PBS NewsHour's Margaret Warner has secured very important interviews with Egypt Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
In the five minute clip above, Foreign Minister Gheit is pushing back, telling the US that its expectations are out of line with political and time realities in Egypt. The Egyptian government, including the Foreign Minister in this interview, have forcefully rebuffed Vice President Biden's and President Obama's request for the Egyptian government to suspend its stifling Emergency Law.
In this linked one and half minute video clip, the Foreign Minister warns of violence if the protesters don't back off.
The establishment in Egypt seems to be regaining its balance, pushing back and resisting pressure from those in the street as well as the US government.
This is very problematic, very disconcerting. The three key issues the administration has been calling for is an end to oppression, respect for the rights of protesters, and immediate transition to a new political framework broadly inclusive of the opposition. It is increasingly clear that the Egyptian establishment is not going to move along a course that is acceptable either to the protesters in Tahrir Square or to the broad international community.
The full interview follows on the extended page.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note. Clemons can be followed on Twitter @SCClemons