Egypt: Mubarak tries to mollify masses, Obama to follow

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 1, 2011 05:34 PM

As you know, thousands of men (and women on the sidelines) marched on the street of Egypt today clamoring for an end to Hosni Mubarak’s reign. He gave a televised address a few hours ago announcing that at some point, he will move on — and that he will not seek re-election.

“In all sincerety, regardless of circumstances, I never intended to be a candidate for another term,” Mubarak said as demonstrators sitting on the ground in Cairo’s Tahrir Square watched the speech on a giant TV screen hung between lampposts.

Mubarak said, “I have initated the formation of a new government with new priorities and initiatives which will respond to our young people’s demands and their anxieties.”

The crowd reacted wildly, and shouts of joy and “Leave!” echoed in Tahrir Square.

Is it enough? If on-the-ground reports from Alexandria are any indication, that’s a negatory. Several international outlets say gunfire has erupted in Alexandria.

President Obama is now scheduled to deliver remarks on the situation this evening.

Mum’s the word on this: Report: U.S. ‘Held Secret Meeting with Muslim Brotherhood’

***

Update: President Obama jumps up and down, orders Mubarak to do something “now” — without having the balls to say what it is he wants “now.”

In brief remarks at the White House, Obama made no mention of Mubarak’s announcement that he had decided not to stand for reelection. Instead, Obama said he had told the Egyptian president in a telephone call that this was a “moment of transformation” in Egypt and that “the status quo is not sustainable.”

Obama’s message appeared carefully calibrated to avoid publicly calling for Mubarak to stand down, while making clear he should stand aside. Administration officials say they are seeking a transitional government, with or without Mubarak as its titular head, formed by representative reform leaders and backed by the Egyptian army that will address legitimate grievances, restore stability and plan for a free election.

“The key part of the statement was ‘now,’ ” an administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Obama’s full remarks are here.

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  1. #1
    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm, thejim said:

    How does anybody trust the Obambi administration? They betray our allies, secretly meet with those that seek to overthrow friendly governments, and destroy the long standing relationships that Nations have come to rely upon. Obama is a Muslim, and is demonstrating it at every opportunity.

  2. #2
    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:47 pm, Regulus said:

    President Obama is now scheduled to deliver remarks on the situation this evening.

    I feel safer already.

  3. #3
    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:56 pm, RedDog said:

    Oh I misread the headline. I thought it said “Mubarak Tries to Mummify Obama. Obama Too Hollow.” I really need to get new glasses or get checked for dyslexia.

  4. #4
    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:59 pm, rambler said:

    Egypt needs to think hard and long about where to go after Mubarak. I can see wanting that thug out, however replacing a thug with a theocracy won’t lead to prosperity. Iran is still suffering from that decision.

  5. #5
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:03 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Watching Obama handling this “crisis” is like watching Jimmah digitally remastered. I am watching 1979 all over again.

  6. #6
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm, AmericaFirst said:

    Will the House of Representatives please begin impeachment proceedings against our dear pro-terrorist Muslim leader Hussein Obama? We have enough evidence for treason.

  7. #7
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:06 pm, RedDog said:

    Israel needs to take back the Sinai, all the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The “palestinians” can have a “homeland” in Trans-Jordan. See? The Middle East problem is solved. What’s the big deal?

    Now, let’s drill and excavate for our petroleum needs here. Build more refineries and nuclear power plants. This is not a difficult problem. I think I’ll run for President, I’ve got more to offer than the Littlest Organizer.

  8. #8
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:10 pm, RedDog said:

    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:03 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Watching Obama handling this “crisis” is like watching Jimmah digitally remastered. I am watching 1979 all over again.

    LOL nice. It’s like watching Jimmah in claymation.

  9. #9
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:14 pm, rambler said:

    bho’s making jimmy look good.

  10. #10
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:14 pm, walterc said:

    Flyoverman said:

    Watching Obama handling this “crisis” is like watching Jimmah digitally remastered. I am watching 1979 all over again.

    A lot of this administration is deja vu all over again.

    Any bets on how long before our Cairo embassy is attacked?

  11. #11
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:17 pm, RedDog said:

    How about this boys and girls?

    U.S. ‘Held secret meeting with Muslim Brotherhood’ Discussed fall of Egypt with group dedicated to Islam’s global spread

    Do we need any more to start impeachment proceedings against the Littlest Marxist?

  12. #12
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

    Obama: “TOGETHER, I’m sure I will accomplish great things in Egypt.”

    Or something like that.

  13. #13
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:24 pm, Hangfire said:

    It’s getting hot, Mr. President.

    Time to head to the Western White House. It’s been a whole month.

  14. #14
    On February 1st, 2011 at 6:33 pm, RedDog said:

    The latest information is not the first charge by the Egyptian government that the Obama administration has been working with or encouraging the opposition to Mubarak.

    Last week, a senior Egyptian diplomat stated the Egyptian government suspects elements of the current uprising there, particularly political aspects, are being coordinated with the U.S. State Department and Obama administration.

    The senior Egyptian diplomat told WND the Mubarak regime suspects the U.S. has been aiding protest planning by Mohamed ElBaradei, who is seen as one of the main opposition leaders in Cairo.

    Scum… bags, and collaborators. The French dealt with theirs after WWII. We’ll deal with ours.

  15. #15
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:08 pm, greenfairie said:

    I’m beginning to believe Obama’s plan to curry favor with the Muslim world is to simply let it turn into a super caliphate that will subjugate Europe and destroy Israel.

  16. #16
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:12 pm, zorro said:

    Pray for Egypt.

  17. #17
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm, RedDog said:

    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm, thejim said:
    Obama is a Muslim, and is demonstrating it at every opportunity.

    I don’t think he is a Muslim but I do think he is very sympathetic, in a child-plays-with-rattlesnake kind of way.

  18. #18
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:17 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Mubarak is quitting due to health reasons, the people are sick of him!

  19. #19
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:19 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    The Muslim Brotherhood ascends, pray for Israel.

  20. #20
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:41 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Somehow the meme has become that this is a battle between an authoritarian despot and a “democratic movement.”

    There is NOTHING to indicate that this is the case.

    This is going to boil down to a battle between one group of thugs versus several other groups of thugs.

    There may not be a “good” choice in Egypt but I have full confidence that Obama and his idiots can make the worst choice with little or no effort…

  21. #21
    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:53 pm, tiefelj said:

    Obama: ‘We Hear Your Voices’
    Well, I suppose that’s good….not

    Why can’t he hear our voices also?
    Oh, that’s right, we’re not rioting in all 57 states!

  22. #22
    On February 1st, 2011 at 8:13 pm, Danceswithdachshunds said:

    Dear President Mubarak,

    We apologize for the silly behavior of the man currently inside our White House playing “let’s make-believe we’re president”, specifically for how he insulted you by suggesting that you should not run for another term.

    We sincerely wish you to know how very much it would please many of us here in the USA to hear you publicly respond back to him with that exact same suggestion; he deserves no less.

    We thank you for your time and your careful consideration for our humble request. Best of luck, (we think you’ll likely need all you can get).

  23. #23
    On February 1st, 2011 at 8:17 pm, Flyoverman said:

    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:12 pm, zorro said:

    Pray for Egypt.

    God left on a charter flight. As I said previously this is Iran all over. Jimmah spent the whole time “talking” to the Ayatollah and Jimmah 2 is kissing up to the Muslin Brotherhood.

    The results will be the same. As some pointed out on Fox last night the populations of Egypt and Iran are larger than the rest of the Middle Eastern nations combined. Wait till Jordan goes.

  24. #24
    On February 1st, 2011 at 8:24 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Obama: “Tonight I have ordered helicopters into the desert where their engines will suck up sand and quit working. I am satisfied that this will be enough to keep our embassy personnel safe. I am now going to dinner – hold all the calls from Israel.”

  25. #25
    On February 1st, 2011 at 8:47 pm, zorro said:

    It’s not looking good Flyover. And that Chicago thug is not up to the task…

  26. #26
    On February 1st, 2011 at 8:57 pm, Flyoverman said:

    No it is not zorro. It is not looking good at all.

    In a way I wish he was a thug when it came to foreign affairs. In that regard Nixon was my kind of “thug.”

    I’d love to have some Obamabot tell me again his lack of qualifcations was unimportant. He’s like a t-ball player sent up to the Bigs.

  27. #27
    On February 1st, 2011 at 9:36 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    that he will not seek re-election.

    Did some of the 57 states pass eligibilty laws?

    Oh, you meant Mubarak, never mind……

  28. #28
    On February 1st, 2011 at 9:51 pm, Savage24 said:

    As the old saying goes “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”, if I was Mubarak I would be wrapped around Obama.

  29. #29
    On February 1st, 2011 at 10:12 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    Oh, dear. Things just got worse. The IMF is threatening to “help” Egypt.

    The IMF is worried that “income inequity” may lead to war.

    Never mind the murderous thugs standing in the wings are literally hell-bent on war…

  30. #30
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 12:26 am, Republicanvet said:

    Mum’s the word on this: Report: U.S. ‘Held Secret Meeting with Muslim Brotherhood’

    Why is it I get the feeling this is like meeting with radical Iranian students just prior to the Shah being overthrown?

  31. #31
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 am, Republicanvet said:

    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:47 pm, Regulus said:

    President Obama is now scheduled to deliver remarks on the situation this evening.

    I feel safer already.

    Me too. This could have happened at 3am and TOTUS would have been on the charger.

  32. #32
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 7:48 am, MacEamonn said:

    When the Iranians were in the streets “The One” was no where to be found, now on Egypt he can’t keep his mouth shut.

  33. #33
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 7:54 am, zyzzyg said:

    Thw word ‘now’ and not having the ‘balls’ is ‘diplo-speak’. Diplo-speak is used in extremely delicate diplomatic situations.

    This is a damned if we do and damned if we don’t moment. When in reality it is an Egypt moment.

    I will not defend Pres Obama, however I am willing to view the entire context of this situation in the light of our foreign policy these past several decades. Not to mention the void that will exist and how it will be filled should Mubarak exit.

    My hope is that the Administration is preparing for the many contingencies that may occur and have the plans to deal with them.

    There are a lot of ‘balls’ in the air, and they all belong to Pres Obama.

  34. #34
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 7:57 am, Veretax said:

    The most interesting thing about the Obama speech was he left out freedom of religion, in his first amendment citations, and added Access to Information, which I inferred to mean the internet. Funny, isn’t it Obama’s FCC appointment and other D’s that want to be able to shut down the net with a switch?

  35. #35
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 8:51 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Mum’s the word on this: Report: U.S. ‘Held Secret Meeting with Muslim Brotherhood’

    AKA: class reunion?
    Barack HUSSEIN Obama just going over the good old days.

    Allah Akbar baby
    Death to the Infidels!
    ===
    Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
    should be a convenience store,
    NOT a government agency.

  36. #36
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:14 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Obama said… this was a “moment of transformation” … and that “the status quo is not sustainable.”

    … Administration officials say they are seeking a transitional government…

    Prepare for the day when Obama says something similar about the USA,
    except that instead of him stepping down, instead they will look for a way to replace this constitution with this constitution.

    Seriously.

  37. #37
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:17 am, John Deaux said:

    Compare and contrast:

    250,000 demonstrate in Egypt = Mandate for regime change

    2 million demonstrate on 9/12 = A couple thousand racists protesting the president solely because he’s black

  38. #38
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:17 am, thejim said:

    OBambi, Hillary, & crew are doing a great deal of damage to our country and our allies.

  39. #39
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:23 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    On February 1st, 2011 at 5:46 pm, thejim said:

    Obama is a Muslim, and is demonstrating it at every opportunity.

    On February 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm, RedDog said:

    I don’t think he is a Muslim but I do think he is very sympathetic, in a child-plays-with-rattlesnake kind of way.

    Do you know what a person confesses with their mouth when they convert to Islam?

    Do you know that Obama proudly confessed those words in Arabic?

    None of us can know what he truly believes in his heart.

    But each of us can, and should, pay attention to the confessions of his own mouth.

    Barack Hussein Obama took Shahada

    He proclaimed to the Muslim world the confession that makes them think he is a Muslim. They see him as part of the “Muslim brotherhood”. And Obama knows that.

  40. #40
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Like any revolutionary, Obama doesn’t want a good crisis to go to waste.

    Obama doesn’t want Mubarak to stay in office until the next election. Obama wans to put this “bottom up” rebellion to use and make it a “moment of transformation”.

    Say, didn’t Obama promise to “fundamentally transform the United States of America”?

    Why yes, yes he did.

  41. #41
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 9:44 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    From SoetorObama’s remarks last night:

    That truth can be seen in the sense of community in the streets.

    Spoken like a true “community organizer”…

  42. #42
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    Egypt: Mubarak tries to mollify masses by not seeking re-election, Obama to follow

    Yes, do follow Mubarak’s lead.

  43. #43
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 10:32 am, walterc said:

    Obama’s message appeared carefully calibrated to avoid publicly calling for Mubarak to stand down, while making clear he should stand aside

    And yet again, President BO decides to vote “Present”.

  44. #44
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 10:33 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    On February 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    Mubarak … not seeking re-election,
    Obama to follow

    Yes, do follow Mubarak’s lead.

    Well played, sir.

  45. #45
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 10:44 am, Dexter Alarius said:

    Hey, lots of dictators are calling it quits. We can only hope.

  46. #46
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 11:16 am, thejim said:

    So far the only good thing to come out of this travesty is Anderson Cooper got punched in the head.

  47. #47
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 12:24 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    He got whacked ten times. Tell Anderson Cooper it could’ve been worse, at least he didn’t get teabagged!

  48. #48
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 3:45 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

    Wish I had seen that, Andersoooper needed a whack upside the head, maybe he’ll think straighter?

  49. #49
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 3:57 pm, Bogtrotter said:

    Let’s see……Saying he would not run for re-election did not seem to satisfy the mob. What’s next? Sending in the Camel Cavalry? Oh….wait a minute…..LOL

  50. #50
    On February 2nd, 2011 at 4:30 pm, max said:

    To the Egyptian protesters:
    Do not destroy the pyramids. We will not rebuild.
    – The Jews

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