Obama's caution on Egypt is winning no friends (Mark Mardell | BBC)

[struggle4progress]

... The president's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, has said that the administration is reviewing the money it gives to Egypt. The country gets around $1.3bn (£800m) a year in military aid alone. Mere millions go to supporting democratic movements and other civilian aid ...

The president has not spoken to President Hosni Mubarak. The White House is watching, and waiting. The coin is still spinning, and the administration is not eager to make a wager based on how it will fall.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .... went on to draw lessons. There were "deep grievances" and reform was "critical" and "imperative", she said. The Egyptian government should see its people as partners, not as a threat. This is a change of tone, not so much from the past day or two, but from what went before.

... I have just watched an Egyptian journalist on BBC World television say that the tear gas canisters fired by police were made in the US. Over dramatic pictures of billowing smoke, he says America likes strong men without democratic backing, because "it is easy to pick up the phone and tell the leader what is expected from them" ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2011/01/on_egypt_white_house_is_ignore.html

[struggle4progress]

1. White House: Egyptians' grievances 'legitimate'

The Associated Press
Published: Friday, January 28, 2011 at 3:31 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 28, 2011 at 3:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON - ... Press secretary Robert Gibbs said .... Gibbs said that "we're monitoring a very fluid situation."

Gibbs said it was time for reform to come to Egypt. He reiterated calls for calm and said that the Pentagon has been in direct contact with the Egyptian military to caution restraint ...

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110128/APW/1101282805

[katty]

3. right...'fluid' situation.. like OIL $ fears

[struggle4progress]

2. Monitoring the Situation in Egypt

WASHINGTON (AP)
Posted: 4:43 PM Jan 28, 2011
Reporter: MATTHEW LEE and ERICA WERNER - Associated Press Writers

An Obama administration official says the United States will review its $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt based on events unfolding in the country, where the authoritarian government is struggling to extinguish huge and growing street protests.

The U.S. also warned citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Egypt and urged Americans in the country to stay put.

In a travel alert issued Friday, the State Department said the situation in the capital, Cairo, and other cities is volatile as the military and security forces move to quell the demonstrations. It said Americans in Egypt now should remain in their homes or hotels until calm is restored.

Although the demonstrations are not directed against U.S. or Western interests, the department noted that protests have turned violent, resulting in deaths, injuries and major property damage ...

http://www.whsv.com/nationalap/headlines/Monitoring_the_Situation_in_Egypt_114825789.html

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. Sticking finger up- checking the wind direction

Typical

[Demeter]

5. With Friends Like That---