Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak dismissed his government just after midnight and announced a new one for today, while people fought against the army and police forces in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and other cities. Internet and mobile phone networks are still down in the country of the Nile, which dawned in an eerie calm after dozens have already been killed in the struggle.
Opposition politicians and common citizens demand Mubarak to resign and leave the country. The dictator has been ruling Egypt with an iron fist for 30 years but the once proud country has only sunk in an economic and political decadence that now strives to reach a dignified final.
Egypt is the third recipient of US military aid after Israel and Colombia (all great democracies, keep it up, Uncle Sam!), however the army was unhappy because the check was recently cut down, as revealed by Wikileaks' cables. It is still the largest paycheck by Uncle Sam to any Arab army, so there will be no doubt strong interest among colonels and generals to remain in their mercenary role under the Empire.
It is to see if this will be achieved at all and how.
Egypt is as large by population as Germany, Vietnam, Turkey, Iran or Ethiopia, but in addition to its demographic and economic weight (26th by GDP-PPP), it also controls most strategic assets such as the Suez Canal and the south-western border of Palestine (be it under the name of Israel or Gaza Strip). It is therefore a critical country for the Empire, which is unlikely to accept any government not its vassal.
But they must think of a replacement and fast because the power of Mubarak is obviously slipping away.
References: Al Jazeera Liveblog, Al Jazeera News.
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