Egypt and Arab States circle toilet bowl

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Yes, I am talking about a public response... to the world.

What would you have suggested he had done? I personally believe that fence sitting was the best response for this situation. No need to stick our heads into another bad situation and piss people off even further.

Mubarak supported US national interests in certain areas for many years and that is why we supported him. That is also why Egyptians tend to be distrustful of the United States. Mubarak obviously needs to go, and Obama should and has supported that opinion, but I have a strong feeling that any further public influence by the United States to steer Egypt's future will only backfire.

As for the Muslim Brotherhood's influence. You could find 100 similarities and 100 differences between Egypt 2011 and Iran 1979. Only hindsight will validate which arguments were stronger.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

Well.....maybe.

No Attempt

Given the amount of mis-information coming out of the Egyptian Government at this point I would be more likely to believe it than not. But we will never know at this point.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Only hindsight will validate which arguments were stronger.

True dat.

[piercehawkeye45]

Looks like the military took control of the country. Not surprising from Mubarak's speech last night...

CAIRO —The Egyptian military appeared to assert its leadership Friday amid growing indications that President Hosni Mubarak was yielding all power. A Western diplomat said that Mr. Mubarak had left the capital.

As protesters were swarming into the streets Friday morning for what was expected to be the biggest and most volatile demonstrations in the three-week revolt here, the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces issued a statement over state television and radio indicating that the military, not Mr. Mubarak, was in effective control of the country. It was unclear whether the military would take meaningful steps toward democracy or begin a military dictatorship.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/wo...nted=1&_r=1&hp

[glatt]

That's pretty much the opposite of what I heard on NPR this morning. NPR said the military issued a statement that they support the time line proposed by Mubarek to step down in the Fall.

[classicman]

From the same article -

The Egyptian military issued a communiqué pledging to carry out a variety of constitutional reforms in a statement remarkable for its commanding tone. The military’s statement alludes to the delegation of power to Vice President Omar Suleiman and it suggests that the military will supervise implementation of the reforms.

The military also said that it would oversee the amendment of the Constitution to “conduct free and fair presidential elections.”

“The Armed forces are committed to sponsor the legitimate demands of the people,” the statement declared, and it vowed to ensure the fulfillment of its promises “within defined time frames with all accuracy and seriousness and until the peaceful transfer of authority is completed toward a free democratic community that the people aspire to.”

From what I gather, The military seems to attempting to take control UNTIL elections can be held.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by glatt

That's pretty much the opposite of what I heard on NPR this morning. NPR said the military issued a statement that they support the time line proposed by Mubarek to step down in the Fall.

I heard that as well. I think the military will back Mubarek, but if the people riot and get violent then we will see if the military use their might to control the demonstrators. If they do not, then they may be put in a situation where they have to force Mubarek out sooner than he wants. The last thing we need is a vacuum and an opportunity for extremists to take over.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

The last thing we need is a vacuum and an opportunity for extremists to take over.

You could also say the last thing we need is to stretch out the elections, which would give the extremists time to hijack the process and take over.

We simply don't know what the best course of action is, and we don't have much influence to control it anyway.

[TheMercenary]

Just checked CNN, Breaking News, Mubarek quits.

[Trilby]

YAY! Power to the People, right ON!

[TheMercenary]

Mubarak resigns, hands power to military

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_egypt

[Shawnee123]

Good. It was all a big pyramid scheme anyway.

ba DUM dum

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Good. It was all a big pyramid scheme anyway.

ba DUM dum

*snicker*

[Vitale]

Mubarak has stepped down.

[monster]

Is Hosni Mubarak Still President Of Egypt?