Clinton Delivers Mubarak

Political Obituary

As Egypt's Parliamentary speaker defied the obvious discontent of the citizenry, declaring the country would not be swayed, and warning off outside influences that would threaten the "stability" of the nation, American Secretary of State Clinton appeared on 'Meet the Press' delivering what amounted to a political epitaph for the multi-generational America-sponsored dictator, Hosni Mubarak.

 

Clinton is now calling for an "orderly transition of power," saying the Mubarak reaction was not conducive to a democratic solution to the current crisis.

 

The last few days have been nothing less than seismic in Egypt, the masses in the streets shaking the foundations of the regime, first throwing rocks, then offering kisses and flowers to the army, now brandishing small rounds of bread, while all calling for the end of Mubarak's thirty plus year rule.

 

Despite the regime's attempt to circumscribe the ubiquitous variations of social and traditional media, Twitter, and Al Jazeera itself still manage to get images of the great gathering multitudes out to the world, and more importantly for Egyptians, into the streets of the capital. Now, techs. around the world are racing to restore what the communications abilities Egyptian authorities have tried to block.

 

Sharif Abdel Kouddous, a producer with the American independent news program, Democracy Now!and himself an Egyptian native, is among the throng in Cairo's central square at this hour, (January 30, 19:30 local time). You can follow him on Twitter@sharifkouddous.

He reports the crowd craning to hear a speech from former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed Elbaradei, the man many progressive Egyptians have pinned their hopes on for the next president. Elbaradei cited the need for western powers to recognize the basic, democratic yearnings of his fellow Egyptians, saying;

 

"The international community must understand we are being denied every human right day by day. Egypt today is one big prison. If the international community does not speak out it will have a lot of implications. We are fighting for universal values here. If the west is not going to speak out now, then when?"

 

Elbaradei has kept a relatively low profile throughout the first days of the uprising, but came out yesterday to join the crowds and was gassed along with the rest. Today he called for the removal of Mubarak, but was cut off before finishing the last two of his three demands of the regime.

 

For his part, Mubarak sacked his cabinet Saturday, naming his secret police head, Egypt's infamous "torturer in chief" as vice-president, a first post for Mubarak's government, and swore in another prime minister. A new cabinet is said to be soon named.

 

Chris Floyd of Empire Burlesque has more on Suleiman here. It is unlikely the people will accept the brutal Omar Suleiman, or any other of Mubarak's coterie of human rights abusers, as a replacement for the now politically doomed regime. London's Guardian newspaper has a fascinating timeline of events, events that are moving with incredible speed.

 

Meanwhile, a popular movement is rising across the country, most violently so far in the city of Suez. There are reports a prison in Cairo rose in riot, and then being stormed, Bastille-like, by visiting relatives of prisoners, all prisoners being freed. More than two thousand "outlaws" were arrested overnight by the military, and the regime has ordered the army out in strength, with a proviso they not attempt to move on protesters, but protect against "thugs" and looters.

 

The hated Egyptian police are nowhere to be seen, though many reports yesterday named those same thugs breaking windows and terrorizing regular citizens trying to go about their business as being recognized by locals as police officers. As Sharif Abdel Kouddous reported, the first demonstrations on January 25th came in concert with commemorations for 'National Police Day.' Protest commenced then in remembrance of a young man, Khaled Said, beaten to death by police in June.