the Americans told him to because that was only in public. In private it is: Stop the bleeding now! Israel will not have it.

I'm old enough to remember what actually happened. Carter offered the Shah treatment in the US for his cancer. The Iranian Army stood aside when the people of Iran overthrew the Shah's regime. The US didn't invade. Are you suggesting that the US invade Egypt to support Mubarak? What troops would the US use? and why should the US do that? Should the US invade France and reinstall the Bourbons, the next time the French vote in some manner you don't like? Israel is acting contrary to US interests right now, should the US invade and set up a dictatorship to do our will? Was Pinochet a good long term choice for Chile or the US? What exactly do you want the US to do in Egypt? Why can't Israel do that?

When Obama was making statements in favor of democracy, the Vice President was saying Mubarak is not a dictator. They are contradicting each other. Rham Emanuel said DON'T LET A GOOD CHRISIS GO TO WASTE.

and we got Hamas. Do we want the Muslim Brotherhood or a mixture of similar radical groups running Egypt? Who to support would seem to me to be a no-brainer!

Because we dont realize that not everyone thinks as loftly about humanity. Democracy ideas were crushed in afghanistan and iraq. the effectiveness came from PAYING OFF tribes to counter Taliban. PAYING OFF/BRIBERY is corruption not democracy....and in the muslims world it is EFFECTIVE Im astounded at how idiotic Obama plays his cards with Muslims world. Barely a peep on Iranian revolution. Now hes weighing in like a heavyweight and dissing his friend in Egypt. Does Obama feel better having the brotherhood of Islam in charge? Will it feel more like his home in Chicago?............................ It took

...that he had "walked into a minefield" when he entered the Middle East question, and that he should have been more careful. Sadly, Obama and Clinton - just as Bush and Carter before them - view matters strictly through an American prism, continue to utter things that can only add oil to the fire instead of helping to calms things down. It is time the President, having realized that he does not understand the way in which the Middle East in general and the Arab world in particular operate, keep silent. But, sadly, the novice and naive President doesn't appear to read the sign: Stop, mines ahead!!

The US and Israeli governments propped this dictator up for thirty years. Just like in Iran, these so-called "democracy loving" governments didn't care what Mubarak did to the man or woman on the street as long as he did what they wanted him to. Therefore Mubarak enriched himself and his cronies and repressed the political aspirations of the Egyptian people. Right now the Americans are scrambling to find someone they can back and control. They'll talk the talk of democracy and all that but they don't care. Just give them a man who will do as they say. But this time around I don't think the people and Muslim Brotherhood will be listening. Plus the people will realize that any general in the Army will just be another Mubarak. The revolution will go on. For several years I have been telling you this day would come. The Muslim revolution in the Middle East is here. At the very least you will have two governments at your borders that are friends with the Iranians. Think of all the chances you country has squandered. You could have made a just peace with the Palestinians but you didn't. Bibi and the rest of the idiots in you current government thought they could have all of Palestine. What will come next?

I remember back in the 70's when there were massive demonstrations at my university in the United States and in the streets of Tehran protesting the Shah of Iran. This looks a lot like that situation back then. Then there were also secular protesting along with religious extremists supporting Ayatollah Khomeini. Carter supported the demonstrators forced the Shah of Iran to leave the country. We all know what happened after that. This is a tough call but if we openly support the demonstrators again if we do not have enough information about the motives and who is supporting the demonstrators the United States will have a disaster on their hands. What we don't need is another Iran. The United States cannot also be in a position to force a leader out solely because we give them money. One thing is clear is that there will be a probably a change of government in Egypt.

at this time is leave people alone to decide their fate. We don't want the American tanks democracy , and we don't want Arab Puppet dictatorship regimes.

The Mubarak era is over. He might last a week or a year or until he dies but there won't be another Mubarak in power. The million dollar question is can this make Egypt a stronger or weaker country. Dictatorships in the middle east sad to say is probably the only way to keep a country stable. It is unfortunate but it is what it is. When ever we in the west call for true democracy you get exactly what we don't want ie., Iran, Hamas, Iraq who will be an Iranian patron right after the last American soldier leaves and Egypt it will be any bodies guess but I can assure you we in the west will not like it.

Mubarak's Egypt is not a democracy, but the stability if offers to its people can not be overlooked. A good response for Egypt would be for Mubarak to introduce reforms, but it may be too late for that. If he can succeed in restoring calm then that should be the next step. A revolution will not lead to democracy any more than the revolution the led Nasser into power led to democracy.

Egypt needs to study how Israel quells protests by Palestinians in the occupied areas and copy those efforts. Israel uses a combination of military might, summary arrests and trials by kangaroo court to keep order. Israel has been successful in maintaining control and oppressing the population for years, Egypt can learn from them.

BHO should go and give cairo speech in arabic--that way egypt will choose democracy over hamas

What is it that they want the current administration to /or not do? Can they get it with the ouster of Mybarak? Can they get it with the establishment of the Muslim Brotherhood?

The situation in egypt is giving us such good example at what can happan to peace treaty with arab countries. If the worst will come and the muslim brother will be in charge that means the end of peace with egypt . Imagine if there will be a palestinian state in the west bank and then it will be taken over by Hamas which are the muslim brothers . But they will be few miles from every big city in Israel and our international airport

I hope once americans be wise , remeber Khomeini and look now Iran. Why protest moderate countries only?

Likely they want what Blacks in the US wanted during the Civil Rights movement and what Romanians wanted when Ceaucescu was overthrown, And what the Iranians wanted but didn't get when the Shah got cancer.

Egypt is not, and has never been an American ally in any sense of the term. Yes the US has given Egypt 2 billion dollars a year to build up their military but that has not changed the fundamental facts. Arabs hate ALL democracies. Mubarak is through. He most likely will be gone before the end of February. The Iranians will install another puppet regime.

you are reasonably correct, this kind of protest is supported by violent group with links to terrorists( Muslim Brotherhood has links with terrorist Al Qaeda ) and only a "strong & effective force" can contain & control this kind of protest, such as demonstrated by Israel to the troublesome Palestinians! Mubarak can survive by doing the same way with his military who is loyal to his leadership and do it fast, never mind the opinions of the western countries, they don't know how to live & survive in the arab muslim world, the "bedouins" has no law except their swords!

read your own words: operssion.. serving the interest of a party (i.e. Isreal) but after all it didn't serve. I always thought that the betting on time and dectatorship will lead to a massive loss for Isarel. I just didn't see it happening that quick. Greed is always bad

Israel will have more of a problem than America. We don't live in the neighborhood and Egypt will be a threat to Israel not America. Just imagine if Israel has to deploy it forces once again across the Sinai. That will cost money and lots of money. Egypt has a large standing army that is very capable. It might not be as advanced as the IDF but the IDF is so over rated. Most of it's soldiers are 150lb 18 year old conscripts that wouldn't go near the military if they had a choice. I know most of you would say look at 1973. I would say look at 1943 and a lot changes in 30-40 years.

she is an arab girl living in Ramallah, nothing more, nothing less.

In my opinion,the support Obama is giving to Egyptian opposition, by trying to force a change in Mubarak's position,is a sign of the implementation of his previous pledge to "resolve"the palestinian matter within his presidencial mandate.In other words:If Mubarak falls,Muslims will take over and ( supposedly)Israel will be "fried",with Hesbollah in the north and Muslim Brotherhood in the south. All this rethoric about economics,corruption etc,is just a disguise for an already prepared coup by muslim Obama and his supporters.It just serves to lure the public. It's all a trap to deadly encircle Israel. That's my opinion.

The illegal use of American equipment by the Egyptian Army just ended all US aid. That is American laws. Egypt is going down regardless of anything else.

Since 1948 Israel had never lived with a democratic neighbor The best Israeli servant is not Mubarak or king of jordan It is the Syrian dictator who is delivering Syria and Lebanon at the same time His time is coming Peace for Israel must be signed at 1967 line asap or just wait .