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Mubarak Speaks: Never Intended to Run Again, Won't Run Again

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is speaking now. Rough summary:

I never sought power for influence. My top priority is to restore the security and stability of the nation. I did not intend to run again. I have exhausted my life serving Egypt. I am intent on ending my career and handing over the power in a way that preserves the stability and security of the nation.

In the few months of my remaining term, I will work for the peaceful transition of power.

I will be judged by history.

Speech over. The crowd is chanting, cheering and jeckling. This falls short of what they wanted. Now they are chanting "Leave, leave." Very strong emotion in the chanting.

< Egypt's Mubarak Won't Run for Re-election | Obama Tells Mubarak to Go Sooner >
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    Oh yeah (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:17:17 PM EST
    This is serious as hell....Mubarak needs to leave now.  These people have had it and nobody is ambling happily home feeling as though any deed has been done and they can now move on.

    CNNs coverage (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by waldenpond on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:18:04 PM EST
    Ouch... the US person in Egypt saying the speech took the sting out of the protest... uh, the poor talking heads had to point out that they are being told the translation is 'we won't leave today, we won't leave tomorrow, we won't leave' and pointed out that meant the protestors weren't happy.

    al jazeera is so much better (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:20:03 PM EST
    than CNN. No clueless pundits. Just news and knowledgeable and articulate commentary.

    Parent
    Absolutely (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by waldenpond on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:56:45 PM EST
    I have AJ on.  I rarely watch cable nuuz.  I turned it on momentarily to see the coverage after the speech.  Put US media next to others...it's embarrassing.

    It is amazing to me how US pundits try to make the story about themselves and their experience and all the tripe they cover as news.

    Parent

    I'm actually pleasantly (none / 0) (#68)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:18:40 PM EST
    pleased by Wolf Blizter's coverage of Mubarak's speech, calling it plain, a resounding Get Out! from the people.  

    Compared to the awful, slow and misleading immediate reaction of the CNN-Int'l anchor crew who covered the speech and crowd reaction -- the knuckleheads who weren't sure if the crowd had as many cheers as jeers and who then speculated about how long the protesters' energy would last being so long in the streets -- compared to those almost Mubarak mouthpieces, Wolf sounds like a Voice of the People.

    Parent

    some of the talking heads on the US (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:22:34 PM EST
    channels seem to be comparing these protests for democracy to a serious football rivalry... "Gee, will the "step-down Hosni side" get tired before the "stay in power Hosni side?"

    this isn't a game to anyone but the newspeople.  

    Parent

    Classic sports analogy! (none / 0) (#84)
    by hairspray on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:50:36 PM EST
    I suspect that however (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Anne on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:32:31 PM EST
    much of his life Mubarak "exhausted" in service to Egypt, life was kinder and more rewarding to him these last 30 years than his rule was to the people he governed.

    And I think he is sadly mistaken if he believes his speech will pacify the masses, who would likely prefer that he not stick around to put his fingerprints on a transitional government.  At least that's how I think I would be feeling.

    Going to be important to see what happens next; I am kind of dreading what Obama has to say about it, and I hope I am not being too judgmental or cynical if I say that I'm worried he will somehow want a piece of the credit for the courage of the Egyptian people.

    Big question and something that will determine what direction all of this goes is who is going to be installed in Mubarak's place?  And will we be able to restrain ourselves from sticking our fingers in this particular pie if it looks like the Egyptian people want someone who might not be as dependable an "ally" as Mubarak?

    Guess we'll see soon enough.

    I, too, fear US reaction (none / 0) (#41)
    by BDB on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:15:16 PM EST
    Our elite have a habit of embracing FAIL.  I think there is great opportunity here for the Egyptian people and even for the US.  As much anger as there has to be at the US for supporting this oppressive tyrant (and Sadat before him), this doesn't seem like it's an anti-American rally.  Unfortunately, I suspect our elite will find a way to not only miss the opportunity, but do everything they can to ensure a bad outcome.  We have a real gift for doing that in the developing world.

    Parent
    "I will work for the peaceful transition of (none / 0) (#1)
    by Buckeye on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:10:32 PM EST
    power."

    Mubarak Jr.

    Waiting in the wings! (none / 0) (#85)
    by hairspray on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 11:55:48 PM EST
    Responsibility of US imperialism (none / 0) (#5)
    by Andreas on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:20:24 PM EST
    The working class in Egypt and the United States needs to understand that the dictatorial torture regime in Egypt was created with the decisive support coming from US imperialism and that both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party share responsibillity for the crimes of the Mubarak regime. Mubarak and Barack Obama represent the same class interests. Obama will not hesitate to use the same methods against the working class within the United States of America.


    Has Pres. Obama jailed any political (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:22:13 PM EST
    opponents in the U.S.?  Journalists?  Columnists?  Authors?  

    Parent
    Good question (none / 0) (#12)
    by Andreas on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:38:57 PM EST
    .

    Parent
    In other countries (none / 0) (#27)
    by waldenpond on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:58:51 PM EST
    the US has participated in jailing journalists in other countries though so I don't think that's much better.  Here, they are just slimed and their corps pressured to disappear them.

    Parent
    I anticipated a pile-on re Assange! (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:01:35 PM EST
    Assange was said to have (none / 0) (#86)
    by hairspray on Wed Feb 02, 2011 at 12:07:12 AM EST
    damaging information on banks.  I want hin to keep spilling the beans.

    Parent
    Your move Egypt... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:23:44 PM EST
    Starting to wonder if our crooks are pulling  strings to force Mubarek to stick around till Sept...to make sure all the tracks are covered and we aren't humiliated/damaged too badly by all the dirty that will surely come out post-Mubarek.

    I mean the old f*cker can't be this blind to public sentiment, and that stubborn, could he?  No politician or tyrants bubble is that impenetrable...we gotta be putting him up to this.

    I was wondering about that too (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:30:39 PM EST
    Is the bubble so impenetrable that he couldn't see the need for this 6 months ago? Is it just not in the nature of dictators to give up power?

    Or maybe you are right - he was holding on for outside interests. I think his life is literally at stake though -seems like a lot to risk for US interests.

    Parent

    Yeah... (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:38:50 PM EST
    If I were him I'd tell Uncle Sam "we had a good run boss, but I'm outta here, the jig is up."

    Unless he is more worried about what the US would do to him if he bolted than what his people will do if he stays...look at what happened to Noriega when he bucked the big boss man.  

    Parent

    We wouldn't do anything to him (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:44:32 PM EST
    He is old.  I think he stays because he is proud and he will not be thrown out of his own country because it is his damn it.  We would coddle both him and his son together though if he left....lovingly, so that if Egypt ever popped again we could send the son in as the knight in shining armor that was owned by us.  Isn't that how we do things like this?

    Parent
    Don't forget (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:48:24 PM EST
    We are doing what we can to warm up ElBaradei in the bullpen.

    Parent
    Obama admins. is checking him out. (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:51:36 PM EST
    This offends my sense of what U.S. should be doing re Egypt.  Not our business to vet Egypt's future candidates for Pres.

    Parent
    We can't seem to not do this (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:57:36 PM EST
    over and over and over again

    Parent
    Well, we did such a great job in Iran (none / 0) (#51)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:29:38 PM EST
    This is not a religious revolution... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Dadler on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:49:02 PM EST
    ...led by a charismatic fundamentalist fanatical leader. Not even close.  And you miss the bigger point: we toppled Iranian democracy in the 50's, installed the Shah, and here we are.  Certainly, let's repeat it over and over.  

    Parent
    But what an irony (none / 0) (#57)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:53:15 PM EST
    and tragedy about Jimmy Carter -- Mr Human Rights -- cozying up so warmly with the human rights-denying Shah, then having his presidency probably brought down by that very cozying up ...

    Parent
    Carter did in effect cut off (none / 0) (#73)
    by MKS on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:49:52 PM EST
    military aid to Guatemala.....An action Reagan promptly reversed.

    Parent
    Yeah, that's the thing (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 06:08:48 PM EST
    about Jimmy -- half the week he was acting out of the better angels of his nature and standing strong for human rights, and the other half he was listening too much to hardliners like Zbiggy and the realpolitik crowd as he coddled dictators.  Very inconsistent, and therefore seemed indecisive and unprincipled.

    Reagan of course was much more awful on human rights, particularly in Latin America.  

    Parent

    My goodness, Carter wasn't a saint? (none / 0) (#80)
    by christinep on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 08:05:53 PM EST
    My, my...he must be human.

    Parent
    Oh I never bought (none / 0) (#81)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 09:55:44 PM EST
    the saintly Sunday School Teacher version of Jimmy Carter, and I always expect even the best to stumble now and then.  

    But in Carter's case it really did seem he was lurching from siding with the softer approach of SoS Cy Vance the first three days of the week, then he would suddenly embrace Zbig's tougher approach the next three days, as if to catch himself from any overreach earlier in the week.

    And on Sunday he would go to church and reflect upon the Good Book and the Prince of Peace, and go back to work on Monday and repeat the cycle.

    Parent

    Iran was not a religious (none / 0) (#79)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 07:55:46 PM EST
    revolution.

    But that is how it turned out.

    I HOPE I am wrong but I see not particular difference between then and now.

    Parent

    The roots were religious, PPJ, (none / 0) (#82)
    by Harry Saxon on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:20:16 PM EST

    The leader of the Iranian revolution -- Shia cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini -- first came to political prominence in 1963 when he led opposition to the Shah and his "White Revolution", a program of reforms to break up landholdings (including those owned by religious foundations) and allow religious minorities to hold government office.

    Khomeini was arrested in 1963 after declaring the Shah a "wretched miserable man" who had "embarked on the destruction of Islam in Iran."[39] Three days of major riots throughout Iran followed, with Khomeini supporters claiming 15,000 dead from police fire.[40] However, much lower estimates of 380 killed and wounded were later made.[41] Khomeini was released after eight months of house arrest and continued his agitation, condemning the regime's close cooperation with Israel and its capitulations, or extension of diplomatic immunity to American government personnel in Iran. In November 1964 Khomeini was re-arrested and sent into exile where he remained for 14 years until the revolution.
    [edit] Exile period
    Main article: Ideology of the Iranian Revolution

    In this interim period of "disaffected calm" [42] the budding Islamic revival began to undermine the idea of Westernization as progress that was the basis of the Shah's secular regime, and to form the ideology of the 1979 revolution. Jalal Al-e-Ahmad's idea of Gharbzadegi -- that Western culture was a plague or an intoxication to be eliminated;[43] Ali Shariati's vision of Islam as the one true liberator of the Third World from oppressive colonialism, neo-colonialism, and capitalism;[44] and Morteza Motahhari's popularized retellings of the Shia faith, all spread and gained listeners, readers and supporters.[43]

    Most importantly, Khomeini preached that revolt, and especially martyrdom, against injustice and tyranny was part of Shia Islam,[45] and that Muslims should reject the influence of both liberal capitalism and communism with the slogan "Neither East, nor West - Islamic Republic!"

    Away from public view, Khomeini developed the ideology of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) as government, that Muslims -- in fact everyone -- required "guardianship," in the form of rule or supervision by the leading Islamic jurist or jurists.[46] Such rule was ultimately "more necessary even than prayer and fasting" in Islam,[47] as it would protect Islam from deviation from traditional sharia law, and in so doing eliminate poverty, injustice, and the "plundering" of Muslim land by foreign non-believers.[48]

    This idea of rule by Islamic jurists was spread through his book Islamic Government, mosque sermons, smuggled cassette speeches by Khomeini,[49] among Khomeini's opposition network of students (talabeh), ex-students (able clerics such as Morteza Motahhari, Mohammad Beheshti, Mohammad-Javad Bahonar, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Mofatteh), and traditional business leaders (bazaari) inside Iran.[49]



    Click or Wiki Me


    Parent
    If they left in Sept... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:54:49 PM EST
    after buring all the bodies, yeah we'd set him up in a Swiss chalet with a harem and an expense account.

    If he bolted immediately and spilled all the beans?  Well lets just say I hope he's got a food taster if he pulls that move.

    Parent

    He's probably going to need a food (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:00:38 PM EST
    taster forever more regardless :)  He probably has one now :)

    Parent
    Emperors, kings, and other absolute rulers (none / 0) (#72)
    by christinep on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:45:19 PM EST
    through all the generations have a habit of not reacting soon enough in an about-to-be-overthrown situation. It may seem hard to believe...myself, I keep saying "what more does he need or want or expect" at 82 and after 30 years?" But, you know, history is replete with examples. And, we don't need to conjure up conspiracy theories about the US (or Britain, or Germany, or France, or Russia or...) to find someone else to blame. Some perspective here would be helpful.

    Parent
    Al Jazeera is interviewing a protester (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:37:08 PM EST
    in the square post-Mubarak statement.  This man is prepared to stay where he is.  Does have access to food and water.  He is unsure whether having fair and orderly elections in Sept. isn't the best plan.

    That is a really long time to (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:40:50 PM EST
    wait while thugs and thieves still run this show.  If it was me, I'm sorry but if I were in those streets and had survived under this regime I would be on the side of hell no, I won't go until Mubarak is gone.

    Parent
    I'd hold out too... (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:49:06 PM EST
    obviously the uprising has the upper hand right now...Mubarek is on the ropes, if the people accept this and cease the civil disobedience, Mubarek catches his breath and regains strength...if the people go home, I'd be worried about the facebookers and twitterers of the uprising being arrested a few at a time starting in a few weeks, when the dust settles and the media goes home.  And we know how the Egyptian police do.

    Think of it that way, the people are stuck now...its see the revolution through till Mubarek and his new VP are on a plane outta Dodge, or get locked up/tortured in 2 weeks.

    Parent

    Agree. The army/police could easily (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:54:28 PM EST
    revert to usual practices, on orders. Lots of video of protesters.  

    Now that you've finished "Shantarum," you may be interested in "The Yacoubian Building," by Alaa Al Aswany, an Egyptian novelist and monthly opposition columnist.  Very timely.

    Parent

    One has to separate the Army and the Police (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:22:32 PM EST
    when talking about Egypt, oculus. the army is the only respected governmental entity--respecte.d by the Egyptians, that is.

    the police have a terrible reputation, and that terrible reputation was well earned as the state enforcement tool.

    I wouldn't be surprised to see or read the Egyptian Army 'strongly encourage' a rapid resignation.

    Here's a situation that is unique... the best outcome now would be a transition of power to the military. It is respected, most males have served in the military.

    Egypt doesn't have democratic institutions in place, and there's a need for some institution-building.

    I expect, if the military moves in as the caretaker government, there will be a peaceful transition to its next form of government.

    Not a coup. A transition.

    Parent

    I really don't think it's that simple. (none / 0) (#54)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:44:22 PM EST
    Also Mubarak would be resigning ASAP if that's what the Egyptian military wanted.  Interesting article: Bloomberg

    Parent
    If the Army wants anything more from us (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:59:01 PM EST
    They will be working with US.  It's a shame though isn't it?  All the really powerful weapons that military has....we gave them.  And we asked for what in return?  Fair elections?  Human rights for all Egyptians?  The only way we could suck more is if...well...I don't know, we really suck.

    Parent
    The US asked for (none / 0) (#63)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:11:25 PM EST
    peace with Israel at first, then for help with interrogations, then with help doing other nasty things.

    I read the article, oculus, and one major point the article doesn't mention is the lack of democratic institutions in place.

    A constitutional convention is necessary, but it needs to be an Egyptian constitution. The army is a major player. But the Egyptian army and the interior ministry (including the police) are completely different entities.

    With the popular support for change, the army can either play along or allow the nation-state to implode.

    Parent

    Another bastardization of our own democracy (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:18:49 PM EST
    All that interrogating and renditioning Egypt helps us with.  How do we ever get washed clean?  How did we lose our way this badly?  Yes we did ask for things in return, evil things that are about as anti democracy and anti human rights as it gets.  And then we paid with things that have been and can be used to oppress a nation of voices and people and keep them enslaved.  It's just one giant evil suck

    Parent
    It is very strategic to support (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by Anne on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:37:11 PM EST
    leaders of countries to which we can outsource whatever unpleasantness would be inconsistent with our highly-principled democracy, don't you think?  

    Clean hands and all that.

    It really grates on my nerves and my ears to hear high-flown rhetoric about the example of our marvelous democracy coming out of the mouths of people who have enabled the erosion of our own rights and have looked the other way, or participated eagerly, as we renditioned and tortured people because we decided, with no judicial oversight, that they were "terrorists."  Or that we can now just detain them forever if that's what we want to do.

    And it beats the heck out of me why we just go along with it.

    Parent

    Agree. Although it seems possible (none / 0) (#65)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:13:17 PM EST
    the army could also impose a caretaker government that doesn't go away quietly.  

    Parent
    I visited Egypt about 12 years ago. (none / 0) (#87)
    by hairspray on Wed Feb 02, 2011 at 12:11:07 AM EST
    At that time I learned that they had the fastest growing population in in region.  How can a poor country like Egypt provide for all those people?

    Parent
    Bring in the UN? (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by lilburro on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:56:55 PM EST
    You could at least do it to prepare Egypt for elections.  They need to write a new Constitution as well.  Elect delegates to a constitutional convention, referendum on the convention, then elections...?

    Parent
    Great idea if we can get the support (none / 0) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:03:02 PM EST
    of a majority of the Egyptian people.  I would like this outcome.  Why hasn't our administration already begun working in this direction?

    Parent
    We don't know they haven't (none / 0) (#37)
    by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:08:06 PM EST
    Probably a file drawer in the SoS's office with draft constitutions for various countries.

    Parent
    I hope you are right (none / 0) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:08:55 PM EST
    It would restore a little of my confidence in my own country right now.

    Parent
    I know a few retired state judges here (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:18:42 PM EST
    who went to various "Stans" after the break-up of the U.S.S.R.  The task of the judges was to facilitate writing new constitutions.  I always thought--I wanna do that!

    Parent
    Yeah I dunno (none / 0) (#44)
    by lilburro on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:21:50 PM EST
    I think an outside party is needed to make the transition seem serious.  I dunno why the UN hasn't been brought up ...I suspect they've lost credibility, in part because of the way we spent 8 years violating pretty much all the sh*t we were supposed to stand for.

    Parent
    The Egyptian people wouldn't likely (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:27:11 PM EST
    accept the UN. the Egyptians have PROVIDED peacekeeping troops for a long time.
    Egyptian pride and/or dignity would be outraged. Also, Egypt isn't a 'failed state...'

    The need for judges, magistrates, police, as trainers... definitely.

    Neither the Egyptian people nor the Egyptian Army would accept outsiders coming in to govern them. Advise, help establish democratic/civil social structures? yes.

    Parent

    Seems to me if Mubarak and crew step (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:45:18 PM EST
    down ASAP, it would be pretty difficult to arrange fair elections.  Power vacuum.  Majority are at least latent Muslims.  Blame U.S. and Mubarak for Egypt's peaceful position re Israel.  Muslim Brotherhood waiting in the wings.  Purportedly peaceful but definitely would push for a theocracy. See their website.  Maybe Jimmy Carter could be transitional pro tem.  

    Parent
    Jimmy Carter? (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:56:15 PM EST
    I don't know.....on second thought send him before they send John effing Kerry!  You would think between Jimmy Carter and ElBaradei we could get something done.  At least Egypt has its fair share of intellectuals to work toward thinking this all through.

    If the Muslim Brotherhood takes over, we pull all of their goodies they have to equalize power with Israel.  Their M-1 factory is a kit factory, we send the kit...and then it is assembled there.  They will lose their ability to service all that fancy military equipment they have too if they go the way of supporting terrorism.  So the Muslim Brotherhood with have to fight Egyptian military leaders who are obviously already working with someone demanding that they stand down, because the Egyptian military will allow all that to be lost probably over their dead bodies.

    Parent

    I've got Jimmy Carter down (5.00 / 0) (#32)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:04:41 PM EST
    to head up the int'l elections monitoring team.

    El Baradei for Interim President and beyond.

    Omar Shariff for his new Minister of Culture and Supreme Head of Egyptian Antiquities.

    Parent

    Let's send brodie :) (none / 0) (#34)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:05:24 PM EST
    Hey, I'd be honored. (none / 0) (#40)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:14:19 PM EST
    Haven't been there since childhood.  And I happen to like dates, palm trees and giant pyramids built by our space brother cousins ...  ;-)

    Parent
    Well, Jimmy knows how to (none / 0) (#53)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:32:13 PM EST
    lose a country.

    Parent
    You don't lose countries (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by Harry Saxon on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 10:20:43 PM EST
    like socks in a laundry.

    Parent
    Did you see the movie (shown here at (none / 0) (#55)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:47:50 PM EST
    Natural History Museum) with Shariff as narrator?  He is sitting about half way up one of the pyramids at Giza.  

    Parent
    No, but I'd (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:56:50 PM EST
    be interested in seeing it.

    And it reminds of the good old days when tourists with a little bribe money could get the guards to look the other way, after closing time, in order to be permitted to climb up the Great Pyramid.

    Not everyone of course came down exactly as they'd climbed up ...

    Parent

    El Baradei... (none / 0) (#66)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:14:04 PM EST
    nice Michael Daly piece talks about one of his mentors, Prof. Thomas Franck.

    I'm rooting for that guy too.

    And Omar is on the scene, I'd bet you he'd do it.

    Good calls...

    Parent

    Both nifty pieces (none / 0) (#76)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 06:11:14 PM EST
    worth reading, thx.

    And the more I read of the impressive El Baradei, the more I want that guy in charge in Egypt.

    Parent

    Same here. (none / 0) (#78)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 07:13:23 PM EST
    But I don't want him to be the interim head of government. I'd rather someone else is the interim, while Dr. Elbaradei helps establish civil society, then gets elected. I think he could be a concensus candidate without losing any shine as 'interim' anything.

    Parent
    All these (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:43:07 PM EST
    uprisings remind me of the statement to the effect that there's nobody more motivated to do something than someone who has nothing to lose. These people have nothing to lose so they are going full steam ahead.

    Whoopee (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 03:55:29 PM EST
    He's not leaving until the fall and won't run again.  Big deal - he's 82.

    He needs to go now.  Hopefully his replacement won't be even worse.

    Jeckling? (none / 0) (#29)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:01:02 PM EST
    Jeralyn, what is that?  A combination of jeering and heckling?

    When in Egypt (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:04:42 PM EST
    It is a good idea to Jeckle and Hide :)

    Parent
    Very good (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Zorba on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:06:16 PM EST
    You made me laugh, girl!

    Parent
    It is what you do before Hyding (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by ruffian on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:05:53 PM EST
    Good catch Z. (5.00 / 0) (#38)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:08:28 PM EST
    I'll let Jeralyn answer either in the affirmative or to refudiate you.

    But my immediate response, speaking only for myself, is that it's a fitting term coming from someone whose name seems to be a combination of Marilyn and Geraldine.  ;-)

    Parent

    Looks bad for Obama/Kerry (none / 0) (#43)
    by observed on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:20:20 PM EST
    if Egyptians say no.

    Stones are being thrown. Gunshots (none / 0) (#46)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:23:09 PM EST
    are heard.  Al Jazeera.  

    In Alexandria Some protestors (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:24:59 PM EST
    throwing stones at other protestors.  After curfew.  Tank moving.  

    Parent
    Gunshots being fired in the air (none / 0) (#48)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:26:35 PM EST
    by military as tank drives off.  

    Parent
    Really bad situation (none / 0) (#49)
    by Coral on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:26:59 PM EST
    Mubarak needs to step down and let someone in govt negotiate for a transitional coalition govt. US diplomacy and back channels don't seem to be working very well.

    I am afraid that if the stalemate is allowed to go on, the more extreme, more hardline, and more well-disciplined elements of the opposition will gain the upper hand.

    Well Mubarak agreeing (none / 0) (#52)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:30:04 PM EST
    to step down apparently is something Obama's envoys encouraged him to announce.

    And that report about a middle-ground compromise does have an Obamian ring to it, no?

    Unfortunately, judging by the immediate angry reaction to Hosni's speech, the Egyptian people not only reject this proposal, but consider it an insult.

    As does apparently El Baradei.

    Once again, it appears the Obama admin is a little behind the curve.

    Al Jazeera interviewing a man who says (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:56:16 PM EST
    next Friday will be crucial.  

    Well El Baradei said (none / 0) (#60)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 04:58:19 PM EST
    yesterday that Mubarak needs to be gone by this Friday.

    Parent
    Well--"this" Fri. is also (none / 0) (#62)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:01:19 PM EST
    "next" Fri., no?

    Parent
    Probably so (none / 0) (#64)
    by brodie on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:12:06 PM EST
    This coming Friday, in 3 days, seems to be an important day for the next big protest march, has been mentioned a lot in the media coverage, so let's assume that bystander was referring to Friday the 4th.

    Parent
    A different man being interviewed on (none / 0) (#67)
    by oculus on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 05:14:47 PM EST
    Al Jazeera says Friday is sign. because one week from beginning of most recent protests.  

    Parent
    Mubarak must go (none / 0) (#77)
    by Stellaaa on Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 06:21:45 PM EST
    If Mubarak stays, he will jail, torture and suppress all opposition.  The man is a delusional tyrant.  There is a system for transition where elections can be held in 60 days.  He has to leave.  The people need to have a sense of victory from this effort.  

    He basically assigned the illegitimate parliament to manage the transition.  Egyptians have passed the threshold of fear.  

    There is no way that the people can stand him to be in the country anymore.