Thread: Unrest in Egypt (and the surrounding area)

Tomorrow is looking like the day when things come to a head. Mubarak's statement was both a tacit expression that he believes he has consolidated his position (I'm not sure what O means by 'inflammatory speech' though), and he looks to be trying to manufacture the event that will confirm that consolidation: tomorrow there will be more than ever on the streets, and this time they will be looking to up the game, to the extent that the army can no longer remain a neutral party.

Interesting fact: Mubarak's personal wealth is more than 40 billion dollars. From what exactly? It's almost comical.

Originally Posted by Xei

(I'm not sure what O means by 'inflammatory speech' though)

I mean that in the sense that his speech was exactly the opposite of what the people protesting in the square (along with the C.I.A.) were expecting him to come out and say. It was inflammatory in the sense that Mubarak knows damn good and well what the people are asking for, and he's not only ignoring their demand that he leave (not ambiguously 'delegate power', but leave), but he's insulting the Egyptian people by saying that the charges against him aren't those of the Egyptian people, but simply those of international influence. He is basically sticking his fingers in his ears and going "LA LA LA LA LA" and trying to barter his way out of completely relinquishing power.

Originally Posted by Xei

Interesting fact: Mubarak's personal wealth is more than 40 billion dollars. From what exactly? It's almost comical.

Apparently the US gives 1.3 billion dollars every year in military aid to Egypt. Could he have been keeping some of that for himself?