earlier, embattled president hosni mubarak scheduled a televised address to the egyptian nation. then word leaked out that mubarak was probably going to announce that he was stepping down, causing all sorts of excitement and speculation. then the address came and instead mubarak used the opportunity to tell everyone that he refuses to step down until the september elections.
so did hosni totally blow that or what? assuming this was his plan all along (and he didn't suddenly change his mind about stepping down after news of his expected resignation leaked out), i can't think of a better way to piss off and energize the opposition. what did he gain by that tv appearance that he wouldn't have had by bunkering down and staying quiet like he has been doing over the past few days?
in a world filled with instant egypt experts, i'm not going to pretend to be one now. but it's hard to see how this wasn't a major miscalculationon mubarak's part. what am i missing?
ADDING: see marc lynch's take on the worst speech ever.
so did hosni totally blow that or what? assuming this was his plan all along (and he didn't suddenly change his mind about stepping down after news of his expected resignation leaked out), i can't think of a better way to piss off and energize the opposition. what did he gain by that tv appearance that he wouldn't have had by bunkering down and staying quiet like he has been doing over the past few days?
in a world filled with instant egypt experts, i'm not going to pretend to be one now. but it's hard to see how this wasn't a major miscalculationon mubarak's part. what am i missing?
ADDING: see marc lynch's take on the worst speech ever.
