Egypt Protests: From Festival To Nightmare?

no need to lose life.mubarak should go peacefully.

This is the story in any revolution where people are hurt and some killed.
Next if the script is followed, the new regime will be more repressive than the last.
The liberal left wing media is all about creating a democracy where none has ever existed, no democratic infrastructure exists and the DNA of the people is to follow a strogman.
Obama just wants it to be over so that he can return to promoting his Choo-Choo trains as "new technology" in America.

"The Obama administration, stung by an outbreak of violence in Cairo Wednesday, is now pushing for a speedy transfer of power to a transitional government that would sideline Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak or remove him from power, people familiar with the matter say."

Am i missing something? What exactly does America have to do with the Egyptians change of government?

The people marching are risking everything to be there. They know what the president is like, they wouldn't be there if they weren't prepaired to die for their cause.

What the world is witnessing now in Egypt is an army of cowards letting innocent lives being lost and an armless heroic nationalists against mercenaries, thugs, sycophants and convicts.

In 2011 just like in 1967 the army has a lifetime opportunity to impact on the world a major change but with slippery fingers that chance is leaping and failure to support pro-democrats this time will not be very different from the defeat by the Israelis in 1967.

Mubarak fed the army well. To thank him is not to let him stay but to let him go for the good of greater Egypt.

10 days of wasting lives, time and money..i think it's more than enough.
Mubarak must leave , cuz every minute he stays in presidency he proves that he is a dictator.
we've been through all this before here in Iraq. all the world have told Saddam to leave, yet he refused, for he wanted to destroy Iraq he released all the criminals before the war, and he let al Qaida to enter iraq, so that they would destroy iraq after him.
and Mubarak is just doing the same now!!!

Nothing about the Mubarak regime is legitimate, including his camel-riding and Molotov cocktail-throwing “supporters." His "term" is over. His tyranny takes merely a new form.
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We heard from the peaceful protestors that they wish the regime to stand down.
We heard from the repressive dictatorship and its police thugs that they wish the regime to remain in power by hook, crook and camel.
The biggest power-broker is the army, it has the future of Egypt in its hands. But in who's hands are the Egyptian army?

Only the naive might be surprised that Mubarak supporters would be fed up with Egypt being held hostage by protesters and retaliate.

All part and parcel of the destabilization of the region that kicked off with the Palestinian suicide bombers in 2000 which led to 9/11 which begot the Iraqi invasion and so on like a house of cards collapsing. All enabled by American led greedy globalization of traditionally rooted societies holding ancient blood grievances.

Where it all ends? Stay tuned for the coming “festival” releases coming to your neighborhood street theaters soon!

As has been mentioned Mubarak should go peacefully whether it be now or in a transition to another President. However, to assume that all violence is being done by his thugs is wrong. Any loss of life is sad; it spoils any move towards "democracy". As for the U.S. We will always be seen as an enemy.

"Am i missing something? What exactly does America have to do with the Egyptians change of government?"

The US has been a supporter of the Mubarak regime for decades and has invested a lot of taxpayers money, political support and military backing to keep the regime in power (as it has done with other dictatorships too). Without this support, the regime would not be as strong, and might have been toppled by now with the help of the army, like what happened in Tunisia.
A revolt against the Mubarak dictatorship is a revolt against one of the US "interests" in the Middle East. The US has to weigh up what it values more in the Middle East: repressive dictatorship that obeys the US, or a free people with their own independent values and policies. For the last few decades, they have put their weight behind obedience enforced through repression.

From Austin, TX, USA, I am unable to reach English pages of either Al-Jazeera or Al-Arabiya. Al-Jazeera in Arabic comes up, but no English. Do we know why this is happening? Thanks - DB

We in the past have encountered similar tactics from the ancient regime in Turkey. It's not easy to say that old days have passed, I still remember lawyers and human rights activists being accused as "puppets of foreign powers" . I am afraid Egypt state TV will start airing "public enemies" , collaborators of enemy states. Even Israil can sacrifice some of his crew for this purpose for the sake of saving their closest "ally".
May god be with peaceful resistance of Egyptian people.
May freedom, equality, and fraternity prevail in Egypt.

It's interesting how nonobjective the US media is being on this. While I think it's possible that the pro Mubarak supporters are being asked to or encourage to do what they are doing by Mubarak, CNN is stating as fact that they are. I also heard Eliot Spitzer on his show say that Mubarak supporters were riding out on Tahrir Square on horses swining machetes. They were carrying riding crops and hitting people with the rope on the end. That's not remotely close to a Machete, yet they come out and state things like that?

In a country of 80,000,000+ people, if only thousands of people are protesting, how good of an indication that it is really the will of the people that Mubarak leave?

The US has to weigh up what it values more in the Middle East: repressive dictatorship that obeys the US, or a free people with their own independent values and policies. For the last few decades, they have put their weight behind obedience enforced through repression.
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They don't have to "obey" the US, they have to not war monger. Ask yourself what do you think it worse, the absence of war but have an dictator who is unpleasant at beast, or have a "democracy" and constant war with many thousands getting killed, the extreme repression of minorities, etc.

Is the rest of the world expected to smile when there is war, when minorities get persecuted even more when islamists take over Egypt?

It's sad to see what is taking in Egypt turning from sublime to a tragicomedy. This is all the result of the lack of democracy. In a democratic country people should be accustomed to cast their votes in fair elections to choose who to represent them and not to cast stones and other projectiles at each other

Fight - in a civilised manner- is left to politicians who stage campaigns to persuade people to vote for them. It isn't physical fights between people in the streets that can settle the matters. In politics, there is no leader or political party that has absolute popularity.

Concerning Egypt, there would have been no need for these massive demonstrations if the proposed solutions by Mubark such as limiting the terms of presidency had been implemented long time ago. The current fight for power in which protesters are used as an instrument is the result of the lack of real of democracy.

Whoever comes to power in Egypt has to adjust the mentality of people to accept fair election results and not to use the streets as the ground to vent anger. This can be possible if anyone coming to power should be ready to stay or go by the popular vote. After all the success and the failure of any regime resides in its ability to connect with people and not to remain a rope around their necks.

Thanks for the analysis PilotDan: "The liberal left wing media is all about creating a democracy where none has ever existed" - yeah, they're all about that, having watched it work so well implemented by the right wing in Iraq.
Give Hosni a break! There's a lot of looting and head-cracking, I mean "campaigning" to be done between now and the next election.

it is really amazing, how things turned around in Egypt. it was Mubarak who advised Saddam, that he had to leave the country to save the Iraqis from the consequences. so, is Mubarak ready to follow his own advice to avoid more bloodshed in Egypt? change is underway there, and will not stop in Egypt. the repression of people has reached its limits in the region and it is no way to turn the clock back.

It is possible to have a smooth transition even if Mobarak steps down immediately and hands over power to another.

It must be so frustrating for the people, who have put up with him for 30 years, to see their demand being made light of. His announcement that he will stay on for the rest of his "term" is so patronizing of the people's demand.

Yesterday was to be expected!

The same old tactics taken from Iranian style regimes.. Put the Police out there in plain clothes to create havoc and chaos, then have your new lackey apologies and lie about an investigation.

Next will be the Army refusing to step in under the Governments orders or the Pro-Government supporters will escalate the violence.

We can only hope that Mubarak will see the truth of the future and step down and cooperate with improving the wrongs his government has done to the citizens.

There is a grand list of democracies overthrown by the US and warmongering dictators installed and/or supported by the US, from Indonesia to Chile, including support for the apartheid regime in South Africa where the US classified Nelson Mandela as a terrorist. US foreign policy is all about protecting and furthering US military, political and financial interests abroad, regardless of the cost to human lives and the cost to the values of freedom,justice and rights; Egypt being no different.

Now that Egypt has a revolution, the West raises the prospect of potential extremists lurking (no longer Ivan hiding under your bed, now it's Omar in your fridge), and favour a continuation of the repressive dictatorship, ignoring that it is repression itself that creates extremism. Also, no one knows how strong the Muslim Brotherhood is, no one knows what they will do if they ever make it into power, no one knows if they are extreme. They are one of the voices of the people, and their potential is unkown. Denying people their legitimate rights and voices out of fear of the unknown is not a credible defence for dictatorship, and not a line that the civilised world can take.

Now the whole world see why Egyptian people call the state police "the thugs".
They are certainly no better than the Iranian bassidjis. In fact the similarities between the two and the methods they use are strikingly similar.

To Pilot Dan: Why does every opinion have to be a leftist or a rightist remark? I personally find these labels offensive. This is part of the problem of the US politics being such a mess at the moment. Life is not black and white.
To Multipack_can13: The US pays Egypt over 1 billion dollars in aid for military etc. Right or wrong thats why they have an influence. I am not always happy at some of the things my government does. Following the news, some protesters want US influence out, others want the President Obama to pressure Mubark to step down now. I just hope that The Egyptian People get the freedom they seek.

In a way, the Egyptian protests are more similar to our US Boston Tea Party protests than the, in my opinion, phony baloney Sarah Palin Tea Party.

So. I wonder what would happen if the US changed our foreign policy with Egypt and adopted the role that the French played in our US 1776 Revolution, funding and supporting the Egyptian protesters?

What would the Egyptian Military do if the US made a big and public commitment to support the Protesters? Are US ambassadors talking with the Military about possible changes.

Certainly our past foreign policy of supporting thug dictators has brought us blowback in the form of hatred towards Americans, even attacks, so if we changed to respect for human rights and freedom, could we put a stop to that downside?

It seesm like everybody loves our US ideals and hates our actual US behaviors, so maybe we ought to get our behaviors congruent with our ideals.

Egyptian people simply doesn't trust Mubarak anymore after 30 years of ruthless disctorship. If they stop now it will be like in Iran : kidnapping, torture and brutal repression for those who dared to challenge the regime. And mubarak simply wouldn't go in the end.

It is a pity that we can do so little to help ordinary citizens in Eygpt, but Mubarak is unlikely to take any notice of Europe, as long as we have clowns such as Westerwelle and Merkel, not to forget our own PM, dancing around the diplomatic stage. They cannot even stop left-wing radicals from rioting in their home countries.

Re: To Pilot Dan: Why does every opinion have to be a leftist or a rightist remark? I personally find these labels offensive. This is part of the problem of the US politics being such a mess at the moment. Life is not black and white.

Evidence: In a way, the Egyptian protests are more similar to our US Boston Tea Party protests than the, in my opinion, phony baloney Sarah Palin Tea Party.

How could anyone compare the U.S. and our freedoms to Egypt and their lack of freedoms? We have heard so many people implore for human rights and basic needs. This is a terrible comparison!

Some people also forget the "conservative" term can have different meanings depending on location. Maybe it makes them feel like they can get an extra conservative bash in, but they are really making inaccurate statements.

I don't always, or even often, agree with Tom Ford. But I believe that his post #23 hits the nail right on the head.

We are no longer in a world order where anything Soviet-leaning must be considered evil. Therefore, let's leave that baggage behind.

A power vacuum in Egypt could easily turn it into another Iran, however, so it sure would be nice if the Egyptian protesters themselves could accept the wisdom of an orderly transition of power. Some of those claims of "willing to die to get Mubarak out" appear to be a bit of a "in the heat of the moment" emotional outburts, perhaps not in the best long-term interests of Egypt?

How pathetic Mubarak!! Did you really think the world is blind or foolish to believe your claim you are fed up of being a dictator???? Look Nd see how much of innocent blood is on your hands,!!! Am sure you can't sleep, eat or even got to the toilet peacefully!!! Earlier the nightmares used to be if your eyes were closed Mubarak, now it's all real!! Just quit, run & spend the last few days of your life regretting what you've done or ordered to do,,,,'''

The new & modified tone of US state department "Mubarak to resign immediately"!!! But yet everyone is waiting to see what happens after Friday prayers, why?? Is it to see more bloodshed? Or is it to see a smooth departure of Mubarak?
Americans know Mubarak will not leave and if he does his regime will remain, at least until some law & order is restored & then again another dictator backed by them is brought to keep their interests "Israel" safe. So for you out their waiting for Mubarak, or the US " don't wait", go to tahrir, go online & help, donate and voice it shout it & show it loud & clear, " no to Mubarak, US doesn't really care about you or Mubarak, Israel is scared of your brotherhood, and peace treaty will be respected once the Israel respect our holy lands". We don't want War with Israel or US, but yet the whole world is watching as Israel loots land from our Palastenian peoples in the name of peace??

Mubarak needs to go NOW! Even if he has made major concessions, how can we trust a lier of 30 years to carry out these concessions? He can unravel all the promises in the next few months. Despite these concessions the government still has corrupt politicians in power. They are obviously incompetent to be any type of the leaders. Even if they were not responsible for unleashing the thugs that killed 5 innocent people, it is their responsibility to protect these peaceful protestors! The Egyptian people should NOT have to choose between Order & Freedom! EVERYONE deserves freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to choose the destiny of their lives!