Will the administration EVER break with Mubarak?

[Ken Burch]

[Zoeisright]

1. Well sure, but they can't condemn him right now.

They have to be as neutral as possible, condemning violence of course, until the people of Egypt come to some kind of conclusion. That's what diplomacy is.

[jillan]

13. Excellent reply. We need to see the outcome of all of this...and the Obama admin will have to

accept however this turns out.

[KT2000]

2. Obama laid the groundwork

for withdrawing US support in his comments today - IMHO

[Catherina]

3. Voted other. They'll be forced to because there's no way the Egyptian people

will tolerate Mubarak, his son or any other crooked puppets. They'll break but it won't be willingly. The US is doing everything it can to keep the Mubarak regime in power.

Consider the dreadful implications for the US when, if Egypt opens up the Rafah border and Gaza is free.

[Duppers]

4. CNN 360 reporting good news now

Just listening to Anderson Cooper reporting that Obama is taking a new hard stance against Mubarak.

Obama is threatening to cut off the $1 Billion aid which supports Egypt's military!

This is GREAT news!!

[Ken Burch]

5. Sounds good.

n/t.

[pampango]

6. And the military is the key. The people seem to trust the military more than the police

and, I hope, Obama had sent the message to the military that the aid they get from the US is dependent on them not opening fire on civilians when Mubarak tells them to. If it takes another day or two of demonstrations before Mubarak orders them to fire and they, hopefully, refuse that's OK.

I remember Marcos in the Philippines issuing a combative statement on TV during the popular uprising that ousted him. He refused to leave and promised changes. He was gone within a couple of days when the military there wouldn't fire on the people.

[jimlup]

7. Depends on what you mean by "break"

When he becomes unsustainable the answer is "yes". Perhaps not as extreme but, does anyone remember the "Shah"?

[Jester Messiah]

8. What, and give up that sweet buffer zone for Israel?

The whole house of cards would come tumbling down. Hell, it needs to. The "peace process" is a sick joke, they need to just have it out.

[devilgrrl]

9. That will depend on what Corporate America thinks should be done.

eom

[backscatter712]

10. Some other DUer called it - Clinton may be negotiating an "out" for Mubarak.

Generally, things get less bloody if the dictator takes an out by accepting exile somewhere else like Dubai. So I imagine the diplomatic channels are abuzz with requests for asylum, negotiations of terms, carefully trying to persuade Mubarak to take a cushy retirement...

[Ken Burch]

11. Hopefully, that will happen.

n/t.

[Better Believe It]

12. Yes, if and when they think Mubarak has decided to give up power.

[Imagevision]

14. NEVER! Bush starts a phoney war - Mubarak swipes 40 Billion, same ole- same ole...