President Obama edits his speech today before addressing the world about Egypt's transition to a democracy.

U.S. President Barack Obama gave a stirring speech just now about the Egyptian revolution that I am fairly certain did not once mention the name of the deposed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.  He began, “The people of Egypt have spoken.  Their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same.”

But Obama was careful to temper his enthusiasm about the amazing accomplishments of the Egyptian protesters with a warning about the need for a smooth transition of power, saying, “This is not the end of Egyptian transition… it’s a beginning… I’m sure there will be difficult days ahead but I am confident that the people of Egypt can find the answers and do so peacefully.”

He indirectly addressed the Egyptian military several times throughout his concise speech, noting that the “Egyptians have made it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day.”  He added, “The military has served patriotically and responsibly as a caretaker to the state and will now have to ensure an irreversible change, laying out a clear path to elections that are fair and free.”

Obama assured world leaders that “The U.S. will continue to be a friend and partner to Egypt.  We stand ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary to pursue a credible transition to a democracy.”  He talked about the youth in Egypt and their ability to create jobs and businesses, lauding their use of creativity and technology to help this sweeping change come to pass.  Most notably, though, Obama stressed the peaceful nature of the protests, both on the part of the Egyptian people and the military.  “Non-violence,” he said, is “a moral force that bent the ark of history toward justice once more.”  Muslims and Christians, he declared, stood in Liberation Square chanting, “We are one,” illuminating to all people that “we can be defined by the common humanity we share.” Continue reading »

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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak addressed his people today, refusing to step down.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak just finished addressing the Egyptian people, informing them he will not step down until September as he previously asserted.  According to ABC’s Lara Setrakian, who is reporting live from Egypt, Mubarak told protesters, “I address you all from the heart, from a father to his children… the blood of those killed will not go in vain.”  He told protesters their “demands are legitimate,” yet refuses to step down before September.

Setrakian stresses that the crowd in Tahrir Square is “furious,” and are “jeering, chanting at Mubarak.”  The people seem to be unwilling to accept anything but an immediate resignation from Mubarak, who has been in power for 30 years.  Despite his reassurances that he loves his country and that he supports free and fair elections to take place this fall, protesters continue to chant, “GO, GO GO!” Continue reading »

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Many protesters have brought their children to Cairo's liberation square.

“Stay patient girls, we’re giving birth to a revolution!”  That’s what women have been chanting in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, along with singing Egypt’s national anthem, according to tweets from CNN reporters following the #jan25 revolution in real time.  The people are awaiting a speech by President Mubarak, likely informing them he will resign.  Some commentators are suggesting Vice President Omar Suleiman will take charge, while others believe he will cede power to the military.

The Egyptian information minister has denied that Mubarak will step down, but is suggesting rather that “this is a transfer of the system of government from the civilian to military.”  So, in other words, Mubarak is stepping down.  That’s probably the least effective attempt at spin I’ve ever heard; clearly this guy could learn a thing or two from American politicians. Continue reading »

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Super-caliphate-alistic-expialadotious!

Glenn Beck has been ranting a lot about the Middle East this week, suggesting that the revolution in Egypt is the seed of a “Muslim caliphate.”

He went on to say on his radio show, “We are talking about the end of the Western way of life if we don’t pay attention.”

Watchdog group Media Matters quoted him as saying:

I believe that I can make a case in the end that there are three powers that you will see really emerge. One, a Muslim caliphate that controls the Mideast and parts of Europe. Two, China, that will control Asia, the southern half of Africa, part of the Middle East, Australia, maybe New Zealand, and God only knows what else. And Russia, which will control all of the old former Soviet Union bloc, plus maybe the Netherlands. I’m not really sure. But their strong arm is coming. That leaves us and South America. What happens to us? Continue reading »

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Legislation is being proposed that would allow President Obama to shut down the Internet in the wake of a national crisis like the one happening in Egypt

I get crazed when I’m trying to reach my husband on his cell phone and realize that it’s actually ringing in the house because he forgot to take it with him. Or if I send him a quick email that he doesn’t return shortly after I assume he’s received it. Especially if I need to talk to him about something regarding our daughter. And by the time my daughter is of an age where she uses the telephone to communicate instead of play, I’m sure we’ll get her a real one so that we can reach her in case of an emergency.

Upon reading that there is proposed legislation that would allow the President of the United States to shut down the Internet in the event of a national crisis, or cyber attack, I felt similarly crazed.

Continue reading »

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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

U.S. President, Barack Obama, spoke to Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, today, urging the beleaguered leader to step down.  Mubarak then took to the airwaves, announcing to his people that he will not run for re-election in September, ending his 30-year reign.  ”A leading reformist figure, retired diplomat Mohammed ElBaradei, was quoted by CNN calling Mubarak’s move a trick,” Reuters reports.  Mubarak told the Egyptian people in his televised statement, “I say in all honesty and regardless of the current situation that I did not intend to nominate myself for a new presidential term.”

Mmm-hmm.

Not surprisingly, protesters are skeptical of Mubarak’s plans.  One citizen told reporters, “The speech is useless and only inflames our anger.  If Mubarak was not going to run for a sixth term, why did he not say it before?  Why does he leave the people hanging?  We will continue to protest.”  Another protester said, “If Egyptians stay on the streets till Friday, probably Mubarak’s next offer will be to step down right away.” Continue reading »

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Should President Obama have access to a "kill switch" for the Internet?

If you’ve been following the news coming out of Egypt the past few days, you know that Internet access in the protest-filled nation has been severely limited.  As of today, according to Computerworld, “Egypt is now off the grid.”  They write, “Four days after the Egyptian government ordered Internet service providers to disconnect from the Internet, the country’s last working Internet company has abruptly vanished from cyberspace.”

Here in the U.S., there’s a piece of legislation on the table, drafted by Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins, that would offer President Obama a “kill switch,” effectively allowing him to shut down the Internet during a national emergency.  Brandon Milhorn, counsel for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, says, ”We’re not trying to mandate any requirements for the entire Internet, the entire Internet backbone… (just the) crucial components that form our nation’s critical infrastructure.”  Meaning, theoretically, that websites like Twitter would still be accessible – you know, should there be an uprising over the constitutionality of healthcare reform, let’s say. Continue reading »

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