President Obama's special envoy for Egypt says Mubarak must stay in power to lead transition!

[Better Believe It]

EGYPT: President Mubarak must stay for now, U.S. envoy says
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
February 5, 2011

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak must stay in power for now to steer the political transition, President Obama's special envoy for Egypt told reporters Saturday.

"We need to get a national consensus around the preconditions for the next step forward. The president must stay in office to steer those changes," Frank Wisner told a security conference in Munich, Germany, during a video conference from Washington, Reuters reported.

Wisner, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt and India who is seen as having a good relationship with the Mubarak regime, was dispatched to Cairo earlier this week by Obama to meet with Egyptian leaders.

"There is a chance to move forward," Wisner told the security conference Saturday. "It's fragile, it's the first stage, things could go wrong. But the direction is promising,"

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/babylon-beyond/

[Better Believe It]

1. US envoy: Mubarak has to lead Egypt to transition

Associated Press
US envoy: Mubarak has to lead Egypt to transition
Associated Press
February 5, 2011

MUNICH -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's leadership remains crucial for now as the country heads into a transition to democracy, a U.S. envoy who met him this week said Saturday.

Frank Wisner, who was dispatched to Cairo on Monday, said he is increasingly hopeful that Egypt can manage a peaceful and orderly transition to democracy.

"You need to get a national consensus around the preconditions of the next step forward, and the president must stay in office in order to steer those changes through," Wisner said. "I therefore believe that President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical - it's his opportunity to write his own legacy."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/02/05/general-eu-germany-security-conference_8294163.html

[movonne]

12. It seems like America is dictating the terms ...not the people

[tomg]

2. "things could go wrong".

As soon as Wisner said this - The president must stay in office to steer those changes - they did.

[Better Believe It]

3. US Envoy: Mubarak should stay for democracy

US Envoy: Mubarak should stay for democracy
By Bikya Masr Staff
February 5, 2011

American Special Envoy to the Middle East Frank Wisner told reporters in a satellite video conference in Munich that President Hosni Mubarak should remain in power in order to oversee the transition to democracy. His comments come as Egyptians continue their ongoing demonstrations aimed at ending three decades of authoritarian rule in the country.

“What is he talking about? We have spoken. We want Mubarak to go and there is no way we will accept him to do anything for Egypt from now on,” said Mohamed, a 27-year-old anti-government protester. He told Bikya Masr that the United States “should get its act together and support freedom and democracy.”

Wisner said he also welcomed the resignation of Egypt’s ruling party leadership. Senior figures including Mubarak’s son Gamal have left their posts.

He urged people to control their rhetoric – the more Egyptians hear demands from outside the country for Mr Mubarak to stand down, he argued, the more it could have negative consequences.

http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=25833

[malaise]

5. Wisner should STFU

Is he Egyptian?

[TBF]

7. +1000 nt

[dipsydoodle]

4. Wisner is CIA

Special envoy my foot.

[Better Believe It]

8. That's why Obama has appointed him the special envoy. He can identify with the regime.

[TBF]

6. Mr. Wisner, please define "what could go wrong" because I'm very

curious as to what you mean by that.

:eyes:

[snagglepuss]

10. Me too. Is this Admin totally blowing their chance to redeem themselves

with the Arab street? I think so. Did Wisner get the go-ahead to make these comments which are at odds with Obama's comments? Either he is going out on a limb or this is kabuki theater.

[snot]

9. Previously posted at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x354735

with some good, additional info.

[Better Believe It]

11. Different articles with important information I hadn't seen. Putting up cross-links.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x354735

[seafan]

13. More info here.

Link

[Better Believe It]

14. Thank you