Wisner has being tasked with gingerly showing Mubarak the door?

[JuniperLea]

A special envoy from President Obama spoke today with embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and delivered a message from the White House about how to best prepare for an "orderly transition," an administration source told ABC News.

Obama sent retired ambassador Frank Wisner to Cairo to talk with Mubarak. Wisner, who served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt for presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, is known to have a close relationship with Mubarak and top Egyptian government officials.

Sources said Wisner was sent by Obama to deliver a message about how to best prepare for an "orderly transition" from the current government to one that respects democracy, economic and political reforms, and human rights.

The White House would not comment on whether Wisner has being tasked with gingerly showing Mubarak the door.



http://abcnews.go.com/International/egypt-uprising-jordan-king-abdullah-sacks-cabinet-cairo/story?id=12809623




Diplomacy is a good thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Well any intelligent person gets it

that a sudden collapse will nto be good. They need a transition. Perhaps they need to get hosni out... and use his VEEP, to handle the very well supervised elections that will show him the door too. The NDP will keep some seats in Parliament, but I will be shocked if above 10% of all deputies if the election IS clean.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I am betting the people will not go for it.

They want ALL the tyrants out.
They will not be fooled by yet "another" government of the same people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. An election with clean and clear boxes

international supervision, and the promise that the veep don't run... they may go for it.

In other crisis the people have gone for it. Why? Getting rid of them and getting rid of it suddenly means chaos.

But the first step is the very well televised departure of Hosni to points North.

Oh and that includes a new constitution too.

[JuniperLea]

5. I'm betting elections will be slated right away...

The interim, transition team choices is where this will get interesting.

This is what grassroots looks like! Notice there were no Egyptians showing up to protests in fancy buses with their "team" logos and catch phrases printed nicely all over the sides. I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to bet there was no BBQ, pizza, or beer either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. They need a month, to get all the observers

and plastic clear boxes in. As well as for candidates to run.

This is the logistics of an election... today or tomorrow, it is not workable.

[JuniperLea]

8. I agree...

At least a month.

[arcane1]

2. Here's hoping he's VERY careful with the "economic" part...

:(

[JuniperLea]

9. How much money have we been giving Egypt?

Lots. And directly to a dirty despot. We have no control over whether or not a new regime would hold to the same agreement in any case.

[arcane1]

11. I'm more worried about the IMF and "free trade" n/t

(edited for spelling)

[Recursion]

7. When revolutions go bad, this is when it happens

Fingers crossed.

[JuniperLea]

10. Indeed. Fingers crossed...

Candles lit, prayers said, meditations commence... whatever you do, please do it now!