President Obama: “This Moment of Volatility Has to be Turned into a Moment of Promise”
EmailJake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report:
After speaking with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak this evening for approximately 30 minutes, President Obama came to the State Room of the White House at 6:33 pm ET tonight to urge the Egyptian government to respect and embrace human rights and political and economic reform.
“Going forward this moment of volatility has to be turned into a moment of promise,” the president said.
Mubarak had delivered a message just moments before pledging “new steps towards more democracy, more freedoms for citizens, new steps to reduce unemployment, raise the standard of living, develop services; new steps to stand by the side of the poor and people of low income”
President Obama said that in their conversation “I told him he has a responsibility to give meaning to those words, to take concrete steps and actions that deliver on that promise. Violence will not address the grievances of the Egyptian people. And suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.”
The president said the administration’s first concern is “preventing injury and loss of life.” He called upon Egyptian authorities “ to refrain from any violence” against peaceful protesters, arguing that Egyptians have the universal rights to assembly and speech, rights the United States “will stand up for everywhere.” The president also called upon the Egyptian government to “reverse the actions” taken that interfere with internet and cell phone communication.”
Protesters, the president added, also have a responsibility to advocate for their cause “peacefully.”
Mr. Obama acknowledged that the US “has a close partnership with Egypt and we’ve cooperated on many issues.” But, he said, “we’ve also been clear that there must be reform – political, social and economic reforms that meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people. In the absence of these reforms grievances have built up over time.”
- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
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So while the government gets tossed out Mubarak gets to keep his power, we remain as his supporters, and all he has to do is say that now, after 30 years, he’ll make grand changes to allow democracy and freedom? I understand that world politics is never easy and that we would rather have the devil we know than the devil we don’t, but times like this make me disappointed in my own government.
Posted by: Maplewood | January 28, 2011, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
Mr Obama spoke well. The message is clear.
But will the Egyptian president listen and act? Let us hope so.
Posted by: kottaras | January 28, 2011, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
Obama’s speech is very similar to the one he gave in Cairo in June 2009, some of the words were verbatim.
Posted by: Flash Override | January 28, 2011, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
“His two years in office have shown us that, given the choice, Obama will invariably bow to whatever, or whomever, controls the government faction in a given country.
…
“I think there’s something deeper going on here, though. Barack Obama has demonstrated repeatedly that, for him, government is the only answer. The bigger the government, the more admirable and answerable it must be. And what could be bigger than a totalitarian dictatorship kind of government?”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 28, 2011, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
Washington Post:
“The United States should be using all of its influence – including the more than $1 billion in aid it supplies annually to the Egyptian military – to ensure the latter outcome. Yet, as so often happened during the Arab uprising of the past several weeks, the Obama administration on Friday appeared to be behind events.”
Anyone who expected more from a community organizer/to-year Senator should explain why.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 28, 2011, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
“So far, commentators are mostly critical of the Obama administration’s response to the protests in Egypt. ‘I mean, really, Obama can’t even ask for free and fair elections, like the United States does everywhere?’ asked Foreign Policy’s Blake Hounshell.”
Not when you’ve spent your life voting “present.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 28, 2011, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
What we are witnessing is a complete middle east breakdown, with hardliners gaining more control and Obama turning the other cheek.
Will this be happening in the United States in the near future with this inexperienced president? IF Yemen is next in going down, watch for oil to hit $400 a barrel as the Gate of Tears is closed and Iran closes the strait of Hormuz…… And Obama takes control of the internet “kill Switch”
Posted by: Yep I said that | January 28, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Egyptian Strife Sends Oil Close To $100 On Suez Canal Closure Fears…
Posted by: Yep I said that | January 28, 2011, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
PAPER: Events ‘moving too fast for Obama administration’…
Iranian Media Hail Egypt ‘Revolution’…
Thousands protest in Jordan, demand PM step down…
Huge anti-government protest in Albania…
Controversial Muslim cleric caught being smuggled into U.S. over Mexico border… This one is scary!!!!!
Posted by: Yep I said that | January 28, 2011, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
Mubarak’s only sensible option is to step down and call for fair elections. Failing that the Egyptian army has the power to remove him and bring about reforms.
Posted by: kottaras | January 28, 2011, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
“What we are witnessing is a complete middle east breakdown, with hardliners gaining more control and Obama turning the other cheek”
-Brought to you by the Fear department of the Party of Fear and Greed.
Posted by: Skip | January 28, 2011, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
Maplewood:
I think the US is doing the best it can under difficult circumstances. It has repeatedly asked that the rights of the protesters be respected, it is reviewing its aid package and President has spoken to Mubarak directly. The US can’t just abruptly switch sides without knowing how this is going to play out or who is going to fill the power vacuum show Mubarak be overthrown. Besides, what message would that send to other allies, that at the first sign of trouble the US will cut and run? That would be ill advised.
As an aside I see the extreme rightwing trolls are spreading their tripe all over this comment board – more than likely paid hacks for the Tea Party
Posted by: Kelly | January 28, 2011, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
Sorry I meant to say *should* Mubarak be overthrown not *show*
Posted by: Kelly | January 28, 2011, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
I would like to see Obama express strong support for those Egyptians who are seeking democracy. His words about their right to assemble and to protest were a step in the right direction, but hardly a clarion call.
This is all likely to end in tears.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 28, 2011, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
“Besides, what message would that send to other allies…”
At least it’s nice to know that Obama recognizes that Mubarak has been an ally. Much that he has said in the past about him seems to have been abandoned, and that’s a good thing.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 28, 2011, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
Egypt President Mubarak is like our President, Mr. Obama. When something is wrong, he blames the government but not himself. It seems he asks the government to resign, replacing it with the new government. But he himself will not resign.
Posted by: young_voter | January 28, 2011, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
As near as I can tell, those throngs in the street don’t even know who’s in Mubarak’s cabinet. What they want–with a passion–is for Mubarak to be gone.
My uneducated guess is that he will indeed be gone. I won’t hazard even an uneducated one as to what will fill the void. The only thing that will ever allow those people to get out of their centuries-old mire is democratic capitalism, which has no more chance there than a colony of polar bears.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 29, 2011, 12:31 am 12:31 am
“Mr Obama spoke well. The message is clear. But will the Egyptian president listen and act? Let us hope so.”
G-O-N-G!
Mr. Obama did NOT speak well.. The message is NOT clear! Team Obama is in full damage control mode.. desperately trying to catch up.. some commander in chief!
Keep hope alive… you obviously need it!
Posted by: trax | January 29, 2011, 2:37 am 2:37 am
All hail the Muslim brotherhood who Obama
backs. Watch the price of gas climb now
and we cannot drill here because it might
create jobs. THIS IS HIS RONALD REAGAN
MOMENT!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: deadwrestler | January 29, 2011, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Beware that is doesn’t happen in America.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 29, 2011, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
After being brought into a Rensselaer County courtroom in handcuffs, Councilman Michael LoPorto and Democratic Election Commissioner Edward McDonough pleaded not guilty Friday to a combined 116 felony counts alleging they falsified dozens of absentee votes.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | January 29, 2011, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
“Mubarak had delivered a message just moments before pledging “new steps towards more democracy, more freedoms for citizens, new steps to reduce unemployment, raise the standard of living, develop services; new steps to stand by the side of the poor and people of low income”
Did he borrow this speech from Obama?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | January 29, 2011, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood has announced they will topple nations allied with the US..
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 29, 2011, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
The Muslim Brotherhood was out in full force today. At one point they began chanting “Allah Akbar” only to be drowned out by much louder chants of “Muslim, Christian, we are all Egyptian.”
Posted by: Flash Override | January 30, 2011, 12:34 am 12:34 am
Those of you that are so sure government is expanding might want to read the GAO report. This administration is now 23% SMALLER than the Bush operatives.
You guys reall don’t have it right. Try a little less hot air and a whole lot more studing.
Did anyone catch Palin announcing that the founding fathers abolished slavery?
Our founding fathers owned slaves.
Posted by: ELOC | January 30, 2011, 1:26 am 1:26 am