Mubarak Departs

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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned today after heavy popular and international pressure and most likely, an ultimatum from his own military. A new Egypt is being formed but it is unclear what it will look like, though the Muslim Brotherhood is certain to play a major role. The balance of power in the Middle East may soon dramatically change as the Obama administration appears indecisive and confused about the true nature of the Brotherhood.

On Thursday, senior Egyptian officials told the press that Mubarak would announce his resignation later that day. The military commander in Cairo told the protestors that “All your demands will be met today” and following a day’s worth of meetings between the members of the Supreme Military Council that excluded Mubarak, it declared its support “for the legitimate demands on the people.” It seemed certain that the military had told Mubarak that his time was up.

Mubarak’s defiant speech later that day offered no concessions and brought the rage of the Egyptian people to a whole new level. He only said that some powers would be transferred to Vice President Omar Suleiman without offering any detail. Today, the protestors marched on his presidential palaces in Cairo and Alexandria and the state television building. He was forced to flee Cairo and shortly after, it was announced that he was resigning and the Supreme Military Council would take over.

The military was probably compelled to finally kick Mubarak out because of the deteriorating security situation. The institution is tasked with protecting the nation and it had to take action as violent clashes erupted, riots broke out in the area of the Suez Canal and spreading labor strikes paralyzed the economy, especially its crucial tourism sector. Soldiers are being photographed with protestors and were seen smiling when the news broke.

The Supreme Military Council is claiming it will guide a democratic transition and will honor “the legitimate demands of the people.” It is now being reported that the Council will fire the entire government, suspend both houses of parliament and jointly rule with the chief of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

In the short-term, the military takeover benefits Western interests because it will bring stability that could prevent a governmental collapse that permits the Muslim Brotherhood to immediately take power. The economic crisis caused by the unrest would also be exploited by the Islamists. The change in power also ensures that a leadership hostile to radical Islam is in power that understands the threat of the Brotherhood.

Omar Suleiman is a friend of the U.S. who despises the Islamists. A 2006 cable said that the working relationship with Suleiman is “now probably the most successful element” of the American-Egyptian alliance. The released documents show that he refers to the Iranians as “devils” and warned the U.S. in 2006 that the Brotherhood had inspired “11 different Islamist extremist organizations,” which the State Department thought was an effort to make the Brotherhood a “bogey man.” A U.S. diplomat wrote in an August 2008 cable that “there is no question that Israel is most comfortable” with Suleiman taking power in Egypt instead of Mubarak’s son.

However, the Supreme Military Council won’t be in power forever. Islam scholar Robert Spencer, director of JihadWatch.org, told FrontPage that “This is the Muslim Brotherhood’s big chance. They are in the best position they ever have been in to take power in Egypt.” He suggested that the Brotherhood won’t immediately seize the country, but will dominate a coalition government and later begin ousting rival parties.

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  • Chezwick_Mac

    And mark my words folks, his insistence that he will be "buried on Egyptian soil" was just as hollow as his insistence yesterday that he would stay on until September. He'll be in exile within days…unless he stays long enough for the new regime to consolidate itself and then put him on trial for corruption.

  • Steve Chavez

    BE HAPPY FOLKS because we will all soon see the hypocrisy of the Left, and Obama, when the people of CUBA rise up to rid their dictator of FIFTY YEARS FIDEL CASTRO, THE HERO OF THE AMERICAN LEFT!!!! There is a small, but also potent, protest going on now and they too are using the internet. (Foxnews.com Cuban Bloggers). They have been arrested and tortured along with others who are using the Egyptian victory as inspiration to begin their own Facebook Revolution! EVO MORALES of Bolivia too was booed off the stage and had to exit! Chavez is worried big time! IRAN IS REALLY WORRIED! CHINA HAS REMOVED THE WORD "EGYPT" FROM THEIR INTERNET which then makes more people wonder why and they bypass the rules! SO, DON'T WORRY! The Egyptian Army will not allow chaos and the downfall of Egypt, its tourism, the Suez, the Pyramids, to be ruled by the radicals! SO, SOON, VERY SOON, YOU WILL SEE THE REAL REVOLUTION AND OBAMA WILL HAVE TO CHOKE ON HIS OWN WORDS!!! THE WORLD WILL THEN SEE THE TRUTH BEHIND THE SMILE!!!

    • scum

      Yea, and the Illuminati and going to appear when the Mayan prophecy is fulfilled. LOL

      • davarino

        Are you mocking the idea that Obama is not for freedom for every nation, or are you mocking the idea that freedom can come to every nation? Not sure how illuminati and mayan prophecy got shoe horned in there.

  • Maggie

    Maybe if we have protesters camp out on the mall in DC and disrupt traffic and business and government for a week or so, maybe our president will step down. Then leaders in the Middle East can compliment us on how we got rid of our president and how peaceful we were in accomplishing our goal.

    • Steve Chavez

      Being that Obama and the Democrats called the Tea Party all kinds of names, and Pelosi shedding tears of fear, they would call out the National Guard who would have the approval of Obama to mow them all down and claim "they were seeking the ovethrow of the government!" But on the third day, Leftist thugs driving Prius' will race through the crowd! Then they tie a chain to Lincoln's head and break it off and put up Obama's head, which was made a year ago in preparation for his rise to Dictator! He will then declare Martial Law and will be President for Life! So now our children sing "Allah Bless Obama" instead of "God Bless America." In two years flat, all of us will be Obama Zombies! "Obama. Obama. I love you Obama."

      • scum

        And yet none of this has happened.

        • coyote3

          No, they've just mowed down liberty, with the government exercising illegal power. Every time the government exercises a power, not delegated by the constitution, liberty is lost.

  • franz von fear

    The Egyptians shame the West with a lesson in courage, nonviolence and civil disobedience. If the Palestinians are wise, they will be taking to the street tonight. The last thing Israel wants currently is scenes of occupation troops gunning down nonviolent folks standing up for their baisc human rights. In any case – the end of Arab dictatorship is also in the long run the end of Israeli occupation.

    • MixMChess

      Franz, what Israeli occupation? Israel completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and the P.A. autonomously governs the W. Bank.

      Since when has it been a basic human right to freely murder and torture Jews?

      • franz von fear

        …… just as Israel will completely "withdraw" from the W. Bank and East Jerusalem, while the West looks on in wonder. Go ask your friend Mubarak, he'll explain the details.

        • MixMChess

          Israeli settlements exist on less than 3% of the W. Bank. That said, Israel has already offered to withdraw from most of those territories and even exchange parts of Israel proper in a final settlement.

          Is it really so difficult to understand that the Israelis want peace and the Palestinians want war and genocide?

      • scum

        Oh, right, it's really an independent state. WHEN PIGS FLY

        • franz von fear

          No. When the west ends its Israel appeassement, sometime soon. Go ask Mubarak. He knows the routine.

          • MixMChess

            The real question is when will the West end its appeasement of Palestinian Terror? According to World Bank official Nigel Roberts, Palestinians have received “the highest per capita aid transfer in the history of foreign aid anywhere." In fact, the U.S. recently pledged another $500 million to the terrorist Palestinians.

            Hopefully the movements in Egypt will spread and Palestinians can overthrow Islamo-terrorists like Hamas:
            http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/anonymo

          • aspacia

            You sound like a broken record.

        • MixMChess

          Since 1993 Israel transferred virtually all civilian authority to the Palestinian Authority. Israel retained the power to control its own external security and that of its citizens, but 98 percent of the Palestinian population in the West Bank came under the PA’s authority.

          I guess pigs really do fly huh scum?

          • Franz von Fear

            So we can expect Israeli recognition of a Pali State any day now?

          • MixMChess

            Israel would gladly recognize a Palestinian state that accepts final settlement peace with Israel in addition to actually recognizing Israel as a legitimate state.

            Unfortunately, just this past fall, the Fatah Revolutionary Council that is led by Abbas, and which leads the PA, issued a proclamation essentially rejecting any peace with Israel and refusing to recognize Israel as a Jewish State.

            I guess the Palestinians don't really want peace huh Franz?

    • ziontruth

      If the true Palestinians, meaning the Jews, are wise, they will be taking to the street, and then the Arab occupation of Jewish lands will be over.

    • aspacia

      Israel was attacked, and won the land fair and square. I don't give a damn what the UN claims; this group are whores taking bribes from the very rich. Israel should expel every Muslim from Israel proper, The West Bank, Gaza, and build a larger security wall mounted with anti ballistic rockets.

      I am so sick of those who continually cry victim, when they are the ones who usually victimized themselves with their own stupidity. Gaza could have been an international resort, but no, Hamas immediately started shooting rockets into Israel, brutally butchers member of Fatah, and seized power.

    • jacob

      MR FRANZ FROM FEAR :

      Let ISRAEL decide TOMORROW to make an end to "PALIS" working in Israel
      and you will see chaos making look pale what happened in EGYPT…!!!

      Ask any of the Arab-Israeli hypocrites if they want to reunite with their "Brothers"
      and they will show you the biggest birdie you ever saw, as they have their cake
      and are eating it too at full mouth…

      Did you know that the stupid Israeli govmt. hands over the P.A the millions paid
      in PAYROLL TAXES by Israeli employers of Arab workers, because just as an
      example, all building in the so called "Disputed Territories" is done by PALI
      contractors and workers ????

      Now put all this in your pipe and smoke it

  • USMCSniper

    I watched the MSM channels and the euporia and comments on "freedom" by the liberal commentators. They are counting their chickens before hatching. The army is temporarily in charge, Almost 25% of Egypt supports the Musim Brotherhood and almost 95% is anti semetic and wansts enocide of the Jewish people. Ve careful what you wish for by demanding a revolution.

    • scum

      Talk to Mubarak, not the 'Leftists'.

    • Fiddler

      And you know, if this whole thing degenerates into a cauldron of facism, don't look for the fauning liberal media to take any responsibility THEN. By then they will have "MOVE[d] ON". All the "rights" and freedom; none of the responsibilty. Because in the end, it's about influence, not about fact.

    • coyote3

      Yeah, this is gonna get real ugly. This place was always a sheethole, but at least the British used to keep a .303 lid on it.

      • USMCSniper

        Awwwww yes,,, the Lee Enfield .393 calibre bolt action. Bought one from surplus in the 50's and had it "sportized" into a deer rifle. Surplus .303 Ammunition was dirt cheap – about 5% the price of .308 ammunition and just as good.

  • Wesley69

    This was just the end of the first stage of the revolution. The Army will give way to some type of government with the Muslim Brotherhood in it. Just as the Mullahs got rid of their coalition partners, the Muslim Brotherhood will do the same, Within two years, Egypt will be an Islamic Republic and will tear up its treaty with Israel.

    I wonder which country goes down next as the dominoes fall.

    • scum

      So we're hammering away at the good old Domino Theory again, huh?

      • Wesley69

        Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Study up on your revolutions, friend.

  • http://www.fxexchangerate.com/ fxgeorges

    "Does Mr. Mubarak’s departure ensure a transition to democracy, or has it left behind a people who will wake up to a military dictatorship?"

    Egyptians have a lot of respect for their military, but, no, I don't think they will accept a military dictatorship. Too bad for the military if that's what they have in mind, and I doubt if they do.

    It seems Denmark was the only western country that had the guts to say Mubarak should go before he actually did. I wish it had been Canada, but no hope for that under our present regime. Let's hope we see the end of them too soon.

    • coyote3

      I sure wish the military would. A military dictatorship is the only hope. They need to use some of that equipment we sold/gave to them, and the talent we taught to them, on those monkeys in the square.

  • Piera Prister

    Farewell to democracy! the Nazi-Islamists are in the rise, they are the heirs of Hitler who signed an alliance with al- Husseini, Gran Mufti of Jerusalem, and al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood who received money from Nazi agents to build his military apparatus. That's why "Mein Kampf" is a best seller in the Muslim countries. Furthermore the Muslim Brothers have a solid connection with Hamas and Hezbollah, the long armed arm of Iran. We do not trust a president who never called for Ahmadinejad to step down during the green revolution but he just did it for Mubarak. Double standard!

    • BARBF

      Continuing Delusions About Egypt’s So-Called Revolution

      According to a recently published PEW poll the picture of Egyptian attitudes/opinions is pretty disturbing.

      At least three-quarters of Muslims in Egypt (that is 75% for the math challenged among you) say they would favor making each of the following the law in their countries:

      stoning people who commit adultery,

      whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery

      the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion.

      When this survey was taken almost a year ago, opinions were about evenly divided in Egypt, where 48% of Muslims say Islam plays a large role in their country’s political life and 49% say it plays only a small role.

      However, when asked if Islamic influence should play a role in their nation’s politics 85% of Egyptians said yes.

      • Fiddler

        Yes. Very disturbing indeed. Did you see the interview with Palcot and his cameraman?

  • Amused

    Suck-it -up people , Egyptians have just gained what we all " claim " we are for -FREEDOM . Egyptians lived in fear of their government , they could not criticize their government without risking imprisonment or torture . They had a dictator who has amassed 70 billion of their country's dollars .BTW , the brotherhood enjoys only about an 8% popularity among Egyptians . Mubarak attempted to poaint a picture of "foreign intereference " as a cause of this revolution , Ahmadinejab attempts to paint a picture of a "death to the US and Israel ", the Saudis fearing their own demise of their totalitarian dictatorship ,snubs the US by declaring THEY will replace the 1.5 billion in aid from the US …..the fear mongers in the US claim the brotherhood will soon rule Egypt. Yet NOTHING has been heard from these "patriots " regarding the denial of basic human rights of the Egyptian people , NOTHING heard about the Persecution of the Egyptian copts , especially when litle was done by Mubarak to prevent it .- hypocrites – all .

    • aspacia

      Your numbers are off. Read the most recent Pew poll regarding Egyptian views. The 8% you mention is from the wealthy areas, not the poor areas.

    • USMCSniper

      I will trust Bolton's opinion ahead of yours. It is the "responsibility of our government to protect our interests and our values and our friends and our allies," Bolton said. Referencing former President Theodore Roosevelt, he adding that "first and foremost we must make the world safe for ourselves." Mubarak's fall may end up making America less safe, Bolton said, because in a democracy a radical group like the Muslim Brotherhood may end up in power. He warned of the threat of "rising radicalism in the Middle East" and said Sharia law could soon be imposed on Egypt's citizenry.

      "We have to have a careful and prudent approach to these developments, because we've seen revolutionary situations go wrong too many times before," said Bolton, pointing to the Nazis, Hamas and Hezbollah.

  • http://apollospaeks.townhall.com ApolloSpeaks

    ALL HAIL THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC ON THE NILE

    On the 32nd anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, one of the most deadly and terrifying in history, Hosni Mubarak went the way of Iran's tragic Shah as Egypt begins it's transformation into the Islamic Republic on the Nile. The only walls crumbling are those that divide Mosque and State as a new and more horrible tyranny takes shape arising from a people who hate America, the West and Israeli Jews and want Sharia law to guide their fate. The Gazaization of Egypt is now underway as the Brotherhood of Evil works its way into power joining with Hamas, Hezbollah and fascist Iran in an alliance of unholy terror.

  • Amused

    The Muslim Brotherhood has been a part of Egypt since the late20's . They are not representative of the 80 million Egyptians , nor have they called the shots , in any way , including this latest change of power in Egypt . Egypt was and still is a military dictatorship , but the people have just made the first step in changing that . Some point out that Mein Kampf has been a popular book in Egypt …which is TRUE …..WHAT has Mubarak done about that ??

    • ziontruth

      Next you'll be saying the Muslim Brotherhood is nothing but a secular charity.

      Pundits pundits pundits… One never tires of them.

      • Amused

        No , but I wont be calling them the bogeymen some would have all cowering in fear of. I know what their agenda is , and so does anyone with ears ……but tell me true , do you think they'll attack and destroy Israel ? Or anyone else for that matter . If there is ONE THING TRUE of the islamic world , it is the undisputable fact that they will do a much better job of destroying one another than ANYONE else can . If you had studied them , and weren't so ignorant of their behavior , you would know that too . YOU think the brotherhood will steer Egypt into it's own ruin ? For that is what will become of Egypt should it attack Israel . The Egyptians know it too . You've been too long in the echo chamber with Beck and the rest of the loons .

        • ziontruth

          "No , but I wont be calling them the bogeymen some would have all cowering in fear of."

          It looks far more like you're saying, "Move along, nothing to see."

          ".but tell me true , do you think they'll attack and destroy Israel ? Or anyone else for that matter."

          If they manage to take over Egypt, they will attack Israel. They have said as much. One lesson the Jewish people ought to have learned from the Holocaust is, threats to wipe you out must be taken seriously.

          "If there is ONE THING TRUE of the islamic world , it is the undisputable fact that they will do a much better job of destroying one another than ANYONE else can."

          There will be internecine warfare within Islam. but they can still multitask. Disputes between Wahhabists and Salafists did not prevent the cooperation that led to 9/11. Disputes between Sunni and Shia Islam do not prevent Hamas and Hezbollah from doing dirty work together in the jihad against Israel.

          "YOU think the brotherhood will steer Egypt into it's own ruin ? For that is what will become of Egypt should it attack Israel . The Egyptians know it too."

          Looks to me like you're still stuck in the Cold War, with the enemy being a monstrous but still rational one. No, this is Muslim believers we're talking about. They're ready, as collectives just as surely as individuals, to commit murder by suicide.

          "You've been too long in the echo chamber with Beck and the rest of the loons."

          Nice implication that my thoughts and opinions are not my own. By the same token, I don't want to know who you've been hanging with. For one thing, using the term "bogeyman" should be familiar to anyone who's been for a length of time (even only as a lurker) on lefty forums.

    • aspacia

      http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1874/egypt-protests-d

      I hate insecure dictators, and religious fanatics. Egypt may turn into another Theocracy ruled by Sharia. Your point is well taken regarding the Copts, but the violence directed at them is from Muslims in general, not Mubarak.

      You forgot to mention the Turkish government attacks against the Kurds, and Muslim attacks against different Muslim sects.

  • BS77

    Mubarak may be gone…but what will fill the vacuum. The screaming mobs are going to find life will not miraculously improve. The unemployment and squalor of Egypt will be there when the parties and celebrations fade out. Perhaps the next President will be worse than Mubarak…..Egyptians have to build a new nation…and it will take time.

  • BLJ

    History repeating here. The Muslim Brotherhood is following the Iraninan playbook. They even have a sympathetic weak ass U.S. President to make sure they succeed.

    Speaking of Comrade Obama. The next time he or one of his fellow comrades compares him to Reagan I am going to puke. Reagan was an American patriot. Obama is an Islamic Marxist enemy.

  • ObamaYoMoma

    A democracy ~ with its liberal freedoms and openness ~ can’t possibly compete in the harsh Islamic environment of the Middle East, which is why there aren’t any. Not to mention that the other factions besides the Muslim Brotherhood are leftwing Marxist anti-Semites, and Marxism always fails every fricking time it has been attempted.

  • AL__
  • Fred Dawes

    with all the fools yelling with happy works about Egypt and the facts are the muslim brotherhood is working to help in the take down of our freedoms is really funny, do any of you get what just happened and will happen real soon? the level of BS Propaganda is totally mad, the brotherhood hates you. IT'S going to be fun watching in the next year as we see the real Egypt being ruled by the Koran and all the unbelievers are jubjugated and murdered under sharia law, and it will happen in jordan and syrian and God help the Jews if obama gets 4 more years to do the work of evil, we will be next, buy Guns.

    • aspacia

      You forgot to mention skyrocketing gas prices; 20% of the world's oil is shipped through the Suez.

  • Willy W.

    HOROWITZ stuns CPAC with allegations of one of the Muslim Conservative guest speakers is actually a closet member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The speaker, Khan, who spoke on Friday, was outed by DH and the room fell silent. My own face was red as was others. My heart beat went up 100 beats per minute and I was having a hard time breathing at the hard-hitting and constant barrage with facts. The other speakers are running for something now, or will be in the future, so their speeches were canned campaign events. After the DH speech, most of us came here to FPM to learn more. Amazing site. After lunch, one particular poster caught everyone's eyes. Most of you are great but this person is over the top good! Please watch CPAC live a cpac.org and log in with your email. Easy.

  • Amused

    CPAC will eat it's own …..just watch'em . Yea , I'll bet your breathless ….

    • aspacia

      Just weeding out the traitors.

  • geez

    Egypt will start down the democratic trail but I'm sure today the bribes and murder threats are taking place and the Muslim Brotherhood will take over the government in short time. I wish Obama would get the hell out of here and run for office in Egypt with his brotherhood buddies standing behind him. Then he could insult and belittle Israel all day everyday and everyone would sing his praise in the streets. He could also practice bowing to everyone, he seems to be very good at bowing. In fact, now that I think about it he's the best bowing President in the history of the United States. As long as he's here it's a lose lose for us.

  • jacob

    To all those believing in pregnant birds, I can say that either the Egyptian
    military now in power, declares open season on the Nuslim Brotherhood
    or it will be facing soon a repetition of what happened in IRAN and worse
    yet, the Islamic take over of TURKEY as we see it today, after almost 70
    years of SECULARIZATION as implanted by ATTATURK in the early 20's
    after doing away with the Sultanate….
    Of course, our ANNOITED ONE either has no idea of what can be seen
    in the horizon and neither the FOGGYT BOTTOM morons, or is a crocodile
    of the same pond, given the fact that the Brotherhood has his ear and no
    less than his "intelligence" advisor claims it is a "secular" organization..!!

    Par for the course, as this administration seems to scrape the garbage
    pail's bottom when searching for the posts for its people and not the
    people for the posts as wkitnessed by its "CZAR's" appointments…

  • Fiddler

    In the 2008 campaign Hillary Clinton rightly pointed out that Barack Obama (then Senator) voted "present" on many issues. I think the left and the naive love him because he "reserves judgment" which really means he takes no position. Everyone must remember this is the beginning of campaign 2012. Barack talked and "promised" his way to the presidency in 2008, and for the brain-dead entitllement crowd, they will believe what he promises from now until the election. As long as there are those who believe that government's role is to rob from the rich to give to the poor you will have those who purely for self-interest's sake vote for a sugar daddy, instead of a PROVEN leader.

  • http://mypage.direct.ca/l/lbouchar/ SeaMystic

    The core of Islam.

    Any Egyptians leaving Islam? Revolt is nor Democracy. Democracy is through a legitimate ballot box activity with multi parties involved.

    Bukhari: V5B57N119 Qur”an Surahs.

    When Mohammed was approached by his other wives, about the repeated gifts given to Aisha by other Muslims, after he took his routine turn at her, as his nine year old bride. “The Divine inspiration never came to me, while I was under the blanket of any woman among you except Her (meaning the 9 year old Aisha)”.
    This is through the act of pedophilia, what was the source of his inspiration?

    Bukhari: V4B52N44

    The Qur’an agrees, saying any peaceful Muslims are hypocrites, destined for Hell. “The Worst of Creatures”, “The most Vile Animals”.

    Islamic University in Medina Imam’s state: “It has been unanimously agreed that Imam Bukhari’s work is the most authentic of all other sources in Hadith literature put together.
    Second only to the Qur’an.

  • Amused

    you see any Saudis leaving islam ? [alleged ally ] you see any Pakistanis leaving islam ? [another alleged ally ] Any Jordanians ? Yemenis ? See any of the forementioned NOT persecuting non-muslims or muslim sects they don't like ?
    Do you see ANY muslims disputing the words of the Q'uran ? Of course you dont .
    So what has been the policy towards Egypt ? Lets keep their army modernized with US tax dollars , prop up the dictator who screws over his people and sacks the national treasure to the tune of several billions …..and yuou are naive enough to think that THIS is what prevents Egypt from attacking Israel ????
    And you're gonna blame who ? Obama ? When people like you decide to take off your "Obama derangement syndrome lenses" , you then may be able to see more clearly the true nature of the threat , and realize that propping up totalitarian dictators is futile . What happened inEgypt was inevitable ….when people are starving , revolt is always the next step , when they are brutally suppressed , revolt is inevitable.

  • Amused

    ….but I guess it makes you feel better to put the blame on that socialist /marxist /muslim / monster Obama . Enjoy your delusions . For the political leadership wont attempt to correct misinformation and alienate ignorant voting blocks of ignorant people …lol…..the votes are too valuable .