Anger forces loyal to Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak have taken to the streets of Cairo tonight, attacking protesters on horseback and lobbing molotov cocktails into the crowd. Large numbers of injuries have been reported, but of course amidst the chaos no reliable figures have been released.
Though it is as-yet unclear where the sudden surge of armed Mubarak-backers came from most analysts agree that it was not an impromptu show of support and was probably directly coordinately by the president as his latest answer to the military refusing to crush the protesters.
In addition to attacking the crowds, there have been multiple reports of the Mubarak forces attacking journalists in Tahrir Square, venting their frustration at the growing coverage of the uprising against the president-for-life.
Mubarak had been seeking to tamp down the protests with promises that he would not participate in September elections. This does not appear to have satisfied the protesters, however, and only added to the calls for him to leave immediately. With the promises now giving way to violence against the protesters those calls are likely to only escalate more.
Sorry, one more comment then I'll go back to my parents' basement. The protesters risk overplaying their hand. Here again is where these nascent democratic movements show their inexperience. They scored a huge victory in getting Mubarak to not run for re-election, yet instead of organizing for the election: canvasing, sizing up different candidates, campaigning, etc. these protesters still stand around in the streets.
If Mubarak reneges on his pledge they can always pour back into the streets. The longer they protest however the less leverage they will have. The shopkeepers and bazaar merchants (sorry paid thugs on this website) will become alienated from the "revolution", and will fall back on the regime. There is no savvy here, no leadership, which is why I remain pessimistic they will ultimately succeed
They're probably thinking that murabak is just buying time and don't want to lose the momemtum. Ideally, I agree with what you're saying.
That's easy for you to say James. You haven't had to endure thirty years of this thug and tryant's misrule.
James- I agree with you that now is a crucial point in the protester's agenda, but I'm not sure that waiting until September is a good plan either. For one, the protesters have the initiative at this point and to give it up only weakens their hand. Second, by withdrawing and playing the 'watch-and-wait' card only plays into the hands of the Security Forces; how many thousands of Egyptians will be disappeared between now and September?
My personal view is that the protesters should remain firm, but go the Gandhi route- non-violence. At present we have scenes of mass rock-throwing contests, but what of world opinion? "Ho, hum, just another riot, nothing to see, move along"? No, if the protesters are steadfast and non-violent, regardless of how brutal the Security Forces get, world opinion will be firmly on their side and Mubarak will have no choice but to step down or face total isolation in the world community.
The problem is if Mubarak is ousted now who takes over in the interim: his V.P. or the military…poof there goes any chance of free elections in September as I doubt they will give up power. That is why these kinds of revolutions, while making good copy are ultimately short-sighted.
I think many Americans forget that this is an autocratic dictatorship with a nototious reputation for eliminating its opposition. Waiting until September gives this thug six months to imprison, jail & torture his opponents. Egyptians have been listening to paltitudes from this guy for 30 years to no avail, and they've had ENOUGH. There's no reason for them to take this tyrant at his word.
I don't blame the Egyptians one bit for wanting this tyrant out NOW.
The longer they wait, the more we will see spin- and damage controlled realities returning to the scene and stealing away any changes. Exactly as is the case in the USA with their two-headed monster reptile in control of the nation with its real people, vs. spinned and make-believe reality for ghosts, vampires, living-deads – of the present empire of hypocrites!
Mubarak is on his way out. He'll be out by friday. This is his last throw. He's expecting that the US is behind him but the US is behind all the unrest in egypt just like the USSR was behind all the unrest in eastern europe. This is the end of the USSA. Margolis hit it on the head. Mubrak will be out by the end of the week and there will be a new government in egypt that will be truly democratic. And there is nothing the US can do about it.
the blind spot all of you libertarians seem to have is that while decentralization works wonders in most thing centralization works very well at power.
and here is a little nightmare scenario, nato.
if I recall history correctly troops rode into the crowds of Russians with their sabers slashing all within reach (although not at the czar's request) and this is one of the acts which really got the revolution going. Mubarak may go the Cosesku?? route. Serves him right.