I've been hearing about the protests and unrest in Egypt the last few days. Apparently the government has gone as far as blocking the internet in the country, it seems to be a pretty serious situation. I wonder what will be the result of all this and the effects it may have on the world. Anybody have any opinions about what's happening? What are the main causes of the mass protests?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_egypt_protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/httptechlandtimecom20110128howegyptcutofftheinternetxidrssfullworldyahoo;_ylt=Aos3YSS3E51iDKMOwL_XgmUUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTRvNHNhc3NtBGFzc2V0Ay9zL3RpbWUvaHR0cHRlY2hsYW5kdGltZWNvbTIwMTEwMTI4aG93ZWd5cHRjdXRvZmZ0aGVpbnRlcm5ldHhpZHJzc2Z1bGx3b3JsZHlhaG9vBGNjb2RlA21wX2VjXzhfMTAEY3BvcwMyBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDaG93ZWd5cHRjdXRv

I saw some clips; that's some scary sh*t there mate!  :o

It looks nasty out there and I believe that there are tanks out on the streets now.

Yeah, it's cost me a pretty decent chunk of money today.  Funny thing is I figured everyone else already knew as of two days ago, (shoot two weeks ago if you count Tunisia), but apparently, not so much.

http://i51.tinypic.com/o9k553.jpg

But hey, at least I can laugh about it.

http://newswhip.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/chart.jpg

Wait, no, I can't.

Because I watched Egypt vanish from the Internet last night, and if they can do it there, we can (and will) do it here.

The problem is that we painted ourselves into a corner.  To guarantee our petroleum supplies in the 70s and 80s, we propped up thugs who stood with us against the Soviets.  Fair enough, it bought us 30 years and helped us win the Cold War.  Problem is, having done so, we left the field open to whoever was waiting in the wings to take over.  The bad guys aren't behind these revolutions; they appear to be genuinely popular uprisings.  But they're waiting, and I worry that when the dust settles, they'll be in charge.

There's nothing in the Wikileaks cables about Cairo that isn't already known in any sufficiently-long thread about the Egyptian riots.  The economy's in the tank, the army may or may not support the designated successor, the people are out of options, but as long as the cops are on the side of the government, the cities burn.

Since I don't know whether we end up with free elections and a democratic republic, or yet another whackjob theocracy, I have no dog in this fight.  As someone who'd stupidly backed out of some of his gold and oil holdings, I lost some hefty coin today, and as such, I don't care what happens anymore.  I just want to (eat popcorn and stay down here) while the damned fools fight it out aboveground.

No coincidence in Egypt...

Shortly after Mubarak said he would put the smack down on whoever is bombing the Coptic churches over there, bring on the street violence.  Apparently he is seen as a Christian-lover which is not popular in that neck 'o the woods.

This might be disturbing, but here's a video of the police shooting a teenager >:(.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzMOkrfv0uQ&NR=1

This might be disturbing, but here's a video of the police shooting a teenager >:(.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzMOkrfv0uQ&NR=1


This is what can be expected to happen when a violent uprising is launched.  Whether the protesters are right or wrong, once they start looting stores and burning cars, they can expect a violent response from the police or other government forces.  Initiation of violence carries a calculated risk.

It ain't no party, it ain't no disco, it ain't no fooling around...

I haven't been following it closely but how can you NOT follow it somewhat. Last night, Mubarak said that he dismissed his administration but he is staying. That is REALLY bad news. The people want him gone. And the fact that he plans to stick around-I think his days are now numbered.

What does this mean for the U.S.? That is a good question. Mubarak has been an ally keeping peace with Israel. If some other guy (or woman-if Egypt doesn't go Islamic Fundie  :-\\ ) gets in there, they may not want to keep peace with Israel. That could cause the entire Middle East to explode.


Cat

My opinion... If the United States did not maintain its inexplicable and costly support of Israel, (a country which itself has launched military operations and espionage against the people of the United States) we would not give a rat's butt about what happens in Egypt.

To get politically entangled re: Egypt because of Israel?  It is irrational, and I just wish that somebody in our government (Dem and Repub) would forget about the huge campaign financing that Israel's supporters in the US provide, and DO THE RIGHT THING... Keep our noses out of the Middle East mess and that includes Israel.  Our involvement with Isarel had garnered us nothing but enemies and the contempt of many people in the Middle East.

Let all those countries fight it out without us assisting ANY party.

On a side note, the Egyptian protesters apparently have problems with more than just the current Egyptian government, they are even rising up against the pharoes:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110129/sc_nm/us_egypt_museum

My opinion... If the United States did not maintain its inexplicable and costly support of Israel, (a country which itself has launched military operations and espionage against the people of the United States) we would not give a rat's butt about what happens in Egypt.

To get politically entangled re: Egypt because of Israel?  It is irrational, and I just wish that somebody in our government (Dem and Repub) would forget about the huge campaign financing that Israel's supporters in the US provide, and DO THE RIGHT THING... Keep our noses out of the Middle East mess and that includes Israel.  Our involvement with Isarel had garnered us nothing but enemies and the contempt of many people in the Middle East.

Let all those countries fight it out without us assisting ANY party.

On a side note, the Egyptian protesters apparently have problems with more than just the current Egyptian government, they are even rising up against the pharoes:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110129/sc_nm/us_egypt_museum



I do agree with you about the U.S. involvement with Israel-to an extent. Yeah, the U.S. has been bending over backwards for Israel when Israel has been the aggressor many times over. However, if we (the U.S.) would let them fight it out, there wouldn't be a Middle East left because it would be nuked!

This is some scary sh!t that is happening.


Cat

No coincidence in Egypt...

Shortly after Mubarak said he would put the smack down on whoever is bombing the Coptic churches over there, bring on the street violence.  Apparently he is seen as a Christian-lover which is not popular in that neck 'o the woods.


weird, since the website for the United Copts was urging Christians in Egypt to join in the protests...  not sure where you got your theory from, but it doesn't make much sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQD-X9G9xfk&feature=player_embedded

The army seems to be siding with the protesters.  Here they are protecting the people from the police. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQD-X9G9xfk&feature=player_embedded

The army seems to be siding with the protesters.  Here they are protecting the people from the police. 



There were some speculations as to whether the army will side with the protesters or not. The protesters love the army and cheered them when they came on the scene. I find that interesting because with most revolutions, the army sides with the powers that be.



Cat

There were some speculations as to whether the army will side with the protesters or not. The protesters love the army and cheered them when they came on the scene. I find that interesting because with most revolutions, the army sides with the powers that be.



Cat


Yeah... typically when one finds out that the military is supporting the protesters, it is AFTER the head of state has left the country or has been arrested by the military.

weird, since the website for the United Copts was urging Christians in Egypt to join in the protests...  not sure where you got your theory from, but it doesn't make much sense.


If I were a Copt in Egypt, I am not so sure I would be happy about the Mubarak government coming down.  Whatever grievances the Copts may have with Mubarak they pale in comparison to what would happen if the Muslim Brotherhood (the guys who assassinated Sadat for making peace with Israel)  or other Islam-based political groups came to power, and the chances of that happening are more than trivial.

But then Christians don't seem to fare well pretty much anywhere in that part of the world, except maybe for Syria (Dictatorship), Lebanon (Hezbollah coming to power will put an end to that) and Jordan (a Constitutional Monarchy where the King weilds substantial power including the ability to hire and fire all judges).  Christians actually faired pretty well under the Sadaam regime in Iraq (#2 man, Tariq Aziz was a Chaldean Christian) , but now that the dictatorship is long gone, they too are being persecuted and driven out of the country in the name of Islam.

Here is an interesting article from CoptsUnited and how Copts are faring with their Islamic brethren:

http://www.coptsunited.com/Details.php?I=353&A=2928

Revolutions are messy things, after all, you can;t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, and that looks like what is starting in Egypt.  And if that's true, than the outcome is anybody's guess.  Right now, I believe our best option is to watch and wait, but I don't think we can tolerate another "Islamic Republic" and should do all we can to prevent it.

Revolutions are messy things, after all, you can;t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, and that looks like what is starting in Egypt.  And if that's true, than the outcome is anybody's guess.  Right now, I believe our best option is to watch and wait, but I don't think we can tolerate another "Islamic Republic" and should do all we can to prevent it.


Well if the Mubarak regime falls, one of the groups that stands a chance of taking over are these boys:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood

They worked with the Nazis in WW2, assassinated the Egyptian Prime Minister Pasha in 1948, attempted to assassinate President Nasser back in 1954, and they successfully assassinated Anwar Sadat (a former member himself) in 1981.  Their stated goal is to establish Islamic state rule.

These guys tried their shenanigans in Syria back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, but they made a decided miscalculation when they attempted to assassinate President Assad in Syria.  Assad ordered a "scorched earth" operation against the Brotherhood's Syrian stronghold, Hama, in 1982 which effectively eliminated them.  After seeing 25000-40000 of their pals and family members annihalated by Assad's troops in 1982 in a massive carpet-artillery attack, they decided that Syria was no place for them to act up.  To this day in Syria, one does not have to worry about Islamic Brotherhood violence because they know the retaliation will be severe and monumentally disproportionate.

Well if the Mubarak regime falls, one of the groups that stands a chance of taking over are these boys:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood

They worked with the Nazis in WW2, assassinated the Egyptian Prime Minister Pasha in 1948, attempted to assassinate President Nasser back in 1954, and they successfully assassinated Anwar Sadat (a former member himself) in 1981.  Their stated goal is to establish Islamic state rule.

These guys tried their shenanigans in Syria back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, but they made a decided miscalculation when they attempted to assassinate President Assad in Syria.  Assad ordered a "scorched earth" operation against the Brotherhood's Syrian stronghold, Hama, in 1982 which effectively eliminated them.  After seeing 25000-40000 of their pals and family members annihalated by Assad's troops in 1982 in a massive carpet-artillery attack, they decided that Syria was no place for them to act up.  To this day in Syria, one does not have to worry about Islamic Brotherhood violence because they know the retaliation will be severe and monumentally disproportionate.


you'll notice though that this group is not the same as the old group... they were in power recently as the token minority "opposition" party and have been mellowed out since their more radical days.  kind of like baby boomers >grin<

Muslim and Christian, Egyptians stand together against violence The Coptics were more pissed about the current government's inaction in the wake of the bombing, so they're actually hopeful that a new government could be better. Officially the church isn't taking sides, but unofficially they are... High stakes and hopes for Egypt's Christians in historic protests There's no doubt things could get worse, but they certainly weren't getting better under the current government.

you'll notice though that this group is not the same as the old group... they were in power recently as the token minority "opposition" party and have been mellowed out since their more radical days.  kind of like baby boomers >grin<


The most interesting development today was the attack on the Museum of Cairo.  While civilians surrounded the building to protect it, government goons, posing as civilians, broke in through the roof, and smashed up a few (relatively) unimportant artifacts.  When the goons were apprehended, they had government ID on them.

Best info I have suggests the MB is waiting in the wings to see how it plays out.  They might be able to capitalize on it (which would be a Bad Thing), but they might just accept their role as a bit player in whatever political system emerges out of the dust. 

The jury's still out on whether the army takes what the government offered it, and the army's decision will determine the outcome.  Our best move at this point would be to stay out of it.

http://i.imgur.com/LjM0C.jpg

Unfortunately, it's about 30 years too late to convince that guy that we're staying out of it.

I hope the army intervenes and restores order.
Mubarak is a great democrat and friend of the west and he must rule until the end of his life.

I hope the army intervenes and restores order.
Mubarak is a great democrat and friend of the west and he must rule until the end of his life.


The way things have snowballed over there then end of his life could be imminent.

The way things have snowballed over there then end of his life could be imminent.


Unless he gets his fat a$$ out of there

Unless he gets his fat a$$ out of there


I'm sure someone will take him in.  Maybe they have room in Texas.

I'm sure someone will take him in.  Maybe they have room in Texas.


Yeah, in Crawford, that village is still missing its idiot since he moved to what, Dallas?  Which probably has more idiots than it needs

The most interesting development coming out of this has been that the news has slowed to a relative trickle.  I hate to say it, but nuking the Internet has slowed the degree to which developments can be tracked by armchair observers.  Compared to the failed Iranian counterrevolution a few years ago (buncha kids tried to overthrow the fundies, got beaten down, and the whole world watched in real time), it's pretty much an informational vaccuum out there.

Will the same thing happen in the US? If it does, will it be as extreme as this Egypt revolution?

Will the same thing happen in the US? If it does, will it be as extreme as this Egypt revolution?


Well the last time we had a revolution over here, we kicked some serious butt.  :P

Will the same thing happen in the US? If it does, will it be as extreme as this Egypt revolution?


We came close during the great depression, sit-in strikes, food riots, all sorts of pre-revolutionary stuff.  Thanks to FDR we avoided it.  Basically, he saved the system with the New Deal, then WWII ended the depression.

Check out a book called Poor People's Movements by Francis Fox Piven (who has been featured on Glenn Beck) and Richard Cloward, from the 1970's I think.  If the gap between rich and poor continues to grow, and if the poor become poorer, more desperate, the conditions for an uprising could easily develop here. 

Well the last time we had a revolution over here, we kicked some serious butt.  :P


;D Yes, we did.

;D Yes, we did.


Actually, if you read the military history of the revolution, we got our butts kicked a lot more than we kicked the Brits.  We won Saratoga, we won Trenton, and we won the most important battle, the last one (with a good deal of health from Rochambeau and the French fleet - and the incompetence of a British admiral - Rodney I think).  But mostly the Brits kicked our butt.  But then, if you win the last battle you usually win the war.  We did, and mostly as a result of luck and pluck, not military finesse

The latest I heard was that the rank and file military is on the side of the people, while the high command is (so far) backing Mubarak.  The party is just beginning.

http://www.boingboing.net/raiders.jpg Courtesy of Boing Boing

Click through and read the whole thing


I hope the army intervenes and restores order.
Mubarak is a great democrat and friend of the west and he must rule until the end of his life.


Mubarak is a dictator and has committed awful atrocities while his people starve. I'm sure the US Govt. will miss their puppet in the region, but they should be used to that by now.

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/16746/slide_16746_232953_large.jpg

Yup, violent fundie whackjobs all.  (Hint: If these protesters were really fundamentalists, they wouldn't be showing their faces, let alone their hair.)

That's not to say the fundies won't make a grab for power when the dust settles, but it is to say that if they do, they're going to have to work for it.

Stratfor had a pretty good report:

1) Mubarak wins, or leaves for the Caymans, but his successor continues the regime.
2) Protestors win, hold elections, and start up a democracy.
3) Protestors win, hold elections, and elect a theocracy.
4) Nobody wins, country turns into Somalia.

Place your bets, the last ISP in Egypt just went dark.  (When the stock market hasn't traded for a few days and isn't trading again tomorrow, the government don't need its ISP either.)
 
Next, they'll have to stop routing all international telephone calls.  And hope that nobody smart enough to build a HAM radio is simultaneously dumb enough to broadcast from it at home instead of while on the road.  And they'll have to confiscate all the satellite phones. 

http://i.imgur.com/8ih0w.jpg

Because unless they do all that and more, they still can't stop the signal.

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/16746/slide_16746_232953_large.jpg

Yup, violent fundie whackjobs all.  (Hint: If these protesters were really fundamentalists, they wouldn't be showing their faces, let alone their hair.)


I wonder if these are the same gals who stormed the Abu Zabaal prison (in a shootout) and let out all the extremists? ???

I wonder if these are the same gals who stormed the Abu Zabaal prison (in a shootout) and let out all the extremists? ???


I'm more willing to believe those were the secret police.  there have been plenty of reports of the police trying to stir up trouble any way they can.

Actually, if you read the military history of the revolution, we got our butts kicked a lot more than we kicked the Brits.  We won Saratoga, we won Trenton, and we won the most important battle, the last one (with a good deal of health from Rochambeau and the French fleet - and the incompetence of a British admiral - Rodney I think).  But mostly the Brits kicked our butt.  But then, if you win the last battle you usually win the war.  We did, and mostly as a result of luck and pluck, not military finesse


I think that there will be protest in the US, but it won't be as bad as in Egypt. Sure, it'll be a big deal, but probably not on the level of Egypt.

Egyptian protesters hold a massive rally in the capital, Cairo, as leaders of the movement call on President Mubarak to step down by Friday.

Egyptian protesters hold a massive rally in the capital, Cairo, as leaders of the movement call on President Mubarak to step down by Friday.


What happens if he doesn't step down?

Apparently Mubarak will not be seeking reelection.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/01/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T1

What happens if he doesn't step down?


That, of course, remains to be seen.  In these kinds of situations, one never knows, but I would guess that the army still holds the key.


Apparently Mubarak will not be seeking reelection.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/01/egypt.protests/index.html?hpt=T1


Yes, but he did not say he would step down until his term ends.  That, of course, could change.  If I had to bet, I say he would be out of office within a week.  From what he said, though, I doubt he will go into exile.

What comes next?  My bet is that Mohamed El Baridai (? - former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency) will be some sort of honcho, at least temporarily.  But what do I know.

One important contributing factor to these government revolts and food riots is the massive price inflation that is happening, fuel and commodity prices are going up. The fed is causing this inflation with their "quantitative easing", flooding the world with devalued US dollars, they sure want those interest rates to stay low don't they, at ALL cost ::).

One important contributing factor to these government revolts and food riots is the massive price inflation that is happening, fuel and commodity prices are going up. The fed is causing this inflation with their "quantitative easing", flooding the world with devalued US dollars, they sure want those interest rates to stay low don't they, at ALL cost ::).


I'm confused.  Here in the US, we are in danger of DEFLATION.  The fed likes to see some inflation, but we are below there target.  I don't know that there is massive inflation in Egypt either.  There is massive unemployment, lots of corruption, lots of police brutality, and an unresponsive administration. 

I'm confused.  Here in the US, we are in danger of DEFLATION.  The fed likes to see some inflation, but we are below there target.  I don't know that there is massive inflation in Egypt either.  There is massive unemployment, lots of corruption, lots of police brutality, and an unresponsive administration.  


He's probably talking about food inflation.  Prices of raw agricultural commodities have skyrocketed over the past year.  If you eat Corn Flakes and Rib Eyes, where the cost of the manufacturer's margin, distributor's margin, retailer's markup, marketing, and the cardboard packaging is $4.50 of the $5.00 per box you pay for name-brand cereal (and the cost of the corn feed is probably only $2.00 out of the $15/lb you pay for a slab of prime rib), then it's not so bad. (And that's why we're still worried about deflation.)

But if you eat, you know, actual corn...

http://i.imgur.com/lBgdk.jpg

...then the more dollars the Ben Bernanke prints to keep us out of a deflationary spiral, the higher the price of commodities denominated in US dollars. 

Food inflation's a contributory/proximate cause, however, not the root cause.  The root causes of the revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, and at the rate things are going, maybe a few other nations are pretty much the ones you cite.  A huge youth population (50%+ of the population is under 35) with nothing to do (and amongst them, unemployment is in the 30% range) and all day to do it.

So you're both right.

What happens if he doesn't step down?


We found out today, because that sure as hell wasn't a resignation speech yesterday.

Here's a reasonable analysis from yesterday.  Some of it should still be valid, and all of the background information makes sense.

But to answer your question, what happens is sorta like what happened in Iran.  Plainclothesed cops pretend to be loyal supporters of the regime.  (Or like what happened in Tienanmen Square, you bring in troops from rural areas who have no idea what's going on, but who know how to crack heads -- Egypt's problem is that nobody lives in the boonies.  Since the rest of the country's a desert, 99% of the population lives, rather sensibly, along the Nile River and the Delta.)

TL;DR: Poop gets real as of a couple of hours ago.

Your best shot at live coverage is probably through Al Jazeera English.  Yeah, yeah, I know, they're a bunch of asshats who weren't on our side during Gulf War 2.  Suck it up.  Their coverage has been sufficiently balanced that they've pissed off not only the government of Egypt, but the government of Qatar, where they're based.  Anyone can beat the crap out of Anderson Cooper, because that's his job - stand on the beach during the hurricane, or jump into a riot - because it's good for CNN's ratings, but if AJE and goes dark, you'll know the gloves have really come off.

Flip a coin.  My current bet is Mubarak steps down in a week or two, turns it over to someone acceptable to both the military and the West.  His son doesn't count.  Doubt Suliman counts either.  Who might work out in that situation is up for grabs.

And now, back to the cute chicks from a couple of days ago, before poop got real:


I wonder if these are the same gals who stormed the Abu Zabaal prison (in a shootout) and let out all the extremists? ???


They've got very few firearms compared to the cops.  Stands to reason, being a country in which private firearms ownership isn't exactly as easy to come by as it is in America.  Is it more likely that unarmed chicks stormed a prison - freeing prisoners against the wishes of armed law enforcement in the form of prison guards?  Or is it more likely that cops, friendly to the regime, walked into a prison, and asked fellow law enforcement, namely prison guards, to hand over the keys?

PROTIP: If you're not sure of what to make of random footage of demonstrators, look for pictures of cute chicks.  (You should already be doing that, because, hey, cute chicks!)  If the pro-Mubarak demonstrators are grassroots, why are there no chicks amongst their ranks?  Mubarak's secular, you'd think the chicks showing their hair would be on his side.  If he's trying to buy off the MB, you'd think the chicks covering their hair would be on his side.  Yet there are no chicks amonst those "pro-Mubarak" demonstrators.  The only rational conclusion I can draw from the news footage is that either the pro-Mubarak forces are (as widely expected) plainclothes cops, or that only dudes like Mubarak, and you can extrapolate from there.  NTTAWWT.  (For the record, my bet is that the pro-Mubarak "demonstrators" are cops.  But hey, I gotta consider all the alternatives.)

So the most likely explanation is that the prisoners were busted out by government thugs and paid to bust heads on the protestors.  (Downside for the proestors: The army held back on Feb 2nd, and let the thugs whack a few heads, just like in Iran.)

Anyways, maybe it's just the beer and 25 years, but I feel a song coming on.  Hop into the DeLorean and set the wayback machine for 1985.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O01HzvA9DXs

They're breakin out the the prisoners, and freein' 'em from the Pen.
And all she wants to do is dance, dance.
Thugees been thuggin', since I don't know when.
And all she wants to do is dance.

Molotov cocktail, local drink.  Mix 'em up right in the kitchen sink,  (( Sorry about the subscription link, but the headline says it all and STRATFOR is hardly a lefty source. ))
All she wants to do is dance.
Camel jockeys rampaging with blood in their eyes,  ((I had a milder line, but it's not racist if there's video of a government goon with a whip riding a farking camel, is it?  He's a jockey, he's riding a camel, case closed! :))
And all she wants to do is dance, dance,
Wild-eyed banner wavers, who ain't afraid to die.
And all she wants to do is -
All she wants to do is dance.
And make romance.
She can feel the heat - comin' off the street.
She wants to party (ooh!)
She wants to get down (ooh!)
All she wants to do is -
All she wants to do is dance.

Well, Mubarak nuked the 'network, Twitter, Facebook page,
And all she wants to do is dance, dance.
Keep his citizens from tweetin' 'bout another day of rage,
And all she wants to do is dance.

Yeah, but that don't keep our boys from makin' a buck or two.
We still can send the army foreign aid from me and you,
And all she wants to do is -
All she wants to do is dance.
And make romance.

Well we gotta make the airport, for the last plane out,
As we taxi down the runway, I can hear the people shout,
They say "Don't come back here Yankee",
But if I ever do, I'll bring more money,
'Cos all she wants to do is dance.
And make romance.
Never mind the heat - comin' off the street.
She wants to party (ooh!)
She wants to get down (ooh!)
All she wants to do is -
All she wants to do is dance.

With apologies to Don Henley.  And to the board for the douchetastic triple-post.  But hey, in return for putting up with me, this parody is in the public domain if anyone wants to use (or improve on!) it.  Anyways, yay for hot chicks dancing through the postapocalypse!

Flip a coin.  My current bet is Mubarak steps down in a week or two, turns it over to someone acceptable to both the military and the West.

He said he was going to try and hold on until September... made me think:


The weather here has been as nice as it can be
Although it doesn't really matter much to me
For I'll carry on until protesters go away
I might as well reign until September