# Will Tunisian revolution inspire actions in other nations? (Now following Egypt.) \[ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703 "2011-01-15T09:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/421 "2011-02-10T17:11:29Z")
The military’s hand in turn was pressed by the increasing shutdown of the country, as more and more sectors walked away from other responsibilities. New contingents of [doctors and medical staff, textile workers and transport workers were noted](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12417205) joining the revolt earlier today. Al Jazeera just had a telephone interview with a retired Egyptian general who suggested that the Higher Military Council would establish committees _with representatives of civilian protest groups_ to oversee various aspects of governance, constitutional reform, and organizing for general elections in “three or four months.” ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/422 "2011-02-10T17:31:14Z")
I’ve just read that Mubarak will be giving a speech at 1:30 EDT, 8:30 in Egypt. Rumors are that he’s already left Cairo for Sharm el-Sheik on the Red Sea and that he’ll be handing over power to a committee of the military. Whoa. I remember seeing the headlines when Sadat was killed in 1981, when I was in high school. I wasn’t surprised that he immediately declared a “state of emergency” that lasts to this day since I’d grown up with random dictators and massacres all over the world, from Pol Pot to Idi Amin to Emperor Bokassa to the Gang of Four. No wonder we feathered our hair, wore too much polyester, and became ironically detached. I’ll be interested in seeing what happens. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/423 "2011-02-10T17:41:28Z")
Watching CNN – the mob in the square was chanting, “Civil, not military!” This ain’t gonna go smooth. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/424 "2011-02-10T17:47:20Z")
Somehow, “handing over power to a committee of ice-cream vendors” just doesn’t sound right. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/425 "2011-02-10T17:51:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Somehow, “handing over power to a committee of ice-cream vendors” just doesn’t sound right. If I had to live in Egypt, I would view ice-cream vendors as royalty. ---
**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 10, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/426 "2011-02-10T20:37:59Z")
Looks like Mubarak backed out on the speech. From the Al Jazeera blog: 10:02pm: Mubarak expected to make speech imminently. Interior minister says he will not be standing down … 10:27pm: Egyptian state TV showing a promotional film for Egypt ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/427 "2011-02-10T20:46:21Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Looks like Mubarak backed out on the speech. Good gravy, can we confirm whether or not Hosni Mubarak and Brett Favre are in fact the same individual? ---
**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 10, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/428 "2011-02-10T20:50:06Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Good gravy, can we confirm whether or not Hosni Mubarak and Brett Favre are in fact the same individual? Pretty sure Mubarak wouldn’t know how to text a photo. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/429 "2011-02-10T20:52:56Z")
This is a long poke in the eye for all these people gathered to watch. ---
**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 10, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/430 "2011-02-10T21:03:59Z")
Apparently not leaving just yet. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/431 "2011-02-10T21:04:30Z")
Argh! Just quit already before the whole place erupts in flames! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/432 "2011-02-10T21:08:50Z")
So he’s not resigning, but he’s taking a leave of absence from active duties as president and handing over control to Suleiman before probably leaving the country. Man… I can’t wait to read the full story of the behind-the-scense horse dealing that must have gone on this past week. I bet there must be at least three dozen world leaders with sore throats from talking on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/433 "2011-02-10T21:14:01Z")
He’s doing the “Is this far enough out into the hallway for you?” dance. “Is naming a VP far enough for you? No? How about if I take a vacation and let the VP run things for a little bit? No?” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/434 "2011-02-10T21:18:01Z")
Except that he isn’t doing that dance now. He’s been doing that dance all week - with his own army, with his government, with the Americans, with the EU, with China… what we’re seeing is the result of a massive unseen compromise cobbled together by virtually every powerful individual involved \*except \*the people in the square. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/435 "2011-02-10T21:22:08Z")
Or he thinks it’s a massive unseen compromise. Mubarak has been reading international reaction (including US) the way he wants to read it since this began. That said, I never seem to actually “see” Mubarak as he is when I read these threads. For some reason, I always “see” Sadat as Mubarak. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/436 "2011-02-10T23:59:40Z")
Anderson Cooper summed it up quite succinctly: “It’s a slap in the face! Mubarak thinks HE is EGYPT!” It’s time for Egyptian people to go medieval on his a\*\* and end it Causecu style. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/437 "2011-02-11T00:02:06Z")
CNN says members of the crowd are making their way to the presidential palace . . . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/438 "2011-02-11T00:09:46Z")
And others are headed for the state-owned TV station . . . ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/439 "2011-02-11T00:46:21Z")
Someone needs to send Hosni on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney… ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/440 "2011-02-11T06:13:32Z")
\ Oh yeah, the whole “dictator is leaving! Any minute now! Hang on, he said what? Oh. Sucks to be his people” thing also brings me back to my teenagerhood. Dang. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=23)