Clinton: Egypt must respect citizen rights, reform

[ProSense]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday appealed for Egyptian authorities to respect the rights of their citizens amid a crackdown on swelling anti-government protests, and urged them to heed demands for political and economic reform.

Speaking as street demonstrations rocked Egypt's capital despite a curfew, Clinton urged calm on both sides and said the government must investigate and prosecute any allegations of brutality by security forces. She also called on Egypt to restore access to the Internet and social media sites that have been blocked.

"We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters, and we call on the Egyptian government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces," Clinton told reporters at the State Department. "At the same time, protesters should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully."

"We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communication," she said. "These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110128/ap_on_re_us/us_us_egypt

[DCKit]

1. Because rampant human rights abuses are only OK when the populace isn't protesting?

Geez, Hills, we're really NOT that stupid. Besides, who are we to lecture anyone about human rights?

A couple more speeches like that, and she'll have the credibility of Colin Powell or Condi.

[dipsydoodle]

2. She already got the credibility

of Kissenger.

Would be a bit difficult to sink lower than that.

[DCKit]

3. That's like comparing Darth Vader to Jar-Jar Binks.

I don't think she's evil, just too corporate (flunky) for my taste.

[inna]

7. come on. little harsh here.

[rabs]

9. Henry and Hillary

Henry was lovey-dovey with Pinochet.

Hillary is lovey-dovey with Hosni.

March 2009, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

CLINTON: "We look forward to President Mubarak coming (TO THE U.S.) as soon as his schedule would permit. I had a wonderful time with him this morning. I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States."

:hi:


(edit--typo)

[Beacool]

4. You do realize that the president sets foreign policy, don't you?

Why blame the SOS?

:shrug:

[DCKit]

5. I think it's been a long time since a U.S. President set foreign policy independently.

Regarding Egypt, I believe it's Israel and Big Oil (corporations and countries), in that order.

Additionally, we can't both support and decry the abuses of "our friends" around the world without looking like complete hypocrites. Even the most disadvantaged peasants in the most disadvantaged countries seem to have more political sense than the majority of Americans. They get it, and we're busy chanting "USA! USA! USA!".

Our "special relationship" with Egypt is quite complicated, but there are few aspects of it that aren't truly ugly. The people of Egypt deserve a better friend than the U.S..

I do like Hillary, but she should have wit-held her comments a while longer.

[dipsydoodle]

6. Dream on.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

8. So what does she do for a living?

[Beacool]

10. The same as every SOS, implement the president's policies.

;)