Call on Obama: Tell Mubarak to Leave Now

By all journalistic reports, it was the Egyptian government of President Hosni Mubarak that sent thousands of armed thugs into Tahrir Square and the streets of Cairo yesterday to bring violence to what had been a peaceful and nonviolent protest for democracy. Some think many of those who were attacking the protesters were police in plain clothes. Others are believed to have been hired and bused in to foment violence with machetes, clubs, and razors -- some riding in on horses and camels into the peaceful crowds.

A call for peace now must mean a call for Mubarak's immediate resignation.

What had been an exemplary nonviolent protest -- with people serving tea to each other and to the young soldiers in the square -- suddenly turned into a bloody conflict. By some accounts, the death of more than 300 Egyptian protesters outnumbers those who died in the Iranian protests of 2009.

But the Egyptian protesters refuse to retreat and vow to continue their democratic crusade, saying they would "die in the streets" if necessary. As I write, the struggle has gone back and forth into the afternoon and evening. Yesterday, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof posted on his Facebook page:

 "Something incredible is happening at Tahrir Square in Egypt: The pro-Mubarak thugs whom the government sent here with clubs, machetes and straight razors are retreating! The democracy forces seem to be winning this battle. It's a symbol of Mubarak's incompetence that he dispatches armed thugs to engineer a crackdown -- and can't even achieve that."

Mubarak has often used thugs to intimidate the Egyptian people, steal elections, and repress those who dissent from his dictatorial and corrupt regime. And the truth is that President Mubarak is the big thug. It's time for him to immediately resign and leave Egypt, and allow a genuine political process to begin with fair and free elections in a new Egypt.

And it's time for President Barack Obama to call for Mubarak to resign.

As the biggest supplier of military aid to Egypt, it is the responsibility of the United States to call for Mubarak's withdrawal. Last night, thousands of people of faith called upon the president to do so. If you have not done so already, click here to send this message to the White House. And if Mubarak doesn't respond to Obama's appeal, the United States government should end its military aid to Egypt.

This is a moral issue, and an urgent one -- and it's time for the faith community to speak and to speak clearly. I believe President Obama is very frustrated and angry over the situation in Egypt, and, while he has called for a "transition" to occur, he now needs to clearly call for Mubarak's resignation and departure from Egypt. Mubarak cannot stay and try to manipulate elections in September, and the necessary preparations for genuine elections simply cannot occur with Mubarak still in power. A strong word of encouragement from thousands in the faith community and beyond could help our president do the right thing -- and do it now. President Obama must call on the dictator to leave now and open the way for democracy in Egypt.

So please send this message and action alert to family, friends, and members of your churches and communities. Spread the urgent call for President Obama to tell Mubarak to go.

Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street -- A Moral Compass for the New Economy, and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs at www.godspolitics.com. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.
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Comments

[SeattleSage]

04:06 PM on 02/04/2011

Obama may not be able to pressure Mubarak to leave, but he can cut all ties, expel his diplomats and withhold taxpayer funding to Egypt (1.3 billion dollars a year) as well as suspend all joint military cooperation/support. Further, since Obama is currently the head of the UN Security Council, he can call an emergency meeting to condemn the violence and call for a transfer of power to a Democratically elected leader in special elections. The US can also pressure other allies to end support for Mubarak to leave him cut off to allow Egyptians to deal with him as they see fit.

[mayacanogop]

02:53 PM on 02/04/2011

Don’t you just our favorite Metro Liberal White Intelligecias hypocrisy. Are you listening MSNBC ,to explain when President Bush told a dictator in Iraq to get out the Intelligecia were mad and said such arrogance and who are we to tell someone such a thing. Now that out favorite dictator is oppressing free speech,women and gay rights now I’m I correct they are demanding from President Obama to do the same thing to get out. What gives? Or how about the anti war /military war mongering machine protesters feel about that U.S made tanks that we sold them and the 1.3 billion welfare check we give to Egypt every year which are the tools to oppress the poor and free speach.

[ninetailedfox]

02:34 PM on 02/04/2011

america appointed Idi Amin and the Shah of Iran, its time for America to back off of foreign affairs. Also, we should stop sending missionaries to other countries, Africa and N Ireland dont need anyone else messing it up.

[UnknownSolider]

02:28 PM on 02/04/2011

You can't use words like "some believe" or "some people think" and then say by all Journalistic Reports, sorry mr Wallis but that is just not good enough.........
 
Journalist report FACTS and although I BELIEVE the gov't may be behind some of these attacks on the protesters, we need FACTS before we start asking Obama to do anything.
 
I'm getting really tired of people disrespecting this President

[Mark Knudsen]

02:24 PM on 02/04/2011

hay again moderator, sure must have tweeked you, but some of your other more gentil ones are starting to speak up aren't they? I won't have to be calling for a "peacful" insurection, they will do it for me or you skuttle them all say what? the old viking

[Billy Fritts]

02:22 PM on 02/04/2011

The United States should keep our nose out of Egypts problems--Thats our trouble now--we try to police the world--Let them settle it--

[Lisa Thalmann]

02:21 PM on 02/04/2011

Obama is not the President of Egypt, he is the President of the United States of America, how's he gonna tell another country's leader that he has to step down? Somebody is drinking too much tea laced with something. . . .

[BlueKansas]

02:14 PM on 02/04/2011

Look at the photo slideshow on the front page. The most riveting photo is of a protest sign that reads:
"USA don't interfer [sic]...this is our revolt". Can we all remember that please??

[Anita Frullani]

02:13 PM on 02/04/2011

So why do we spend billions of dollars in foreign aid supporting dictators and future dictators for the supposed sake of the greater good? Isn't up to the people what direction their country goes? Shouldn't we instead be spending those billions on creating healthcare for all with a public option and ensuring there is no such thing as a 99. President misspoke when he said people here wouldn't want to trade places with others in other countries - UK, Italy, etc. have universal healthcare and cares for its unemployed - whether under or over 99 weeks. These countries care about its citizens. US does not....invested in money and corporations.

[GoldwaterKid]

02:40 PM on 02/04/2011

As to anyone wanting to move to another country because they believe it's better, than they have the Freedom to do that.

Our world is in a transition time, just as the President of Egypt and it's citizens now are discussing. What has been in place for the last fifty years, and the fifty years before that, has always been a step by step process, and sometimes faster.

Foreign aid from our Country, is a discussion for our citizens to talk about. But, that conversation has to include the U.N. and any and all areas that money leaves this country and goes to another.

[jhonsolo]

05:03 PM on 02/04/2011

hey goldwaterkid,this country is in a transition time,the banks and the corporations are just about ready to own ALL of the government.the transition we,the middle-class,need is to take this country and give it to the people.

[jhonsolo]

04:59 PM on 02/04/2011

bingo,nicely stated anita.now we need people to wake up to this corporate-owned government.did you you notice i did not say OUR corporate-owned government.i personally succeeded from corporate america.i just gotta figure out how to get my tax money back.the banks and corporations have enough as it is.

[schoolmaster]

01:45 PM on 02/04/2011

I sometimes wonder how any government outside of Egypt can ask for Mubarak's resignation.

[Dewts]

01:38 PM on 02/04/2011

or how about we let egyptians decide their own destinies.

[jerseyjoe99982002]

02:34 PM on 02/04/2011

I doubt that they ever will. I think that the violence is being fomented by the Brotherhood, because they dont want an organized and peaceful transiion of power. With chaos, they can slip in the back door

[jimpager]

01:38 PM on 02/04/2011

Mr. Wallis,

Thank you for your article. I think Mubarak has totally discredited himself.

1. Mubarek should resign...today. Then face trial for atrocities.
2. Omar Suleiman should resign...today. Then face trial for atrocities.
3. The Cairo Chief of Police should resign...today. Then face trial for atrocities.
4. Perhaps the military, IF, they didn't participate in the atrocities, could appoint a military governor to run free elections.
5. Obama should suspend all military aid, TODAY.
6. Could the UN play a role?
7. Perhaps America could help with short-term food relief and medical supplies for the wounded?
8. America CANNOT support Egyptian (or any other country's) goons and continue to be America.
9. If America's friends don't like that America supports the Democracy Movement, then maybe America needs new friends.
10.. America should help the Democratists, any way we can, without being imperialist.

Again, thank you for your article.

[argus4]

01:34 PM on 02/04/2011

Fascinating, absolutely fascinating.

Where were all those now clamoring for Mubarak to resign and leave Egypt - the president, the secretary of state, the pundits, those of you posting here -- when the Chinese took over Tibet (yes, I know, you weren't born then), suppressed the Uygurs, suppressed the Tienanmen square crowd?

Will we ever see the president, the secretary of state, letters of protest condemning the Israelis and Palestinians with the fervor they are condeming Mubarak? Will it take gatherings in the streets of Gaza, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem? Perhaps if they and we did, the Palestinians and Israelis would get down to serious negotiations to settle the war (politics by other means) that's been going on since May 1948.

More than 60 years!! How long, o Adonai (Yhwh), blessed be his name, how long?

[GoldwaterKid]

02:23 PM on 02/04/2011

It is truely amazing to watch, I agree.

Our world is changing rapidly, because of the time we are in now. It is our responsibility as a people, to not run around trying to tell others what to do. The process and transition has to be a natural one.

Having lived in Southern California, and actually drove into the Watts Riots to pick up people to get out. As everyone wants change, step by step must still be respected.

[DARK STAR]

01:27 PM on 02/04/2011

Slippery slope, offer help to those peaceful and willing to work together, offer nothing to those that don't.

[valboski]

01:18 PM on 02/04/2011

now it's social change, very clever Jim, you know the social justice phrase is getting triring. You may be able to frame the message, but many out in the real Amreica are acutely aware.

[SkyCap]

02:04 PM on 02/04/2011

It's so humorous how twisted the Beckian propaganda has made your thinking. You are now programmed to consider any call for improving our society a sinister Communist plot. That's disturbing.