Surprised this has not been diaried before. President Obama’s address was given shortly after Egyptian President Mubarak spoke. In part President Obama said:
The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere.
I also call upon the Egyptian government to reverse the actions that they’ve taken to interfere with access to the Internet, to cell phone service and to social networks that do so much to connect people in the 21st century.
At the same time, those protesting in the streets have a responsibility to express themselves peacefully. Violence and destruction will not lead to the reforms that they seek.
Now, going forward, this moment of volatility has to be turned into a moment of promise. The United States has a close partnership with Egypt and we've cooperated on many issues, including working together to advance a more peaceful region. But we've also been clear that there must be reform -- political, social, and economic reforms that meet the aspirations of the Egyptian people.
Snip...
When I was in Cairo, shortly after I was elected President, I said that all governments must maintain power through consent, not coercion. That is the single standard by which the people of Egypt will achieve the future they deserve.
Obama indicated he had spoken to Mubarak shortly Mubarak’s own speech, which took place at 1:00 am Cairo time. Mubarak fired his entire Cabinet, but refused to step down. Earlier White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs indicated that White House was reviewing current aid to Egypt in light of the day’s events.
For the most part Obama’s speech seems to be a warning shot across Mubarak’s bow. Its focus on avoiding violence is probably the right path to take, since it doesn’t seem possible for Mubarak to hold onto power WITHOUT violence. Nevertheless, the speech doesn’t call for Mubarak’s removal, and in that sense it is probably a disappointment for those in the streets of Cairo. Whether the President SHOULD be calling for Mubarak’s ouster is another question.
The two best sources of real-time information are the New York Times' Lede and the Guardian's Blog.