Military seizes control of the country to "safeguard" Egyptians.
Hundreds of thousands of people are pouring into Tahrir square, dubbed Liberation Square, in anticipation of an announcement by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, according to a live stream from Al Jazeera. What the president will announce remains unknown. However, activists are sure Mubarak will resign. After that, the future of Egypt is in the hands of powers far higher than the people demanding freedom and democracy.…
Article comments
26 - roger nowosielski
"re #9 - I said this would happen a week ago: if we talk about it, we'll be called meddling Americans, and if we don't, we'll be called dumb Americans." #22
My remarks weren't directed at either meddling or dumb Americans, only at humans. But I suppose it's a strange concept to you, for who would you be if you were to take off your American hat?
27 - troll
dictators beware
28 - roger nowosielski
Israeli reaction is bound to follow next, another tyrannical government masquerading as a democracy.
29 - handyguy
Israel has a bellicose government, not a tyrannical government. It has a hawkish government because that's what the largest number of people wanted during the last election. It certainly is a democracy. Amazingly ignorant statement.
30 - Heloise
Mubarak Resigns!
"Hundreds of thousands of protesters had gathered for a huge rally on what they called "Farewell Friday," and after 18 days they finally achieved their main goal.
"The people have brought down the regime," chanted the crowds in Tahrir Square."
31 - troll
pretty funny
32 - roger nowosielski
Even today, prior to this momentous event, members of our diplomatic corps were discussing our unequivocal and indiscriminate support for worldwide democracies.
"What if Osama bin Laden was the winner in the Saudi popular elections?" was their point question.
33 - roger nowosielski
I know the meaning of words, Handy. Not tyrannical with respect to its people, you say. Well, it's tyrannical with respect to the occupied territories, is my claim.
So yes, I willfully ignored this fine distinction.
34 - Boeke
The future of Egypt is for the Egyptians to decide, and, more importantly, to implement.
Of course one can fear a military takeover with a General taking the lead. One can fear outside influences (the US? OBL? Russia?) trying to take a powerful position.
Have the Egyptians traded one oppressor for another?
But I have higher hopes for Egypt, based on the amazing interchange of information and ideas that anyone can read and contribute to.
I have high hopes and expectations for Egypt.
35 - Dr Dreadful
Caution: Mubarak has gone, but handed power to the military. Seldom a path to peace and freedom, that. Egyptians will do well not to take their eyes off the ball.
Roger, American support for democracy has historically not been unequivocal and indiscriminate. It is so only when someone America doesn't feel threatened by gets elected.
The US was far from happy about Allende in Chile, for example, or when an Islamic fundamentalist party won free elections in Algeria. Iran is also a democracy, albeit a limited one. I could go on.
36 - Heloise
I think the date says it all
2-11-2011 Yes the peaceful (people) meets the violent (military) = New way for the country?
It was destiny a military coup...real history. Obama was right, people were strong.
37 - roger nowosielski
My take is, it's as momentous an event as the end of the Cold War, greater perhaps. We have always thought of the Middle East as our personal playground, just as we view Cuba. Well, the "dumb and dirty Arabs" have shown us. They represent the cutting edge.
The Middle East will never be the same again.
38 - roger nowosielski
Of course I'm aware of that, Dreadful. I was only addressing what passes as our commitment to democratic values.
39 - roger nowosielski
You've got to have greater faith in history, Boeke.
"The moral arch of the universe bends at the elbow of justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.
40 - troll
...do you think we could get the US Government to quit in 18 days?
41 - Clavos
Hopefully, the new Egyptian regime will distance itself from the US and spurn ANY "offers" of help from this country.
If they don't, the people will be back out on the streets; it's not over yet.
42 - handyguy
Since the Egyptian military have so far managed to portray themselves as 'good guys,' on the side of the protesters, thus keeping themselves in the middle of the power transition, and since the Egyptian military would barely exist without American aid, I'm not sure how likely it is Egypt will spurn anything any time soon.
The protesters seem friendly to American journalists and cautiously receptive toward Obama -- not reflexively anti-American.
But who knows what's next? The euphoria will die down, and then what?
43 - roger nowosielski
American hope as our indispensability never dies. We are the hub of the world.
44 - Dr Dreadful
...do you think we could get the US Government to quit in 18 days?
Only if we could get a commitment from the protesters that they won't cancel Glee.
45 - tim paynter
Great comments all! Your participation is what keeps bc so strong! As for those who don't have the analysis right, well I will get u on the right track soon enough! Probably...
46 - roger nowosielski
Good luck. I've tried for two years and counting; they're intractable. You'd have a better chance talking to Thisbe through the chink in the wall.
47 - roger nowosielski
Mubarak's assets have just been frozen by Swiss banks.
48 - El Bicho
troll?! get your nostalgia off my bridge. Wish Bob A. Booey would make a reappearance
"..do you think we could get the US Government to quit in 18 days?"
I don't see Americans protesting for 18 days.
The numbers of the date are meaningless. Why didn't they overthrow him on Jan 11 or wait until Nov 11?
49 - Clavos
The protesters seem friendly to American journalists and cautiously receptive toward Obama -- not reflexively anti-American.
Too bad -- for them; their relationship with the USA has been toxic for them.
50 - tim paynter
immigrants have been fighting for basic rights in this country for a lot longer than 18 days. Those imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay have been fighting just to see an attorney for far longer than that. Let's join the rest of the world in effecting human rights and equality.