Tom Cohen
CNN
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama's spokesman listed Wednesday specific steps the Egyptian government needs to take to satisfy the demands of protesters convulsing the country.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called for expanding he negotiations with opposition groups, lifting the state of emergency and making constitutional changes to bring about democratic elections.
"We think more has to be done, and more importantly, I think the people of Egypt think more has to be done," Gibbs told reporters.
In a sign of increasing tension between the United States and Egypt over the demonstrations that began January 25, Egypt's foreign minister said in a U.S. television interview that the Obama administration should back off from pushing President Hosni Mubarak to speed up the reform process.
"When you speak about prompt, immediate, now," Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told PBS "Newshour," it is "as if you are imposing on a great country like Egypt, a great friend that has always maintained the best of relationship with the United States, you are imposing your will on him."
Aboul Gheit said the U.S. government should "better understand the Egyptian sensitivities and better encourage the Egyptians to move forward and to do what is required - that is my advice to you."
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You asked, Anderson answers
Aid to egypt is 1.6 billipn..3 billion to economic aid If US takes aide from egypt.this would not happen.much of money goes back to us to ge,locheed and many othe companys.this would not happen since these companys have very strong lobbys in congress."scene:"if aide is taken away Mubaqrek has 45-70billion dollars in his own accounts.He could support army for many years,s Egypt doe not really need are aide and takeing away aide would not happen because of our big compayi nterests in Egypt
fred butt columbia,ms
Dear Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Sir, with respect it is not about what America or any other nation says or does not say.
Listen not to us but to the Demonstrators in your own nation.
Of course democratically we have some ideas to help transition for what we believe is a better future for Egypt, but only want a democratic Egypt to decide, including the Muslim brotherhood if that is the will of the people.
Regards,
Hodgson
I think the people of Egypt should think about forming the Peoples Coalition for Self-Government. Giving each Egyptian the right & responsibility to maintain their own government, this being able to determine their own destiny.
The role of the government is to guarantee that the rights of the Egyptian people are respected. Government employees should be hired based on experience & competency. It comes down to using a Direct Democracy & bypassing people with personal agendas.
Well, I am Muslim and she is not completely right. Every Muslim believes in their book and the Profit as in any other religion. I have dealt with Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the claims she made are not profound and don't apply to Egypt. She painted all Muslim Brotherhood in all countries with Muslim majorities with the same brush. As if someone wanted to paint all right wings in the the Western countries with the same brush.
A suggestion for the USA and President Obama:
In this crisis in Egypt, the people demonstrating peacefully need protection against possible violence from their Government. The USA should petition the UN to send a peace keeping force to Egypt to protect the peaceful protesters. That is supposed to be one of the functions of the UN, and the USA should help mobilize such an international peace keeping force. This must be done before the Egyptian Government foments violence.
I thought I was watching FOX when I saw Ayaan Hirsi Ali on AC360. She was calling the MUSLIM brotherhood extrimist when in actuality she is the extremist. Mubarak is a liar, and so is Ayaan Hirsi Ai.
Would really love for Anderson Cooper or CNN to cover Iran...wait, where was Cooper during the Iranian protests? Ok, I get it. You only cover our allies' protests right?
A massive infusion of cash from the US is necessary to stop the Egyptian riots. They need national health-care, hospitals, schools, food-stamps, and cash supplements for the poor. It can and will be sent, but it is needed NOW not later.