Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Since Claire is traveling today, it's left to me to exhort you to watch Mubarak address Egypt. Many anticipate that he'll announce his imminent resignation. The speech should be starting very soon. Watch the live feed here.
UPDATE (12:41 PST): Reuters -- Mubarak may transfer powers to Suleiman, but not step down
Al Arabiya says Mubarak will say he will transfer powers to Vice President Suleiman according to the constitution
Mubarak confirms he will not run for another presidential term, Al Arabiya says
Mubarak will transfer powers to Vice President Suleiman, Al Arabiya says, citing sources
Mubarak reportedly says in his speech he does not accept orders from outside, Al Arabiya is reporting
UPDATE (12:50 PST) -- MUBARAK DOES NOT STEP DOWN
Highlights from his speech:
- I will hold accountable all those responsible for violent bloodshed
- I am determined to fulfill all of my promises
- I will not accept orders from outside
- I will not run in the upcoming election
- I will continue to shoulder my responsibility, upholding the constitution
- Comment (15)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments :
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
The crowds in Tahrir Square are unbelievable. Reporters claim that this is the biggest crowd to have assembled yet.
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
An aerial view of the crowd from Al Jazeera's feed.
Dec '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
That's a lot of Egyptians in that photo.
I hope they are impressing on Mubarak that his stepping down isn't on the orders of outside parties, but in response to the Egyptians' own demand for truly representative and responsive leadership.
Jul '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
So, of course, NBC got it wrong again.
How many of the people in that crowd were made aware of all the press reports that Mubarak was going to Step Down.
And how much angrier will they be now that he hasn't.
1) Did the media try to Box Mubarik In by announcing he would step down?
2) Was it the Media's hope that he would announce he was Stepping Down in order to "make history" and they reported it that way?
3) Did they get it wrong because State Department officials, speaking on the condition of anonimity, got it wrong?
4) Were State Department officials, speaking on the condition of anonimity, trying to Box Mubarik In?
5) Will this blunder exaserbate the violence that will follow?
Whatever else one can say, Amateur Hour at the White House, and Sensationalism combined with a Making History attitude in Journalism has probably made most of this bad situation worse in the end.
Dec '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Interesting update. If his message to the protesters is, "Be patient and you will get everything you demand - by this September," that makes rational sense... but I wonder whether the protesters will have that kind of patience, holding Mubarak and the transitional players accountable from now to September, or will simply demand Mubarak's immediate departure.
Patience combined with continued insistent pressure would be a great outcome -- better either than precipitous and perhaps violently chaotic change on one hand, or taking Mubarak's word and calling off the protests on the other.
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
As the president spoke, many in the crowd raised their shoes in the air.
Feb '11
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
The Egyptian President sent a not to subtle rebuke to the American President and his administration. It seemed that he was implying that the USA is a young country as compared to Egypt and because of that, the USA lacks the experience and the right to be critcal of the process underway.
Edited on Feb 10, 2011 at 1:21pmJun '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Stuart Creque: Interesting update. If his message to the protesters is, "Be patient and you will get everything you demand - by this September," that makes rational sense... but I wonder whether the protesters will have that kind of patience, holding Mubarak and the transitional players accountable from now to September, or will simply demand Mubarak's immediate departure.
Patience combined with continued insistent pressure would be a great outcome -- better either than precipitous and perhaps violently chaotic change on one hand, or taking Mubarak's word and calling off the protests on the other. · Feb 10 at 1:05pm
Mubarak is delusional. The next several hours are bound to get very ugly. Sorry to disagree with you but why in the world should the Egyptian people trust anything that he says? They've been lied to for 30 years. They cry for freedom and Mubarak unleashes thugs to kill them. He continues to lie claiming that outside forces are paying people to protest.
It unfortunately gives the MB the opportunity to claim that unlike Mubarak they will honor the demands of the people; and the people, out of frustration, may grant them the authority to take down the government.
Aug '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Good for him. After all, he has been America's friend and worked with our main ally in the area to maintain some semblance of order in Palestine. $1.8 billion is chump change to the present group in the WH. It buys us alot over there. Dealing with an Islamist successor would cost 50 x that, and the results would be bad. Glad the Saudis spoke up. The real enemy is Iran and their agents , we can't forget that even though Obambi still wants his love-in with Ahmedinijad.
May '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
I knew there was trouble when they flew in Christina Aguilera to sing Egypt's National Anthem.
Sep '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
He doesn't look a day over 97.
Dec '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Brian Watt
Mubarak is delusional. The next several hours are bound to get very ugly. Sorry to disagree with you but why in the world should the Egyptian people trust anything that he says? They've been lied to for 30 years. They cry for freedom and Mubarak unleashes thugs to kill them. He continues to lie claiming that outside forces are paying people to protest.
It unfortunately gives the MB the opportunity to claim that unlike Mubarak they will honor the demands of the people; and the people, out of frustration, may grant them the authority to take down the government. · Feb 10 at 1:22pm
We're not in disagreement. I don't think the mass of protesters in Cairo trust Mubarak's word, but he may think they do or at least should.
I think things may develop just as you predict. Let's hope not.
Jun '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Stuart Creque
Brian Watt
Mubarak is delusional. The next several hours are bound to get very ugly. Sorry to disagree with you but why in the world should the Egyptian people trust anything that he says? They've been lied to for 30 years. They cry for freedom and Mubarak unleashes thugs to kill them. He continues to lie claiming that outside forces are paying people to protest.
It unfortunately gives the MB the opportunity to claim that unlike Mubarak they will honor the demands of the people; and the people, out of frustration, may grant them the authority to take down the government. · Feb 10 at 1:22pm
We're not in disagreement. I don't think the mass of protesters in Cairo trust Mubarak's word, but he may think they do or at least should.
I think things may develop just as you predict. Let's hope not. · Feb 10 at 3:52pm
"I came here for an argument." "No you didn't." "Yes, I did. Look argument isn't mere contradiction." "Yes, it is." "No, it isn't."
Oct '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Obama is lucky. Egypt is not the worst case scenario. Imagine if Musharraf is still in power and Pakistan had an Egypt-like revolution.
Obama should thank bush for pressuring Musharraf to hold elections and encouraging Benazir Bhutto to return to pakistan and run as an alternative to Musharraf and the Islamists there.
Nov '10
Re: Mubarak Refuses to Step Down
Am I the only one worried about the part about "those responsible for the violence" is sufficiently vague as to possibly mean that he's talking about certain "rabble rousers" rather than anyone in the government? Am I just being paranoid, here?