January, 31 2011, 01:34pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
* Chomsky * Threats to the Egyptian Uprising * U.S. Arms Egypt
WASHINGTON
NOAM CHOMSKY
While many are claiming the U.S. government goal is to minimize Islamic
influence, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Chomsky just
contributed a short piece to the Institute for Public Accuracy's new
blog: "Strategic and Economic Objectives, Not Anti-Islamization, Drives
U.S. Policy."
Chomsky is one of over 100 academics who just signed a call for a new U.S. foreign policy
For online resources, many from Egypt
MOUNZER SLEIMAN
Just back from the Mideast, Sleiman directs Think Tanks Monitor
and is founder of the Center for American and Arab Studies. He said
today: "The Egyptian popular uprising begun on January 25 is being
threatened on two fronts: The clique immediately around Mubarak through
force and intimidation are trying to use the army and the air force
(Mubarak himself came from the air force) to get the people off the
streets and in effect end the uprising. They are also trying to
reconstitute their security apparatus.
"The other threat is from some self-imposed opportunistic leaders
(like Mohamed ElBaradei) who are backed indirectly by U.S. government,
seeking superficial change in Egypt and wanting to ride to power on this
uprising. The U.S. government goal would
likely be a continuation of the current system, preserving U.S.
government regional interests and influence. Of crucial concern to the
U.S. government are the economic policies that have profited a handful
of people while impoverishing the mass of Egyptians and a continuation
of the Egyptian government's agreements and cooperation with Israel,
which is just as unpopular." Sleiman is also vice chair of the National
Council of Arab Americans.
WILLIAM HARTUNG
Hartung is director of the Arms and Security Initiative at the New America Foundation and author of the new book Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex. He just wrote the piece "Who Profited From Arming Egypt?"
See Jane Mayer's "Who is Omar Suleiman"
on the newly-appointed vice president in Egypt. She writes: "Suleiman
has headed the feared Egyptian general intelligence service. In that
capacity, he was the C.I.A.'s point man in Egypt for renditions - the
covert program in which the C.I.A. snatched terror suspects from around
the world and returned them to Egypt and elsewhere for interrogation,
often under brutal circumstances."
Producers may wish to use Muse's "Uprising" as musical intro.
A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.
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