US says Egyptians' demands unmet: White House says Mubarak's gov. hasn't met minimum threshold

Source: Al Jazeera English

White House says Hosni Mubarak's government hasn't met minimum threshold of what pro-democracy protesters have demanded.
Last Modified: Feb 10 2011 01:29 GMT


Throngs of pro-democracy protesters demand the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak and greater reform
(AFP)

The embattled government of Egypt had not met even a minimum threshold of reforms demanded by the people of the country, the White House said on Wednesday, warning that massive protests will likely continue until real reforms are instituted.

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric with one of its most important allies in the Middle East, Robert Gibbs, president Barack Obama's spokesman, suggested that some Egyptian leaders thought they could wait out the protesters by offering up some concessions and assuming "life will return to normal. I think that's largely been answered by a greater number of people, representing a greater cross-section of Egyptian society, who have come out seeking their grievances to be addressed," Gibbs told reporters.

The comments came as the Obama administration sought to keep pressure on Egypt's leaders to change the way the country is governed and set up a path to free and fair elections in September, when president Hosni Mubarak's term ends.

Gibbs suggested that Mubarak's administration appeared out of touch in the face of swelling pro-democracy protests demanding genuine reforms. "I think it is clear that the Egyptian government is going to have to take some real, concrete steps in order to meet the threshold that the people of Egypt, that they represent, require from their government," he said. "And I think those are not likely to dissipate until the government takes some genuine steps."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/02/20112101545960427.html

with Gibbs on this.

Source: Andrew Quinn and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON Feb 9, 2011 8:44pm EST - Reuters

Egypt must do more to meet protesters' demands for political change, the United States said on Wednesday in a sharp escalation of rhetoric with one of its most important allies in the Middle East.

Washington is waiting for "real, concrete" moves to speed the transition, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said after Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit suggested the United States was eager to impose its will on Cairo. "What you see happening on the streets of Cairo is not all that surprising when you see the lack of steps that their government has taken to meet their concerns," Gibbs said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak held meetings at the White House as the United States and another key ally weighed the impact of Egypt's crisis on stability in the Middle East.

.... Obama discussed Egypt with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Wednesday

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/us-egypt-usa-idUSTRE71175920110210

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***** EGYPT Live Blog ***** Al Jazeera English, et.al. - Feb. 10 *****
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x382194

You really think they are going to give away what they should, when they got it by theft in the first place?

They going to have to be dealt with, but not by me, and not by a conversation.

Is America helpless in Egypt?
By Stephen Stromberg
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/02/is_america_helpless_in_egypt.html


What influence does America have over events in Egypt? Listening to the Obama administration doesn't make one optimistic.

Vice President Biden spoke with Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman Tuesday, impressing on Suleiman American expectations that the regime must stop harassing journalists and human rights groups, lift its emergency law and abolish restrictions on non-official political activity. But indications are that Egypt's rulers will not acquiesce: The country's foreign minister called Biden's advice "not at all" helpful on PBS's "NewsHour" Wednesday.

So, what now?

During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, and Jake Sullivan, State Department director of policy planning, explained that the United States "can't dictate outcomes," but that it can speak out "publicly and privately," making clear what American expectations are. The Obama administration, Sullivan said, can press other countries with influence in Egypt to do the same.

But what about America's military aid to Egypt? The United States always reassesses its assistance to other countries to ensure that it's being used "for the right purposes," Sullivan said. ..............

and corporate mercenaries, it only knows how to invade and kill. Death is profitable for corporations.

and corporate mercenaries, we have absolutely NO moral standing in the world to bring to bear. How much stronger would our voice resonate if we had prosecuted the criminals of the previous administration.