Do you want President Mubarak to step down?
| 10:41 UK time, Monday, 31 January 2011
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This topic was discussed on the programme on Mon 31 Jan. Click here to listen.
Washington and European capitals want to keep Egypt stable and allied to the West. Up until now, President Mubarak has been viewed as .
But now it seems they are if they should back him and push him to change, or to support an alternative.
US State Department spokesman on 29th Jan that the U.S. wanted to see Mubarak fulfil his pledges of reform:
The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat. President Mubarak's words pledging reform must be followed by action.
But later he tweets what Hillary Clinton said over the weekend:
#SecClinton today: U.S. supports a peaceful, orderly transition to free, fair and credible elections that lead to real democracy in #egypt.
And then again:
#SecClinton today: The government must open an inclusive national dialogue with the people of #Egypt as part of a lengthy process of reform.
Do they want Mubarak's government to have a dialogue with the people or do they want a transition to a new government?
Some Egyptians certainly feel let down.Ìý : "Obama has to be on our side. Where is your democracy? You say Arabs are just donkeys, but the USA is supporting the system, not the people"Ìýand Arab journalist, : P.J Crowley "support peaceful transition" REALLY? So tear gas canisters MADE IN USA is peaceful? #jan25 #egypt
Mubarak it seems is in no doubt about damage done by previous outside pressure for change in the Middle East. According to leaked US diplomatic cables, he says ; including the ousting of the Shah in Iran, and the election of Hamas in Gaza.
But opposition figure has pressed the US to do more to abandon Mubarak:
The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce... And you (the United States) have to stop the life support to the dictator and root for the people.
In the region, reactions have been very mixed. Some in Israel are worried that Mubarak could be replaced by forces that , possibly the Muslim Brotherhood. Barry Rubin writes in the : "The situation could not be more dangerous and might be the biggest disaster for the region and Western interests since the Iranian revolution three decades ago" and cites a recent poll which says that twice as many Egyptians support Islamists over modernisers.
According to Israeli newspaper , Israel called on the United States and a number of European countries over the weekend to curb their criticism of President Mubarak to preserve stability in the region.
And . Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have all reportedlyÌýcriticised the protesters. Perhaps some leaders fear the example could spread in their direction. While Iran has said Egyptian authorities should respect the demonstrators.
But "We are not Iran, We are not Afghanistan. Egypt is different."Ìý Joseph Mayton likens the moment to Eastern Europe in 1989 and says attempts by some US media outlets to compare the uprising to another Iran is .
What do you think? Do you want President Mubarak to step down?
