E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSIn a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Barack Obama reiterates that Egyptians will determine Egypt's future.
Updated at 3:46 p.m. ET: So far, the White House has continued to stop just short of calling on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step aside now, rather than hold on until elections in September.
President Barack Obama held to that line today, saying, as he and his aides have all week, that "there needs to be a transition process that begins now" but that "this process will be worked out by Egyptians."
Obama made the comments during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which just ended.
Obama did, however, edge closer than he had previously to saying he would prefer that Mubarak step aside now. He said it was important that Mubarak had made the "psychological break" this week of deciding not to seek re-election, which opens the way for him to consider further steps to "make that transition effective and lasting and legitimate."
"He is proud, but he is also a patriot," Obama said. "He needs to consult with those around him in his government," listen to the Egyptian people "and make a judgment about a pathway forward that is orderly but that is meaningful and serious."
"His term is up relatively shortly," the president noted. "The key question he should ask himself is how does he leave a meaningful legacy behind."
Obama called Egypt "a great and ancient civilization" that is "going through a time of tumult." But he reassured the Egyptian people that "they will continue to have a strong friend in the United States of America."
He also noted widespread reports that Western journalists and aid workers were being targeted for attack and detention in Egypt, reiterating the position Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton laid out yesterday, saying: "Attacks on reporters are unacceptable. Attacks on human rights workers are unacceptable."
At the daily press briefing today, press secretary Robert Gibbs repeated that Mubarak must seek negotiations "with a broad base of those not currently in the government ... toward an orderly transition."
Leave a Comment:
Sounds like Mubarak is digging in his heels.
And those decisions will be bought and sold by the American tax dollar. America and the American politicians are neck deep involved in what's happening in Egypt. Don't be fooled people. As politicians have said in the past, "With every disaster comes profit", and America wouldn't even be involved with the crisis in Egypt if there was no oil to take from them.
leavingBB......... Can't say I blame you for leaving her, but to stay on topic. You said Mubarak may be digging in his heels? You can rest assured............ if he stays, he'll be digging his grave.
Let me get this right. . Egypt has a population of around 80 million and we have about 100,000 protestors. So we have a little over 1% of the population rioting. So if 3 million people, about 1% of the U.S. population converged on Washington DC and said they wanted a new government then the president should step down?
I was thinking the same thing. Only a small minority are voicing opposition. What about the people that are fine with things the way they are or don't what Mubarak out?
they have been protesting in other cities also, its not only in cairo.
GiveMeABreak........ Give ME a break! The anti-government protesters numbered about 1 million just in the Cairo demonstrations earlier. That is until Mubarak's secret police started machine gunning them. So now after many have been killed and wounded, they are running shifts in the square. Still after all of that, at 100,000 strong.
In a country where peasants can't even afford basic transportation, while their dictator hoards 40 billion dollars for himself, they have done well to turn out the numbers they have.
absolutely
O should probably just step down right now :D
Take Mr's O and the kids on another vacation or something nice LOL
To Steve Cook: Please take a long vacation from this blog.
Amen!
The same old tired partisan BS.
I, for one, am so sick of it.
I see Mr. O's paid posters are here today. He is going down in 2012.
lol, won't happen
No surprise that the 0bummer regime has bungled the handling of the situation in Egypt. He has shown he has no clue about anything - foreign or domestic. The man has over 30 Czars that were never confirmed by anyone and we really don't know what they do. They give advice to TOTUS because he hasn't a clue about running anything. I wouldn't want him coaching a YMCA basketball team much less the country. Nov 6 2012 can't get here soon enough.
Oh yes. And what foreign policy wizard is going to step up to handle the situation "correctly"? Your reality show actress Paliin? I saw her criticizing President Obama over Egypt. How exactly has President Obama "bungled" the situation? I want one of you tea-nuts to tell me. You've got nothing but hate and insults.
Palin referred to N. Korea as an ally and thought Africa was a country and not a continent. This is who you want in charge of world affairs? Face it. Reality is apparent. Nobody else is buying your crappy communist conspiracy garbage. Nobody is buying the line that Obama bungled anything to do with Egypt. Compared to Bush he is a foreign policy genius. But Palin makes even Bush look like the president of MENSA. Oh and black belt you effing moron, every single president regardless of party has Czars. DUH.
I love that one. "He has Czars he needs to step down!" Whine whine whine. Morons who have no conception how the world and politics work and they pick out totally normal processes as a reason to hate the leadership. Bush did far worse than appoint a few Czars (he had them too you Beck brainwashed fools). But all of these "patriots" were silent until Republican billions poured into their fake grassroots movement.
Sorry guys your fact-lacking talking points and propaganda are not getting rid of Obama. The harder you try the dumber you're going to look.
@ dangerous mind: a little harsh, but hilarious and well said. i agree on many points. i don't think he'll be re-elected, and i'll reserve any explanation, but i do respect him as our president.
I heard something like 85% of Egypt is illiterate, so therefore are either scared of all of this or just don't have a clue since Nile TV is aimed to the small percentage of people that either speak French or English. If 85% of this country depended solely on the government for food, a roof over their heads, the staples of life and what little bit of information they are given.. I would have to assume that we'd see similar numbers in a protest against the U.S. government. I agree with leavingBB.. looks like Mubarak is digging in his heels and not going anywhere until September.
Actually the literacy rate in Egypt is over 85%, but let's not let facts get in the way of our own personal prejudices.
probably more educated thanamerica,but nothing to work with.get rid of the prez and the new guy has the same stew,80 million cannot be happy with only enough resources for 40 million.
McCormick (That's a niceah spiceah!) Where were you back in 1992, still in the oven? I remember the U.S. and other countries going to a little place called Kuwait to fight a war to protect the "freedom" of people living in a 90% welfare state environment. All of the oil money that Kuwait generates goes to the royal family there that the British appointed when they left in the early 1960's. Did you get that? AN APPOINTED ROYAL FAMILY.
A war fought in Kuwait and Iraq that cost around 200,000 lives and at least twice that many wounded. All to protect the oil....I mean FREEDOM of the people living in a 90% welfare state.
How do we make this idiot shut up? He's just making things worse every time he opens his mouth. I wish we had enough opposition in congress to impeach him.
What makes Obama so sure that Egypt's future will be determined by its people? This situation could easliy fall into the hands of the radicals if it hasn't already, and then we have another Iran on our hands where its people's wishes are not represented. Obama seems gunho to get Mubarak out, by I am yet to hear a plan for what Egypt does next. Without a plan, the situation falls further into chaos and the Islamic radicals take over.
So..woody...whats the 'plan' then? Please tell us how you would proceed. Besides your 'radical muslim' fear mongering, do you have better ideas that all the diplomats, military brass and the white house haven't considered? Where is your 'plan', Woody?
I thought you neo-cons knew all about pax americana and 'democratizing' the middle east. Cant wait to hear the 'plan'....
Can we please please stop with this muslim brotherhood phobia that everyone seems to love talking about. that is the bogey man that mubarak used to stay in power for 30 years. they are decimated, their leaders were either killed or tortured into stupidity. Just like Mcain was tortured into insanity by the Vietnamese.
Make up your minds. Yesterday, you guys were saying the President needed to let the people determine thier own fate and to stay out of it, today, its "What makes Obama so sure that Egypt's future will be determined by its people? This situation could easliy fall into the hands of the radicals if it hasn't already"
If the President says here, you guys will say there. You guys spin the opposite direction of the President and expect everyone to go along on your wild ride. It's almost comical.
Woody (Condor Man)........... Radicals. You mean like the ones that we trained and armed to fight against the old Soviet Union in Afghanistan? Or the ones we trained in Lake Pontchartrain La. to invade the Bay of Pigs? Those kinds of radicals? Geez...... Do you really think we are training some more somewhere?
"'The whole world is watching.' Obama reminds the president of Egypt." If our president had any integrity or concern for the people of Egypt, he would be warning the Islamic extremists who are itching to impose a radical Islamic dictatorship on Egypt, that the world is watching them. Mr Obama is not acting as the president of the United States, he is acting like a supporter of Islamic terrorism. President Obama has insulted the American people and maligned our great nation.
Please do some homework on the Islamic Brotherhood before you post your inane comments. Just because an organization had "Muslim" in it's name does not make them radical.
Fear monger!
Just because you have an irrational fear of Obama doesn't mean you can play fast an loose with facts, let alone make predictions with no factual basis whatsoever
Good Lord! You really know how to spin the yarn dougjmiller! Do you get any sleep or just lay awake thinking up conspiracies?
Mikeo76, maybe you should do the same? Like most large groups, there are always found extremes, so not unreasonable to claim that the MB has some radical islamist..
The Brotherhood condemned terrorism and the 9/11 attacks, but whether or not it has ties to terrorism is a matter of dispute. Its position on violence has also caused disputes within the movement, with advocates of violence at times breaking away to form groups such as the Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (The Islamic Group) and Al Takfir Wal Hijra (Excommunication and Migration).
A non interventionist president! Imagine that! How dare he!
I have been watching the transition of the right wing response from criticism of Obama not doing more or taking a stand to criticism of what he has done and said. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. For them, its just another opportunity for Obama bashing.
That response has been brainless, criticizing to be criticizing which after awhile loses all credibility.
This bashing reminds me of the bashing George Bush took a few years back.
What would Obama say if the tables were turned and the president of some other country told him to step down?
Sick and Tired......... Are you advocating a rebellion here in the U.S. to create such a scenario? If so........... let it roll bubba. If not please take a seat in the back of the bus.
Your tea movement has insulted the American people and maligned this great nation. You really want to help America then get out and take your small minded spin and propaganda with you.
per the 'big O'...'egypt's future will be determined by its people'. interesting approach/comment. is that similar to usa's future in that the people are overwhelmingly opposed to his 'obamacare'...yet he knows better than the people, so screw the people. what a phony.
Ahhhh, sorry righty, but the polls don't show that at all!
But, never let the facts get in the way of a good story, or your personal prejudices!
nhdem, they are trying to repeal it now in congress. If we had affordable healthcare you parents would have been able to treat the early onset stupidity that you seem to be suffering from
Ha ha Argos, you are so clever. Do you feel smarter by your comments? I thought not.
Stay on topic. There are other discussions at Newsvine about the health care reform.
I love how Tea-nuts always use the phrase "the people" when talking about their causes. As if a majority of Americans are behind the actions of the Tea party and not money from billionaire outsourcers the Koch brothers. Or money from a Saudi prince.
Sorry charlie, you people are going to have to stop saying you represent "the will of the people". Because you only represent a very small small percentage of real Americans.
Most of us don't worship your billionaire founded propaganda group. And most of us don't want healthcare repealed. Improved maybe. More provisions added maybe. Repealed? That's just your insurance-industry lobbyist backed righty legislators' wet dream.
it is my opinion that egyptian elections should be moved up ,to be held as soon as possible, it has been done numerous times during crises in other countries. why can't mubarak do it in egypt? i think rioting would stop and democracy would stand a good chance. of course elections to be supervised by the un to prevent what wasn't prevented up to now.
Why are the actions of less than 1% of the population of Egypt making so much noise? Honestly, if it weren't for the internet, no one in the U.S. would know...or care.
You know 'O' is on a roll when the windbag Tea Baggers say this kind of crap. No ideas, no solutions, no jobs plan, no specific budget cuts.... just repeal, litigate the past and take potshots at 'Obama.
The elected GOP leadership is failing and floundering. Obama is about winning the future, the GOP...wants the 1950's or 1700's back (not sure which anymore)
Sooner or later, your kind has to come with ideas, there Mr. Cook . Until then, your just another bench warmer throwing rocks while the rest of us work to do something forward-leaning.
And I also noticed you dont have any better ideas to deal with Egypt, either
"No ideas, no solutions, no jobs plan, no specific budget cuts...." you know, when I read this I wasn't sure if you were talking about Obama and the democrats or someone else.
Can't we all just get along?
Thanks Tim.
I feel the obvious flaws and counterproductive hate and rabble rousing of these fringe righties need to be pointed out consistently. Some people itch to jump on board these "5 minute hate" (read 1984) style attacks purely for the visceral emotionality of it. They don't care about facts. Just which way Beck, Rush and the rest of the Faux propaganda network are telling them to spin it.
Look at this guy Ferg replying to you. Your criticism (a highly valid one) is that they have no ideas or viable plans to offer, merely hate and spin. What's his response to that? Deflecting it onto Obama and hating and spinning.
They've got nothing. They're empty shills for billionaires and the top 1% repeating whatever script they're told to.
not sure about that number as a good number of protestor. your math and associated word problem has serious errors. 80 million impoverished egyptian, hard for them to travel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Egypt
if you want real demographic info. so in cairo, there 17 million people, in and around. reduce that by the percentage of children 14 and under or 31%, leaving 11.75 million people. 1 million protestor/11.75 million possible protestors = 8.5% of the populous involved in the demostrations. that's a very significant number.
lastly, you jibe at our president doesn't take into account the number of supporters he and the government have. we have free elections if you want change.
Bigrat-417532 banned. Death wishing the POTUS plus a host of other violations and a garbage history. No thank you, sir.
Thank you Sally.
In a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President Barack Obama reiterates that Egyptians will determine Egypt's future.
And Obama's good friends William Ayres, Bernadine Dohrn and Code Pink.
And yabecoo is another tea bagging windbag without ideas, solutions or anything future oriented. this kind of talk is all they have. It makes their lack of intelligence, reason and lack of common sense all the easier to see.
Tell ya' what yabecoo, you live and litigate phantoms and the past, we will win the future.
Tim, Seattle so if you don't like what someone says something you don't like you call them a tea bagging windbag? Just asking and yeah I agree with you WTF
We will win the future? You got a mouse in your pocket?
While the rest of us work to do something forward-leaning? Just are you doing what Tim that's making things better. Being a cheerleader?
Forward-leaning? So you're pitching for MSNBC network and their new tag line. I'm sure the only forward-leaning your're doing is throwing up or giving head to Obama.
At least his comments are factually accurate and have a point. your comments are full of meta slogans that are meaningless.
I suppose to the delusional they would seem accurate.
Yes yabecoo, to the delusional your comments would seem accurate. But you are arguing with rational human beings to whom your propaganda and talking points are transparent and foolish.
This is about Egypt, their culture, society and belief system to include their perception of democracy and how it can work for them. Obviously most of you folks have no idea about Egypt, it's people and their great history. You also speak in Fox sound bites and Palin-isms. Too bad you don't do your own research, get the facts and have a true understanding of the world around you. No one can predict what will happen next in Egypt or Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen or Syria for that matter. What we do know is that change is coming to the Middle East. And the voices we are hearing are not just hard line fundamentalist Muslims - but young, educated people with an expansive world view. I wish the people of Egypt peace... and luck.
Palisms -- I like that!
Can anybody imagine -- just imagine if Palin was Pres or VP how she would handle this crisis....just close your eyes and imagine it....God help us if that woman gets in office.
She's been criticizing the President's comments and approach on Egypt. As if the lady who stated N. Korea is our ally and Africa a country and not a continent has any ground to stand on with foreign policy.
Simple summation: Palin's the biggest sore loser this country's ever had. She's been crying about losing for more than two years now. Grow up, go home, and enjoy your millions with your family lady.
yabecoo, are you saying that code pink instigated the egyptian uprising. too much like the six degrees of kevin bacon. kevin bacon played in footloose. footloose was about an oppressive religon. the muslim brotherhood(although its reported their views are becoming more moderate) represents oppressive religon. the muslim brotherhood is to have a voice in the new egyptian government. obama supports egyptian self determination. code pink supports obama, ergo you are a troll.
Take another pull off that bong, Slowshot. You'll just keep making more and more sense.
i fear for your sense of humor.
You should fear me. The truth always intimidates the clueless.
I don't fear you or your non facts. Clearly you are delusional.
Slowshot, I like how you feel it necessary to say regarding the Muslim Brotherhood " its reported their views are becoming more moderate..." It's necessary to put that in. Really? Don't you think that is a red flag there? It has been reported that the Muslim Brotherhood is no longer a radical muslim group...but NOW it's been reported that their views are beocoming more moderate. Nice.
Thanks for that. I feel much better, NOW their beliefs are more moderate than they were 5 minutes ago. That makes everyone safer.
the muslim brotherhood is a cause for concern as they have violent roots. the ira, the plo, heck even strom thurman and his band of segragationsist became more moderate. i'm not convince so i put reported, espcially since ppl feel reporters are dubious and have certain hidden agendas. they are the barry bonds or rodger clements of egyptian groups, they get an asterisk.
He has none, nor do i think his thinking is sophisticated enough to understand the humor in your post.
Mubarak should have never turned off the phones and Internet in the first place. For two weeks now the different groups and interests have not be able to communicate and form collations and support. Leaders are not able to give information to their members as well as leaders moving together toward a common goal. These groups might have had the foundation a government by this time, showing the Egyptian people that the end is coming soon and so to go back to a peaceful life till the elections in September or earlier. Enough time for Mubarak to step down with out shame. He brought this on himself. Turn the Internet back on for peace.
there are two ways that Mubarek will leave: forcibly by the Army (not!) and if Obama cuts off the aid (not!)....why do I feel that Israel has a hand in what Obama's decisions are?
Our Zionist masters are frightened. All of their plots are coming crashing down around them. Hezbollah controls Lebanon now. Hamas still holds Gaza. Syria and Jordan are facing Islamist riots likely to drive them into Iran's orbit. Egypt's revolution was endorsed today by the Ayatollah Khamenei. Yemen, Tunisia, and Algeria have fallen to the Islamists. The Turks are furious with Israel. Nuclear armed Pakistan is cozying up to the Taliban. The war in Afghanistan is lost, and Iraq is spinning out of control. Etc. The plans of the apartheid theocrats are collapsing around them.
Yes JohnCharter-428979, and historically frightened despots and dictators do some of the worse actions of their entire careers trying to hold onto power and enslavement over their people. Israel is becoming ever more isolated and utterly condemned by hundreds of nations around the entire world now. For decades Israel has avoided signing a fair, honest and balanced peace treaty with the Palestinian people and honoring the treaty they already signed with Egypt.
Israel has repeatedly violated the peace treaty it signed with Egypt's Sadat some 30 years ago, now the tiny Apartheid state of Israel sandbox is widely being seen as the leprous disease of the Middle East.
There are wide spread allegations that the Israeli Mossad attempted to assassinate the Turkish Prime Minister! As a NATO nation Turkey should have some recourse under NATO should that be proven to severely punish and sanction Israel. Allowing Israels Mossad assassins to target NATO leaders would lead to terrible consequences to Israel and global peace.
It cracks me up when Joe Blow from Idaho...meaning you, A. Smith think they know something like "I heard, the Mossad tried to assasinate the Prime Minister of Turkey". What did you finally get that decoder ring from the Cracker Jack box or did you read it on the internets?
Listen, if telling Egypt that Mubarak should step down is good for the U.S., Obama will probably do it. If it's bad for the U.S., Obama will tell him not to. It's that simple. Who cares what the Egyptians want. Who cares what the Muslim Brotherhood wants. Who cares what the Iranians want. Who cares what Israel wants. Who cares what China wants. What is good for the U.S. is good for the WHOLE WORLD.
I misjudged you. You must be able to think somewhat logically if you admit that President Obama will do what's good for America.
Obama needs to STFU. No wonder the world views Americans as big-mouthed arrogant meddlers. Comments about human rights, avoiding violence, messages of emotional support for the Egyptian people are indeed appropriate. Comments that tell Mubarak directly what to do (who, for all his faults has been a good friend of the west and the USA for a long time) - are completely inappropriate. Egypt is a sovereign country. Apparently Obama's "handlers" think it makes him seem like a stronger leader to toss around ignorant "bossy" comments. He should ignore this advice, observe what is actually happening and make comments only when something intelligent or constructive can be said. That's a tall order for a leader with virtually no experience - but I hope he can do it.
Humanchild, I understand what you are saying, but Obama cannot STFU. He's the f'n President of the United States of America! What he says matters. But what he says, MUST be in the best interest of the United States. I don't care if every Egyptian on the planet decides they are going to write Obama a letter telling him that Mubarek should be ousted...if it is not in the BEST interest of the United States, Obama shouldn't do it. I don't care what the Egyptians want or the Israelis or the Russians or the Chinese.
Obama must talk. And talk BIG. The United States opinion should matter...to everyone. Make big bold statements, like "In the Best Interests of the United States, I, President Barack Obama thinks..." Whatever that is, it should matter to the rest of the world. Say it with conviction and make sure you believe it to be best for AMERICA!
Yes there are many in the U.S. that will criticize the President no matter what he says. I did not vote for Barack Obama, but I support him as our President.
What does "having experience" mean to you people? Is being a half-term quitter governor being experienced? The President is a Harvard law graduate, and was a state Senator. He has far more experience with the realm of law than an ex-beauty contestant soccer mom who couldn't even finish her term as governor out of fear for the lawsuits her state was about to bring as a result of her corruption and malfeasance.
I will take a Harvard law grad and senator any day over the tea fringe. Newsflash: your "regular folks" candidates are far less qualified than a community organizer.
Sorry, when you start off a comment with such inane stupidity its you who needs to STFU.
Mubarak should have never turned off the phones and Internet in the first place. For two weeks now the different groups and interests haven't be able to communicate or form collations and gain support. Leaders aren't able to give information to their members, as well as leaders moving together toward a common goal. These groups might have had the foundations a government by this time, showing the Egyptian people that the end of conflict is coming soon and so to go back to a more peaceful life till the elections in September or earlier. Enough time for Mubarak to step down with out shame. He brought this on himself. Turn the Internet back on for peace.
sorry for re-post
If Obama is smart he will stay out of Egypts buisness, we have enough problems of our own trying to fix our economy and the last thing we need is to spend millions more on a war. If Israel is so concerned then they need to take care of it. And believe me they have the military might to do it.
Well see, I was told yesterday by you bloggers that Obama needed to man up and tell Egypt what needed to be done. Now you're saying he needs to STFU. I really believe you guys make your demands on the President based on what he does. Just demand the opposite. Really, decide one way or another and stick with it. Too many flip-floppers for me to keep track.
Amen
These thugs are all operating under the orders of the CIA point man and Israeli Mossad confidant Omar (the destroyer) Suleiman. The Israeli-American hand-picked replacement for Hosni Mubarak whom Israel is counting on and helping to crush the Arabic uprising inside Egypt.
Suleiman ordered the assaults and beatings on the journalists to remove the film crews from covering his sending in waves of Egyptian shock troops under the guise of 'anti-riot' police. Scattered reports state that Israel has sent in UAV's to send in video updates to the Egyptian forces on the concentrations of the protesters.
Little wonder why the goose-stepping Zionists running Israels government like Suleiman their little Zionist boot licker so much, they are two birds of a feather.
With Israel's direct actions and help, this is likely going to turn very bloody on the Arabic people in Egypt whose only hope is to continue their protests until Mubarak and the Zionist boot licker Omar (the destroyer) Suleiman are exiled from Egypt permanently. Israel and America has surrounded Omar Suleiman with long time Military generals while performing the Washington Two-Step in telling the world the Egyptian people must decide who their next ruler will be. BS!
Forcing Omar Suleiman down the throats of the impoverished Egyptian people under the 'guise' of a transition of power is ILLEGAL and AGAINST the Egyptian Constitution. It is unconstitutional by Egyptian law to push the Vice President Omar Suleiman into power as Egypt's worst despotic ruler onto the backs of the Egyptian people. Which is precisely what the Washington Two-Step (Two Faced) is advocating while spewing 'the future of Egypt will be determined by it's people'. Yeah Right, WINK!
But WHEN did Israel ever abide by Laws and Constitutions when it comes to the Arabic People, to Israel's serial criminals and thugs, such is simply business as usual. WAKE-UP America, the Arabic people are not fooled by such crass actions and America treating the Egyptian and Arabic people with such deception is far from 'winning the hearts and minds' of the people across the Middle East.
"These thugs are all operating under the orders of the CIA point man and Israeli Mossad confidant Omar (the destroyer) Suleiman"
You did it again A. Smith..talking like you have some insider information from "your connections". C'mon dude, you don't really care anyway. Go back to watching reruns of The Cosby Show. I know, you know the inner workings of the CIA and the Mossad, but your "intellect and insight" is not needed here.
Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman known for his brutality and CIA links
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/deputy-omar-suleiman-known-for-his-brutality-and-cia-links/story-e6frg6so-1225998362607
"Technically, US law required the CIA to seek 'assurances' from Egypt that rendered suspects wouldn't face torture," Mayer writes. "But under Suleiman's reign at the intelligence service, such assurances were considered close to worthless."
Omar Suleiman, the CIA's Man in Cairo and Egypt's Tortuer-in Chief
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/503/omar-suleiman-the-cias-man-in-cairo-and-egypts-torturer-in-chief
Mubarak knew that Suleiman would command an instant lobby of supporters at Langley and among “Iran nexters” in Washington, not to mention among other authoritarian mukhabarat-dependent regimes in the region. Suleiman is a favorite of Israel too; he held the “Israel Dossier” and directed Egypt’s efforts to crush Hamas by demolishing the tunnels that have functioned as a smuggling conduit for weapons and foodstuffs to Gaza.
In 2009, he was touted by the London Telegraph and Foreign Policy as the most powerful spook in the region, topping even the head of Mossad.In the mid-1990s, Suleiman worked closely with the Clinton administration in devising and implementing its rendition program.
"In October 2001, Habib was seized off a bus by Pakistani security forces. While detained in Pakistan, at the behest of America agents he was suspended from a hook and electrocuted repeatedly. He was then turned over to the CIA, and in the process of transporting him to Egypt he endured the usual treatment: his clothes were cut off, a suppository was stuffed in his anus, and he was diapered and “wrapped up like a spring roll.” In Egypt, as Habib recounts in his memoir, My Story: The Tale of a Terrorist Who Wasn’t, he was repeatedly subjected to electric shocks, immersed in water up to his nostrils, beaten, his fingers were broken and he was hung from metal hooks. At one point, his interrogator slapped him so hard that his blindfold was dislodged, revealing the identity of his tormentor: Suleiman. Frustrated that Habib was not providing useful information or confessing to involvement in terrorism, Suleiman ordered a guard to murder a shackled Turkistani prisoner in front of Habib, which he did with a viscious karate kick. In April 2002, after five months in Egypt, Habib was rendered to American custody at Bagram prison in Afghanistan, and then transported to Guantanamo. On January 11, 2005, the day before he was scheduled to be charged, Dana Priest of the Washington Post published an exposé about Habib’s torture. The US government immediately announced that he would not be charged and would be repatriated home to Australia."
Only someone with extensive torture experience would have been offered the CIA Point for torturing the CIA rendition prisoners inside Egypt's prison dungeons, Omar Suleiman was that man.
No way would the Egyptian people elect this torture specialist to rule over them, but thru the Israeli-American plan in action, Omar Suleiman would be forced upon the Egyptian people as it's new ruler thru the illegal and unconstitutional guise of a 'transition' of power from Mubarak to Suleiman. Such corrupt dealings with the Arabic people by Israel and America never cease to amaze me, and they call it 'winning the hearts and minds of the Middle Eastern people'! Pfgh!
Oh...you did read that on the internets.
A.Smith...take a walk...
Obama is just trying to get rid of Mubarak so that the Muslim Brotherhood can take control.
Bosslimo, I don't think you saw my posts flip-flopping. There are inputs to the blog from different people with very different opinions. My very point is that the people saying Obama should "man up and tell Egypt what needed to be done" are completely off-the-mark and should be ignored because they don't know what they are talking about.
I will say that the most recent comments today from Obama are more constructive / more appropriate than many of his comments to Egypt over the past few days.