(Taken from NYT)Today, the Hosni Mubarak waived his term in the office of the President of Egypt. The crowd goes wild! He is now the former president of Egypt and has asked the military to take charge. Newly appointed Omar Suleiman may also take responsibility in leading new Egypt. He is supposedly residing in his mansion in the Sinai resort town along Egypt's coast. I do not think anyone in the Western world, or the world for that matter, really saw this coming. People have talked about what ifs, but now this is reality. Obama is going to have to make some smooth moves to remain friends with Egypt's new leadership. Although I do not think this will be a problem. Israel on the other hand will have its work cut out to keep the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. They may have to make a lot of concessions now because their 'friend' has now left. It is very exciting to see how things will resonate in the Middle East now. Freedom has been sought (as of now) in Egypt. Let us hope that the new administration progresses this freedom the way the protesters desire.
You can watch live on Al Jazeera: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/.
UPDATE:
Hamas has welcomed Mubarak's resignation and urges the new administration to drop the Gaza blockade and open up the route for freedom of access. This route connects Gaza with Egypt and obviously not everyone is allowed to pass between the borders. This is exactly what is expected to have happened - many other Arab political parties will try to use the new administration to their advantage and leverage the new administration to work towards Arab demands/needs. Of course Western nations will do the same thing. It will be a scramble to see how foreign governments interact with the new Egyptian government (as of now the military). It is said it may take close to a year for a real, new government to become elected, and rightly so. It will take time for Egypt to reform the political process and hold free and fair elections.
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