Headquarters of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party on fire

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

6:48 pm - Fire still raging at the compound in Cairo that houses the ruling National Democratic Party. No indication that any fire engines are responding yet. And Ayman Mohyeldin reminds us that Egypt's famous national museum - the home of priceless artifacts dating back to the Pharaonic era country - sits nearby.

6:21 pm - Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, in Cairo, says he can smell smoke from a fire wafting into the bureau. The fire is reportedly occurring at the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party. The senior leadership of the party, including president Hosni Mubarak's son, Gamal, was just at the building yesterday for a party gathering. We've been talking a lot about how these protests are "unprecedented," but this is something that has never happened before.




Read more: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/01/28/friday-protests-liveblog

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Live footage: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Arctic Dave]

1. Destroying the evidence is always a sign of the last gasp of tyranny.

We shall see.

[Recursion]

2. Or, this is "al-Reichstag" (nt)

[formercia]

9. Destroying the membership records of the Party

and who their snitches were before the protesters can get their hands on them.

[woo me with science]

3. Al-Jazeera feed reporting no police in sight. Building completely on fire.

Worries that a museum with priceless historical treasures is just across the street.

[Turborama]

4. Ministry of information is next door, too.

Hopefully some of the records are on hard drives somewhere.

[TheWraith]

5. Hard drives are destroyed by fire too. nt

[Turborama]

7. Somewhere, meaning offsite.

If not, and the information ministry building burns down with all the 'information', then they've succeeded in losing all the evidence.

[David__77]

6. The final remnants of "secular Arab nationalism" are being swept away.

I am referring to the very specific Nassarite stream of such ideology. It has failed. It capitulated to capitalism decades ago, and become but a tattered veneer for traditional class exploitation. Hopefully something better can emerge. It is certainly likely that the status of women will be adversely impacted by theocratic legal changes, however.

[Turborama]

8. Why are you bringing "theocratic legal changes" into the discussion already?

[David__77]

11. Because it is likely. It doesn't affect my thoughts - it's up to Egypt to decide.

Large majorities of Egyptians want these legal changes, according to public polls. It's been that way for a long time. Muslim Brotherhood is the most popular party. I cannot see why such a statement would be controversial.

[Turborama]

12. Large majorities of Egyptians want "theocratic legal changes"?

Which public polls are you referring to?

[David__77]

13. There's a recent Pew poll...

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/06/world/la-fg-1206-muslim-poll-20101206

Egypt is very different than Lebanon or Turkey in its political composition. I think the US needs to allow Egyptians to determine their own destiny. Perhaps things would go another direction, it's just my view that, strategically, the forces for an Islamic republic are much stronger in the event the old state dissolves or is destroyed.

[Turborama]

15. I have a different take on it

And composed an OP about another possibility: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x290024

[nalnn]

16. Speaking of which...

I was just reading some about the largest opposition group in Egypt (as well as several other Arab countries). Their motto is, “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.”.

...chilling

[Odin2005]

17. The Copts will revolt if the Fundies try to establish an Islamic state.

I doubt they will accept being declared 2nd-class citizens, which is what they would be under Islamic law.

[damntexdem]

10. Tell them that smoking is bad for them ...

even if it's an Egyptian Camel. ;-)

[DLnyc]

14. Good coverage

Thanks for this link. I'm watching live footage now -- actual coverage!