Boooo!!! I think this revolution is finished, he's not going to budge unless the military decides to get involved.
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In the end all that is going to matter is the disposition of the Army. Unless, they decide to stay neutral.
I'm starting to wonder if a military coup d'etat is the most optimal solution for all parties involved here.
I think the Eqyptian military is too professional to do that. I see them just trying to do their job, be ready to defend the country from without. I think they will balance being respective of the current legitimate government and refusing to be used against Egyptian citizens, their friends and families, in an internal conflict. But they see the writing on the wall. The corrupt, worst offenders who have robbed the people are getting ready to bail. The best and brightest see the opportunity to take over. The comfortable ones will want to just keep on getting US money. The grizzled old vets probably just do not want to see any violence.
The "Mubarak rickrolls protesters" headline would be funny if it weren't so true. It's scary how similar his speech was to the Rick Astley song.
Not really. The operative words were, "for now". 2 weeks ago the situation was very intense, and there were many people out on the streets. Now it's just the hardcore people that are determined to see him out of office. Most people don't have the energy to protest like they did in the initial phase for so long. Like I said, it has died down a bit for the meantime. Mubarak is still in office for the next few months, and maybe till next fall even.
Now some rumblings that if the protesters decide to do just that, the army might simply step out of the way. I don't think that will happen, though, because the end result would be anarchy. I know the army wants to be neutral and honorable in all of this, but I think it's getting to that stage where their hand will be forced and they have to take sides, and that basically means a coup d'etat/forced exile.
The military is expected to make a statement soon. Maybe Communique No. 2 will be an actual ousting of Mubarak.
