***Mubarak speaking now.

[elleng]

[GSLevel9]

1. doesn't sound like a guy who's quitting... nt

[madmax]

OMG. I hear you!!

Right from the start it sounded that way to me.

[KeepItReal]

8. +1

He says he's not leaving until after election

[gateley]

2. Holy shit -- is he saying he's not going anywhere? WTF is he saying? nt

[northoftheborder]

6. Oh, no, not leaving until September. I dread what will happen now in Egypt.

[northoftheborder]

19. going to try to undertake reform; continue transition of power; constitutional committee, .......

will monitor the execution of what I have promised.....investigations of killings.....he just doesn't get it.:( :( :( ;( ;( ;(

[northoftheborder]

26. going to abolish martial law, as soon as order established

[stranger81]

3. Seriously??????

He's not going to leave?

[blogslut]

4. What a stubborn old fool

[spanone]

5. this cannot end well

[gateley]

7. Batten down the hatches!

[AngryOldDem]

9. He's just confirming he's staying.

What does he want? Blood in the streets?

What a patronizing piece of crap.

[CLANG]

I think a million person march on the Presidential Palace is next.

I want to see the look on his face as they're dragging his ass onto the street.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. He ain't stepping down...

now we enter the violent phase.

[Autumn Colors]

14. Ceausescu 2.0 (nt)

[Matariki]

17. Not necessarily.

Might be more of a 'military' phase - in that the military escorts him out. Hopefully without violence.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It will be a matter of how much violence

but 24-48 hours for us to know what the military will do.

There have been strong hints of a coup coming. So here is what may happen, since I am sure the Guard is loyal to him... while the army might not.

Watch for Army statements, since they already issued one communique.

[madmax]

11. There is going to a blood bath in Egypt. nt

[AngryOldDem]

13. Isn't it clear that that is exactly what he wants?

Dangerous game of disingenuousness.

He is poking the protesters with a red, hot stick with the goal of keeping his power no matter what. His words are worthless. He wants a fight.

[dhill926]

totally agree.........

I think he wants the violence so he can crack down......

[AngryOldDem]

24. Exactly. What better way to hold on to power?

Create chaos and then say you need to rule with an iron hand.

I'll be willing to wager right now that he has no intention of stepping down in September.

[thewiseguy]

12. They should just march towards his residence and drag him out

[madmax]

15. Wonder if the military will remove him.

Would that help him save face? Shit, this is going to be a major mess for the Egyption people. The Nile may turn red.

[yodermon]

16. oh damn.

[jannyk]

18. Oh boy, this is not going to be a good ending. Poor fucking Egypt.

:cry:

[loudsue]

20. It's obvious that he's not putting his people first.

Jerk.

This is a really stupid move for the whole mideast/northern African mood right now. Neighboring states would do well to talk him down, if they know what's good for the region.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

43. He has NEVER put his people first.

If he had, none of this would have happened...

It is a very bad move on his part, and you're right about how stupid a move this is for the whole region, with the mood they're in.

[CherokeeDem]

22. This has to be planned...

That square is now full of people who were expecting a resignation. I am fearful for them; an early poster said Mubarak wants a fight. I agree.

Not good....

[JCMach1]

23. He's not going...

[Raksha]

25. Does this guy have a death wish?

Sounds like he's playing chicken or Russian roulette or something.

[KeepItReal]

33. He doesn't think they have it in 'em to storm the palace

I think he's betting on nonviolence and a backdown from the demonstrators.

He's really playing up his own patriotism.

[Dappleganger]

27. The people will not stand for this.

They want him gone NOW.

[spanone]

28. the crowd must be completely stunned....

[Dappleganger]

30. Somehow I doubt that...

they do not have dumbass news people telling them that he was going to step down. They know Mubarak's MO.

[spanone]

35. do you think they all came to hear mubarak tell them this?

i bet the rumors were all over egypt....

[Ilsa]

29. I think the people need to inflict a few "plagues" upon the presidential

palace to drive him out. How about running some contaminated water into the palace for starters? Then maybe some contaminated air...

[AngryOldDem]

31. I'm just shaking my head at this.

Now he's going on about what a great guy he's been.

[cal04]

32. the crowd is going wild, anger and resentment, chanting He Must or Shall leave

Al Jazeera showing them
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[AngryOldDem]

36. Well, we know what's going to happen now. n.t

[Bragi]

34. Will the crowd march to the palace!

Will the army stop them?

Fuck.

[Bragi]

37. This is breathtaking /nt

[AngryOldDem]

40. MSNBC feed is already showing a fire.

[Raine]

38. God what an ass!! nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

39. Unbelievable. The man is demonstrating how far one can insert his head up his ass.

[OneGrassRoot]

41. holy shit n/t

[thewiseguy]

42. Crowd needs to march towards the palace and army should stand aside

Let the douche bag get what he deserves.

[GliderGuider]

44. Un-fucking-believable.

Ceaucescu deja vu. I hope they hang him. I hope not too many people die getting him to the lamp post.

[Bragi]

45. Good AJ question: "Have we misread this situation?"

Won't catch Tweety saying that.

[loudsue]

46. This is going to be like death by cop ....he's just putting it out there to get

himself killed. Martyred? What's he been smoking? Some of that Afghani shit?

[KeepItReal]

47. Mubarak is calling himself a patriot... doesn't think they would take out a hero of Egypt

He sounds dead-set against having to leave in exile.

[sam kane]

48. What a set-up.

I hope that they can get him out peacefully.