....8 Months?

So today Mubarak says he will finish out his term and not run for re-election in September, eight months from now.

Does he seriously think the Egyptians will give him eight more months? That any of them trust him to establish a fair election process?  Or that they would believe anyone he put into office would treat them any different?

At least Obama finally came out with some support for the citizens of Egypt, though it wasn't as strong a statement of support as they would have liked.  I don't envy his position, trying to find that middle road of honoring a thirty year ally while also honoring the people of a country that has also allied with us for so long. Still, Mubarak has been warned for decades to change, and he refused, so in all fairness he only has himself to blame.

The problem is that there are a lot of people who have a lot invested in this regime, from an abusive police force to crooked politicians who were happy to ride the gravy train to any number of government officials who enabled the system to continue functioning at the cost of human rights.  These people will not only lose their positions of power over others, they must also deeply fear eventual repercussions should the people of Egypt seek to pursue investigations and prosecution for the offenses against them they have endured.

It's also fearful to think of what might happen should Mubarak stay in for another eight months, namely retaliation against the Egyptian people themselves by him and his regime. This is something I have not heard ANY talking heads on network news address, the possibility that, instead of working to set up a transition government, he might work overtime to prevent any future protests, conduct retaliation attacks on those who dared to protest, and tighten his grip even more.

What guarantee would the people have that he would even leave in September? Shutting down the internet and phones, attempting to isolate the citizens, is not a good sign, is it? 

So I can well understand the desire of the Egyptian people for Mubarak to leave, NOW, not in eight months, not in eight weeks, but NOW. 

The concern of the western world is legitimate, in fearing the takeover of an extremist faction that would only add to the problems we have dealt with in the Middle East. Hopefully, the nations of the west will be able to work with the Egyptian people in crafting and establishing a more democratic form of government, giving them the voice that is their God given right.  And hopefully, Mubarak will finally face facts and realize it is time to bow to reality, step down, and let democracy spring forth from the people of this ancient and great nation.

The world watches, and waits.