WASHINGTON — Bristling with impatience, President Barack Obama on Thursday openly and sharply questioned whether Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s pledge to shift power to his vice president is an “immediate, meaningful or sufficient” sign of reform for a country in upheaval.
Without naming Mubarak, Obama criticized the leader for not offering clarity to his people or a concrete path to democracy. He called on Egyptian government leaders to do so, declaring: “They have not yet seized that opportunity.”
Obama’s comments came after Mubarak, in a televised speech, refused to step down despite intense speculation that he was on the brink of ouster.
At the White House, Obama scrambled with his national security team over how to respond to a speech that had left many surprised and even baffled. Obama challenged Egypt’s leaders to plainly explain what the new changes mean and how they would lead them to the freedoms or opportunities that have driven enormous crowds into the streets since late January.
“Too many Egyptians remain unconvinced that the government is serious about a genuine transition to democracy,” Obama said, “and it is the responsibility of the government to speak clearly to the Egyptian people and the world.”
Still, analysts and even U.S. officials themselves acknowledge the White House has limited power to shape what Egypt does.
Obama devoted most of his statement to the familiar calls by his government for Egypt to respect the rights of its people and to immediately negotiate a path to free elections.
The White House has warned Egypt’s leaders that they should not expect protests to go away until they respond appropriately; at issue are deep concerns over repression, poverty and corruption.
The events seemed to catch many by surprise.
Before Mubarak’s speech, CIA Director Leon Panetta told Congress there was “a strong likelihood” that the Egyptian leader was on the way out and could step down as early as Thursday night. Egypt’s military had assured protesters that Mubarak would meet their demands.
“What is absolutely clear is that we are witnessing history unfold,” Obama said at the start of an economic event in Michigan. “It’s a moment of transformation that’s taking place because the people of Egypt are calling for change.”
“President Mubarak’s announcement that he will remain in power is deeply unfortunate and troubling,” said Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. “The voices of the Egyptian people are growing louder and more unified, and they are not demanding partial transfers of power or minor adjustments to the current government. They are calling for President Mubarak to step down.”
Joel Rubin, a former State Department official under President George W. Bush, said Mubarak was directly referring to the United States on Thursday when he said he would not be pushed out by foreign powers.
“He’s daring them,” said Rubin, deputy director at the Washington-based National Security Network. “The White House will have a harder time messaging now because he’s called their bluff.”
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