Joe Biden says Egypt's Mubarak no dictator, he shouldn't step down...

[WestVirginiaRebel]

csmonitor.com:

... and wonders what the Egyptian protesters want.

Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the PBS NewsHour tonight with the most direct US governent comments yet about the gathering Egypt protests against President Hosni Mubarak's 29-year reign.

Mr. Biden's comments are unlikely to be well-received by regime opponents, as they fit a narrative of steadfast US support for a government they want to bring down. About eight protesters and one policeman have died this week as Egypt has sought to bring down the heavy hand of the state against opponents. Since the US provides about $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt a year, the repressive apparatus of the state is seen by many in Egypt as hand in glove with the US.

Tonight in Cairo, activists said that internet service was being systematically blocked, as was the use of instant messages on local cellphones, despite repeated calls from the US State Department for Egypt to allow social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to remain available to the nation's people. Egypt is bracing for a showdown tomorrow. Organizers have called for massive protests against the regime after noon prayers on Friday, seeking to build on the unprecedented wave of public demonstrations this week calling for an end to Mubarak's rule.

Whether the protests will be as large as democracy activists hope is an open question. Overnight in Egypt, the government was doing everything it could to head them off.

Ahead of a day that could prove decisive, NewsHour host Jim Lehrer asked Biden if the time has "come for President Mubarak of Egypt to go?" Biden answered: "No. I think the time has come for President Mubarak to begin to move in the direction that – to be more responsive to some... of the needs of the people out there."

Asked if he would characterize Mubarak as a dictator Biden responded: “Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things. And he’s been very responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing relationship with – with Israel. … I would not refer to him as a dictator.”
________

Famous last words, Joe?

[ErnstBlofeld]

The last time I checked, Hosni Mubarak has been president for 30 years. He was sitting behind Sadat when he was assasinated in 1981 by his own army troops. Americans need to worry because there is billions of dollars worth of the latest American military hardware. Everything from bullets to bombs. We have been sending them this aid since 1979. If that falls to a government that is hostile we will be in very deep trouble.All that military hardware will be in the hands of radical Jihadists. Also there is a peace treaty with Israel which is in jeaprody.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The problem is, he's now seen as acting like a dictator. I'm worried as well, but Mubarek isn't blameless in all of this.

[ErnstBlofeld]

The problem is, he's now seen as acting like a dictator. I'm worried as well, but Mubarek isn't blameless in all of this.

 

The man has never lost an "election".There is an Egyptian Secret police force. It sounds like a dictator to me. The man should have been developing jobs in the Arab Streets where politics usually start.

[Casino67]

Joe is just following the WH script. Gibbs, at yesterday's newser, said the same thing. 'He is an ally and the O supports him'. Blah blah blah. It is sometimes tough defending an ally we need, but it has to be done sometimes. If we always told the truth we wouldn't have too many allies.

[ErnstBlofeld]

Joe is just following the WH script. Gibbs, at yesterday's newser, said the same thing. 'He is an ally and the O supports him'. Blah blah blah. It is sometimes tough defending an ally we need, but it has to be done sometimes. If we always told the truth we wouldn't have too many allies.

 

Obama is walking a fine line. Does he support the police state leaders or the people who are likely Jihadists.

[Casino67]

Joe is just following the WH script. Gibbs, at yesterday's newser, said the same thing. 'He is an ally and the O supports him'. Blah blah blah. It is sometimes tough defending an ally we need, but it has to be done sometimes. If we always told the truth we wouldn't have too many allies.

 

Obama is walking a fine line. Does he support the police state leaders or the people who are likely Jihadists.

 

I think the administration supports anyone, whatever their methods, that will help contain the radicals. Saudi sure isn't the epitome of democracy, but we support the hell out of them. Saudis is in the middle of all of this and I could foresee us helping them militarily if the chit hits the fan there.

[Argyle58]

We need to keep in mind that Mubarak is merely a figurehead. The military is in control of the Egyptian government, and they are NOT about to cede their power. As the only Muslim nation in the region that has a working relationship with Isreal, Egypt, as it is now, provides a calm voice and a lot of stability for the region.