Mubarak’s Decision to Stay Puts Obama in a Tight Spot

Jonathan S. Tobin "Mubarak’s attempt to hold on has created a crucial moment in which America and its allies in the Arab world must do what it can to prevent Egypt from becoming the new focus of Islamist terror. The possibility of such a terrible choice makes it all the more important for President Obama to use whatever leverage the United States still has in Egypt to influence Mubarak and the army to step back from the precipice."

So Mubarak Isn’t Stepping Down  "This four-hour mania about Mubarak’s resignation is a sobering example of what can happen when credulous Western news organizations attempt to report in the rumor-driven culture of the Middle East."  John Podhoretz

Video: Greatest Moments in Liberal History

Alwaysonwatch

Facts listed: Justice Department Only Selectively Complies with Freedom of Information Act

Pajamas Media  "Eric Holder’s Justice Department has even politicized compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. According to documents I have obtained, FOIA requests from liberals or politically connected civil rights groups are often given same day turn-around by the DOJ. But requests from conservatives or Republicans face long delays, if they are fulfilled at all."

Death Knell For Multiculturalism?

Powerline  "French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday declared that multiculturalism had failed, joining a growing number of world leaders or ex-leaders who have condemned it.

""We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who was arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that was receiving him," he said in a television interview in which he declared the concept a "failure.""

http://www.theblogofrecord.com/2009/01/02/the-real-suicide-bomb/

Pat Oliphant on Egypt

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/po/

President Obama and Bill O'Reilly; the interview

American Thinker  "The point of a good cross-examination is to lead the witness somewhere without the witness realizing where they are headed. This is done through a number of irrefutable leading questions that are easily answered. O’Reilly did this with Obama by starting out by asking if there was a war on terror. "Obama responded in the affirmative.
"The next question was just as crucial, but seemed innocent enough, namely identify the enemies. Obama followed with Al Qaeda, terror cells, and radical Islam coupled with a vague commitment to hunt these terrorists down and eliminate them.
"O’Reilly then did an extraordinary thing..."

UK Guardian

Breaking: Mubarak ‘on verge of quitting’ NO...WAIT!

Via Drudge  "The news came following repeated warnings by members of the regime of a military crackdown or coup.
"Some pro-democracy protesters reacted cautiously, saying they would only believe Mubarak was really resigning when he announced it on state television."

Mubarak Addresses Egypt, Will Not Step Down "President Hosni Mubarak finally addressed his nation after four days of unprecedented demonstrations—but he's not resigning as protesters have demanded. Instead, he's ordered his Cabinet to quit so he can appoint new ministers, reports AP. It's a safe bet that will not satisfy protesters who continue to defy a government-imposed curfew across Egypt. "Mubarak just blamed the government," one protester told CNN after the speech. "We will continue our demonstrations until we get our full demands. We want him to leave. His time is over.""

This is why Tunnel Wall should stay away from news and go with commentary on the news only.

http://townhall.com/cartoons/chuckasay

Obama and the Middle East

Factor this in when learning of Mubarack's actions in days to come.

UK Guardian on oil reserves:  "The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating, confidential cables from its embassy in Riyadh show.
"The cables, released by WikiLeaks, urge Washington to take seriously a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive that the kingdom's crude oil reserves may have been overstated by as much as 300bn barrels – nearly 40%."

Saudi King lays down the law to Obama on Egypt  "At a time when America needs a strong and wise leader handling extremely dangerous events int he Middle East, we have a president who has squandered our standing and is seen as weak and amateurish."   How'd that bow to the king work for ya?

Amateur Hour at the White House  "Then, on Tuesday, in another misstep; Obama personally phoned Mubarak and essentially told his Egyptian counterpart it was time to step aside. Mubarak once more declined to oblige, having just said in a speech to the nation he would step down in September. Mubarak’s refusal, however, prompted strong words the following day from Gibbs, who said: “Not September. Now means now.”
"On the weekend, the White House, however, backtracked on its policy regarding Mubarak’s immediate removal. Clinton told journalists removing Mubarak too hastily would threaten the transition to democracy, while Wiesner, who had just asked Mubarak a few days earlier to step down, said at a conference in Munich: “President Mubarak’s role remains extremely critical in the days ahead.”"

Lawmakers criticize Obama’s response to Egypt crisis  "In his conversation with Gen. Suleiman, Mr. Biden reaffirmed that the future of Egypt will be determined by the Egyptian people.
"However, Mr. Ackerman said: "Respecting Egyptian sovereignty is one thing. Maintaining a level of ambiguity so thick that ordinary Egyptians cannot discern whether or not we are on their side is something else altogether.""