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Young Leaders of Egypt's Revolt Snub Clinton in Cairo

March 15, 2011 1:17 PM

ABC News' Kirit Radia and Alex Marquardt report:

A coalition of six youth groups that emerged from Egypt’s revolution last month has refused to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Cairo earlier today, in protest of the United States’ strong support for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who was ousted by the uprising.

“There was an invitation for members of the coalition to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but based on her negative position from the beginning of the revolution and the position of the US administration in the Middle East, we reject this invitation,” the January 25 Revolution Youth Coalition said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

A spokesman for Clinton had no immediate response to the snub. Another State Department official, who would not speak for attribution, confirmed such a meeting had been slated for Tuesday and noted that she still plans to meet with members of civil society and transitional government officials during her visit, during which she will urge Egyptians to continue on the path towards democracy.

Mubarak was one of the United States’ strongest allies in the Middle East over successive American administrations. He enjoyed a cozy relationship with top US leaders, which courted Egypt with massive military aid packages as thanks in large part for its support for Israel.

“I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States,” Secretary Clinton told the Arab language satellite channel al Arabiya during a 2009 interview.

As the revolt strengthened in the streets of Cairo, Clinton was perceived as slow to recognize the strength of the protest movement.

“Our assessment is that the Egyptian government is stable and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people,” Clinton told reporters when first asked about the unrest on January 25.

In a separate statement provided to an Egyptian newspaper the youth group said “the US administration took Egypt’s revolution lightly and supported the old regime while Egyptian blood was being spilled.”

March 15, 2011 in Kirit Radia, Political Punch | Permalink | Share | User Comments (175)

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Good for the Egyptians. No one should trust the US gov or the Europeans (except for Scandinavia-sweden, Damark, norway) when dealing with middle eastern and muslim affairs.

Just look whats going on in Bharian and Saudi arabia and the US-Europe are still supporting those despot regimes while killing their own people for demanding freedom, equal opportunity and justice for ALL.

Posted by: zakkk | Mar 16, 2011 9:11:42 PM

lucky for her,unfortunate for the world, that all they did was snub her. remarkable albeit misplaced restraint.

Posted by: arcadia11 | Mar 16, 2011 8:42:49 PM

Wells looks like Hillary cant answer that 3 AM Phone Call in the White House either. Whose left in Administration? Clapper, Panetta? They know Egypt worse than I do.

Posted by: John Brooks | Mar 16, 2011 8:35:28 PM

Obama or Clinton could not answer the 3:00 am call.

Posted by: KEYBOARD555 | Mar 16, 2011 5:55:32 PM

Hillary is nothing more and nothing less than an old Chicago communist. Was back in her college days and is in her government days.
She's just a bad deal to the American people and any other nation she happens to arrived in.

Posted by: Jeronimo Dan | Mar 16, 2011 5:10:24 PM

What happened? I thought the world LOVED OBAMA AND CLINTON? Suckers.

Posted by: Nick | Mar 16, 2011 5:03:50 PM

Did Hillary! have to dodge sniper fire as she got off the plane?

Posted by: wee willie winkie | Mar 16, 2011 4:51:13 PM

What the Egyptians don't realize is Hillary is willing to prostitute the U.S. and be on their side now. It's what the U.S. has done for years. It's time to demand integrity in the ole USA. Enough with these corrupt politicians - we need people of honesty and integrity. Get involved, whether Democrat or Republican and oust these dimwits. Neither party cares about we, the people.

Posted by: Sue | Mar 16, 2011 4:12:47 PM

Thought I saw this coming. Allying oneself with the US while fighting for freedom has not been a good plan for the last 50 years. You could ask the people who live in what used to be South Vietnam.

Posted by: DonS | Mar 16, 2011 3:35:26 PM

Smart Power, baby!

Hillary was just there to bask in the rebels' glory after Obama voted "Present" in their revolution.

Posted by: Another Shill for Hill | Mar 16, 2011 3:31:39 PM

To listen to the Clinton's is to invite self destruction. Even the democrats got Hillary off of the election ballot!

Posted by: Hojo | Mar 16, 2011 3:26:09 PM

Smart kids, we ignore her too.

Posted by: Red Ruffansore | Mar 16, 2011 3:19:39 PM

Another reason they won't meet with her is because she is female.

Posted by: Puncho | Mar 16, 2011 3:12:03 PM

Why don't we take a breath count to three...exhale... and take account for what I the individual can do. Life is to dam complicated, especially with any idiot blogger ranting about how Obama and Hillary aren't human...be real...my bad...lemme relax...To all those fascist and or political extremest out there. YOU ARE IN A TUNNEL OF DESTRUCTION! whuu... lemme get back to my h.w.

Posted by: raspyj | Mar 16, 2011 3:00:21 PM

No one respects this adminstration. Not our friends, not our enemies, not us.

Posted by: Doug W. | Mar 16, 2011 2:59:32 PM

These people are not fools. They know they hold some sway in influencing people, they know the likes of Hillary and Obama are manipulators, powerless, without influence and they wont play their game.

Why should they? Why should those with spines tolerate the spineless?

Posted by: davec | Mar 16, 2011 2:55:27 PM

Watch it closely, there is nothing new from this idiot administration. Just a bunch of phony, hypocrit.
Many leaders in the world give obama and his administration two big middle fingers. However, you are going to see how the media cheer, orchestra how wonderful obama is. Reality is these are just a bunch of cold, cruel calculated who majority of American knew it already

Posted by: tom_11 | Mar 16, 2011 2:38:30 PM

Should the United States be meeting with the coalition of six youth groups leading the revolution? Who are these groups? Where did they come from and what's their backgrounds? Who are they associated with? Who are their leaders and what are their specific backgrounds? Who if anyone funds these groups? Are any members of these groups associate was socialist or communist activists?

I'm tired of Americans dying and paying for other countries revolutions, only to end up with the locals going home and putting your feet up all American troops fight their battles and die for their cause. Those who will not fight for their own liberty or democracy deserve neither. Until the above questions are answered, for both Egypt and Libya, I say the US should not get involved.

Posted by: John C | Mar 16, 2011 2:35:31 PM

What's with the Hilster and Biden wearing Men in Black sunglasses on a overcast day. Oh, dressed in all black really adds to the government mystic.
"I'm bad, yea, I'm bad don't mess with me, cuz I work for for the US government."
Didn't work Hillary, the, "Youths" weren't impressed.

Posted by: Melvin | Mar 16, 2011 2:34:33 PM

"we really are not supposed to go into any country unless it is approved by the U.N. and international help is requested. Bush broke that rule by invading Iraq and we have been paying dearly for it. "

really? Show me that one in the US Constitution.
The invasion in to Iraq was approved by the majority in Congress, as per the Constitution. The UN has jack squat to do with it.

Posted by: Jerry | Mar 16, 2011 2:32:45 PM

Hillary Clinton and her husband are both incompetent. The only thing they know how to do is backstab others, run to take credit for the hard work and successes of others, and look good on TV. In short, they are politicians. Bravo to the Egyptians for seeing that and judging them accordingly.

Posted by: Datian | Mar 16, 2011 2:31:34 PM

the man just voted present as he usually does. Gets us off our real problem 15 trillion why don't you idiots realize some one has to pay that money back. Have a good time in Rio

Posted by: jeffers47 | Mar 16, 2011 2:22:00 PM

The comments here really show just how stupid the people who read the mainstream media really are. The comments are mainly wild conspiracy theories (about Muslims groups secretly taking over countries) mixed with idiotic views of history and total naivete about American leaders. Here are three BASIC lessons:

1. The Obama admin certainly did not start the Egyptian revolt using twitter and google. In fact the Obama admin was STRONGLY opposed to the revolt from the get-go and is still fighting bitterly to try to prevent democracy in Egypt. Sure they pay lip-service to democracy, but then again so did Bush when he stole elections and fought civil liberties. World leaders always speak in rosy terms as they commit crimes.

2. The US never game a cent in aid to the Egypt. It gave large sums of MILITARY AID to the EGYPTIAN DICTATORSHIP so that it could crush the population. The military aid included such things as rubber bullets, live ammunition, riot gear, tear-gas, etc. Confusing the two concepts is simply beyond idiotic.

3. The Egyptian people do not consider the US government their friends, for good reason. They do however consider the American people to be their allies. The same Egyptian revolt leaders in this story, for example, sent out messages of support for demonstrators fighting for their rights in Wisconsin.

Posted by: Poyani | Mar 16, 2011 2:19:42 PM

People wake up. This administaration cannot possibly be this stupid. The things they are doing are just plain dumb. This has to be intentional, there is no other explanation. They must realize they are doomed and are doing everything in their power to destroy what is left of this country they despise.

Posted by: cujo47 | Mar 16, 2011 2:17:55 PM

Not another dime to these people.

Posted by: Smashicus | Mar 16, 2011 2:13:47 PM

Hilary Clinton belongs in a trailer park somewhere in Arkansas.

Posted by: Bloodaxe | Mar 16, 2011 2:05:04 PM

Glenn Beck was right. Egypt will become an Islamic State in search of the Islamic Caliphate! The Obama Administration does not know who they are dealing with.
The second Alliance for a Youth Movement (AYM) summit held in Mexico in 2009 by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apparently targeted young people around the world and encouraged the use of social networking (with a particular emphasis on Twitter and Facebook) to “effect change.”
Well ... Maddam Secretary ... how is that CHANGE working out for you?
It's amazing to think that our current Administration can be so naive as to think that they can start a Revolution with Google and get "automatic democracy." What they are creating is CHAOS and INSTABILITY in the Middle East and this is only the beginning, it is going to get worse, much worse! We are experiencing the Obama Amature Hour! Hang in there ... it is going to be a crazy ride!

Posted by: Eyes Wide Open | Mar 16, 2011 1:53:16 PM

Not a dime to any foreign countries. Period. Help when we can, but we need to support our troops and take control of the borders here.

Get rid of the impostor in the WH. These Clinton has beens are useless in this ever changing world.

Posted by: SoFar | Mar 16, 2011 1:48:24 PM

The administration keeps telling us how loved we are nowadays. Yet Hillary is snubbed by the Egyptian youth. The administration keeps telling us how they support democracy. Yet the Egyptians don't see Obama as supporting them and now they don't want our help. In Libya the people beg for our help against a brutal dictator and the administration dithers. The message to Itan freedom fighters is clear: if you revolt, we will not have your back, you are on your own. But don;t worry, we will talk of support as you are slaughtered!

Posted by: Tom M | Mar 16, 2011 1:48:07 PM

Is it me or do our best and brightest seem awfully dumb? These Ivy grad types are the same ones who got us into WWI, and WWII, Viet Nam and so forth ( I'll give Truman a pass for Korea).
When are we going to elarn that the founding fathers were right - stay out of foreign entanglements, let the foreign princes fight each other and die while we sell them the guns and ammo!

Posted by: cluelessinky | Mar 16, 2011 1:32:33 PM

Hillary is a "has been" that never was.

Posted by: LadyTexan | Mar 16, 2011 1:31:10 PM

I can only wonder of the youth groups are fronts for terrorist organizations or Taliban types

Posted by: Coast2co | Mar 16, 2011 1:29:02 PM

The president has commented on this already ("Gaddafi must go now"). He needs to comment on other important issues though.

Posted by: natb1 | Mar 16, 2011 1:28:45 PM

Stop giving them our hard earned tax dollars. Why should I give them money so they can murder and persecute Christians?

Posted by: Sister Honky Tonk | Mar 16, 2011 1:24:03 PM

The Keystone Kops are in charge of the country. This incompetent, do-nothing, joke of an administration is certainly living up to all the stereotypes aren't they? A typical liberal response to everything is either do nothing or screw it up! Impeach them now!

Posted by: Susan | Mar 16, 2011 1:21:37 PM

I don't blame the Egyptian students for not wanting to meet with Clinton. She has publicly announced her great friendship with Mubarak, a dictator who treated his people badly.

Posted by: Lydia | Mar 16, 2011 1:15:40 PM

Lukuj, I don't understand criticizing Obama for not involving us in what are truly civil wars. Besides being involved in two wars already and our huge national debt, we really are not supposed to go into any country unless it is approved by the U.N. and international help is requested. Bush broke that rule by invading Iraq and we have been paying dearly for it.

Posted by: Lydia | Mar 16, 2011 1:14:30 PM

The first affirmative action president?
Whats the tally on golf games up to?
Didnt ABC rip Bush for a lot less golf?

Posted by: natb1 | Mar 16, 2011 1:11:04 PM

"I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration."

- Hillary Clinton

Posted by: Massimo Deportado | Mar 16, 2011 1:09:21 PM

Remember too Obama backed the commie dictator in Honduras. The People wanted him out (when he decided to make himself "president for life") and Obama sided with him.
I was so upset. I could see this was going to be a strange presidency!

Posted by: Marrabella | Mar 16, 2011 1:02:37 PM

Who can blame them? We have a president who does little more than vote "present" in the face of a crisis and DOES little to support those struggling for freedom except talk about it. Why should any of those who once considered us friends trust us any longer? We have a president who does NOT lead but just sits around and waits. If he waits much longer, Libya will be taken back and many more killed, but , hey, the U.N. hasn't told Obama what it is ok for us to do, if anything. If it was possible to have less than zero confidence in a president and his committment to freedom and ability to lead, that's would I would have in Obama. I am embarrassed, humiliated, and frightened that he is our president.

Posted by: lukuj | Mar 16, 2011 1:00:10 PM

Notice how Billary is always sporting the super dark glasses. Drink much????

Posted by: TangentToWhat | Mar 16, 2011 12:45:32 PM

Salazar has been playing a sleezy game in court nonstop appealing creating a "defacto" moratorium on our drilling. Obama bragged about the number of rigs in the gulf, but didn't tell you that only 35 of them were actually operating.

Food prices spike, while Americans are hanging by a thread on unemployment. Obama's energy policies are increasing the pain, but he blames it on the "lazy oil companies."

America is desperate for and needs jobs and to develop our own energy independence. It's becoming a crisis now. We need emergency action from our government to fast forward our drilling for our own resources for our own economic recovery.

But, I'm sure glad Obama is golfing and heading to Rio to give a speech.

Posted by: No One Important | Mar 16, 2011 12:40:33 PM

We know the quality of our foreign policy when a bunch of rabble rousers wont give US the time of day.

Posted by: rowleya | Mar 16, 2011 12:40:26 PM

This is what you get when you elect the village idot for president. Arrogance doesn't make you smart.

Posted by: johh | Mar 16, 2011 12:38:14 PM

Did Obama just pick all the top seeds in the NCAA tournament?

The sad case is that 90% of the blacks in this Country identify with him. When are they going to realize that made as much sense as identifying with OJ?

Posted by: Lester | Mar 16, 2011 12:35:31 PM

Condi Rice made serveral trips there to point out how Mubarak was brutal and needed to change. All she ever got was the cold shoulder.

Obama has been on the wrong side of numerous things. The Lybian fighter yelling "Where's Obama?!?" He won't lead on the no fly zone. The Arab League is begging for our help to get rid of Al-Quaddafi, and Obama is golfing.

The freedom fighters in Iraq, spraying graffiti asking "Obama! Are you with us or against us?" Took Obama 4 days to finally say "stop shooting people."

Does this sound like people that hate us? Or people that thought we would back them when they are struggling for freedom?

Obama sold out our European allies by cancelling the missile defense shield, and then gave Russia the serial numbers of Britain's titan missiles, despite the Brits telling him no.

The ME is going up in flames, while Japan is melting down.

But I sure am glad Obama is golfing and going off to Rio to give some speech about something no doubt really important.

Posted by: No One Important | Mar 16, 2011 12:32:47 PM

If it was not for affirmative action in college admissions and lower academic standards, Obama would have flunked out of Occidental College and would probably be a county worker someplace looking forward to retiring at 55 on a taxpayer paid pension.

I want to see his transcripts. The eeeville Booosh had to release his.

Posted by: Lester | Mar 16, 2011 12:32:36 PM

Shame on Hillary, Gates and Obama for not helping and taking immediate action in time of need and for the freedom seeking people of Egypt, now Libya and middle east. The history will not forgive US for siding with the dictators while giving the lip service to the world about democracy. Obama and Hillary take their direct orders from Tel Aviv. Netanyahu is the president of USA. AIPAC runs the congress of USA. Our present foreign policy is why we are suffering with financial, national security and political disasters through out the world today. The think tanks of our nation are polluted with AIPAC money while designing the policies to protect the interests of small group of people instead of the people United states. Our future can be prosperous and secured with the deals we make with the people of middle east instead of a few dictators.

Posted by: tonyL | Mar 16, 2011 12:28:19 PM

My how these ABC comment boards have changed since 2008. Does anybody here still support Barack Obama? It doesn`t seem like it after reading some of these posts.

Posted by: Scott Trent | Mar 16, 2011 12:17:37 PM

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