Rage for Change in Egypt - by Stephen Lendman
Rage across Egypt want the end of military junta rule.
Last February, Egyptians celebrated Hosni Mubarak's ouster. He became an obstacle to Washington's Middle East agenda and had to go.
For years, State Department and Pentagon officials wanted him out for opposing key US policies, including Iran's nuclear program and Bush's 2003 Iraq war.
A military junta replaced him, headed by Field Marshall Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. He's a powerful old regime stalwart with close ties to Washington. However, US diplomats call him "aged and change-resistant." Notably, he opposes economic and political reform that conflicts with military rule.
On November 25, hundreds of thousands rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square against Washington's backed military junta. Chants included:
"The people demand the removal of the field marshall (aka dictator)." "We will not go, he should go," and "Down, down with military rule."
Hundreds of thousands more protested in other Egyptian cities. For over a week, demonstrations rallied against Egypt's ruling junta. November 25 and the previous Friday were called the "Friday of One Demand."
Deaths and injuries resolved people to press on. Unconfirmed reports suggest lethal US-made tear gas was used, containing a banned chemical agent. As a result, dozens died. Perhaps two thousand or more suffered ill effects. Official numbers have been suppressed.
According to the International Business Times , "dangerous levels of CR gas" were used against protesters. Canisters were marked "Made in the USA."
CR causes epileptic-type convulsions, vomiting, miscarriages, temporary blindness, intense skin pain, asphyxiation, and other toxic effects.
According to Dr. Uwe Heinrich, "there is a distinct possibility that....CS exposure can significantly contribute to or even cause lethal effects."Former IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei's Twitter message said Egyptian forces used "tear gas with (a) nerve agent." Cairo University Hospital's Dr. Mohamed Aden called it "some kind of neuro-toxic nerve gas."
On November 24, Tantawi appointed Kamal Ganzouri prime minister to select cabinet members for a new government. From 1996 - 1996, he held the same post under Mubarak, and also served as his Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.
Protesters reacted angrily to his appointment. Calling him old guard, they chanted "Illegitimate, illegitimate!" For months, they've expressed intermittent visceral anger against ruling junta generals they want replaced by a civilian government.
Obama initially called "for restraint on all sides." State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed support for the ruling junta and its plan to elect a civilian government.
