Egyptian Authorities Detain French "Spy" Bird Found With Tracker 110
An anonymous reader writes "The Washington Post reports, 'In a case that ruffled feathers in Egypt, authorities have detained a migratory bird that a citizen suspected of being a spy. A man in Egypt's Qena governorate, some 450 kilometers (280 miles) southeast of Cairo, found the suspicious bird among four others near his home and brought them to a police station Friday, said Mohammed Kamal, the head of the security in the region. With turmoil gripping Egypt following the July 3 popularly backed military coup that overthrew the country's president, authorities and citizens remain highly suspicious of anything foreign. Conspiracy theories easily find their ways into cafe discussion — as well as some media in the country. Earlier this year, a security guard filed a police report after capturing a pigeon he said carried microfilm. A previous rumor in 2010 blamed a series of shark attacks along Egypt's Mediterranean coast on an Israeli plot. It wasn't. In the bird's case, even military officials ultimately had to deny the bird carried any spying devices. They spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.'"
Re:FP (Score:5, Insightful)
There are more recent examples such as Saudi Arabia accusing a condor of spying [theblaze.com] Or Egypt Blaming Isreal for shark attacks. [theweek.com] The fact is that the Egyptian government wants to distract it's people from the latest military takeover of the government and finding something to blame on the "Zionists" is a time tested way to do that.
I used to have a Moroccan co worker who blamed Israel for everything bad in life down to his country's poor economy. It really is a weird how an otherwise intelligent person could miss the game of misdirection being played out repeatedly.
Re:Intelligence (Score:5, Insightful)
After watching this, I consider that any man with just a little common sense would support the overthrow of Morsi. Which does not mean supporting the slaughter of hundreds of opponents in the aftermath. But the independence of the USA was not completed in one day, neither was the French revolution, nor will the Arab revolutions. It takes time before an appeased democracy takes place after centuries of colonial occupation and military dictatorships.
Not unexpected (Score:4, Insightful)
When you hear about the Western spying programs (US, UK, France, etc) all over the news, when a country is undergoing huge changes, and when said western powers have been meddling in the region for decades, it's not completly unexpected for this sort of thing to happen.
I just feel bad for the poor stork that is still locked up.
Re:FP (Score:4, Insightful)
pastor Terri Copeland Pearsons, The Eagle Mountain International Church, Texas.
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/01/217746942/texas-megachurch-at-center-of-measles-outbreak [npr.org]
Re:FP (Score:4, Insightful)
The problem is Islam.
Close.
The problem is religion.
Closer yet, but still not quite accurate. You see, religion is just fine until people get involved in it. Only then does it become dangerous.