Hundreds of thousands are protesting in central Cairo, demanding that President Mubarak exit. I’m betting that a young man I met a few years ago is among them.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this brave Egyptian activist as things in pivotal Egypt have gone from simmer to boil.

Like a lot of my meetings, this one happened by chance. A southern California group I know, Gen Next, was associated with his travel to the U.S., and asked me to meet him. Sure. So he ended up in my office one morning, where we talked Egypt for an hour.

Though it was over two years ago, I remember our talk distinctly. Partly because he was so impressive. Partly because he was concerned about his safety upon returning to Egypt. A fear not unfounded.

WikiLeaks has posted a U.S. embassy read-out of this activist’s U.S. visit. At least they block out his name (opposition leaders in Zimbabwe weren’t so lucky). The cable recounts how he was searched by Egyptian security upon returning. His notes and Capitol Hill schedule, including our meeting, were confiscated.

What I remember most was discussing Egypt’s years of economic decay. I gave him a copy of Hernando de Soto’s groundbreaking The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else. The Peruvian economist identifies private property and title as key to economic success. (As for Egypt, de Soto found that, after all the red tape, it would take more than ten years to legally obtain property there.)

I’ve given this book to many visitors and interns in my office. None seemed so moved by the gesture as this young man.

I also remember his central message, which can be summed up as “Don’t do anything — don’t support the government and don’t support the opposition, just steer clear.” This young man discounted the prospect of the Muslim Brotherhood seizing power. I’m not so sure he’s right. It always seems that the more organized and ruthless movement takes hold. Let’s hope he’s right.

It’s now all too clear that we should have been supporting more Egyptians like this young man. I hope he’s safe.

— Rep. Ed Royce is a Republican from California.