Today was supposed to be D-day, the day of departure of President Mubarak. But at 6 pm Cairo time, there’s no sign Mubarak is going anywhere. Al Jazeera reports that many of the young protesters wanted to march the 8 miles from Tahrir square to the presidential palace to force a confrontation. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood were reportedly unwilling, fearing a slaughter.
Will protesters get tired and go home, and patiently wait for September? That doesn’t look likely, not now at least.
Will Mubarak willingly step down? That also doesn’t look likely.
What’s important now is what is going on behind the scenes, what the Egyptian military will do, and what diplomats can arrange off camera.