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Title: Obama Sharply Criticizes Egyptian Government's Move, Calls On Leaders To Explain Themselves
Source:
Associated Press
URL Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ca ... XCnf7dmrERq8089Q?docId=5909693
Published: Feb 11, 2011
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2011-02-11 00:27:10 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 6709
Comments: 10
WASHINGTON — Bristling with impatience, President Barack Obama on Thursday openly and sharply questioned whether Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's pledge to shift power to his vice-president is an "immediate, meaningful or sufficient" sign of reform for a country in upheaval. Without naming Mubarak, Obama issued a written statement that criticized the leader for not offering clarity to his people or a concrete path to democracy. He called on Egyptian government leaders to do so, declaring: "They have not yet seized that opportunity." Obama's comments came after Mubarak, in a televised speech, refused to step down despite intense speculation that he was on the brink of ouster. He said he was delegating powers to Vice-President Omar Suleiman, yet Mubarak remained president and defiantly said he would so until a successor was elected to replace him in September. Protesters were shocked, saddened and enraged. At the White House, Obama scrambled with his national security team over how to respond to a speech that had left many surprised and even baffled. In his statement, Obama challenged Egypt's leaders to plainly explain what the new changes mean and how they would lead them to the freedoms or opportunities that have driven enormous crowds into the streets since late January. "Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy," Obama said, "and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world." Still, analysts and even U.S. officials themselves acknowledge the White House has limited power to shape what Egypt does. Obama devoted most of statement to the familiar calls by his government for Egypt to respect the rights of its people and to immediately negotiate a path to free elections. The fast-changing developments capped 17 days of mass anti-government protests, the strongest challenge ever to Mubarak's nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule. The White House has warned Egypt's leaders that they should not expect those protests to go away until they respond appropriately; at issue are deep concerns over repression, poverty and corruption. The events seemed to catch many by surprise. Before Mubarak's speech, CIA Director Leon Panetta told Congress there was "a strong likelihood" that the Egyptian leader was on the way out and could step down as early as Thursday night. Egypt's military had assured protesters that Mubarak would meet their demands. Yet the Egyptian president stuck to a framework for reform that protesters have roundly rejected out of fear that it will mean only cosmetic change. Earlier in the day, as anticipation grew by the hour, Obama said that what the United States wanted was transition to democracy in Egypt that was not just orderly but "genuine." "What is absolutely clear is that we are witnessing history unfold," Obama said at the start of an overshadowed economic event in Michigan. "It's a moment of transformation that's taking place because the people of Egypt are calling for change." In his address on state TV, Mubarak showed the strategy he has followed throughout the days of upheaval. He has made a series of largely superficial concessions while resolutely sticking to his refusal to step down immediately. And on Thursday, he said he would not give in to what he called foreign dictates. Some U.S. officials responded sharply to that. "President Mubarak's announcement that he will remain in power is deeply unfortunate and troubling," said Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. "The voices of the Egyptian people are growing louder and more unified, and they are not demanding partial transfers of power or minor adjustments to the current government. They are calling for President Mubarak to step down." Joel Rubin, a former State Department official under President George W. Bush, said Mubarak was directly referring to the United States on Thursday when he said he would not be pushed out by foreign powers. "He's daring them," said Rubin, deputy director at the Washington-based National Security Network. "The White House will have a harder time messaging now because he's called their bluff." Washington officials followed the unfolding drama in Cairo with hopeful expectation for a smooth transition — mixed with concern over the unpredictability of the developments. "There is no question that what we are seeing happening in Egypt will have tremendous impact," Panetta told the House Intelligence Committee. "If it's done right, it will help us a great deal in trying to promote stability in that part of the world. If it happens wrong, it could create some serious problems for us and for the rest of the world." The administration was also watching closely for developments that might affect U.S. aid to Egypt. A coup or other non-constitutional transfer of power could trigger a suspension in all non-humanitarian assistance. The U.S. is providing at least $1.5 billion annually to Egypt in military aid. Richard N. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said Mubarak's speech left the fundamental situation in Egypt unchanged. "We cannot steer things," Haass said. "We have limited influence."
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Do you think that worldwide democracy would be good? Or would we end up with One leader for earth. Which would be worldwide tyranny.
Mubarek told the Boy King Obama to f**k himself, ROFLMAO.
Hey!! Where's that Osama video. What's holding it up? CIA clueless on Egypt. Billions in infrastructure. And we're relying on ALJ to tell us. LMFAO Op Mockingbird indeed. 10:07am Egypt state TV reported that they have not been able to enter or leave the building since last night. 9:51am An army officer joining protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square says 15 other middle-ranking officers have also gone over to the demonstrators. "The armed forces' solidarity movement with the people has begun," Major Ahmed Ali Shouman tells Reuters.
10:28am The Associated Press news agency has reported that a former Israeli Cabinet minister who has long known Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, says Mubarak is looking for an honourable way out. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer of Israel's Labor Party says he spoke with Mubarak just hours before the president's speech yesterday in which he transferred authorities to his deputy but refused to step down. Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio that Mubarak knew "this was the end of the road" and wanted only to "leave in an honorable fashion."
Forum Egyptian state media was certainly fueling the expectation that Hosni Mubarak’s resignation was in the offing, but what really sparked attention the world over was that CIA Director Leon Panetta, testifying to Congress, told them that there was a “strong likelihood” the resignation was coming. His aides quickly started downplaying the comments, saying he was referring strictly to media reports. The CIA director, with untold billions of dollars at his disposal, was relying purely on media rumors?
And that's your Masters' problem with Egypt. They can't ID a Leader. A primer for the West's debt slaves on how to get the Imperial City's attention: Day after day after day, the Egyptians have withstood the blows of a vicious police state, the savage attacks of paid goons, the strain, exhaustion and deprivation of constant vigil under threat of arrest or death -- and still they are standing there, more and more of them all the time, in a remarkable, near-miraculous display of moral courage that will undoubtedly topple the criminal regime, despite the desperate, clueless delaying tactics that Hosni Mubarak pulled on Thursday night. Chris Floyd
If it wasn't for the oil we could just get some popcorn and enjoy the show. Too bad the tree-hugging liberal eco-moonbat Obamabots won't let us drill and refine our own.
Pretty lame, eh?
The Imperial City's no different from the various satrapies that we support worldwide. The Fall will be as rapid as Mubaraks. 'Who could have seen it coming?' I'm waiting for that phrase to be uttered. Meanwhile, I haven’t been seeing much of the MSM calling this a food riot anymore. That must be why they sound so confused, tentative, disgruntled - such easy dismissals will no longer be easy for them. Oh no! Somebody’s actually making them work! Horrible. Hopefully we’ll soon be making them work as well." 8D
I wonder, has it ever even dawned on this communist that he should just keep his pie hole shut?
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
#3. To: Brian S (#0)
#4. To: All (#3)
#5. To: All (#4)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Or would we end up with One leader for earth. Which would be worldwide tyranny.
#7. To: Brian S (#0)
(Edited)
#8. To: mcgowanjm (#5)
The CIA director, with untold billions of dollars at his disposal, was relying purely on media rumors?
#9. To: Fred Mertz (#8)
Pretty lame, eh?
#10. To: Brian S (#0)
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