Wael Ghonim, Freed Google Manager, 'Ready To Die' For Egypt

Wael Ghonim, a Google manager who has become something of a hero among Egyptian protesters, said on Wednesday that it is "no longer the time to negotiate" with the government.

In an interview with CNN, Ghonim said, "We went on the streets on the 25th, and we wanted to negotiate. We wanted to talk to our government.... They decided to negotiate with us at night, with rubber bullets, with police sticks, with water hoses, with tear gas."

According to CNN's Ivan Watson, Ghonim also said he is "ready to die" for the cause.

Ghonim was reported missing in late January. Egyptian authorities released the Google employee on Monday, and Ghonim addressed hundreds of thousands in Cairo the following day.

Scroll down to watch the CNN segment.

WATCH:

Comments

[basta]

10:22 PM on 02/11/2011

I hope Ghonim gets a place in the government.

[Whatchutalkinabout]

02:35 PM on 02/10/2011

I trust once the new government is in place he will simply go back to his normal day job since his goal will have been accomplished.

[macs3rd]

02:03 PM on 02/10/2011

The courage and conviction of the protesters in Egypt is a thrilling inspiration! I have worried each day that they would be slaughtered, but they stuck their ground! I saw the young man Ghonim speak on CNN (or AL Jezeera) last night, he was very brave and determined.
If this government can be changed by the will of the people it is a very proud day for Egypt. What comes next could be utterly wonderful, or terrible. I pray that the character that we saw bring about this change is the same that we see handle the dangerous task of forming a new government. My heart is so happy for you Egypt!

[Sam Bark]

12:25 AM on 02/11/2011

Like in Iran in 1979 or in 2009?

[macs3rd]

08:03 AM on 02/11/2011

More like Berlin 1989

[Eric Burke]

01:36 PM on 02/10/2011

One of the most honorable men I've ever heard speak.

[BlackYowe]

01:23 PM on 02/10/2011

I felt like he was taking very big risks. I am glad he is able to handle it. Wael Ghonim is a brave man I admire.

[ALiberalKidd]

12:12 PM on 02/10/2011

Wael Ghonim: A Leader Is Born

[IGNSTHMD]

12:05 PM on 02/10/2011

it is as simple as this: the Egyptian people are using a revolution to bring about the world they want to live in.

the non-violence is a beautiful tribute to Dr. Kings dream. I wish we had such convictions about our wants and dreams that we would afford them the vigilance due the sacrifices of our own forefathers

[ALiberalKidd]

01:19 PM on 02/10/2011

i agree with you and the legacy of Dr King,,,I am only troubled that the violent always kill many of the nonviolent in their peace

[seawillow]

10:57 AM on 02/10/2011

Fellers, keep an eye on this kid. He's beginning to sound like Ghandi, you know, if Ghandi could tweet.

[SpartyBS]

10:57 AM on 02/10/2011

Wow - they did it. The army will step in to guard power in Egypt until the elections. Mubarak is done. Prayers for the successful construction of a new, democratic government are needed.

[Dnietz]

10:53 AM on 02/10/2011

For all those people here that are making negative remarks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_me_Liberty,_or_give_me_Death!

We had the same. Would you all be saying all this about Patrick Henry?

[Sam Bark]

12:30 AM on 02/11/2011

dneitz -- you are a bit out of your realm --- America rebelions were NOT pushing Sharia law and Allah is Akbar......

[DoctorBri]

03:26 AM on 02/11/2011

You are entitled to your opinions but why sound like Limbaugh, Beck, Bachmann, Goering? Where is your evidence that this rebellion is pushing Sharia? There is much more evidence it is primarily secular, democratic, tolerant and the Muslim Brotherhood, a now moderate political voice wisely pledges not to even field candidates in the next election to guard this overthrow of a brutal regime. Cynicism is the last refuge of cowards.

[mimiyo]

10:42 AM on 02/10/2011

Mr. Ghonim and countless others like him are the new face of Egypt and the force that deserves all credit for this historical movement towards democracy, peace and renewal. Power to the good people of Egypt.

[myopinion2]

10:32 AM on 02/10/2011

Breaking news reports that Mubarak will meet protestors' demands. Could this be too good to be true.

[Ross Joo]

10:52 AM on 02/10/2011

Given his history, it could be a lie or a way to gain more power. We'll see.

[Dnietz]

10:54 AM on 02/10/2011

Sounds too good to be true. I believe it when I see him leave office.

and the rest of government gets purged of his friends, including the VP

[myopinion2]

10:27 AM on 02/10/2011

I can understand why the state snatched and held him, but why would the state release him to become the charismatic personality of the revolution. Seems like a mistake from the State's point of view. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Dnietz]

10:57 AM on 02/10/2011

He isn't an unknown person in Egypt. He was prominent among bloggers and people who were online regularly.

Add to that his Google employment put him in even more of a spotlight. People who knew him could draw lots of attention to his arrest.

The government was simply afraid of the publicity of his incarceration.

[loOranks]

11:17 AM on 02/10/2011

With 16% of the Egyptian population having internet access, I'd say he was fairly unknown to most Egyptians...

http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi&met=it_net_user_p2&idim=country:EGY&dl=en&hl=en&q=internet+usage+in+egypt

[amake616]

11:04 AM on 02/10/2011

Of course it was a mistake. A massive mistake. They turned him into a rallying point. But this is a mistake authoritarian governments make over and over and over again, so it's hardly surprising Mubarak's government would make a similar screwup.

[AntiError]

10:24 AM on 02/10/2011

He should hit the google database and pull up any embarrassing searches and emails the Egyptian totalitarian government has made....

Oh wait... that would be ironic...

[Lightfromheat]

10:21 AM on 02/10/2011

Listening to this man's interview I thought of a quote by Horace Mann.

"Be ashamed to die until you have done something for humanity."

Glad he was released, hope his words are heard.

[IGNSTHMD]

12:09 PM on 02/10/2011

i feel all skooduluweepopzugedyzee inside