Undercover Egyptian police were among looters, hospitals tell Human Rights Watch

Source: WP

CAIRO - Human Rights Watch confirmed several cases of undercover police loyal to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime committing acts of violence and looting in an attempt to stoke fear of instability as demonstrations grew stronger Tuesday against the autocratic leader.

Peter Bouckaert, the emergency director at Human Rights Watch, said hospitals confirmed that they received several wounded looters shot by the army carrying police identification cards. They also found several cases of looters and vandals in Cairo and Alexandria with police identification cards. He added that it was "unexplainable" that thousands of prisoners escaped from prisons over the weekend.

"Mubarak's mantra to his own people was that he was the guarantor of the nation's stability. It would make sense that he would want to send the message that without him, there is no safety," Bouckaert said.

Over the past three days, state television has been reporting alarmist news about violence and criminals among the demonstrations in an attempt to discredit the democratic movement.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100903.html

SOP for dictators trying to keep their positions.

I find myself being a little careful right now. The way that Egypt just turned off the internet threw me for a loop and has made me skittish about talking about American activities. I see the similarities and I recognize that the veneer is becoming thin.

Just inserting it in the record for my show trial. :scared:

I looked at your profile. I am snoopy. I think I've learned more at the hands of my government than I realized.

It used to say "If you're reading this it must be a slow news day."

Took me a moment to figure out what the hell you meant. I'm better now. :hi:

LOL:hi:

You can always tell the tyrants by their need for enemies and crises, and their willingness to create them if none are handy.

He looked like the genie from Aladdin, and they wouldn't let him on the airplane.

Not well written - depends largely upon the testimony of an unnamed site worker. And lots of details about the extent of the destruction and the actual destructive acts which are unattributed. But, take it for what it is...it's UK's The Sun, after all...
Raiders of the Lost Mubarak
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3383389/SCHOLARS-fear-losing-Egypts-antiquities-as-museums-are-looted-in-revolt-against-tyrant.html

I would like to see the army to release the identities and occupations of the 50 men they arrested yesterday trying to break into the museum.

Snapshots from Egypt: Museum looters foiled by army
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/931276--snapshots-from-egypt-museum-looters-foiled-by-army?bn=1

In this item, it speaks of "armed Bedouins" looking archeological sites, and the men who attempted to rob the museum as being "ignorant outlaws"

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/01/ap-interview-egypt-declares-treasures-safe/

If I were over there I would investigate who was being arrested in the vicinity of the protesters. It appears, from reports thus far, that the looters at the museum and at archeological sites are driven by poverty and greed. There may be "secret police" among them, or leading them. Nobody knows at this point.
The gold ring for a journalist now would be getting one of the wounded looters who had a police id to speak and explain why he was out looting/vandalizing...if it was of his own accord or was he ordered to do it. Probably would have to be an anonymous interview, but if the reporter has a good enough reputation it would be accepted by their editor. The editor could even confirm the source identity with doctors on the phone or skype link.
Until that happens, nobody can say for sure (as an interviewee in the OP article does) that Mubarek ordered anyone to do anything. It appears very possible, of course. He has motive, obviously. But these police are hated, so it stands to reason that they will be out of uniform....and some of them might have taken it upon themselves to loot and destroy, perhaps out of resentment bred in their own hearts for the protesters or perhaps just because they're nasty, greedy individuals.