Obama: Transition in Egypt "Must Begin Now"

[jaxx]

President Obama said late Tuesday afternoon that an "orderly transition" in Egypt "must begin now" in the wake of widespread protests that have thrown the country into turmoil.

The comments came on the same day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced that he would not seek re-election in September - a stance that fell short of the demands of protesters, who want their longtime leader to step down immediately.

Mr. Obama said he spoke to the 82-year-old Mubarak following the Egyptian leader's announcement, a conversation that the White House said lasted approximately 30 minutes. A special U.S. envoy had reportedly informed Mubarak earlier that the Obama administration saw Mubarak's presidency -- which has lasted nearly three decades -- as essentially over.

<..> He continued: "Now, it is not the role of any other country to determine Egypt's leaders. Only the Egyptian people can do that. What is clear, and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak, is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful. It must be peaceful, and it must begin now."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-2...03544.html

President Obama has handled this well. Pushing but not shoving. The people of Egypt will win.

[Julie]

I would say he played this just right. Moving forward will probably prove trickier than what has transpired so far.

Julie

[Hekate]

... minus the Party elders to bring him the bad news that he really, really can't stay out his term. I hope Mubarak has the sense to get on an airplane tonight.

Hekate

[Beetwasher]

Wow. Actual diplomacy from a President and not chest thumping and threats. And it works. Whoda thunk it?

[JuniperLea]

No cowboy boots, no saber rattling. This is change I can believe in!

[KonaKane]

He is really gonna piss off the boogers now. See, in one large stroke he has:

1. Acted presidential.

2. Proffered a solution for a foreign policy issue that doesn't include sending the troops.

3. Advocated "regime change" in a smart way.


"They" will have to get mighty creative with the complaints at this point.