Egypt: A “fluid” situation; Obama filibusters; DNI James Clapper calls Muslim Brotherhood “largely secular;” Mubarak’s not going anywhere

Screen grab of crowd at Tahrir square

Straight to voice mail: Hello? Can someone tell me what’s going on? Hello?
Twitter is hoot this past hour, with BIG-CAPITAL-LETTER BREAKING NEWS flying about Hosni Mubarak possibly stepping down. Or maybe not. Or maybe so.
CIA director Leon Panetta leaped forward to proclaim a “strong likelihood” that Mubarak would be out today.
And then, a CIA spokesman quickly retracted the statement because Panetta was basing his assessment on cable news reports — not independent US intel.
And now, Panetta’s office assures us they are “monitoring the situation.”
From White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, we learn that it’s a “fluid situation.”
I’ll let you decide what kind of fluid.
***
Sky News says Mubarak is expected to address the nation at approx. 6:30pm GMT.
Via Allahpundit:
Given that the crowds in Tahrir Square have grown since Ghonim’s release a few days ago, it stands to reason that tomorrow’s monster protest would have finally forced some sort of bloody confrontation between Suleiman/the army and the demonstrators. Suleiman, under U.S. pressure not to use violence, probably figured that the only way to avert that was to present Mubarak’s scalp to the people, hoping that that would placate them enough to take the edge off tomorrow and finally restore some normalcy. (The BBC’s correspondent thinks demonstrators will indeed see it as a great triumph.) The regime blinked, in other words — but probably only because the White House has guaranteed Suleiman its support in a “soft coup” but not a hard, violent one. And what choice does Obama have, really? If he doesn’t prop up the military regime, the Saudis will.
Mubarak’s set to speak at any moment; if he really was forced out, I’m not sure why he’d bless his overthrow by agreeing to a televised farewell address — unless, of course, there are troops standing behind the camera with their fingers on the trigger. Stand by for updates.
***
Update: 1:39pm Eastern Obama makes brief remarks at a Michigan campaign stop. Yes, he’s always campaigning.
“What is absolutely clear is that we are witnessing history unfold.”
Just asking: When are we not “witnessing history?”
***
BOHICA. The Muslim Brotherhood reinvention is here:
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told House lawmakers that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is “largely secular” and has rejected violence and decried al-Qaida as a perversion of Islam, NJ’s Chris Strohm reports.
Let the Clapperisms begin:
Obama’s intelligence team? Largely intelligent.
Andrew McCarthy weighs in: “There’s willful blindness, and then there’s willful stupidity.”
Vid here.
***
Update: After rumors flying high all day that Mubarak was leaving, he finally addressed Egypt at around 3:50pm ET to let them know…he’s not really going anywhere. He reiterated his promise to hold free and fair elections in September, and added a special kick in President Obama’s pants…
“I will never listen to foreign interventions or dictations.”
***
Not everyone believed the Western media-driven rumor mill today: See Kirsten Powers.
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Could it be that Obama is so incompetent that everyone is keeping him out of the loop? Sure seems that way.
After what we’ve learned about The Usurper, would anyone in their right mind trust him?
Tempting, but I’ll let it pass.
Errah liquid bovine scatagory with chunks of Gibbs . . .
Could Egypt be Obummer’s Iran?
The only time the US makes a united front these days is when the administration is kept in the dark about what is going on. Another WTF moment for the laziest president ever and his incompetent administration.
I expect the next WH announcement to be: “T-o-o-o-ga!!!!
What US ally can trust the US any more? We (Obama) throws Mubarak under the bus within days or a protest. (Maybe we should try that here). He gives Russia the nuclear secrets of England. He abandons the defense of Eastern Europe. The message is simple: Don’t be a friend of the US.
Hmmm, lemme see….1978: California has Jerry Brown as governor…the Democrat president acts unwisely in a serious crisis involving a Middle Eastern nation allied with the USA.
2011: California has Jerry Brown as governor…the Democrat president acts unwisely in a serious crisis involving a Middle Eastern nation allied with the USA.
Its deja vu all over again.
I just hope to goodness we have gotten American’s out of Egypt. We don’t need the rop type get a wild hair and take our citizens hostage. bho is as useless as a t… on a boar hog!
L
It’s mustard colored.
It’s the consistency of cake batter.
oh, and it smells really bad.
So’s the poopies in your pants, thanks for the update, you poinyoin.
Oh Brother,
the last time we had a “fluid situation” involving the White House,
there was a blue dress involved
Either way it is bad for the West. Mohammedism is on the march. When we talk of Crusaders we talk of the wars for Jerusalem–mohammedans think of “lost” Spain and Greece and the unfinished business at Vienna-1683.
Barack HUSSEIN Obama-HeWhoWonOne- does not instill confidence. I really doubt the US could have a positive influence but am sure Bambi can make it worse-he and the big mouth at State.
===
Let Your Sidearm Be Like American Express:
Don’t Leave Home Without It.
Resistance is mandatory
Several years ago I owed the IRS a lot of money. When they called and wrote nasty letters I tried the old “well my payment is a fluid situation” – didn’t go over well. I suppose when it comes to matters of grave international import it’s an acceptable excuse. How little we poor plebes understand about the grand affairs of state.
I dunno abot the incompetent part, as much of this leftist administrations agenda seems to be advancing as planned, albeit with some bumps in the road.
Yeah. I’ll tell you what kind of fluid. Denial really IS a river in Egypt.
You always have a way with words, TEDDY!
This is another “Thank You Obama” moment. The CIA reduced to getting intellegence from the news networks, and we all know how accurate their reporting is! Perhaps Panetta thinks the BBC knows more than his CIA analysists.
I’ve never liked the CIA. Its always been mistake prone and prone to leaks and infiltration and too leftist, political, in operation. Our intelligence mission should be returned to the military.
About the only thing Gibbs says about world events is “We are monitoring it” and “it’s a fluid situation.” Man is this guy a dummy.
You think the UK is going to help with any of our intel after we just gave away their nuke secrets to the Soviets?
Rogue Cheddar said:
I think the Sock Puppet regime will be lucky if the Brit Intell Services shares the recipe for Spotted Dick.
So the Obama administration has gone to using Saddam’s intelligence sources…
….so is a toilet when it’s flushed…
They’re getting “wee-weed up”?
@oldcollegeguy1980, #13:
YES!!! That was a thing of beauty!!
No fluids here at minus 7 degrees.
Since 250,000 protesting in Cairo is sufficient for Obama to demand the President of Egypt step down, why didn’t he step down when on Sept. 12, 2009 we had 1.7 million demonstrating in D.C.?
Since 250,000 protesting in Cairo is sufficient for Obama to demand the President of Egypt step down, why didn’t he step down when on Sept. 12, 2009 we had 1.7 million demonstrating in D.C.?
But not gays that have wikileak connections.
On February 10th, 2011 at 12:55 pm, Virginia Patriot said:
+1!
“Since 250,000 [people] protesting in Cairo is sufficient for Obama to demand the President of Egypt step down, why didn’t he step down when on Sept. 12, 2009 we had 1.7 million demonstrating in D.C.?”
Excellent ! Worth a double post !
Not at all — Obama responded — he crossed Egypt off of his list of potential vacation spots.
Yup…our next president needs to do a whole lotta house cleaning in the military to rid it of PC and prevalent left leaning leadership.
I’m guessing that we’ll have “students” in control of our Cairo Embassy by September.
No matter how you look at it, the next couple of years is going to be rough.
Note to self, stock up more food, reload more ammo.
The Wise Ones of PMSNBC, CNN and the alphabet soup told him to ignore the rabble rousers of the 12th. That is what so many American voters told him last November. When Bambi leaves office his pension should be paid in Egyptian currency and at a sharia compliant bank in Egypt.
1 Egyptian pound = 0.1700 US dollars, 300K pounds= $50K + now, perhaps a few hundred dollars in 2013. That way he can understand their grief. How MamaBama will feel wearing a burka is to be seen.
Anyone contacted NASA? They’re the agency in charge of Muslim outreach, or something.
Now I see that Obozo doofus will use the opportunity to get some face time on TV to comment. Big surprise eh? No doubt more lies and deception by the rookie that never should have been near the presidency.
I mean, what better time for the Arab/Muslim world to erupt? Expect more of the same during his “reign” because everybody knows he won’t take action to do anything to help our country….only Muslims.
***
It was a very “fluid” situation in Iran in 1979 on President Jimmy Carter’s watch. It didn’t work out too well for freedom–or for the Iranian people.
***
It has been a very “fluid” situation in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank over the last few years. It hasn’t worked out too well for freedom–or for their neighbors in Israel.
***
It was a very “fluid” situation in Jordan in 1970 during the Black September insurrection. The King sent the Army in to kill and drive out the Jihadis–seemed he wanted them dead rather than being dead himself.
***
Egypt’s Army may have to make a similar decision soon. Or may be about to be taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood–depending on how far they have infiltrated the military.
***
Bad Moon rising–and if the Jihadis enable their dream of a modern Caliphate warring against Israel–nuclear Armageddan moves closer.
***
I don’t think this is going to end well for democracy or for peace.
***
John Bibb
***
Our gov doesn’t have a clue as to what is really happening in Egypt. The administration will try hard to leverage the situation to look like they have some incite.
If I was working in our Cairo Embassy, I’d be putting in for a transfer and checking out careerbuilder.com right about now.
Maybe Mubarak can get the Nobel Peace Prize for stepping down?
So according to clapper, the mb is about as sweet as a cup of sugar? I have news for clapper, check out their various sites on what they are up to. This whole thing is going to blow up in bho’s face when the ‘fluid’ hits the fan!
L
Re pic of Obama on the phone:
Give him props, at least he isn’t holding it upside down this time.
This admin probably knows which political group it would prefer to take over control of Egypt.
You can now get a Nobel Peace Prize in a box of Cracker Jacks. Or a compass.
That Clapper is the new front runner for idiot of the day. What a maroon.
Cracker Jack prizes are really crummy these days.
DNI =
Delusional
Naive
Imbecile
Walks to the podium, with his deliberate, “I’m such a brother” walk. Big smile. Points and smiles some more. Gets to podium. Makes a shout out or two to the audience. Clear his throat. “I, I … uh, uh, uh. Let me be clear. This is historic. I’d said that all along”. “Uh”. Smiles. Walks away in a VERY cool way. Does his faux Hollywood hug with a teary-eyed supporter in the audience. Thus concludes an Obama appearance. That too is historic.
All prerequisites and highly desirable traits for many, if not most, appointees within this administration.
errah…Teddy Kennedy nails it again. How about a round for the house?
Hello? McFly?!
Rush is about to blow a gasket listening to bho’s remarks on Egypt. I love Rush, he tells it like it is! He is saying it is the campaign mode and taking credit for what is going on getting rid of mubarak. bho you own this, you were told by saudis king ‘not to humiliate mubarak’. How’s that bow to the king now bho?
L
Anyone that thinks the Muslim Brotherhood is largely secular obviously is either just flat out lying (does that ever happen in politics??
)] or is seriously misguided. Perhaps it is a bit of both, Read “The Grand Jihad” and see all the wonderful “secualr” things the MB has their tentacles around.
I busted out laughing when I first heard that Clapper had said that!
What an idiot, but we already knew that….
By “monitoring the situation” I believe they mean they are projecting this on the “Big Board” in the “War Room”.
Let me be absolutely clear. What is absolutely clear is that America needs to get your boney butt out of the White House ASAP. Have I been absolutely clear?
Even the most jaded liberal syncophant journalist has to be fighting nausea and ulcers with this boob crew. They make it so hard to walk the Marxist walk.
Leon’s the CIA Director but he’s not sure, but he’s reasonably sure, sort of, like, maybe. Yowza yowza yowza. I sure hope the ChiComs don’t decide to attack us right now with these dumb bunnies in charge. Joe, I think it would be a big ‘effin deal for sure.
Hollywood!!!!
1941
You said it.
“You sneaky little bastards aren’t getting doodly sh*t from me, except maybe my name, rank, and Social Security number: Wood, Hollis P., Lumberjack, Social Security 106-43-2185.”
1941
LOL
2012!
You just can’t make this stuff up…a DNI who hasn’t read 7th grade history. Who the hell does he think murdered Anwar Sadat….Sarah Palin?
But, but, but… I saw where Hillary told us all that she didn’t have to remind us of the long and “storied” history of Egypt, going back 7,000 years…
Hey Shrillary, this is not that Egypt. This is the modern Egyptian state. Just like Italy today is not the Roman Empire (that’s the Catholic Chruch, but that’s another story) or the Etruscans. Tunisia is not Carthage. And the U.S. is not the Cherokee nation.
Modern Egypt is a ” nation” of carpetbagging camel humpers… selling trinkets in the shadow of past glories thatthey and their forebears had NOTHING to do with!
Max out
Hawrywood?
Well………….yeah, it is.
And the Choctaw, and the Apache, and the Iroquois…..
Since the koran allow lying to the infidels, how do we know when any muslim is telling the truth? The muslim brotherhood may be telling what the west wants to hear while they laugh at how gullible we are. The brotherhood needs to be told that if they are peaceful, then that’s fine. If they aren’t, then expect swift and lethal punishment.
Obozo jumps the gun again with speech. He better be working on a speech for when the violence and chaos begins shortly.
It’s about to start anytime now…….
@ RAMBLER
It’s nonstop TAQQIYAH from Muslims worldwide ! I have watched some interviews where I would like that subject brought up. Every time a Muslim is interviewed and spouts crap the interviewer needs to ask, “How do we know you are not just using taqqiyah??
I would say that Al Queda is also secular. There is nothing religious about that organization.
When I worked there, the cost Cracker Jack (Bordens) a penny a hundred. When I went by the machine I would throw in a hand full of toys.
hahaha Hangfire–I wanted to write ‘Horrywooooo!’
THAT’s where I remembered it from! Heh.
Captain Wild Bill Kelso: Kid, you gotta get that sub.
Wally Stephens: What sub?
Captain Wild Bill Kelso: The Jap sub.
Wally Stephens: Where?
Captain Wild Bill Kelso: The ocean, lame-o.
Colonel “Madman” Maddox: To Hollywood… and glory!
I got one of those for Christmas last year. Probably shouldn’t have hooked it up to the popcorn popper. Just sayin’
Obama largely humble.
Our borders are largely secure.
Islam largely feminist.
Stoning largely painless.
Okay, we’ve identified the second cast member of the modern day Three Stooges…who will be/is the third?
1. Joe Biden, as “Curly“: “Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk!”
2. James Clapper, as “Moe;” “Shut up, dummy!”
3. Larry?
Oh yes…the Chinese are raffing at the U.S. administration. The various members of Congress are probably seen as the “Keystone Cops“, as well.
What’s next, a “whoopie cushion?”
How long would the MSM have let Bush get away with 1/10th the incompetent bumbling of these amateurs? We all know the answer but I felt like asking anyway.
I always felt that despite political differences, most honest and sincere people would put that aside and do the right thing, learn from mistakes, tell/report the truth, make good decisions. I guess I was wrong. This government has caused me great disappointment. Who can ever expect the best for America when people like this have such easy access to power?
Stop.
Clappertime.
Ooh…ooh…ooh; I forgot about Janet Napolitano! We’ve got our Larry…”Hey, Moe…hit this!”
You can’t touch this….
Heh. Reminds me of two sayings…
One from the KGB “America’s CNN Is more of a worry than the CIA” It used to be a running joke that the CIA always had someone watching CNN.
And
“The CIA is so aware of things it didn’t know the Berlin Wall was coming down till the bricks were hitting them on the head.”
Just why do we keep the CIA around? I mean the WMD screw up, the whole Soviet Ordeal. The Fact more US military Gear is stolen than we steal. 9/11, Various Civil and global events it missed. I mean really seems a huge waste of money.
Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh-oh, oooohh!
The CIA is infested with home-grown Marxists.
Clap on.
Clap off.
You can’t blame the CIA entirely for their own screw-ups: Remember the Wall of Separation? Ask Jamie Gore-lick about that. She should have been hung as a traitor to the U.S. for not allowing the different departments to share info. Ask those 3,000 people killed on 9/11. Maybe they would have liked the FBI, CIA, etc., to have shared “intelligence” (and I use that term loosely) with each other.
“I will never listen to foreign interventions or dictations.”
He obviously got tired of running in and out the door with his suitcase every time Obama changed his mind about what he should do.
Tom Clancey needs them for story lines, and Harrison Ford must be rescued from his new genre. Cowboys and Aliens?!? C’mon Ryan, get a grip.
Indeed. Government Intelligence? A contradiction of terms, no?
are fine helicopters too!
There’s some intelleigence in government…about as much as BHO’s sliver of cuts in that budget pie chart.
Dear God.
The Director of National Intelligence said that?!?!
How many more times can stupid fools utter stupidity?
How much more stupid can the things they utter get?
Is there no limit?
On February 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm, Hangfire said:
On February 10th, 2011 at 2:58 pm, max said:
And the U.S. is not the Cherokee nation.
Well………….yeah, it is.
And the Choctaw, and the Apache, and the Iroquois…..
There you go again HangFire…. ‘course you’re right… I was on a “When the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor” roll…
I have a sneaking suspicion that the DNI was parroting an administration talking point. Obama must have believed that Mubarak was going to step down, his speech today seems to reflect that. Obama’s abasement of the USA these past two years has had the predictable result of disrespect. Mubarak has basically told Obama to pack salt, it isn’t as if Obama wasn’t warned, when the Saudi King said yesterday that the Saudi’s would bankroll the Mubarak regime if the US didn’t show respect for Mubarak. This is a major slap in the face for Obama.
Errah, Its 3:00 am at the White House and the phone rings . . . “Thank you for calling the White House. Our normal hours of operation are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm eastern . . . for English, Press 1 for Spanish press 2 . . . We’d love to hear from you and how you think we are doing. Please leave your message after the beep. A live operator will get back to you within 48 Business Hours. . . . .”
He’s leaving,
he’s not leaving.
He’s leaving
He’s not leaving.
Duhohhhhhh!!!
Rinnnnnnnnng. . .Hello, this is the White House. Thank you for calling. The President welcomes your questions. Please submit all questions to the President in triplicate, double-spaced rough, with corresponding answers attached for the president to select from. We thank you for your concern. All questions will be answered in the order that they are received. You are currently 5,124,458,549th in order to be answered.
Gee, I wonder what could be wrong with that statement…../sarc
When imbeciles are in charge nothing works well, and yes that includes the CIA. This administration has a traitor running the show with incompetents in attendance. Its no wonder our great nation is in serious trouble and the rest of the world is forced to turn their backs on us.
Errah,
POTUS:”Gibbs!, Get me our czar for Egypt on the phone!”
I do that at least once a day. More, if you ask my wife.