The Internet is the first casualty of the civil unrest in Cairo, Egypt. Many of the social networking systems are either being shut down by the government or in the process of having their plugs pulled. It has been said that many of the demonstrators today have been communicating on Twitter and Facebook. This was also the case last week in Tunisia during an uprising against that police state. It is becoming clear that computer social networking is in trouble in all nations without some form of democracy. Police states are feeling the power of social networking and they don't like it a bit. They see it as a way for the people to get together and communicate without having to actually get together - where they would be seen. At present, the net has been totally shut down in Egypt.
Egypt is a police state run by Pres. Hosni Mubarak, who has been in his position since 1981 when President Sadat was assassinated. Several weeks ago Mubarak let it be known that his son would become president when he retired. The Egyptian people, who want a democracy, have been upset ever since Mubarak mentioned his son's anticipated succession. His son has been out of the country since.
Today in Cairo, home to 18 million people, demonstrators set fire to Mubarak's political party building, and have tried to storm other buildings. Most journalists watching the mêlée have said they don't expect Mubarak to remain president for long under these conditions.People want free and fair elections. Half of Egypt's people live in poverty. Computer social networking is extremely important to the people of Egypt and much in use, according to the U.S. State Dept.
The demonstrators are also not happy with the U.S. because it has supported Mubarak for years, giving his Army billions to buy weapons. A demonstrator was quick to approach a U.S. journalist with an empty gas grenade. "See," he said to the reporter pointing to the grenade and reading on its surface, "made in the U.S.A." The Obama administration, is in an awkward position because their support of Egypt's police state can obviously not extend to supporting the Egyptian Army in a war against civilian protesters.
Obama is said to have sent a message to Mubarak asking that he turn the Internet back on.
2:27pm 1/28/11
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