andrewheiss/gist:799611

## gistfile1.txt
Rep. X,

Over the past several weeks there has been massive political unrest throughout the Middle East. As you know, Tunisia overthrew President Ben Ali a week ago, igniting a series of peaceful protests in Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, and other Middle Eastern nations.

Egypt has been in the throes of protests for 3 days now with nary a word from the US. Egypt is one of America's biggest allies in the region and has been a keystone of our foreign policy for decades.

President Mubarak's regime is attacking these protestors violently. Several Egyptians have been killed—hundreds have been arrested without due process or reason. And yet the US remains silent.

In the past hour, the Egyptian government has shut off all internet and SMS communications. Key cities, such as Suez, have had all landlines cut off. Egypt is in a black hole, giving Mubarak a free ticket to be as oppressive and violent as he wants with no immediate international repercussions.

Please exert efforts to bring this blackout to an end. Because the US is such an important ally for Egypt, our government can use its clout to force change.

Please help ensure that the Egyptian government allows these organic, democratic protests to continue.

For the sake of the Egyptian people under the yoke of oppressive and violent authoritarianism, please do what you can.

Thank you,

X
	Rep. X,

	Over the past several weeks there has been massive political unrest throughout the Middle East. As you know, Tunisia overthrew President Ben Ali a week ago, igniting a series of peaceful protests in Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, and other Middle Eastern nations.

	Egypt has been in the throes of protests for 3 days now with nary a word from the US. Egypt is one of America's biggest allies in the region and has been a keystone of our foreign policy for decades.

	President Mubarak's regime is attacking these protestors violently. Several Egyptians have been killed—hundreds have been arrested without due process or reason. And yet the US remains silent.

	In the past hour, the Egyptian government has shut off all internet and SMS communications. Key cities, such as Suez, have had all landlines cut off. Egypt is in a black hole, giving Mubarak a free ticket to be as oppressive and violent as he wants with no immediate international repercussions.

	Please exert efforts to bring this blackout to an end. Because the US is such an important ally for Egypt, our government can use its clout to force change.

	Please help ensure that the Egyptian government allows these organic, democratic protests to continue.

	For the sake of the Egyptian people under the yoke of oppressive and violent authoritarianism, please do what you can.

	Thank you,

	X