WASHINGTON - January 31 - NOAM CHOMSKY
While many are claiming the U.S. government goal is to minimize Islamic influence, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Chomsky just contributed a short piece to the Institute for Public Accuracy's new blog: "Strategic and Economic Objectives, Not Anti-Islamization, Drives U.S. Policy." Chomsky is one of over 100 academics who just signed a call for a new U.S. foreign policy For online resources, many from Egypt

MOUNZER SLEIMAN
Just back from the Mideast, Sleiman directs Think Tanks Monitor and is founder of the Center for American and Arab Studies. He said today: "The Egyptian popular uprising begun on January 25 is being threatened on two fronts: The clique immediately around Mubarak through force and intimidation are trying to use the army and the air force (Mubarak himself came from the air force) to get the people off the streets and in effect end the uprising. They are also trying to reconstitute their security apparatus.

"The other threat is from some self-imposed opportunistic leaders (like Mohamed ElBaradei) who are backed indirectly by U.S. government, seeking superficial change in Egypt and wanting to ride to power on this uprising. The U.S. government goal would likely be a continuation of the current system, preserving U.S. government regional interests and influence. Of crucial concern to the U.S. government are the economic policies that have profited a handful of people while impoverishing the mass of Egyptians and a continuation of the Egyptian government's agreements and cooperation with Israel, which is just as unpopular." Sleiman is also vice chair of the National Council of Arab Americans.

WILLIAM HARTUNG
Hartung is director of the Arms and Security Initiative at the New America Foundation and author of the new book Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex. He just wrote the piece "Who Profited From Arming Egypt?"

See Jane Mayer's "Who is Omar Suleiman" on the newly-appointed vice president in Egypt. She writes: "Suleiman has headed the feared Egyptian general intelligence service. In that capacity, he was the C.I.A.'s point man in Egypt for renditions - the covert program in which the C.I.A. snatched terror suspects from around the world and returned them to Egypt and elsewhere for interrogation, often under brutal circumstances."

Producers may wish to use Muse's "Uprising" as musical intro.