Irony Alert: Obama Pushes for End to Egypt’s Emergency Law, Extension of US Patriot Act

[kpete]

So while in Egypt the citizens are demanding the end to emergency martial law in the U.S. ours gets extended without much notice.

Irony Alert:
Obama Pushes for End to Egypt’s Emergency Law, Extension of US Patriot Act
By: Jon Walker Tuesday February 8, 2011 1:42 pm

Sometimes the irony of two news events that happen on the same day is almost surreal. Today, we have news that the Obama administration is pushing the Mubarak government to immediately end the Egypt’s “Emergency Law,” which gives the President sweeping powers to violate the rights of the country’s citizens.
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/02/08/irony-alert-obama-pushes-for-end-to-egypts-emergency-law-extension-of-us-patriot-act/

From Jack Tapper’s
“White House Continues to Publicly Pressure Egyptian Government, Saying It Has Agreed to ‘Clear Policy of No Reprisals,’ Immediate Revocation of Emergency Law“:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/white-house-continues-to-publicly-pressure-egyptian-government-saying-it-has-agreed-to-clear-policy-.html

For years the U.S. has been pressing the Egyptians to rescind the 1967 Emergency Law, which gives broad powers to Mubarak and his government that they have used to essentially do whatever they want in the name of security regardless of civil liberties or constitutional protections. Mubarak has been dragging his feet, saying his government first needs to have a counterterrorism law written to take its place.

Today Vice President Biden pushed Suleiman to “immediately” rescind the law, according to a White House statement.

....................

From The Hill:
“White House wants longer extension of Patriot Act than House Republicans“:

The Obama administration said Tuesday it wants a three-year extension of Patriot Act surveillance authorities, far longer than the timeline proposed by House Republicans.

The White House released a Statement of Administration Policy that says it “would strongly prefer enactment of reauthorizing legislation that would extend these authorities until December 2013.”http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/142733-white-house-wants-longer-extension-of-patriot-act-than-house-republicans

..................

Under ‘emergency’ for decades, Egypt’s special powers mirrored in post-9/11 US

Indefinite detention. Ubiquitous torture. Secret courts. Special authority for police interventions. The complete absence of privacy, even in one's own home.

Astute followers of American politics might think those items a dog whistle, evoking the worst civil liberties abuses permitted by the USA PATRIOT Act and other "emergency" provisions passed in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001.

They are, in fact, just a few of the powers claimed in an Egyptian "emergency" law passed in 1958, that goes even further than the controversial American security provisions.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/perpetual-emergency-1981-egypt-gave-government-uslike-special-powers/

[Junkdrawer]

1. No Irony - You get as much government oppression as you tolerate....

They have to dial it back in Egypt....


In America, they have Rent-A-Mobs begging for more....

[Disintermedia8]

2. I wish I had the stomach to go into

the neighboring forum to see how this is being packaged and sold by the troops.

[Hoopla Phil]

3. More Irony:

Criticizes mubarak for shutting off the internet yet wants a shut off switch for himself.