Will He? Or Won't He?

All eyes on Egypt via Al Jazeera mostly, I assume. Will Mubarak finally go?

(Here's the live link at Al Jazeera.)

From Al Jazeera Live Blog for February 10, 2011:

7:12pm Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh, reports that people around her in Tahrir Square have a strong sense of anticipation - people believe their moment has come.

7:02pm Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman, says: "The president is watching the same thing you are. I don't know what the outcome will be."

6:49pm: Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera correspondent, notes the military's Supreme Council has only ever held three open sessions in its history. 1967, 1973 - and today.

6:44pm: Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros reports the military presence in downtown Cairo has increased in recent hours, with greater numbers of tanks making a highly visible presence.

6:37pm: White House says situation in Egypt is 'fluid'.

6:36pm: State TV reports Mubarak will address the country tonight.

6:23pm: Egypt's prime minister says Mubarak "is still president, and no decisions taken has changed that".

6:21pm: Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Cairo, says the million-man march planned for tomorrow has already begun - Tahrir Square is absolutely packed.

6:19pm: Al-Arabiya reports Mubarak is on his way to the red sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh with chief of staff. No immediate confirmation.

6:15pm: NDP chief reportedly stopped Mubarak making speech, handing power to VP Suleiman.

6:05pm: Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Cairo, says roads to Cairo airport are reportedly being closed.

6:00pm: The CIA chief reportedly says there is a "strong likelihood" Mubarak will step down tonight.

5:39pm: Huge chant, Tahrir Square seemingly in unison, shouting: "The army and the people in one hand - the army and the people are united."

The Army has been mobilized because violent protests have spread to other regions of Egypt. However, come to think about it, what the Army has done so far throughout the Revolution has been to do nothing. They didn't actively stop the police and government thugs from attacking the peaceful protesters. They didn't attack the protesters. It was probably the best outcome that they stayed pretty much neutral. The protesters in Tahrir Square did all the work themselves- self-organized to defend themselves against the government thugs, provide security, support, essential services, entertainment, and cleanup.

If the Army acts in the interest of the Egyptians, that's good. But Egyptians, make sure you tell them what to do, not the other way around. Don't let them give you another "leader".

Tweet