With curated multimedia series focused on hard hitting issues such climate change as well as current events, MENASource seeks to explore all facets of life in the region as affected by political, security, economic, and cultural issues.

Of particular focus and interest are the minorities, women, and the youth populations across the region and how they are affected by the changing environments.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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SCAF Plays the Victim to Isolate Protesters

MENASource
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SCAF Plays the Victim to Isolate Protesters

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SCAF Plays the Victim to Isolate Protesters

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MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

SCAF Plays the Victim to Isolate Protesters

By Magdy Samaan

When the Libyan, Syrian and Yemeni armies were repressing the revolts of their people by force, the Egyptian army was boasting that it sided with the people and toppled their leader. However, the latest round of clashes in Cairo, which had resulted in 11 casualties and over 300 injuries by December 19, demonstrate that the […]

MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

Desperate Economic Measures Signal Panic Amid Unrest

By Magda Kandil

On December 19, Egypt’s Cabinet announced a raft of belt-tightening measures to cut public finance spending, in a seemingly panicked effort to stave off a financing crisis. The proposed reforms include cutting fuel subsidies for energy-intensive industries, postponing the application of a property tax for another year, and deferring a new law on social insurance […]

MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

News Update: December 19, 2011

By Mara Revkin

At least 12 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in clashes in downtown Cairo over the past three days. Violence broke out on December 16 when military forces guarding the Cabinet building near Tahrir Square cracked down on a three-week-old sit-in to call for a transfer of power to civilian leadership.

MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

SCAF Calls Soldiers Heroes, Warns of “Plot to Bring Egypt Down”

By Mara Revkin

SCAF member Major General Adel Amara held a televised press conference on December 19 after overnight clashes in Tahrir Square, in which thousands of Central Security Forces encircled a crowd of outnumbered and unarmed protesters with batons.

MENASource

Dec 19, 2011

Congress Moves to Condition Egypt’s Military Aid on Power Transfer to Civilians

By Mara Revkin

The U.S. Congress is seeking to impose restrictions on military aid to Egypt in the 2012 omnibus spending bill unveiled on December 16, news that may not be welcomed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which would prefer that its $1.3 billion dollar assistance package continue to flow freely without strings attached.

MENASource

Dec 18, 2011

Calls for Early Presidential Election on January 25

By Mara Revkin

Activists on Twitter and on the Khaled Said Facebook page are starting to call for early presidential elections by January 25, "or it’s gonna be bad," Mohamed Samir warned from Cairo. On December 18, the Khaled Said Facebook page suggested a radically shortened timeline for the presidential election, starting with polling on January 25, the […]

MENASource

Dec 18, 2011

Is Egypt Running Out of Tear Gas?

By Mara Revkin

Over the past two days, soldiers and military police have used almost everything within arm’s reach — fire hoses, batons, thrown rocks, furniture and glass projectiles — to break up crowds in Tahrir Squre and outside of the Council of Ministers Building.

MENASource

Dec 17, 2011

SCAF Denies Shooting, Offers Power Transfer by Referendum

By Mara Revkin

Field Marshal Field Marshal Tantawi has issued a "letter to the Egyptian people" expressing the SCAF’s increasingly defensive posture, but at the same time appearing to yield ground to protesters by offering to immediately hand over power "if the people demand it through a legislative referendum."

MENASource

Dec 17, 2011

Video: Military Police Attack Protesters in Tahrir

By Mara Revkin

Eyewitness reports and shocking video depict military personnel and plain-clothed thugs beating unarmed protesters and medics while attempting to clear Tahrir Square on December 17.

MENASource

Dec 16, 2011

Military Cracks Down on “Occupy Cabinet” Protest

By Tarek Radwan

Cairo has once again erupted in chaos in and around Tahrir as security forces under the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) sent troops to clear the "Occupy Cabinet" protests early Friday morning. Although the Egyptian Ministry of Health reports 99 wounded at the time of writing, activists in and around the cabinet building […]

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