The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear – Adam Curtis

Even though the Power of Nightmares was a comparison between Radical Islamists and the American Neoconservatives what is more important is recognizing the behaviours between the two, while the stage is different in 2016, the same kind of behavioural games are played with governments in attempting to maintain control. If the Government is successful to create any fear then the likely hood of increased support for whatever the government wants to accomplished. The Power of Nightmares is only and example – André Faust: Editors Note

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Originally release on October 2004, Adam Curtis explains the relationship between the Islamic extremist and the Neo-conservatives. The points made in the documentary The Power nightmares are relevant to the ISIS crises that we see today.

THE POWER OF NIGHTMARES
By Adam Curtis

BBC Current Affairs
2004

The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear, written and produced by Adam Curtis (2004)

PART I: BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE [1949-1983]

http://www.tacomapjh.org/PowerofNightmares-PartI.pdf

The following notes summarize the argument of the first part of “The Power of Nightmares,” and add some additional historical information.

Radical Islamists

Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966): [“In 1939, he became a functionary in Egypt’s Ministry of Education (wizarat al-ma’arif); from 1948 to 1950, he went to the United States on a scholarship to study the educational system, receiving a master’s degree from the Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). Qutb’s first major theoretical work of religious social criticism, Al-‘adala al-Ijtima’iyya fi-l-Islam (Social Justice in Islam), was published in 1949, during his time overseas. — The perceived racism, materialism, and ‘loose’ sexual conduct that he saw in the United States is believed by some to have been the impetus for his rejection of Western values and his move towards radicalism upon returning to Egypt. Resigning from the civil service he became perhaps the most persuasive publicist of the Muslim Brotherhood. The school of thought he inspired has become known as Qutbism.” ―- Wikipedia.]

Mainstream media lies about the situation in Egypt

The differences between the press coverage of the situations in Syria and Egypt show the hypocrisy of the western media. While decrying Assad’s unproven atrocities, it turns a blind eye on civilian deaths in Egypt. Peter Koenig, a former World Bank economist and a regular Voice of Russia commentator, analyzed several cases of media bias in regard to the situation in Egypt.

Reality Check: Western European media often claims that its coverage of conflicts in unbiased and objective, striving to look at the situation from a human rights perspective. For instance, BBC published an analysis, titled “Egypt crisis – UK deeply concerned over violence”. Is this concern genuine?

Peter Koenig: The entire article is without any substance. All it talks about is a false concern of the EU about the ‘violence and repression’ in Egypt. – False– because they, the Europeans, support their Master, the US, unilaterally. They all now that the US funds Egypt with US$ 1.5 billion per year, the bulk of which goes to the military. This coup and the ensuing violence have no doubt been endorsed by Washington, if not ordered, as the Egyptian military would not risk losing the funds by acting against the will of their paymasters.

Reality Check: Can it be proven that the UK and France don’t want to end the violence?

Former Egypt president Mursi to stand trial

Deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi is to stand trial

Deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi is to stand trial on charges of committing and inciting violence, a state prosecutor has decided.

The prosecutor, Hesham Barakat, referred Mr Mursi and 14 other Brotherhood members to a Cairo criminal court on charges of “committing acts of violence, and inciting killing and thuggery”, the state news agency reported.

The charges relate to violence outside the presidential palace last December, after Mr Mursi had ignited protesters’ rage by expanding his powers.

Mr Mursi is also being investigated over his escape from jail during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

He is accused of murder and conspiring with the Palestinian group Hamas during the prison break, though no formal charges have been brought in that case.

Mr Mursi was overthrown by the army on July 3, just a year into his four-year term, following mass protests against his rule.

Since then, the authorities have mounted a fierce crackdown against the Brotherhood, rounding up most of its top leaders.

Halawas’ detention extended

Egyptian authorities have extended by 15 days the detention period of four Irish citizens, who have been held in custody since a street protest in Cairo last month.

The four Halawa siblings were arrested after taking refuge in the al-Fateh mosque, following a protest in support of the deposed president, Mohamed Mursi.

Originally published in RTE news

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Unrest In Egypt Squeezes Gaza

YOUSEF ALHELOU, TRNN CORRESPONDENT, GAZA: Israel’s ongoing seven-year siege on Gaza and the subsequent closure of most commercial crossing points made Egypt the lifeline and only gateway for the vast majority of the Gazan population. The besieged people of Gaza not only depend on Egypt for travel purposes, but also for most of their goods and construction materials.

The Rafah terminal is Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world that bypasses Israel. Closing it or keeping it partially open will only tighten the Israeli blockade.

Following the election of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, restrictions that were in place during the rule of Mubarak were eased. Nearly 1,500 Gazans were allowed to pass through it on a daily basis.

Immediately after the ouster of Morsi on July 3, the number of people allowed to leave the tiny coastal enclave dropped to less than 100 per day. Since then, the crossing has been operating at a reduced capacity for emergency cases only. Only a restricted number of visas and passport holders from foreign countries, Egyptian citizens, and Gaza patients have been allowed to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

At least 72 killed in ‘Day of Rage’ demonstrations in Egypt

Thousands of pro-Morsi supports march against army rule in Cairo, as at least 50 are reported dead; violent clashes in Ismailia, Damietta, Alexandria and Fayoum claim the lives of at least 22 others.

CAIRO – Protests by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi turned violent across Egypt on Friday, with witnesses and security reporting at least 72 dead across the country as the Muslim Brotherhood staged a “Day of Rage”.

The army deployed dozens of armored vehicles on major roads around the capital after Morsi’s Brotherhood movement called the demonstrations, and the Interior Ministry said police would use live ammunition against anyone threatening public buildings.

The violence followed Wednesday’s assault by security forces on two Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo that left hundreds dead, as security forces tried to end weeks of turbulence following the army’s toppling of Morsi on July 3.

In Cairo gunshots echoed around the huge Ramses Square, focal point of Brotherhood protests in the capital, and police fired salvos of tear gas. At least 50 people were killed and many more wounded by gunshot and birdshot in the square, security officials said.

Nile TV showed footage of one gunman among Islamist protesters firing from a city center bridge. Injured men, one with a bloody wound in the middle of his chest, were rushed away on the back of a pick-up truck.

Emergency services also said eight protesters were killed in clashes in the Mediterranean town of Damietta, and four people died in the northeastern city of Ismailia. A local hospital official said five people were killed in Fayoum, and 70 were injured.

Violence was also reported in Egypt’s second city Alexandria, while five were killed and 15 others injured, and in the Nile Delta city of Tanta.

Scuffles broke out in Cairo and a police conscript was killed in a drive-by shooting in the north of the capital, state news agency MENA reported.

Tear gas was fired and shooting was heard on Friday at the main Cairo square where protests ensued, a Reuters witness said.

Two witnesses said they saw protesters throw petrol bombs at a police station near the square.

Deeply polarized Egypt has been bracing for further confrontation expected after Friday prayers between members of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and the army-backed government.

The Brotherhood called for a nationwide march of millions to show anger at the ferocious security crackdown on Islamists.