I think this may be one of those areas where we tend to see this in terms of American policy and influence when in fact we have little influence one way or the other - at least in the area of moral suasion.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the big player. And is going to be the big winner. This has been coming since about 1963

>>>>If not he has certainly signaled his willingness to do so.
>>>>
>>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29diplo.html?hp
>>>>
>>>>IMO this is the way an American President should act in a crisis. Egypt is an ally, or as close as we have to one in the Arab world, but Obama is saying there are some things we will not turn a blind eye to. Good for him. I know there are some who will never give him a break, but I don't think Teddy Roosevelt could have done this any better. And we don't even know what private talks went on before it reached this point.
>>>
>>>Sure we do:
>>>Message #1497755
>>>
>>>You are waaaayyyyyy behind. Get your head out of the NYTimes for a few minutes and you'd be amazed at what goes on in the world and right in your own backyard... :o)
>>>
>>>The same thing is happening in other countries and has been all week (Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia where it all started, Albania, small restrictions and protests in Syria, etc although on a much smaller scale than Egypt). I'm waiting for Saudi Arabia to blow up..
>>
>>Egypt is the end of the line.
>>
>>There is no chance of this happening in Syria or Saudi. You are being amusing however.
>
>Syria took steps immediately: It limited media of Tunisia riots, blocked online chat access, and increased heating oil subsidies to pacify the populace.
>
>Saudi: You may be right there since the population benefits from the oil rich spoils.
>
>Jordan: Protesting has already occurred, and then there was a multi-million-pound food and fuel subsidy package followed by the King making more promises of reform. He even met with the Muslim Brotherhood but that group still called for additional demonstrations.
>
>Yemen: Thousands demonstrated last week but not much wide-spread media attention after Eqypt exploded.
>
>Algeria: Thousands protested there as well but we'll have to wait and see how that develops.
>
>Lebanon: Still in a state of flux.
>
>Albania: Thousands protested, but after the 3 deaths earlier in the week in protests, on Friday the demonstrations were mostly violence-free.
>
>I am surprised that you find all of this amusing. It may not amount to much change in the end, but it is certainly not amusing...