When Hosni Mubarak announced he would not seek re-election after her current term as president expires in September, he was attempting to calm the uprising. With pro Mubarak supporters pouring into the streets, the other shoe has dropped.
For the first time since the Egypt uprising began, supporters of the Mubarak regime poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square, some of them on camels and horses, to confront the anti-government protesters. The confrontation started verbally, but shortly descended to fists, hand-held weapons and thrown rocks, fire bombs and other missiles.
In the meantime, the Egyptian Army stood by, fueling speculation the pro-Mubarak demonstration was being coordinated by the government. There may be a strategy in play to increase pressure on the anti-government protesters to disperse now that Mubarak has announced he would be giving up power in seven months. It also is designed to demonstrate that opposition to Mubarak is not universal among the Egyptian people.
Also it appears the pro-Mubarak rioters are attacking members of the media. The idea may be to disrupt reporting of the uprising by intimidating reporters, keeping them from covering the event.
The anti-government protesters seem not disposed to wait until September but are demanding Mubarak leave office immediately. Aside from that and some vague notions about establishing a democratic government, there seems to be little notion about what would happen next.
The question also arises: What will the Egyptian Army do now that the demonstrations have turned bloody violent? The street fighting could be an excuse for the Egyptian Army to move in with force to disperse the demonstrators and restore order. Considering the passions that are flaring throughout Egypt such a move will have every possibility of getting out of hand.
Clearly something will have to happen and soon. The Egyptian economy has slowed to a standstill since the uprising began. There have already been reports of shortages of food and other necessities in Egypt. Add privation to the mix of political violence, and one can only speculate what might happen next.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration, which seemed to have urged Mubarak privately to retire, seems uncertain what to do next. Even the most adroit of administrations would be hard-pressed to manage this kind of crisis.
For the first time since the Egypt uprising began, supporters of the Mubarak regime poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square, some of them on camels and horses, to confront the anti-government protesters. The confrontation started verbally, but shortly descended to fists, hand-held weapons and thrown rocks, fire bombs and other missiles.
In the meantime, the Egyptian Army stood by, fueling speculation the pro-Mubarak demonstration was being coordinated by the government. There may be a strategy in play to increase pressure on the anti-government protesters to disperse now that Mubarak has announced he would be giving up power in seven months. It also is designed to demonstrate that opposition to Mubarak is not universal among the Egyptian people.
Also it appears the pro-Mubarak rioters are attacking members of the media. The idea may be to disrupt reporting of the uprising by intimidating reporters, keeping them from covering the event.The anti-government protesters seem not disposed to wait until September but are demanding Mubarak leave office immediately. Aside from that and some vague notions about establishing a democratic government, there seems to be little notion about what would happen next.
The question also arises: What will the Egyptian Army do now that the demonstrations have turned bloody violent? The street fighting could be an excuse for the Egyptian Army to move in with force to disperse the demonstrators and restore order. Considering the passions that are flaring throughout Egypt such a move will have every possibility of getting out of hand.
Clearly something will have to happen and soon. The Egyptian economy has slowed to a standstill since the uprising began. There have already been reports of shortages of food and other necessities in Egypt. Add privation to the mix of political violence, and one can only speculate what might happen next.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration, which seemed to have urged Mubarak privately to retire, seems uncertain what to do next. Even the most adroit of administrations would be hard-pressed to manage this kind of crisis.
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