Time for Mubarak to leave...

Hosni Mubarak, the dictator of Egypt, is also a thug. He needs to be removed from office and quickly if the democratic movement in Egypt is going to avoid further violence.

Anderson Cooper of CNN noted that with the anti-Mubarak protestors, the demonstrations were peaceful. When the pro-Mubarak people (or thugs and goon squads) showed up today, the violence began. It also included pro-Mubarak groups harassing and threatening western mediapeople, including Cooper and his crew which were attacked and hit.

It has always been hoped that a country in the Middle East would become the model for democracy. Before it's too late, before protestors are radicalized by the violence, this is the opportunity for democracy. But Mubarak has to go. If President Obama can't move the dictator to leave, then he should at least stop the foreign aid funding and say that it will start again only when a democratic government is in place. We should use whatever leverage we have to be on the side of freedom and rights.

In the meantime, the protestors for democracy and human rights need to avoid being slaughtered, like the scenes from Tiananmen Square in China. I can't imagine that Mubarak will ever be able to safely show his face in public again after playing the violence card in order to hold on as a tyrant. As all dictators, he's quite delusional that he has "served" his country in preventing freedom and rights, in censoring the media, in ruling with an iron fist. After this, if he continues to control the country when he really should be going to trial, he will be known as a thug. He was known as that before, by many of the Egyptian people. But now the world will know. That's a sorry legacy, but probably typical for autocrats.