People are speaking as though what is taking part in Egypt is some sort of repetitive cycle, that cant be broken.
Some say Mubarak will be replaced inevitably by someone who either has the potential to be, or is already equally corrupt. This is always a possibility, and if you take a trip down memory lane you couldn't be blamed for expecting this. BUT, things have happened differently this time, the regional climate (both economic & diplomatic) is so uncertain that even corrupt organisations have trouble deciding who is who. The national climate in Egypt is one of doubt & frustration, and the only people who dare to speak now are those who have the support of the nation. And the nation is united behind the people who are driving this "revolution" (i use that word tentatively).
So whats different, not much you might say. But i'd say your wrong.
You know when people say "they..." and you always ask, "well, who are they...., who are these people you call "them"...., do "they" even exist......"
In the case of Egypt today, "They" and "Them" are the students, young & old.
The students are the people the country is behind. The students are a new stream of the Egyptian population with a future they could see, but couldn't touch, till now. And with the introduction of new communication mediums, social networking, the internet etc. they (the students) have the means... no, THE POWER - to do what no other generation in the history of man has ever been able to do. FORCE THE PEOPLE CHOSEN TO LEAD, TO LISTEN - AND TO LISTEN CAREFULLY. VERY VERY CAREFULLY. There are so many examples of the effects these new mediums had on the course of events taking place there, that i need not list them - just google how twitter, facebook, skype, satelites, cellphones, cellphone cameras affected everything.
The key here, is simple. They/Them need to make sure that they dont allow the U.S. to ass fuck them by giving them lip service and promises based on lies, in an effort to win a sort of partnership in choosing the next government.
The army has no place in the elections to come. The U.S. should find no part in it either. The US should vacate egypt, why are they there anyway?.
The money from the US isn't needed, because dropping mubarak was like slashing the wage bill by 2.2b.
Sorry if this post is all over the place, wrote it as i thought it.