BREAKING: US Negotiating Resignation of Mubarak
Posted: February 3, 2011 Filed under: Breaking News, Diplomacy Nightmares, Egypt, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, John Birch Society in Charge, Middle East, right wing hate grouups, Surreality, Team Obama, the internet, U.S. Politics, Violence against women | Tags: Egypt, Egyptian State attacks on Journalists, Hosni Mubarak, human rights violations, right wing propaganda, violence 29 CommentsLatest: White House, Egypt Discuss Plan for Mubarak’s Exit
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military, administration officials and Arab diplomats said Thursday.
President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and State Department spokesman PJ Crowly all took time on TV today to express American concern for use of overt use of violence, suppression, and intimidation of reporters, legitimate protest, and human rights groups. Reporters have been beaten and ‘disappeared’. Green Vans belonging to the State Police were caught speeding up, then running over protesters on their way to the Square. (WARNING: Video below shows this.)There is increasing evidence that the pro-Mubarak protesters are themselves state police and paid thugs.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Thursday that the violence was carried out by “elements close to the government or ruling party.”
“I don’t think we have a sense of how far up the chain it went,” he noted.
There are no images coming out of journalists in Egypt. Nile TV–the government propaganda channel–has been 
blaming foreign forces for the protests which is leading to attacks on nonEgyptians all over Egypt. Nile TV journalist Shahira Amin has quit. She’s joined the protesters.
There are increasing calls from the International Community to the Government of Egypt for restraint. Here’s a link to an article from, of all places, China.
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Thursday condemned the violence, saying attacks on peaceful demonstrators are unacceptable and must stop.
“We call upon the government of Egypt to take steps to ensure that its citizens are free to demonstrate safely,” Rudd said in a statement.
“The disturbing events in Tahrir Square underline the urgent need for a negotiated and peaceful solution to this political crisis.”
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who was on a visit to Britain, Wednesday urged all sides to show restraint during the unprecedented nine-day-old movement.
“I am deeply concerned by the continuing violence in Egypt. I once again urge restraint to all the sides,” Ban said after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Ban also said that any attack on peaceful demonstrators in Egypt was unacceptable and that he strongly condemns it.
In Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas called on Egyptians to exercise restraint.
Egyptian protesters continue to pour onto the streets. Friday protests are being characterized as a “final” Friday indicating the hope that Friday will be the day Mubarak will quit.
One man, a 30-year-old lawyer named Tareq Hussein Ali, whose sweatshirt was so bloodied it looked like a red-brown bib, ventured his analysis. “Egypt will never be as it used to be,” he said.
…
“Last night showed that the government is at the last of their options,” Ali said Thursday afternoon, sitting on a grass patch in the middle of Tahrir – which means “liberation” – where dozens of protesters were resting under anti-government banners.
Tahrir on Thursday resembled a bustling open-air triage center. With businesses locked up long ago, young women in head scarves served water to demonstrators from inside a Hardee’s while weary-looking men sporting bandages dozed on the doorsteps of travel agencies, too many to count.
At every entrance to the square, protesters had set up security cordons backed up by neatly arranged lines of stones, in case of another attack. As in previous days, the Egyptian army presence was thin, just a few dozen soldiers looking on, and no uniformed police were in sight.
In a back alley, volunteers set up an emergency medical clinic, where doctors in dirtied white coats re-dressed wounds from the previous night. Hussein Dawood, a physician, said that more than 3,000 people had been injured, a figure that far exceeded the government’s count.
“We want the whole world to know that the Egyptian president organized an operation against his own people,” Ali said, “as if he was in a war.”
When Ali left his Cairo home Jan. 25 to join the first day of the protests, he told his parents: “I will come home victorious, or you will receive my dead body.” Late Wednesday night, after nearly 10 hours of running battles in and around the square, he was on the front lines near the museum alongside scores of young male demonstrators.
After days of watching the coverage I think I can safely say that there are very few people left standing that support Mubarak with the exception of Fox News, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich and others representing the extremely right wing element in the US. It’s pretty obvious that instead of looking for communists under the bed that we are now to look for stylized, extremist ‘Islamists’. In fact, we’re now seeing some weirdish melting of Islam, Shari’a, socialism, leftists and communism. How desperately deluded to you have to be to push that one?
“Any honest assessment on 9/11 this year, ten years after the attack, I think will have to conclude that we’re slowly losing the war,” Gingrich said. “We’re losing the war because there are madrassahs around the planet teaching hatred. We’re losing the war because the network of terrorists is bigger, not smaller.”
Gingrich pointed to the unrest in Egypt as posing a potential new threat to American security.
“There’s a real possibility in a few weeks, if we’re unfortunate, that Egypt will join Iran, and join Lebanon, and join Gaza, and join the things that are happening that are extraordinarily dangerous to us,” Gingrich said.
The right wing buzz word of the day is “Muslim Brotherhood” which is now seen to have tentacles that reach–according to professional wacko Glenn Beck–to some unknown place in US Democratic Circles. Here is an example from right wing extremist Frank Gaffney on Sean Hannity, professional bully.
The Muslim Brotherhood is often a target of right-wing pundits like anti-sharia crusader Frank Gaffney, who last month claimed the group had infiltrated CPAC. And as the single largest organized opposition group in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has emerged as a target for the right as the protests continue.
On Hannity last night, Gaffney argued that “the Obama Administration’s policies are being viewed through, and actually articulated and implemented through influence operations that the Muslim Brotherhood itself is running in our own country.”
“You cannot possibly get your strategy right, you cannot execute it effectively if you don’t know that the enemy is actually giving you advice on how to proceed,” he said.
I mentioned this earlier, but I’m personally having to de-friend people on Facebook from people perpetuating this obvious right wing paranoia and hatred. I’m not sure how any one could be following the coverage these last days and not realize that Mubarak’s behavior is unacceptable and that these are legitimate calls for democratic change from widespread and mainstream elements in Egypt. I have to admit that most of these people have also been serious Sarah Palin apologists also. We had removed blogs links from these people earlier this month for some of that behavior. I’ve had to completely remove contact with them after the posting of some really hateful right wing posts to FaceBook.
There are legitimate concerns about the treatment of women by all fundamentalist religions. However, it is becoming increasingly clear to most of us that these groups have jumped the shark and are motivated by ignorance and bigotry. The complaints and shout outs I have seen recently for the Beck idea that some “caliphate” takeover is happening is clearly rooted in racism and extremist views of Islam. Many of these are aimed not only at Egyptians but the President of the United States. This does not reflect well for the values traditionally held by this country. I personally find it deeply disturbing and frightening that these people are supporting a military dictatorship that is disappearing and brutalizing US journalists (more than 70), human rights activists, diplomats, and–as BB pointed out today–US academics.
Another Update: Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood is being interviewed by Spitzer on CNN right now. He’s saying that the group supports freedom of religion and ‘rules of pluralism’. He is additionally saying that Israel is already recognized and what he wants now is a recognition of a Palestinian state. He’s also saying the group has no relationship with any organization that practices violence. He’s also condemning the 9-11 violence and any violence. He says Hopefully, I can get transcript or video up on this later. He finished by saying he does not hate ‘Jews’ (sic) but he hates ‘Zionism’ (sic).
There is also a Princeton professor–Fouad Ajami–on right now saying that Al Q’aeda has nothing but animosity for the Muslim Brotherhood.
It’s an interesting discussion. I think you can see that this group is not as wild-eyed as implied by the likes of Beck, but definitely its unfortunate that they are one of the few organized political movements in Egypt standing at the moment. They’re clearly a football that needs replacing.
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With the furthering of threat and violence from those in power, I just wonder how many will start to flee the city for safety reasons?
This is exactly what they what them to do, as it weakens their cause.
If not, they are some point going to be exterminated.
My heart is with the protestors.
Some how this doesn’t look good for the Freedom/Pro-Democracy protesters.
Finally
Not thrilled about the Suleiman-heading-the-transitional-gov’t part, but given the circumstances… it’s finally something.
At least talks can begin and I think that they shouldn’t let the ‘Brotherhood’ insert religious hate/bigotry in. The movement was for ALL Egyptians and their new Constitution and their new government should reflect that, as other countries will be taking notice of what is done in Egypt. OK, provided the government doesn’t crack down on them ala China.
Sending good thoughts to all for a peaceful day and a good end result for the people of Egypt.
JUST AN FYI SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DISAPPEARED
We’re making changes to the template … be prepared for some changes!
It should be easier to read eventually!!!
The announcement is at the top of the sidebar on the right. I thought it had disappeared too but then saw it moved over.
oh, good
I am working on the css code right now. So there are some things that will be fixed soon.
Oh, goodness, I began to wonder…if I needed a rest.
Nope WV, but I must say you have been busy today, I have been seeing your post and tweets.
Don’t faint but I actually went to work out away from my desk, but my iPhone has some little egg app that lets me see twitter and this site with little to no effort. The little egg app even does all the little work for you. 😯 I haven’t tried all the fancy fonts yet.
Replacing Mubarak with Suleiman is like replacing Stalin with Molotov.
Yeah. That part is basically a bad idea. I wonder how part time that works out to be.
Replacing Mubarak with Suleiman is like replacing Stalin with Molotov.
Indeed. That’s why it’s being floated. Nuthin for sumthin
He has never held office, never been in military, and has been a scholar all his life.
Here’s an interesting story:
The Day of Hunting Journalists.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/03/the_day_of_hunting_journalists
peterdaou Peter Daou
Disgusting MT @TheBradBlog Rush makes fun of detained NYT reporters in #Egypt. Then learns Fox reporters beaten. http://bit.ly/eNf3tZ #jan25
Rush Limbaugh proves again and again what an idiot he is.
I don’t know how people can watch or listen to him. Funny until it happens to them. The violence towards, Journalist, bloggers and Advocates of Human Rights is so wrong and it sets countries back because more precautions are taken before people report on situations that need to be in the sunshine.
The new guy is just like the old guy – only worse. Great.
I agree there, but the longer it takes the more things will remain the same and more people will be hurt and killed.
But I sure do appreciate the work you are all doing in covering these events.
And … I can read the font again!
Oh good! So you are able to read the font mjames? We are working on the code for the site, so thank you for your comment.
And thanks for the kudos on the live blog post!
I am trying to catch up with the situation in Egypt – I’ve missed so much while I’ve been moving. Thanks for the coverage, Sky Dancers. Between you and some other blogs (including TW) I feel like I’ve got somewhat of a clue.
It’s certainly a game changer for the region. Hopefully, in a good way but I’m not sure that we’re done with tinpot military dictators. The violence is so sad. But at least the protesters appear to be mostly interested in a pluralist society and democratic reforms.
For countries like Yemen that are also catching the contagion, that may not be the case. I hope it kick starts the peace process personally. The region needs to settle some issues so every one can live more peacefully and without fear.
This doesn’t sound good at all:
AJELive AJELive
Our producer says there’s a security build-up at Tahrir Square, troops in riot gear standing next to tanks http://aje.me/ajelive #Jan25
Tomorrow definitely looks like throw down day. And attacks against journalists, rumors that they are part of a ‘foreign conspiracy’ is a clever way to blind the world to what’s happening in the streets. It’s an ugly mess.
Meanwhile, I picked up comments from Frank Gaffney [not on Hannity since I refuse to listen to that garbage]. But the man’s comments were as deranged as those of Glenn Beck. The ‘real’ enemies, according to these loons, is anyone with a liberal lean like: Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano. She, according to Gaffney, is a terrorist sympathizer.
These people are insane!
Guess they’ll have to string John McCain up since he agrees: it’s time for Mubarak to step down, so the VP and the Egyptian military can put together a transitional government. Omar Suleiman may not be a perfect choice. But it’s better than what we’re witnessing right now.
Good blessings are probably in order. Tomorrow is going to be a very tough day with huge implications for everyone.