Egypt:"This is taking place in the same city (Cairo) where Obama gave his speech to the Muslim world

[pampango]

on June 4, 2009. An excerpt after the jump."

" No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas; they are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere."

Even though the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is an ally of the United States, it would be jarring if Obama makes no mention of this unrest in his speech tonight, or in some other public statement.

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/01/25/protests-flare-in-egypt/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fswampland+%28TIME%3A+Swampland%29

Full text of Obama's Cairo speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-cairo-university-6-04-09

[tekisui]

1. Hillary Clinton said: "Egypt's government is stable."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111251711053608.html

If Obama does mention it at all, it will be cursory and brief.

[Soral]

2. Um, is she paying attention today?

[girl gone mad]

8. Wishful thinking on her part.

Sadly, she is part of the problem - working to keep entrenched interests secure at the expense of the vast majority of the people.

[Renew Deal]

3. Why would he mention it tonight?

I don't see how it fits in.

[elleng]

5. Tangentially, at best: State of The Union.

[Renew Deal]

6. I think it's the state of our union.

Not Egypts. But what do I know. Maybe it's a huge deal.

[elleng]

7. You are correct, req'd in OUR CONSTITUTION,

Prez shall 'from time to time' report/inform.

It appears to be a huge deal, and he'll have to deal with it tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, but not tonight.

[Renew Deal]

9. Here it is. No Egypt, but there is Tunisia.

"Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power – it must be the purpose behind it. In South Sudan – with our assistance – the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war. Thousands lined up before dawn. People danced in the streets. One man who lost four of his brothers at war summed up the scene around him: "This was a battlefield for most of my life. Now we want to be free."

We saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight, let us be clear: the United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia, and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.

We must never forget that the things we've struggled for, and fought for, live in the hearts of people everywhere. And we must always remember that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x272308

[elleng]

10. Thx, Renew.

[elleng]

4. Jarring, I'm afraid, if he DOES make mention tonight, imo.

The world is a tinder box, and must be handled very cautiously.