Mohamed ElBaradei on CNN calls for one-year transitional government. (updated)

[ProSense]

Video

Calls for Mubarak to be completely out of the process and then: (my transcription)

"What I'm calling for, Fareed, is a Presidential Council of three people with Suleiman or somebody from the army would be one member, the other should be civilian, a year of transition of a government of national unity of caretaker government that prepares properly for free and fair elections. I think any election in the next coming of months before the right people establish parties and engage it would be again a fake democracy. We need a year of transition we need a transitional government. We need a Presidential Council. We need to abolish the present constitution. We need to dissolve the current parliament."

Updated to add CNN transcript:

<...>

ELBARADEI: Yes. I - I think - I think what I'm - I'm calling for, Fareed, is a presidential council of three people, with Suleiman or somebody from the army would be one member. The other should be civilian. A year of transition of a government of national unity, of a - of a - of caretaker government that's prepared properly for a free and fair election.

I think any election in the next coming of months before the right people to establish parties and engage, and it will be, again, a fake - a fake democracy. So we need - we need a year of transition. We need a government - a transitional government. We need a presidential council. We need to abolish the - the present constitution. We need to dissolve the current parliament.

These are all instruments of the dictatorship regime, and we should not be - I don't think we will go to democracy through that - the dictatorial constitution. I mean, my - my expert on constitutional law said the easiest way, Fareed, is to start a new era, with an interim constitution, set aside the present parliament, which is rigged, set aside the present constitution, which has nothing to do with democracy, and give our self a year for a peaceful and safe transition.

And then we will get a proper president, a proper parliament and - and then work again a full fledged democratic constitution. That's the way I see it, Fareed.

<...>

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[MineralMan]

2. I don't think that's "revolutionary" enough for some people who

are looking at Egypt from somewhere else and are not materially affected by Egypt.

[msanthrope]

4. It doesn't fit on a tweet. n/t

[EFerrari]

10. Um, that is what the protesters are calling for.

They and ElBaradei are on the same page.

[msanthrope]

16. Do you have a link to protestors calling for a transitional year, with the VP still in power? n/t

[EFerrari]

21. Their positions are posted to L. Coyote's Friday night thread. n/t

[msanthrope]

29. So, that would be a no, then? n/t

[MineralMan]

20. Odd. I have not heard that call. Perhaps you can give me a link

to the prosesters' statements to that effect. I'd appreciate that, and will go and read it.

[EFerrari]

23. Their only hard and fast demand is that Mubarak leave

before any negotiations begin, period.

I posted a translation of their demands to L. Coyote's Friday night live blogging thread.

[msanthrope]

3. There's no comment because the "why hasn't Obama fixed this in 24 hours" crowd

wasn't expecting a year of transition.

It's sensible, it should be explored. But it implies that the process isn't going to happen quickly--and how could it?

[MineralMan]

7. Many people don't have any real experience in government, and have

no idea what is involved in governing a country. So, they assume that all that's needed is to throw out the old government and let the "people" take over. Trouble is that the "people" have no idea how to govern a country with tens of millions of citizens. No idea whatsoever.

Those who think the President of The United states can simply speak strongly and things will be OK have no idea about the power or lack of power the President has in any other country. Often, they don't understand even what the President can and cannot do in this country.

There is a lot of naivety around, and a lot of idealism without any practical knowledge. It's disappointing.

[rhett o rick]

11. People are getting sick of the lies that those with the "real experience in government"

are pushing.

[MineralMan]

17. No doubt. However, those who believe that change happens

instantaneously following the overthrow of a government are a tiny fraction of a minority. Nations must have governments of some sort. All fall short of perfection, as we all know. They must have government, though.

[rhett o rick]

25. Yes I understand there must be a government, but why does Mubarak have to stay?

The proposal might be acceptable to the Egyptian people if Mubarak steps down.

[ProSense]

26. Who is calling for Mubarak to stay?

ElBaradei is calling for him to step down and not be part of the process.

[rhett o rick]

30. My apology, I misunderstood. Then would he, ElBaradei be the third in the council? nm

[ProSense]

33. I don't know. n/t

[MineralMan]

27. I do not know the answer to that question, either. My knowledge

of Egypt is limited. Mubarak does not HAVE to stay, but that may be the only want to do this transition without costly violence. I don't know. I do know that we are not there, and we are not part of this in any way. It all must be decided by the people who are there and who are affected directly by the decision. No doubt, not everyone will be satisfied, but that is always the case.

[rhett o rick]

31. My fault, I misread the OP and overreacted. If Mubarak is out, the recommendation has merit.

But, the killing by the secret must stop immediately and must be monitored by the UN.

[msanthrope]

13. I think your post correctly characterizes the reality of the situation outside of

Egypt--those who advocate for chaos the most are the ones who have the least to lose--

For some it's naivete and lack of experience--for others, it's willful ignorance and callousness about the complexities other people face.

[rhett o rick]

22. Those that advocate violence are those that are rioting. Although I dont support

violent revolution, I am not the one revolting. The people are tired of sinking lower and lower into poverty and being brutalized by the secret police. They dont trust a government that has been brutalizing them for years. I sympathize when they dont want to wait a year for a tyrannical government to "fix" things. They know full well that during that year the government will continue to murder activists and tighten control.

There is no guarantee that anything will change in a year.

[rhett o rick]

9. Why dont you make it three years, then it would be sooo much more smooth. For the dictator, that is

[NNN0LHI]

5. Here is the CNN transcript

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1102/06/fzgps.01.html

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS

Egypt's Opposition Leader ElBaradei Speaks; Interview with Egypt's Former Trade Minister

Aired February 6, 2011 - 10:00 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

Up in just seconds, ElBaradei and Rachid Mohamed Rachid and then David Cameron.

Let's get started.

Mohamed ElBaradei is one of the best known Egyptians on the world stage. He's a Nobel Laureate for his work as - at the world's nuclear watch dog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. He is now one of the leading voices of the Egyptian opposition.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAKARIA: You have been very clear that your demand as a leading figure of the opposition is that President Mubarak has to step down. But Omar Suleiman, the vice president, has said unequivocally that the president is not going to step down. The - President Obama's representative, Frank Wisner, at a conference recently said the president must stay in office in order to steer changes through.

It appears that President Mubarak is going to stay. What happens next?

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, FORMER IAEA DIRECTOR: Well, I think, Fareed, this is - well, it's continuing the standoff. I think the - the people are very clear that Mubarak has to retire in dignity, but he has to go. There's a huge question of credibility, Fareed, that Mubarak is a symbol of an outgoing regime and people have no credibility, that if he hasn't - if he doesn't leave, you know, the regime would retrench and then come back, you know, in - with vengeance. And you hear - you hear different - different voices. I mean, there you asked (ph), it was very clear that he should go.

Frank Wisner yesterday came with his statement, saying that Mubarak must stay, which created a lot of confusion, a lot of disappointment, I should tell you, here in Egypt. People were very happy with Barack Obama's statements that - that the time for transition is now. Mubarak would be, you know, stubborn but it's not really a personal issue, it's an issue of the future of the country and people want to see a new regime, and Mubarak to - to step down is a - is a clear indication that we are on the throes of - of the second republic, if you like.

And unless he does that, we would continue the standoff, and I can tell you, people are very determined that he should leave. And also, Fareed, that the whole process of transition should not just be managed by the outgoing regime, by the - by his vice president, his prime minister. They are all military people, but there have to be a heavy engagement by (INAUDIBLE) people, by the - by the civilians.

So we are not in the greatest situation right now. It's a very opaque situation, and it's a very tense situation, Fareed.

ZAKARIA: But what leverage do you have? At some point people have to go back to work. You already get a sense that there is some degree of normalcy. The protests are getting smaller. Isn't the regime hoping to outlast you?

[ProSense]

8. Thanks. n/t

[tammywammy]

6. Interesting. n/t

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sufrommich]

19. If only those Egyptians would listen to those who know what is

best for them.Paternalism and patronizing attitudes are not only a right wing trait.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msanthrope]

15. Obviously, elBaradei thinks this is a good idea. Who are you to gainsay him? n/t

[MineralMan]

18. I care, but I do not know that number. Do you?

What is your knowledge base regarding Egypt?

[rhett o rick]

24. I see people being killed in the streets by a dictator's goon squads and you want them

to be patient. Easy for those not living in the fear and poverty to "be patient".

Why does Mubarak have to be part of the transition?

[MineralMan]

28. What I want or do not want is completely irrelevant.

I am not there, nor am I an Egyptian citizen. My wants and your wants are hardly the issue. I have not said I wanted anyone to be patient. I am patiently waiting to find out what happens. It is not my place to advocate anything for people in another country. That's their job. I have an opinion about things there, but that does not mean I think the Egyptians should have the same opinion.

So, I'm being patient...since I can do nothing to change the course of events there.

[rhett o rick]

32. My apology. I need to be more patient. I am just sick of the world wide strangle hold

the Ruling Class is exerting. International capitalism is out of control and the lower class will not continue to be slaves.

[PhillySane]

34. Most of the protesters

don't even know who Baradei is. He hasn't lived in the country for 30 years,