# Breaking News: Mubarak Steps Down! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032 "2011-02-11T16:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/1 "2011-02-11T16:06:21Z")
Turn on the tv. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/2 "2011-02-11T16:07:21Z")
Congrats to the people of Egypt. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/3 "2011-02-11T16:07:27Z")
CNN article: > **[18 days of protest culminate in Mubarak's ouster](http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/11/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T1)** > > Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down Friday and handed over power to the military, his nearly three decades of iron rule ended by a groundswell of popular protests that began January 25. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/4 "2011-02-11T16:09:24Z")
He’s not stepping down, he just left Cairo. Hopefully that’s the first step, but don’t count your chickens yet. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/5 "2011-02-11T16:10:17Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > He’s not stepping down, he just left Cairo. Hopefully that’s the first step, but don’t count your chickens yet. No, breaking new on tv now: Egypt is Free! Above link was an old one. Mentioned specifically: Mubarak resigns. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/6 "2011-02-11T16:11:32Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > He’s not stepping down, he just left Cairo. Hopefully that’s the first step, but don’t count your chickens yet. Right, he’s taking a vacation in Sharm el Sheik. Suuuuuure. (buck buck buck… three hens so far.) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/7 "2011-02-11T16:11:35Z")
Indeed, he’s actually stepped down: [(Al Jazeera English)](http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121125158705862.html): > [@](#): > > Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has resigned from his post, handing over power to the armed forces. > > Omar Suleiman, the vice-president, announced in a televised address that the president was “waiving” his office, and had handed over authority to the Supreme Council of the armed forces. ETA: admittedly, he might show up on TV saying “oh no I’m not” but that seems vanishingly unlikely at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/8 "2011-02-11T16:12:09Z")
Now comes the hard part. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/9 "2011-02-11T16:12:44Z")
Turn on CNN. Mubarak has indeed resigned as president. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/10 "2011-02-11T16:14:25Z")
CNN,com is trying to catch up. I’m shocked; they used to be more on the ball than the Israelis. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/11 "2011-02-11T16:21:08Z")
I hear they are considering a new [National Anthem](http://www.google.com/m/url?client=safari&ei=Q19VTbC8OpD-NePq2aQB&hl=en&oe=UTF-8&q=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DyVrNV_5LhNE&ved=0CBsQtwIwAg&usg=AFQjCNHvMqmEsn3ylnBsAr8lAAwd_nP2IA). ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/12 "2011-02-11T16:47:28Z")
I have no connections to Egypt whatsoever, and I’m cynical about the Army’s likelihood of handing over power. And yet I’m surprised at how much this story has affected me, especially this apparent resolution. The resignation may not actually “free” Egypt, but the _words_ EGYPT IS FREE flashing around the world seem vastly powerful. I for one felt the need to e-mail everyone I know, mostly just to repeat the magic words. Maybe it’ll come true after all. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/13 "2011-02-11T17:15:42Z")
They think it’s all over…it is now. Gotta hand it to the Egyptian protesters. A month ago, the idea that (relatively) peaceful protest could take down Mubarak would be unthinkable, completely unthinkable. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/14 "2011-02-11T17:23:27Z")
Drudge is trumpeting the news with a big red headline: MILITARY COUP IN EGYPT ROCKS MIDDLE EAST That’s the Right Wing Media for you. No matter what happens, spin it as if it’s chaotic and Obama is ineffectual. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/15 "2011-02-11T17:31:13Z")
Hallelujah ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/16 "2011-02-11T17:37:49Z")
He just needed enough time to do the wire transfers. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/17 "2011-02-11T17:40:39Z")
What show will Mubarak do first now - _Celebrity Apprentice_ or _Dancing with the Stars_? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/18 "2011-02-11T17:52:32Z")
I just hope the Tahir Square protestors realize their work isn’t done. This could very well be just a military coup (makes me wonder about their motivations for “siding” with the demonstrators). The root causes, food prices and unemployment, corruption\*, etc., are yet to be dealt with. Congratulations to the Egyptian people, but don’t stop now. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/19 "2011-02-11T17:52:46Z")
The Swiss have frozen potential Mubarak assets, apparently. (via BBC Radio) The scenes from the square when news of the “resignation” filtered through were astonishing - a rolling wave of joy. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032/20 "2011-02-11T17:59:34Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I just hope the Tahir Square protestors realize their work isn’t done. This could very well be just a military coup (makes me wonder about their motivations for “siding” with the demonstrators). The root causes, food prices and unemployment, corruption\*, etc., are yet to be dealt with. > > Congratulations to the Egyptian people, but don’t stop now. There was a really good segment about this on NPR. Basically, after Egypt made nice with Israel, their gigantic bloated army had nothing to do, and they didn’t like the idea of sending vast numbers of unemployed young men into the streets. So they basically got into the manufacturing business. Now, a surprisingly large percentage of goods made in Egypt are actually made by the army. So the armed forces have a huge vested interest in stability. If the country in is chaos, people won’t buy new refrigerators. So, when it began to look like backing Mubarak would mean less stability than booting him, it was so long Hosni. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-mubarak-steps-down/571032.md?page=2)