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  "authors": [
    "Marina Ottaway"
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    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
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Source: Getty

In The Media

Hosni Mubarak Staying Put - What Now?

What happens next in Egypt depends on what steps the military and the protesters take, not on what Washington says.

Link Copied
By Marina Ottaway
Published on Feb 11, 2011

Source: Politico

Hosni Mubarak Staying Put - What Now?President Hosni Mubarak’s defiant announcement to crowds that he will stay in power until the end of his term in September has been met with anger by the growing ranks of protesters. As soon as the crowds understood they were not listening to the expected resignation speech, a chorus of “go, go, go” replaced the festive atmosphere and singing of the national anthem of the previous hours. Tomorrow’s demonstrations promise to be huge. 

The speech suggests that Mubarak is in denial about the seriousness of the situation Egypt is facing and the extent of popular anger. His defiance has decreased the possibility that Egypt will experience an orderly transition. Instead, it appears increasingly likely that the military will intervene, because the government is completely discredited at this point and there is no other entity in the country that can start a credible transition process. Unfortunately, military intervention is not a promising beginning for what Egyptians hope will be a democratic transition. 
 
The Obama administration cannot influence the course of events in Egypt. Future developments depend on what steps the military and the protesters take, not on what Washington says. But the Obama administration needs to salvage what little credibility it still has in the Arab world. Washington has no control over what Egypt’s government, its military, and its people will do, but it has control over its own decisions: the best it can do is to announce that it is suspending all aid to Egypt until the situation is clarified and that it stands ready to move back in quickly when Egyptians have found a way forward.

About the Author

Marina Ottaway

Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program

Before joining the Endowment, Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American University in Cairo, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

    Recent Work

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    Reactions to the Syrian National Initiative

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    Slow Return to Normal Politics in Egypt

      Marina Ottaway

Marina Ottaway
Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program
Marina Ottaway
Political ReformNorth AfricaEgypt

Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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