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SIBEL EDMONDS
Edmonds, a former FBI official and whistleblower, recently wrote the piece “Let It Cut Both Ways: U.S. Foreign Aid & State Sponsored Terrorism.” See her blog at boilingfrogspost.com
The piece examines the connection between torture, backing oppressive regimes and the emergence of groups like Al-Qaeda.

DAVID PORTER
Porter just wrote the piece “The Triumph of Leaderless Revolutions,” which states: “‘Leaderless revolutions,’ as seen currently in North Africa, pose important challenges to outside media and to foreigners, generally, seeking authoritative voices to clarify the picture of fast-moving events. But genuine revolutions are made from below, with the myriad energies and objectives of hundreds of thousands or millions coalescing at least around certain fundamental demands. Time-constrained and impatient foreign journalists and audiences, dependent on fast analyses by the usual hierarchical menu of ‘experts’ and political leaders, naturally resist an arduous process of grassroots inquiry.”

Porter researched and wrote on the large workers’ self-management experience in Algeria almost fifty years ago. He is a professor emeritus of political science at SUNY/Empire State College. Among the numerous courses he taught were classes on comparative revolutions and modern Algerian history. He is the editor of Vision on Fire: Emma Goldman on the Spanish Revolution.

LAILA EL-HADDAD
Author of the book Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting and Everything in Between, Haddad is now in the U.S. She said today: “For far too long, Hosni Mubarak, propped up by the United States, has repressed his own people and colluded with Israel to keep Gaza under lock and key. This time has come to an end. Obama came out in strong support today of the Egyptian people and the change brought. But the question remains: will he support a demand to end former dictator Mubarak’s closure of Gaza?”

Editor’s note: At this point, there are many indications that Omar Suleiman has, like Mubarak, been deposed, but this has not been clearly stated. See piece on the new Institute for Public Accuracy blog by Scott Horton, “Our Man in Cairo,” which states: “With Mubarak’s departure, the focus now falls on his chosen successor, Omar Suleiman. According to a classified American diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks, Suleiman was Israel’s pick to succeed Mubarak. But there’s little doubt that he was also the choice of the United States, or at least of one particular American agency with which he has been closely tied through much of his career, the CIA.

“During the war on terror, Suleiman headed Egypt’s foreign intelligence agency and as such he was the key contact for the CIA in a number of activities, particularly including its highly secretive extraordinary renditions program. When American interrogators wanted to use the crudest torture techniques, they did so through proxy arrangements, and their first stop was in Egypt. The CIA’s Cairo station chief, who now heads the agency’s CounterTerrorism Center and who routinely briefs President Obama, developed a legendarily tight personal relationship with Suleiman. …”

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020,; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167