The Turmoil in Egypt Continues ...

as does official US tone-deafness, at least from what we are hearing.  Let us sincerely hope that more informed decision-making is going on behind the scenes.

One wonders exactly what the US Administration was thinking in sending someone with such close business ties to the Mubarak administration that his objectivity is suspect to "negotiate" a "transition" with TPTB in Egypt.  This practically negates a long and admirable diplomatic career, especially when this envoy then makes the following statement: 

"President Mubarak's continued leadership is critical: it's his opportunity to write his own legacy ..."

One literally gasps in disbelief.  The reaction among the protesters and those who support democratic movements can at best be described as shocked astonishment, as explained more fully here. 

Yesterday was the scene of the largest protest march ever against Mubarak's 30-year dictatorship.  Robert Fisk of the Independent (UK) describes the event, complete with video, here.

"The soldiers of Egypt's Third Army must have been outnumbered 40,000 to one and they sat meekly on their tanks and armoured personnel carriers, smiling nervously as old men and youths and young women sat around their tank tracks, sleeping on the armour, heads on the great steel wheels; a military force turned to impotence by an army of dissent. Many said they had come because they were frightened; because they feared the world was losing interest in their struggle, because Mubarak had not yet left his palace, because the crowds had grown smaller in recent days, because some of the camera crews had left for other tragedies and other dictatorships, because the smell of betrayal was in the air. If the Republic of Tahrir dries up, then the national awakening is over. But yesterday proved that the revolution is alive."

Because so much of what we see on US media is filtered, or presented by pundits with agendas, or by self-styled experts with biases, it is interesting to see what informed academic experts on the Middle East such as Juan Cole, or what Egyptians themselves who are on the spot have to say.  In addition to live Twitter feeds and live streaming of events, Al Jazeera English provides a live blog.  The Guardian (UK, again) identifies other blogs that its staff believe provide some of the best information and insights (Juan Cole's "Informed Comment," among them) about the situation in Egypt, such as The Arabist and Jadaliyya.

One hopes that the Administration is paying close attention!  Unfortunately, we have not seen much evidence of this so far.