MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Barack Hussein Obama may be perfectly satisfied with an Islamist Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt — the group from which Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri began as activists — but the people who live there are not. According to the Muslim Brotherhood, however, this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning …

By Richard Engel, Charlene Gubash and Erin McClam, NBC News – “CAIRO — An adviser to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said Wednesday that a military coup was underway, that tanks were on the move outside Cairo and that communication with the president had been cut off.

As a military deadline came and went for Morsi to step aside, the army took control of state television, and boisterous crowds opposed to the regime cheered and danced in Tahrir Square.

Representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood, which supports Morsi, also said that some of its leaders had been rounded up and arrested.

Earlier in the day, both the president and the military had sworn a fight to the death. The military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said it would be an honor to die rather than subject the Egyptian people to threats or terror.

In something of a call to arms, the military posted on Facebook: ‘We swear to God to sacrifice with our blood for Egypt and its people against any terrorist, extremist or ignoramus. Long live Egypt and its proud people.'” Read more.

Egypt’s Military Moves Tanks Near Palace; Morsi Aide Sees Coup – “With a potentially violent showdown looming between Egypt’s military and the Islamist backers of President Mohamed Morsi, the country’s top generals summoned civilian political leaders to an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss a new interim government while moving tanks toward the presidential palace and restricting Mr. Morsi’s travel — new signals of an impending military takeover. A top presidential adviser said a coup already was under way.  The developments came as street tensions intensified and a 48-hour deadline imposed by the military generals on the increasingly isolated president to meet the demands of millions of unhappy Egyptians came and went.  By 6:30 p.m. military forces began moving around Cairo. Tanks and troops headed for the presidential palace — although it was unclear whether Mr. Morsi was inside — while other soldiers ringed the nearby square where tens of thousands of the president’s supporters were rallying.” Read more.

Al Hayat TV: President Morsi Under ‘House Arrest’ – “Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is reportedly under house arrest after the military ultimatum expired Wednesday, reports Al Hayat TV. Morsi’s spokesman denied the report, according to ABC News, but word of the house arrest provoked cheers in Tahrir Square. This comes as Egypt’s military moved to tighten its control on key institutions before their afternoon ultimatum expired. The military stationed officers in the newsroom of state television on the banks of the Nile River in central Cairo. Troops were deployed in news-production areas.” Read more.