Egypt crisis: 17 days of fluctuating US messages

Friday, February 11, 2011

Egypt crisis: 17 days of fluctuating US messages

The US has seemed constantly behind with the Egypt developments. Here is a timeline of their response from January 25.

– Protests begin in Egypt on the day Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to Congress. He does not mention Egypt but does refer to protests in Tunisia and says the United States "supports the democratic aspirations of all people". Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, gives the first high-level US response, saying, "Our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people."

Day 2 – Wednesday, Jan. 26:

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, is asked whether the United States still backs Hosni Mubarak. His response: "Egypt is a strong ally."

Day 3 – Thursday, Jan. 27:

As protests spread, Joe Biden, the vice president, calls Mr Mubarak an ally on Middle East peace efforts and says: "I would not refer to him as a dictator." Mr Obama, in a YouTube interview, says reform "is absolutely critical for the long-term wellbeing of Egypt."

Day 4 – Friday, Jan. 28:

The White House says the United States will review $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt. Mr Obama speaks with Mr Mubarak after the Egyptian president, in a televised statement, calls for a national dialogue to avoid chaos. Mr Obama says he urged Mubarak to undertake sweeping reforms "to meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people."

Day 5 – Saturday, Jan. 29:

After Mr Mubarak sacks his government and makes Suleiman vice president, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley tweets that the Egyptian leader "can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat."

Day 6 – Sunday, Jan. 30:

Mrs Clinton, on television talk shows, dodges questions about whether Mr Mubarak should resign but brings the term "orderly transition" into the official US message for the first time.

"We want to see an orderly transition so that no one fills a void, that there not be a void, that there be a well thought out plan that will bring about a democratic participatory government," she tells "Fox News Sunday."


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