Egypt’s Military Chief Threatens Protest Crackdown Via Facebook

The same social media network that helped fuel a revolution in Egypt is now being used for official military threats against an uprising.

Egyptian military leader General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi took to Facebook today to threaten a political crackdown for the country. The message warned Egypt that a total collapse of the country would take place without any more army intervention.

The official page of the Egyptian Armed Forces, which has 93,490 likes, posted the military leader’s speech he gave to military cadets:

The continuation of the conflict between different political forces and their disagreement on running the affairs of the country may lead to the collapse of the state and threatens the future of the coming generations. The attempt to affect the stability of the state institutions is a dangerous matter that harms Egyptian national security.

Egyptian protests have erupted since December 18, 2010. The official social-media-fueld protest movement has been dubbed the “Arab Spring.”

Current protests have started due to widespread anger over Mohammed Morsi, who became Egypt’s first ever democratically elected president. Since taking this position, Morsi has granted himself even more presidential power.

al-Sisi’s remarks come as violence erupted in Cairo. Early this morning, clashes occurred between riot police and protesters along the Nile Corniche. The violence made its way over to the city’s luxury hotels and left some of its lobbies damaged.

A large deployment of military members were recently deployed in three cities along the Sueze Canal. A state of emergency has officially been declared for the region.

al-Sisi also made sure to state that the Egyptian armed forces would do whatever it takes to protect the “vital” Suez Capital.

The irony is that Egyptian protest movements gained traction via Facebook. Now the Egyptian military is utilizing the same social media device to quell the same protest movements occurring in the country.