The “President” of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, has finally made a public statement broadcast by state-controlled television. The transcription is by me, so it’s not letter-perfect, but you get the general idea:
Hosni speaks:
We need to stand and take a pose [?] with conscience. I have heard the demands cried and voiced by the people[ and gave] my instructions to the govternment not to supress the people’s demands. I monitored the attempts by some to jump on t he bankwagon and “monger.” {!} I instructed the police, respecting their right of peaceful demonstrations before these demonstrations turned into acts of riots and impairing the efforts to keep order. These demonstrationis woud not have taken place without the “reforms” undertaken by the goverment. In my capacity as President I always stressed that sovereignty will be to the people and I will always adhere as exercising the rights of freedom. There is a fine line separating freedom from chaos. And while I take the side of the people {and their] right to express their views, I also uphold Egypt’s security and any threat to Egypt. Egypt is the biggest population in the region, governed by the rule of law, and we shold be warned of the exampales around us where chaos reigned.
NOTE: He then said he is fighting corruption, poverty, and unemployment, continuing:
I am aware of the people’s sufferings. However, the problems facing us cannot be achieved through violence and chaos. Only national dialogue. The people must steal away from those who lure us into chaos. We will continue our reforms for a free and democratic society embracing the modern principles. I have taken their side and have always taken the side of the poor people. The economy is too dangeorus to be left to economists. Reforms must be expedited. Our plans to combat unemployment, healthcare, and many others will remain conditional on our ability to maintain security. We will go above the arsons and looting which may indicate further plots to undermine our country.
NOTE: He makes a direct appeal to “the youth,” continuing:
I address you today in not only as the president but also as a citizen: I have exhausted myself for the good of the country. The cause of reform which we have embraced has[reached the point] Â point of no return. We will continue them. New steps towards more democracy more freedoms to citizens, new steps to reduce unumployment, develop services, suppport for the poor. Our options and goals will define the shape of our future.
NOTE: More blah blah blad bromides, and continuing:
The events have left the majority of the people fearful of the future: chaos and further destruction. My first respoinsibility is homeland security [and I] cannot allow this fear to grip our people. I have requested the government to step down today and I will appoint a new goernmentt tomorrow. I will not be lax or tolerant. i will take all the steps to safeguard the security of our people. May god save Egypt, and peace be with you.
Shorter version: I ain’t going anywhere.
Hillary Clinton speaks: “We will continue to partner with the Egyptian government and the Egyptian people.” Translation: Mubarak’s our buddy.
Neocon blog “The American Thinker” gets it wrong: “Mubarak Resigns.” Looks like their thinking cap is on backwards.
So, let’s see: According to Mubarak, it’s all the fault of the former government, which is now sacked, while he, Hosni, has been for “freedom of expression” all along. Gee, is that why opposition parties were ruthlessly repressed? Is that why bloggers were arrested and tortured? Is that why his police have been shooting people down in the streets?
What’s interesting to note is how much Mubarak sounds like — and consciously echoes — his American patrons: the appeal to “non-violence” (when his police are the source of the violence), the harping on “dialogue” (a meaningless bromide: how does one “dialogue” with a cop about to bash your head in, if not kill you?), and most telling of all the use of the phrase “homeland security.”
This is not going to tamp down the rebellion: instead, it will enrage the protesters. And it is likely to enrage the Army, which has just seen its commander, the Defense Minister, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, given his pink slip. But methinks Mubarak has it backwards, because it looks to me like he, Mubarak, is about to be handed a pink slip by the Army.