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Gibbs: Obama aides re-assessing 'assistance posture' to Egypt

By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Updated

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that President Obama is monitoring a "very fluid and dynamic situation" in Egypt, and aides are re-assessing "our assistance posture" to the government in light of its crackdown on protesters.

"It's been discussed and we are monitoring events that could affect that aid," Gibbs said, adding that the review includes military assistance.

"The review is based upon their actions," Gibbs said.

The White House spokesman also said that "President Obama has not spoken with President (Hosni) Mubarak," and is "deeply concerned about the images and events" in Egypt.

The administration is weighing "a whole host" of responses depending on what happens, Gibbs said, presumably including the possibility that the U.S. Embassy may have to be evacuated.

"Things are moving quite quickly," Gibbs said.

Gibbs also urged the Egyptian government to turn back on the Internet and social media sites, and the protesters have legitimate grievances. He called all aides to move forward peacefully.

"Violence is the not the response," Gibbs said.

Here is what Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today on Egypt:

We continue to monitor the situation very closely. We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters, and we call on the Egyptian Government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces. At the same time, protesters should also refrain from violence and express themselves peacefully.

As we have repeatedly said, we support the universal human rights of the Egyptian people, including the right to freedom of expression, of association and of assembly. We urge the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful protests and to reverse the unprecedented steps it has taken to cut off communications. These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian Government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away.

As President Obama said yesterday, reform is absolutely critical to the well being of Egypt. Egypt has long been an important partner of the United States on a range of regional issues. As a partner, we strongly believe that the Egyptian Government needs to engage immediately with the Egyptian people in implementing needed economic, political, and social reforms. We continue to raise with the Egyptian Government, as we do with other governments in the region, the imperative for reform and greater openness and participation to provide a better future for all. We want to partner with the Egyptian people and their government to realize their aspirations to live in a democratic society that respects basic human rights.

When I was recently in the region, I met with a wide range of civil society groups and I heard from them about ideas they have that would improve their countries. The people of the Middle East, like people everywhere, are seeking a chance to contribute and to have a role in the decisions that will shape their lives. As I said in Doha, leaders need to respond to these aspirations and to help build that better future for all. They need to view civil society as their partner, not as a threat.

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