Obama To Answer Egypt Questions Today

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will take questions from reporters Friday on the continuing violence in Egypt during what may be a pivotal day in the crisis, as anti-government demonstrators aim to escalate their street protests.

Obama and members of his administration are edging closer to blaming the government of authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak (HAHS'-nee moo-BAH'-rahk) for the violent clashes in Cairo.

They have not called for him to resign immediately as the protesters want, but have made clear that they're not satisfied with Mubarak's announcement that he won't seek re-election in September after 30 years in power.

Obama was to address the matter during an appearance with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The administration is reportedly discussing a proposal with Egyptian officials for Mubarak to step down immediately.

Comments

[duxguts]

12:30 AM on 02/06/2011

Reforms must begin immediately. No wait, I meant gradually. Is this that change he promised us?

[68Namvet]

01:03 PM on 02/06/2011

I don't recall a promise to change Egypt - then again - there has been little change here.

[1donewrong]

11:07 PM on 02/05/2011

Hilary and barak are scrambling now to figure out where it is

[alexis101]

04:44 PM on 02/05/2011

There can be no more repugnant suggestion than to say that the people of Egypt should consider allowing Mubarek or his henchmen back into power, and accepting what the U.S. wants, rather than demand freedom and free elections immediately. For Obama or Clinton to attempt to coerce the good people of Egypt in anyway is criminal. The American people need to let those two and the rest of the bums in Congress know we don't want them to butt in any more. Before you know it, they will want more of our children to police the entire continent of Africa, so that israel can continue to bully and steal land. It needs to stop and anyone who doesn't like it can go to hell.

[68Namvet]

05:36 PM on 02/05/2011

Wow - do you have any clue of reality.

"There can be no more repugnant suggestion than to say that the people of Egypt should consider allowing Mubarek or his henchmen back into power"

Um - hate to disappoint you - but, for thirty years Mubarak has never been out of power. Kind of the issue here.

"demand freedom and free elections immediatel­y"

And exactly who would be running in these elections? What would their positions be? How would the Egyptians know who the candidates are for what offices? Where would this vote take place? When is immediately? How is this pulled off?

Sorry - but, indicating that an orderly transition to free elections, free from violence, is hardly coercion - nor is stating that the transition needs to begin immediately a criminal activity.

However, I would agree we don't "want more of our children to police the entire continent of Africa". Not because of Israel - but, because our actions at nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan have been so abysmal to our safety and security, cost too much in lives and treasure and produced nothing of value.

[alexis101]

08:32 PM on 02/05/2011

You would not know if from your leaders, or the U.S. media, but there is a parliament with protocols for removing him and replacing him based only on a no confidence vote. I'd say the people are who are most important, are the people of Egypt and they seem to know better than Obama or you. You have no problem taking over the world, you would prefer to see what, a more orderly and cheaper technique?

[Hammm]

04:03 AM on 02/06/2011

"And exactly who would be running in these elections? What would their positions be? How would the Egyptians know who the candidates are for what offices? Where would this vote take place? When is immediatel­y? How is this pulled off? "

Do you really need Mubarak and his regime to do this. Any high school teacher can set this up. Egypt is a well educated country. It will be perfectly fine with out him.

[Hammm]

04:07 AM on 02/06/2011

I think you may be over estimating America's influence in this issue.

[vascopyjama]

12:16 AM on 02/05/2011

He will answer questions about Egypt as soon as Bibi has approved the script.

[Passenger57]

07:45 PM on 02/04/2011

Fowlersammy,explain how Obama's destroying America...

[marywooo]

07:15 PM on 02/04/2011

obama did not face any questions. He does what he always does..flip off the press, the voter, and America.

[68Namvet]

01:05 PM on 02/06/2011

You mean unlike his predecessor - "the deceiver"

[alchemy]

07:12 PM on 02/04/2011

Obama needs to answer a big question, why has the USA been giving this creep almost two billion dollars a year. 80% of Egypt's money ends up in the Swiss bank accounts of the ruling elite. This is too much to pay for Israel's safety at the expense of the suffering people of Egypt. We must stop all military aid to Mubarak and his regime. The USA has lost its moral compass by supporting ruthless dictators at the expense of the people.

[OrangeSalad]

08:11 PM on 02/04/2011

Most of the two billion dollars goes to military spending and winds up back in the hands of American corporations, e.g. Lockheed Martin
Other money that is paid to Egypt is for torturing people we rendition to their country since the Clinton days according to some reading I've done. Here's one example
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-gambit-Holding-Eg-by-Wayne-Madsen-110204-704.html

In other words Obama will never truthfully answer questions about our relationship with Egypt and the money we give them.

[vascopyjama]

12:30 AM on 02/05/2011

If our ambassadors weren't so busy sending cables about voluptuous nurses and acting as pimps for big business, they may have seen this coming. But at least even Obama knows to keep Hillary as far away from this as he can.

[alexis101]

05:07 PM on 02/05/2011

She has already become a parody of herself as a symbol for anything but diplomacy. Before we knew what Wiki Leaks released about the state of any middle east negotiations, many knew she was the worst chance we had for an honest agreement. I believe the Clintons own land in Israel, and I believe at least part of her family plans to call it home for at least part of the year. Her relationship with family friend Hosni Mubarek ought to disqualify her from interfering with this, but I doubt she is capable of staying out of it. Obama is totally over matched by her tactics. Even if he found an ounce of courage and recognized the opportunity for him, it seems unlikely he will detain her.

[Billy Jack]

06:47 PM on 02/04/2011

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat".

Theodore Roosevelt

[Titus Pullo]

07:33 PM on 02/04/2011

You and Anderson could be Rough Riders on Brokeback

[theaetetus]

06:40 PM on 02/04/2011

Suliman will take over. Business as usual

[theaetetus]

06:38 PM on 02/04/2011

It's over.

[fowlersammy]

06:04 PM on 02/04/2011

I just read that Obama is going to give Russia all of Great Britain's (our most steadfast ally) nuclear secrets in order to persuade Russia to sign the arms treaty. Another example of how this administration turns its back on our allies and supports those who are less than friendly. I pray we can survive until 2012 when we can send this administration into early retirement.

[fishin4u]

06:39 PM on 02/04/2011

Wiki posted them, according to the UK telegraph.
Be proud of YOUR President.

FISH......................

[fowlersammy]

07:38 PM on 02/04/2011

I refuse to be proud of this man. He's systematically destroying this country. I will wish him well when he retires in 2012.

[alexis101]

07:01 PM on 02/05/2011

I'm angry with him because it looks like he's already trying to force the Egyptian people to give up their fight for free elections and an open society and all we hear and see from Obama and Clinton now is dire warnings. They have no business getting involved, but look for U.S. troops or boats to move into the are in large numbers if they don't get their way. Fowlersammy actually believes it's okay to fund dictatorships and send our political prisoners there so Mubarek and his new guy could torture them more thoroughly. There is a huge difference, but politically it spells trouble for Obama, even though the Republicans don't know which continent Egypt is on.

[Billy Jack]

06:48 PM on 02/04/2011

Are you watching Glenn Beck again? You'll go blind doing that

[MiddleForkedRoad]

07:17 PM on 02/04/2011

Google it, it's being reported in the London Telegraph.

[fowlersammy]

07:38 PM on 02/04/2011

Look it up, Billy Boy. But like most libs, you won't believe the truth even when it smacks you in the face.

[marywooo]

05:56 PM on 02/04/2011

Amateur hour is over in two years... Everything obama does is a disgrace to Western Civilization.

[fowlersammy]

06:05 PM on 02/04/2011

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!

[Billy Jack]

06:49 PM on 02/04/2011

Your statement is so broad as to be meaningless

[quacktastic]

05:49 PM on 02/04/2011

If it is true, Obama needs to answer questions about whether he sold British up the river to the Russian

[quacktastic]

05:55 PM on 02/04/2011

Russian(S) dang plural "s"

[MadAppraiser]

05:06 PM on 02/04/2011

AMERICA HAS STUMBLED, AND FUMBLED WITH AFRICAN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. America should take a long look at itself in terms of democracy, and economics before espousing democratic ideals. Foreign institutions have historically promoted counterproductive political and economic policies in Africa.

The Ethiopians that migrated, and populated northeastern most Africa consistently posed an interesting dilemma to foreigners throughout history. Egypt richly contributed to Western Civilization in terms of theology, science, mathematics, architecture, and magic. Foreign researchers often found it necessary to hide, and distort Egyptian contributions to Western Civilization.

Contemporary Euro Centric Educational Systems have greatly contributed to the lack of understanding of the Egyptian Culture, and theft of natural resources throughout history. The lack of educational coverage of the Egyptian Culture makes it difficult for foreigners to comprehend the idiosyncrasies of this ancient culture. The individuals that know the secrets of the Egyptian Culture keep their lips sealed!

Biblical coverage in the old and new testaments documents Egypt’s place in ancient, and contemporary history. The Bible is more than a storybook for memorization. Biblically, Egypt and Israel are inescapably linked perpetually. Without an understanding of ancient Egypt the Bible is a colorful narrative that floats in space.

[kriskrinkel]

05:05 PM on 02/04/2011

WikiLeaks cables: US agrees to tell Russia Britain's nuclear secrets

this guy has to go..

[Titus Pullo]

07:32 PM on 02/04/2011

Wait, he's only been in office a little over 2 years