White House Responds To Unrest In Egypt

Notes from today’s White House Gaggle with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

Robert Gibbs said the White House is monitoring a very fluid situation in Egypt. The President has been briefed in depth. Gibbs said the legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people must be addressed immediately by their government. He repeated this several times throughout the briefing.

He said that the Egyptian people should have access to social networks, but did not answer a question about whether the White House was prepared to urge British company Vodaphone to switch the networks back on.

He said that President Obama has not spoken directly with President Mubarak, nor has Obama spoken to western leaders. The US is in touch with the Egyptian government at many levels, he said, including the Pentagon in direct contact with the Egyptian military to urge restraint.

Gibbs said it was important to remain calm. He said that free and legitimate elections were an example of reform that should happen. He stressed the importance of the Egyptian government immediately responding to the peoples’ call for reform.

He said that the White House will be reviewing its total aid to Egypt, including military aid (80% of aid), based on events that take place in the coming days. When asked if the White House stands by Hosni Mubarak, Gibbs did not answer directly. When asked if the White House will support the aspirations of the protesters even if it means the fall of the government, Gibbs did not answer directly. He did, however, call for addressing the “legitimate grievances” of the Egyptian people immediately.