Washington Ousted Egypt's Morsi

by Stephen Lendman

Previous articles discussed it. So did The New York Times. More on that below.

Washington manipulates most regional events. It's dirty hands orchestrate them. Geopolitical ones matter most. In 2011, Obama officials choreographed Mubarak's ouster. They deposed Morsi in similar fashion.

Michel Chossudovsky said Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) "tows the line. (I)t takes orders from Washington, DC."

Around .5 billion annually buys lots of influence. America's long arm tolerates no outliers. Independent governments are targeted. Subservient ones are supported.

"US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel as well as the US Chief of Staff General Martin Dempsey were in permanent liaison with the architects of the coup in the two weeks preceding the military takeover," said Chossudovsky.

Egypt's the largest Arab country. It's strategically important. It's a vital US ally. SCAF generals don't act without US approval.

They're in close liaison with Israel. Controlling events on the ground is important. Washington manipulates them. SCAF's ordered to prevent them from spinning out of control.

Given strong commitment on both sides, it won't be easy. Civil war's unlikely but possible. Events at times exceed what observers expect. Egypt's a virtual tinder box. Nothing ahead will surprise.

On Monday, SCAF killed dozens of peaceful pro-Morsi protesters. Hundreds more were injured. They knelt to pray in front of Republican Guard headquarters. Morsi's believed to be held there under house arrest.

One injured protester explained what happened, saying:

Soldiers opened fire "like pouring rain. They started shooting tear gas and then live ammunition. We were shouting 'peaceful, peaceful,' but the shooting continued."

"There were dawn prayers and then I heard someone calling for help, so the imam finished the prayers quickly."

"Just before we finished, the shooting started. The army units that were standing in front of the Republican Guard headquarters first started shooting teargas, then live ammunition above people's heads."

"I was taking cover with another guy behind some rubble and I felt something hit my head. I held my prayer mat in my hand and I started to cover my head with it. But I couldn't stop the bleeding because there was so much blood."

Another injured man said "I swear to God no one was doing anything."

A pro-Morsi doctor said:

"We were out on the street to defend legitimacy. But then the army shot us in broad daylight."

A SCAF spokesman lied. He claimed Morsi supporters attacked the compound with stones and live fire. They're "armed terrorists," he said. He defended the indefensible. He called cold blooded murder self-defense.

"The army had no choice but to return fire," he claimed.

Evidence showed otherwise. The New York Times headlined "Video of Army Shooting Islamists in Cairo Stokes Anger," saying:

Images showed "shots being fired by army snipers." Protesters were killed in cold blood.