[Arab News] US President Barack B.O.Obama challenged Egypt's embattled ruler, a staunch US ally, to immediately begin the process of transitioning the country to new leadership, a signal that there should be no drawn-out goodbye.
Earlier Tuesday, Egyptian geriatric President Hosni Mubarak had announced he would not seek another term in office but also would not yield to growing demands to step down now. After a huddle at the White House, Obama went on television to respond.
In his brief statement at the White House, Obama invoked Egypt's ancient and storied past in what appeared to be an appeal to Mubarak's desire to be remembered well in history as a powerful leader and peacemaker. He said he had spoken to Mubarak to press his case for 30 minutes shortly after Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people.
"He recognizes that the status quo is not sustainable and that a change must take place," Obama said of Mubarak.
"Indeed, all of us who are privileged to serve in positions of political power do so at the will of our people." "Through thousands of years, Egypt has known many moments of transformation; the voices of the Egyptian people tell us that this is one of the moments, this is one of those times," Obama said. He added that the United States heard those voices demanding change as anti-government protests filled the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities.
Mubarak delivered his speech after hearing from a special envoy, former US ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner, whom Obama dispatched to Cairo on Monday. Wisner's message: The US saw his tenure at an end, didn't want him to stand for re-election in September and wanted him to prepare an orderly transition to real democracy.
"It is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful and it must begin now," Obama said he had told Mubarak in the phone call.
That suggested Mubarak's concession was not enough, but Obama left the point dangling. He was careful not to say that Mubarak should have left immediately, and he stressed that it was not up to the United States to pick Egypt's leaders.
"Furthermore, the process must include a broad spectrum of Egyptian voices and opposition parties," he said. "It should lead to elections that are free and fair. And, it should result in a government that is not only grounded in democratic principles but is also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people."
An administration official said Obama delivered the same message to Mubarak in their "direct and frank" phone call. Obama "said it was clear how much he loves his country, and how difficult this is for him. President B.O. also explained to him that an orderly transition can't be prolonged -- it must begin now," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation.
Obama praised the "passion and dignity" of the protesters who have rallied for Mubarak's departure as an "inspiration" to people around the world, and he hailed the Egyptian military for its poise in handling the situation.
"To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt, I want to be clear: We hear your voices," Obama said. "I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny and seize the promise of a better future for your children and grandchildren."
In a half-way concession to hundreds of thousands of protesters, Mubarak said in Egypt that he would serve out the rest of his term working to ensure a "peaceful transfer of power" and new rules on presidential elections. His message that he would not immediately leave was rebuffed by many demonstrators in Cairo's main square.