NPR: Mubarak Steps Down From Power

[AsburySkinsFan]

Fantastic!!! Let's just hope that the one who replaces him is not the same or worse!

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/11/133674942/egypts-military-throws-its-weight-behind-mubarak


Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak resigned Friday after 30 years in office, bowing to weeks of mass protests that paralyzed the country. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced the news on state television and said control over the affairs of state will be turned over to the military.
"In these difficult circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave the position of the presidency," Suleiman said in brief remarks just after nightfall. "He has commissioned the armed forces council to direct the issues of the state."
The moment the announcement was made, Cairo's Tahrir Square erupted in celebration. People ran through the streets hugging each other and shouting, "Egypt is free!" and "The people have brought down the regime!" Fireworks and the sounds of car horns and celebratory gunfire filled the air around the city of 18 million.

[Park City Skins]

Pardon the crass reaction,but holy ****. That's an interesting development to say the least.

[Teller]

You know you're a bad dude when you say your stepping down, essentially enacting martial law, and the result is mass celebration. :ols:

[AsburySkinsFan]

Pardon the crass reaction,but holy ****. That's an interesting development to say the least.

No doubt, I was not expecting this in the least, I know the pressure was really strong, but I thought for sure we were going to see another Tienanmen-esque crack down.

[Park City Skins]

No doubt, I was not expecting this in the least, I know the pressure was really strong, but I thought for sure we were going to see another Tienanmen-esque crack down.

Agreed. As mush as I don't like to do so,I was getting the impression from recent reports that things were going to get ugly fast. This is really going to get interesting to watch now that he has "agreed" to step down.

[Dukes and Skins]

Just saw this on Twitter not long ago and I'm shocked as well I didn't see it ending like this

[Ellis]

Agreed. As mush as I don't like to do so,I was getting the impression from recent reports that things were going to get ugly fast. This is really going to get interesting to watch now that he has "agreed" to step down.
Exactly. He "agreed".
I feel like there is a whole lot more none of us are aware of and what we think we're seeing isn't really what is going on.

Men like Mubarak don't become that powerful and then just walk away.

I'm patiently waiting to see what is really going on.

[Bang]

Highest hopes for the future of Egypt. May it be peaceful and propserous.

~Bang

[More Complete]

So yesterday he says he won't run again, and will take a back seat, and then today he steps down completely. I wonder what changed. :whoknows:

[TD_washingtonredskins]

If he does actually peacefully leave office, should he be given a little bit of credit for ultimately giving the people what they want without turning the army against them and trying to maintain control?

[DieselPwr44]

I think Brett Favre called him and said "Dude, retire already..."

:silly:

[twa]

I believe so,and I'm sure many in the military appreciate not being forced to choose

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I believe so,and I'm sure many in the military appreciate not being forced to choose

Yeah...you have to think that some previous dictators would go down in a blaze of glory after 30 years.

[pjfootballer]

I think Brett Favre called him and said "Dude, retire already..."

:silly:

^^^^
:ols::ols::ols:

Funny how they still called it a presidency when one guy was in power for 30 years.

[techboy]

It's been amazing watching history unfold before our eyes.

I'm not like some others, though. I always expected something like this to happen, rather than a brutal crackdown, both because of the amazing media coverage that Egypt couldn't block, and because the military always seemed if not supportive, then not opposed.

[gbear]

Side question: If this push for accountability to the public spreads beyond just Egypt, is it possible the guy who lit himself on fire could have an impact or world history comparable to Luther's complaints nailed to the church door?

I know it's early, and it's entirely possible none of us will be around to answer the question, but it no longer seems as rediculous to me today as it did last week.

[AsburySkinsFan]

So yesterday he says he won't run again, and will take a back seat, and then today he steps down completely. I wonder what changed. :whoknows:

From the reports that I heard today apparently the military was under the impression that when he spoke to the country last night he was supposed to resign, and then he didn't which ticked off a lot of the generals who threatened to join the protesters.

---------- Post added February-11th-2011 at 09:58 PM ----------


Side question: If this push for accountability to the public spreads beyond just Egypt, is it possible the guy who lit himself on fire could have an impact or world history comparable to Luther's complaints nailed to the church door?

I know it's early, and it's entirely possible none of us will be around to answer the question, but it no longer seems as rediculous to me today as it did last week.

That's what the other non-democratic Arab nations are asking themselves right now. I think it is entirely possible that these protests could have huge ripple effects throughout the region on similarly styled governments. The only problem is that the governments that fill the vacuum are not always the one's that will be the most productive for peace in the Middle East. Look at what happened to the Palestinians; everyone in the West wanted to replace Arafat and the PLO only to find out that the group that did replace them was worse and made Arafat and the PLO look downright peaceful in comparison.

[twa]

It appears Mubarak shares your fears ASF

'They may be talking about democracy but they don't know what they're talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam,'" he quoted Mubarak as saying.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/mubarak-slammed-u-s-in-phone-call-with-israeli-mk-before-resignation-1.342831

I hope he is wrong

[Predicto]

If he does actually peacefully leave office, should he be given a little bit of credit for ultimately giving the people what they want without turning the army against them and trying to maintain control?

I'm not sure he didn't try. He certainly sent out his undercover policy thugs with the molotovs, but it seems like the professional army refused to play along. That might have surprised him.

[DieselPwr44]

It appears Mubarak shares your fears ASF

'They may be talking about democracy but they don't know what they're talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam,'" he quoted Mubarak as saying.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/mubarak-slammed-u-s-in-phone-call-with-israeli-mk-before-resignation-1.342831

I hope he is wrong

OMG..Mubarak watches Glenn Beck???!!!

[Predicto]

It appears Mubarak shares your fears ASF

'They may be talking about democracy but they don't know what they're talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam,'" he quoted Mubarak as saying.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/mubarak-slammed-u-s-in-phone-call-with-israeli-mk-before-resignation-1.342831

I hope he is wrong

We all do. No one knows what will happen next.

Still, I wonder if there is ANY dictator in the world that you cant make that argument about. Certainly any dictator in the Muslim world. Does that mean that all change must be opposed? :whoknows:

[twa]

I have supported change, but I urge caution since choices have consequences.

[SAli457180]

I think Brett Favre called him and said "Dude, retire already..."

:silly:

I'll second that. However, it's nice to see today in 2010 a person in power so long actually listen to his people. Having said that, :whoknows: what actually went on behind the scenes.

[AsburySkinsFan]

We all do. No one knows what will happen next.

Still, I wonder if there is ANY dictator in the world that you cant make that argument about. Certainly any dictator in the Muslim world. Does that mean that all change must be opposed? :whoknows:
I support the change as well, but I think we would all be well served to remember that Mubarak assumed power in Egypt during a time of crisis where he was the general in charge, only to maintain martial law and his own authoritarian rule, 30 years later they have the chance to do what Mubarak failed to do the first time.


I have supported change, but I urge caution since choices have consequences.
I urge sobriety.

[chipwhich]

I urge sobriety.

Well that is stimulating.

[thebluefood]

You guys wanna know about my urges?

:paranoid:

[Bang]

I have supported change, but I urge caution since choices have consequences.

Well, it's not really our choice to make.

~Bang

[twa]

Well, it's not really our choice to make.

~Bang

How we respond is....for every action...

ASF sobriety is using caution is it not?

[SnyderShrugged]

Did they ever give a headcount of all the protesters nation wide?

[twa]

They skipped taking heads this time...maybe it's a trend

[Corcaigh]

The USA supported the dictator for decades. So why do we see his downfall as a good thing? It ain't 1776 any more and we aren't who we think we are.

[Bang]

I think what gives me the highest optimism is the overall age of the protesters. By and large they're young people, but not kids. 20s and 30s.. not just students, in other words.
From everything I've seen (which admittedly pales in comparison to some of you guys' understanding of the situation.) the protesters are largely pro-west, pro-freedom, and eager to tell us their story, eager for our support, eager to clasp hands with us in unity.

If their movement is subverted by people who want other things, I don't think they'll stand for it. They've already shown a willingness to die for their cause, and the temerity it takes to sustain a revolt.
Usually I'm such a pessimist, but I really believe change for the better is coming.

~Bang

[thebluefood]

I think what gives me the highest optimism is the overall age of the protesters. By and large they're young people, but not kids. 20s and 30s.. not just students, in other words.
From everything I've seen (which admittedly pales in comparison to some of you guys' understanding of the situation.) the protesters are largely pro-west, pro-freedom, and eager to tell us their story, eager for our support, eager to clasp hands with us in unity.

If their movement is subverted by people who want other things, I don't think they'll stand for it. They've already shown a willingness to die for their cause, and the temerity it takes to sustain a revolt.
Usually I'm such a pessimist, but I really believe change for the better is coming.

~Bang

That does encourage me, too. They're young, educated, and mixing in demographics. The fact that women and Christians are out there marching, not to mention students and professors, tells me that this is not what some think it is.

[SnyderShrugged]

I think what gives me the highest optimism is the overall age of the protesters. By and large they're young people, but not kids. 20s and 30s.. not just students, in other words.
From everything I've seen (which admittedly pales in comparison to some of you guys' understanding of the situation.) the protesters are largely pro-west, pro-freedom, and eager to tell us their story, eager for our support, eager to clasp hands with us in unity.

If their movement is subverted by people who want other things, I don't think they'll stand for it. They've already shown a willingness to die for their cause, and the temerity it takes to sustain a revolt.
Usually I'm such a pessimist, but I really believe change for the better is coming.

~Bang

It really does have a positive feel to it, I for one am praying it stays that way. (I'm a bit worried that essentially they have kept dictatorial powers in place, just with a new person).

[twa]

That does encourage me, too. They're young, educated, and mixing in demographics. The fact that women and Christians are out there marching, not to mention students and professors, tells me that this is not what some think it is.

What it is does not determine what it will be if they are not careful.
I am hopeful as well,but hopes never ran a country

[Bang]

What it is does not determine what it will be if they are not careful.
I am hopeful as well,but hopes never ran a country

That's why I'm encouraged by the age. They're young, but not just idealistic students thrashing around against the establishment because they're finally out of Mom and Dad's house and think they've got the world figured out. They're young enough to retain some idealism, but have it tempered with a knowledge of how the world really does work.

~Bang

[AsburySkinsFan]

The USA supported the dictator for decades. So why do we see his downfall as a good thing? It ain't 1776 any more and we aren't who we think we are.

The US supports lots of dictators around the globe when it is in the best interest of the US to do so.

[Buford]

Obviously, Egypt has a long way to go. But the past few weeks have been what seems a good step forward. Especially when the comments about honoring currently agreements and treaties. I'm also glad that most current American elected officials took the high road on this, and only a few tried to use this as an attack on the admin. Of course you have the dummies out there that probably are still saying Obama f'd it up. But they're wrong. Aside from conversation, we let the Egyptians handle their own business and it appears to be working. I can't imagine us doing anything differently and getting a better result thus far.

Congrats to Egypt. Keep it up.