Egypt's Revolt - pundits agree, Mubarak is out

 The other day, Egypt erupted in revolt against its government. First, consider that Hosni Mubarak has been ruler there for thirty years. Egypt has had emergency law in effect since 1981. Why is this important to the World? Because Egypt is the most populous country in the Middle East with 84.5 million citizens.

For his own efforts, perhaps it could be said that Mubarak kept Egypt together with a firm hand through very difficult times. But the same was being said about Saddam Hussein at one time. Many Egyptians believe the U.S. are Mubarak's friend and indeed, our own President has yet to speak out on this, or asked for Mubarak to step down, as indeed he now should.

Mubarak has disbanded his parliament and seems to think that this is good enough, but his people, the US Government, and others, including Germany, believe they need to see the President of Egypt step down and allow true democracy to evolve. The former head of  Egyptian Intelligence has now been appointed as VP. This is not the most optimal direction Egypt could be taking, but it is Mubarak's best attempt at maintaining his power. Why is power to hard for these types to relinquish?

Changes are at hand around the world.
Delta Airlines has now indefinitely suspended flights to Egypt.
Thousands protest in Jordan for political and economic reforms.

Incredible video

From "Egypt Revolts: Al-Jazeera Reports" by Mark Seddon on January 29, 2011:

"The convulsions in Tunisia spread to Yemen — and then to populous Egypt. Other dictatorial regimes in the area — including the schizophrenic leader of Libya, Colonel Qadaffi — are looking on increasingly nervously, as well they might. These regimes may be largely secular in nature, which is why they are favoured by the West and aided accordingly, but many of them are deeply malevolent regimes that routinely crush human rights and torture dissidents.

"In truth, these popular risings that have gripped Tunis and now have fanned across the main population centres in Egypt did not just happen overnight. The Maghreb and the Arab World are fundamentally young societies, governed largely by dictators who have singularly failed to find their increasingly well educated youth jobs and a future worthy of aspiring too. Now they are reaping the whirlwind, and the West stays strangely silent. Hardly surprising really. For with the exception of Ba’athist Syria and the wildcard that is Iran, most of these regimes look to the West for survival.

"Of course it would be wonderful if the forces of light and democracy took hold in Tunis and Cairo. We could cheer to the rafters if Mohammed El Baradei, lately of the IAEA and leader of the Egyptian Opposition finds himself the democratically elected leader of that country in due course."

The U.S is reviewing its aide package, 1.3 Billion annually, to Egypt in view of the current situation. Opposition leader ElBaradei has said this weekend that he would like to see a democratic Egypt that has a friendly relationship with the U.S. When asked if he would like to see President Obama come out and ask President Mubarak to step down, he said he believed that would happen. He added that he believes Mubarak will have to leave the country within the next three days. When asked if he thinks terrorists will take over Egypt during this time of turmoil, he said he was "quite confident" this wouldn't happen.

So, Tuesday or Wednesday, will we see a report stating that Mubarak has left the country? Is this the end of his reign as a thirty year long "democratic leader"? And is this the beginning of the end of the Holy Terror the Middle East has become over the past few decades? One can only hope, for stability, a voice for the people, a way for these people to live openly, freely, with sanctity of life and a way to join the world in a more open and free way.