Too much panic. The government will allow the demonstrations to peter out since the military is obviously behind the current government. Minor changes to come.

however you look at the situation, we're in a bad spot - so are the Egyptian people - this revolt, lead by the street, has no leader and if ElBaradei takes over he will definitely be 'eaten up by the Muslim Brotherhood' and then what? Same as in Iran, Hillel Frisch has it right.

The Egypt disaster Op-ed: While liberals cheer on Egypt uprising, Cairo may turn Islamic, join forces with Iran Hillel Frisch Published: 01.31.11, 19:05 / Israel Opinion -Join Forces with Iran. Further - Saudi-Arabia will Never Ever bow to Iran, that would be Suicidal and the end of Sunni-Islam. The Saudis will join Forces With EU, which must back the Saudis in order for not to be depended on Iranian God Will for EUs Oil Supply. Further - And there is yet another glimmer of hope, although it’s a slim one as result of President Barack Obama’s weak leadership. Perhaps the Americans will operate in force against the axis of evil topped by Iran in order to prevent the Gulf states’ capitulation; Comment - US will only act if draged into the Conflict by Nessessity, by a Military strike from Either side. Further - German Chancellor: Iran's nuclear program threat to world, Israel Published: 01.31.11, 18:49 / Israel News Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel said on Monday during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "Iran's nuclear program is a threat to Israel and the whole world." Comment - EUs most importans State, has Strategical Interessts in the Middle East Contrary to Irans. If bouth EU and the US would not Support the Sunni-Muslim Saudi-Arabia, but allowe an Radical-Islamic Force to Move forward to a Strategic position, to controll the Oil as above, the whole Political world scene would change in favor of Shia/Radical Islam. The US can afford this but not the Oildependent EU. Orao.Srbia.

The people of Egypt have a right to self-determination. It is the west supporting dictators that has led to this. Here's a clue, stop supporting dictators, stop undermining elected leaders, like Chavez. Stop handing power over to Islamists.

What makes you think the liberals wouldn't support that, too? Liberals still support the Iranian revolution, despite a large voice of Iranian opposition squashed harshly and the massive human rights violations occurring daily. As long as Egypt is not aligned with the US, the liberals won't care who's in charge.

who turned around and killed their opposition, launched a war on a sovereign nation, and continues to oppress the Gazan population. Is THAT the "word of the people" that you are referring to? The Iranians brought Ayatollehs to rule instead of the Shah - now 30% unemployment reign and people are afraid to speak against the govt. Where are their "voices of the people"? South Africans voted in the ANC as a chance to move forward from the Apartheid era govt...corruption grew and domestic crime has risen more than 600%! Did the South Africans vote for that too? Before Mubarak, who was propping up Nasser? Not the US In Lebanon, who is propping up Hizbullah and fighting against March 14 groups? Not the US....its Iran!! So your post shows simply your lacking of real world events or your hatred for your neighbor down south.

That will spell a great headache for Israel and the rest of the Arab cookes... and may not be a bad thing.. Dealing STRAIGHT with Palestinian problem..will help solve it..

It's a question of if, but of when.

what THEIR government will do, in such a unlikely scenario... hey, but main thing to say "obama is weak"... are you really so deluded, hillel, or are you sort of propaganda-writer ?

There's zero chance that Obama or even a Republican president will turn against the Axis of Evil. The US is all talk but is ailing economically. Concern for the price of oil is all that drives US Middle East policy. Advice for Israelis: think of the worst possible scenario and prepare for it. In spite of IDF reassurances, you're not ready for war. And hold on to all your land. PS for Hillel Frisch: don't credit Olmert for not giving up Judea and Samaria. Thank Arab obstinacy and greed instead.

The original revolution included key components that were leftist and secular or moderate islamist. The key was that the extremists were better organised and more thuggish just like Egypt.

Obama could have done what he did with Iran when it faced exactly the same situation - stayed out of it. Or he could have done what he did when Hizbollah took over the Lebanese government - not only stayed out of it but carried on sending unconditional aid to Lebanon. But nope, as soon as it is a stauch US ally it is time to sponsor its enemies, threaten to cut off aid and throw his vocal support behind the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama is only so brave when it is a US ally, when it is an enemy of the US he is happy to assume the position. Of course being European that is a natural position for you.

the US would have been standing back and letting Mubarak crush the "opposition"

U NEED A BUFFER ZONE. NOW, WHILE THE KETTLE IS HOT

Their fate is a real lesson in assessing Islamic movements. The Left joined the Islamists to topple the Shah, but with his fall the fundamentalists turned on the Left like a wild dog in order to seize power solely for themselves, and the Left was liquidated by being shot down or put in a cage.

Who advocates continuing to try to prop up a conspicuous autocrat who oppresses his people? The error in Iran was riding a dead horse to destruction and was brought on, like the Egyptian intifada, by propping up a conspicuous autocrat who oppresses his people. Does Frisch advocate riding this dead horse to destruction like Iran?!? The alternative is to support--cheer on--the Egyptian people in their struggle for freedom and self-governance. When a people expels their leader and chooses a new leader--however they achieve it--allies must accept the new leader. This demonstrates that the alliance is with the country and people, not an individual leader--particularly not in defiance of the allied country and people. Alliances are between countries and peoples. If an autocrat oppresses an allied people we have to work with him while he is in power because he represents that ally. However, when his people rise up and reject him, the alliance is with the people and country, not the individual person. That's how it works... they are not naïve men; they know it. The effect of Egypt's instability, particularly recalling the Iranian outcome, demonstrates to the Americans that there is only one stable American ally in the Mid-East: Israel. Consequently, we should be far more discerning with the power our monopoly in this region, vis-à-vis the Islamic promotion of a global Caliphate imposing sharia, should command. We should stop selling ourselves cheaply. Egyptians, apparently representing a significant segment of Egyptian society, are plainly stating their concern that Israel (and the US) not abandon them BY continuing to prop up Mubarak. It's time Israel officially announce, unconditionally, that we respect and honor the Egyptian people's struggle for freedom and representative self-governance. If Mubarak manages to satisfy his people, then we respect and honor the wishes of the Egyptian people and Mubarak is fine with us. If the people throw him out, then we respect and honor the wishes of the Egyptian people and we hope we can have good relations with whatever leader they choose. That is the best Israel can do. There are two possible outcomes in Egypt: 1. takeover by Islamic hard-liners or 2. a reasonably representative government. In the first case, nothing we do changes that. However, in the second case, if we back Mubarak or another autocratic tyrant we hope will replace him, WE MAKE Egypt--the people and country--our enemy. If they fail and we have backed Mubarak we know from long experience that they will--with some justification in this case--blame Israel (and the US) for their continued oppression. If we support the Egyptian people; well, maybe it can work out a little better. Of course, Israel must be prepared for the worst-case. I reiterate, as I have advocated in the past, that Israel must stop putting all of our eggs in the one--American--basket. Not only must we begin translating our monopoly as the only western ally in the Middle East, while continuing to nurture good relations with the US, we must also begin distributing economic and defense needs placing equal [!] stress not only on China and India, but also Brazil. Israel must stop being dependent on one lone ally, granting it the power to dictate what we can and cannot do. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer & Orthodox Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah (When questions to me go unanswered, they have refused to post it. Find our reply in our Web Café at www.netzarim.co.il)

With Obama in charge? Better chance that dogs would grow wings.

you child killers are being penned in finally good news from the middle east

Are you talking about Shidane Arone? If you don't know this name and have a strong stomach, please look it up.

Nobody knows how Egypt would position itself, even if Islamists were to gain power there. Egypt is largely Sunni, while Iran is largely Shia. As we have seen in Iraq, Sunni and Shia Muslims often do not trust each other. It is entirely well feasible that a Sunni Islamist Egypt remains an opponent of Iran. But, I first have to see that Egypt becomes Islamic at all. Egypt in 2011 is vastly different from Iran in 1979. To mention one fundamental difference, the Islamists in Egypt do not have someone with even nearly the authority and force of character of Khomeiny. And Khomeiny was the one who really manoeuvered Iran into becoming an Islamist state, as far as I understand it. Economists have a proverb: "Predicting is difficult, especially when it concerns the future". The same goes for political science. Let us hope that the unrest will play out well and lead to genuine democratic reforms, especially in the longer run. For now, there is not much that we can, or should, do. It is up to the Egyptians.

It is utterly shameful to read Israeli's desire for 80 million people to live under a despot, just because it's good for the jews. If Johnny come lately wants to stick around, it better learn how to make friends with the folks in the neighborhood. Not everything is about you, and you already get way more than your share of global resources.

There is cooperation between shia iran and suni binladen despite their differences,the islamists in Egypt even if they are a minority are going to win, because they have the zeal and conviction of a mad man and people with such a zeal always win, take lenin.hitler,khomeiny,lenin ruled for almost a century,hitler ruled only 12 years,but managed to murder 50 million people,khomeiny still rules,you are wrong, the islamists do have a leader ,his name is alzoharary, he is an egyptian,binladen's second in comand,the father of mohamed ata,the man who brought down 1 of the towers,is very popular in egypt,that, tells you somthing about the egyptian people concerning jihad against the infidels,the egyptians are schizophranic,on 1 hand they would like to destroy the USA,on the other hand,they would all like to immigrate to the USA,very unstable people,the only hope,is the Army,will the Army step aside and receive orders from a mullah or from binladen,or will they continue in the tradition of Abdul Naser,Anwar Sadat,and Hosny Mobarak,all those egyptians who complain about Mubarak's oppression,just wait for the islamists,and they will be nostalgic for Mubarak.

if you have travelled and observed the people of these places in the middle east, they don't need democracy since birth, they're used to kings/dictators who can provide them "food & shelter" without "sweat", ok?

you're correct, but it seemed exposed that the extremist Muslim Brotherhood & Elbaradei are behind this protest, so they could take over, many outsiders don' trust Elbaradei( his good contact with Iran); well, Egyptian history stated no Pharaohs/dictators ever deposed but assasinated, do they have the capabilities to "assasinate" Mubarak when the army is supporting him? he will stay!

yeah, these protesters in egypt never learned from history around the world, or do they study world history at all? anyway, the "islamists" do not want to share "power" and would antagonaized them, the Muslim Brotherhood is very extreme islamist!

What prove do you have that 79 million out of 80 million egyptians, wish to live under a islamic despot ?,like binladen,khomey,concerning resources,did you sat your eyes on some property to grab ?,when your despot comes to power,like your soul mates did in germany in the thirties.

Quote :” you are wrong, the islamists do have a leader ,his name is alzoharary, he is an egyptian,binladen's second in comand,” Al-Zawahiri’s radical thoughts forms the basis of Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaida. This Egyptian doctor is the one that greatly influenced Osama Bin Laden. Al-Zawahiri is a product of the Muslim Brotherhood. I agree, Harmen#20 has it wrong -- your analysis is more down-to-earth. If Muslim Brotherhood takes the reign over in Egypt, either by hook or by crook, we may well see Dr. Al-Zawahiri to be the president of Egypt, the one in charge of Egypt.

#21..carla -- This seems to be the case with the "universe" constant pre-occupation with Israel including yourself. All of the Arab countries, the Muslim countries , the Euros, U.S., the major religions, the U.N. and the U.N organisations.... even Turkey lately all seem to pay so much attention to Israel. And they all seem to want to be in involved in some manner regarding Israel.