Journalist Shahira Amin walked out of Egyptian state-run Nile T.V. She says in this clip that she didn't want to part of the propaganda machine. She says she spent the day at Nile T.V. yesterday and was only allowed to air the pro-Mubarak rallies that were going on as if nothing was happening in Tahrir Square...This is a short audio
The most open, transparent and honest administration? What would Joe Wilson say?
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 2/2/2011
Q: So no regrets that his (Obama's) initial comments weren't more in line with the 2009 Cairo speech?
GIBBS: Again, I think the notion that what we have said in public and in
private at all levels of our government to all levels of the Egyptian government, to governments throughout the Middle East, have not been in line with the Cairo speech is simply wrong. the Cairo speech, the President stood up for a universal set of values and actions that had to be taken by governments, as you’ve heard him say over the course of many days here, that have to be responsive to their people. That is precisely what the President believes.
Q: Do you believe that President Obama’s communications to Mubarak made the difference here? Does the President have that kind of power in this situation?
MR. GIBBS: I will say, Chip, I think that -- I think we have been clear with the government of Egypt before this the steps that needed to take place. I think we have communicated publicly and
privately important steps that -- and important reforms that need to take place.
Q: But as far as what President Mubarak did and what he will do in the future, is President Obama basically calling the shots?
MR. GIBBS: No, no, look, again, I don't know the direct answer in terms of that, Chip. Again, I think at each juncture of this, we have again made I think public and
private comments about the situation and what needed to have happened.
Q: And let me circle back one more time. It seems like you’re avoiding using the word -- are there policy consequences on the table that Mubarak is aware of if --
MR. GIBBS: Chuck, I think you have to understand that there are limits to what I can say about all of the
private discussions.
Q: Thanks, Robert. Two questions. One, do you think the President believes that this is a wake-up call not only for Mr. Mubarak but also dictators around the globe, including in China? And is the President going to speak about other dictators in the future?
MR. GIBBS: Well, let me speak broadly to this in the sense that you’ve heard the President now on two occasions talk quite clearly about -- off of what’s happened in Egypt -- the obligations and responsibilities that those in power have to those that they represent.
I think you can go through a whole host of our discussions on both a public and a private level with leaders throughout the world about steps that we believe need to be taken to improve human rights, to improve basic rights, and to uphold individual liberties. Those are discussions that the President will continue to have in public and
private with leaders throughout the world.
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