tightened. this is how the palestinian cause is being traded with. - - - Updated - - -
the army detained groups from el qassem brigade
borders with gaza tightened. this is how the palestinian cause is being traded with. picture: a member of the MB caught wearing egyptain military clothes and faking being an egyptain army solider.
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i have to reply to you on this video!! shame on you turk!!! this is a video from the city of arish in sinai, and these my dear are islamist militant groups firing rockets on people praying friday prayers!!
- - - Updated - - -
turk these videos you r posting prove there is a plan by these islamists to cause a crack between the people and the army. SHAME ON YOU for doing this and spreading shit like this. you r no different than them.
Attachments
rumors spreading around that mohammed bardie will be sworn prime minister tonight. this step has loads of positive potential bec we need some one with vision for a better future for this country. he was one of the very first ones to call for the revolution whilst mubarak was still in power and when his security machine was in full swing.
as for the articles posted here regarding the military by non other than turk it is true bec this article is published on the 15th of feb 2012 at a time the minister was indeed a mubarak right hand man who was minister for 20 years and mind you the army it self had issues with him, yes they own there own business blah blah but what this article does'nt really mention is that the military also builds infra structures ( road and bridges) for us to use, and if you are ever in cairo you will know that usually these projects are the best projects made. the lands are under control by the army but what the article fails to understand is that the military doesnt get the cash in there pockets or a certain officer takes the money.
not to mention the current minister of defence was not one of the top ranking officers with mubarak liek i said this is an old article check date i'm in no way calling for this to remain, the people of egypt deserve to have full transparency when it comes to non security risk info when it comes to the military.
confirmed bardie is going to be prime minister
as for the articles posted here regarding the military by non other than turk it is true bec this article is published on the 15th of feb 2012 at a time the minister was indeed a mubarak right hand man who was minister for 20 years and mind you the army it self had issues with him, yes they own there own business blah blah but what this article does'nt really mention is that the military also builds infra structures ( road and bridges) for us to use, and if you are ever in cairo you will know that usually these projects are the best projects made. the lands are under control by the army but what the article fails to understand is that the military doesnt get the cash in there pockets or a certain officer takes the money.
not to mention the current minister of defence was not one of the top ranking officers with mubarak
liek i said this is an old article check date i'm in no way calling for this to remain, the people of egypt deserve to have full transparency when it comes to non security risk info when it comes to the military.confirmed bardie is going to be prime minister
I have it that IZ's arse is a good authority.
I heard that. Was wondering if you thought that was a good move or not. Good to see some quick action here. Hopefully he gets some support and some time in the chaos right now.
And yeah -- I can't lend any credibility to articles over a year old on Egypt, given how much things change so quickly.
rumors spreading around that mohammed bardie will be sworn prime minister tonight. this step has loads of positive potential bec we need some one with vision for a better future for this country. he was one of the very first ones to call for the revolution whilst mubarak was still in power and when his security machine was in full swing.
as for the articles posted here regarding the military by non other than turk it is true bec this article is published on the 15th of feb 2012 at a time the minister was indeed a mubarak right hand man who was minister for 20 years and mind you the army it self had issues with him, yes they own there own business blah blah but what this article does'nt really mention is that the military also builds infra structures ( road and bridges) for us to use, and if you are ever in cairo you will know that usually these projects are the best projects made. the lands are under control by the army but what the article fails to understand is that the military doesnt get the cash in there pockets or a certain officer takes the money.
not to mention the current minister of defence was not one of the top ranking officers with mubarak liek i said this is an old article check date i'm in no way calling for this to remain, the people of egypt deserve to have full transparency when it comes to non security risk info when it comes to the military.
confirmed bardie is going to be prime minister
as for the articles posted here regarding the military by non other than turk it is true bec this article is published on the 15th of feb 2012 at a time the minister was indeed a mubarak right hand man who was minister for 20 years and mind you the army it self had issues with him, yes they own there own business blah blah but what this article does'nt really mention is that the military also builds infra structures ( road and bridges) for us to use, and if you are ever in cairo you will know that usually these projects are the best projects made. the lands are under control by the army but what the article fails to understand is that the military doesnt get the cash in there pockets or a certain officer takes the money.
not to mention the current minister of defence was not one of the top ranking officers with mubarak
liek i said this is an old article check date i'm in no way calling for this to remain, the people of egypt deserve to have full transparency when it comes to non security risk info when it comes to the military.confirmed bardie is going to be prime minister
And yeah -- I can't lend any credibility to articles over a year old on Egypt, given how much things change so quickly.