People's Revolt in Egypt

(left to right) Angry Protester, Hosni Mubarak

Egypt
Population: 80 million people, 90% Muslim/10% Christian
One of Middle East's more developed economies with a rich culture reaching back thousands of years.

Current Leader
For last 30 years, ruled by Hosni Mubarak (on the sign there) - a dictator who claims he was democratically elected, but in reality, most elections were shams- and he outlaws and jails those who oppose him.

Protests
There have been numerous uprisings against him during his rule without success- but currently the people of Egypt are in their most successful revolt yet...

-Egyptian people have grown especially angry over the high unemployment and high inflation rate
-They know a successful people's revolt is possible as they have witnessed the recent overthrow of the dictator in Tunisia
-People also now have Twitter and Facebook- to broadcast the wrongdoings and more effectively organize protests

Protests started with younger Egyptians in late January, but it has become more widespread
Police inititally tried to suppress them but the crowds have grown too massive- and police have mostly vanished- which has brought on looting, robbery and overall chaos
So, the military was sent in to handle it- but instead of crushing the revolt, the protesters and the military seem to have taken on relatively friendly terms
Amidst all of this, protesters have ignored Mubarak's curfew to get them off the streets and have burned down the ruling party's headquarters in Cairo (so far, since start of protests - 100 dead, 2000 injured)

The protesters ultimately want Mubarak out of office-
Mubarak fired his cabinet and promised to change- but protesters are not satisfied and do not believe they can have true democracy until he is gone

With such widespread protest and without the full support of the military- Mubarak could well be out soon- if this happens, the military would most likely take over while they attempt to transition to a new government with elections in September
Possible new candidates:

Hosni Mubarak & Omar Suleiman
at a conference in 2005

(1) Mohammed Badie, general guide of Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, a large and well-organized opposition movement- some say the favorite if free and fair elections were to take place
(2) Mohamed ElBaradei,  former head of UN 'nuclear watchdog' organization, an outsider- but critical of Mubarak, supportive of Muslim Brotherhood as a political party, respected by Egyptians, more secular (political choice)
(3) Amr Moussa, former Egypt foreign minister, and head of Arab League- respected by Egyptians, less of an outsider, but not outspoken against Mubarak (political choice)
(4) General Omar Suleiman, recently appointed vice president and close ally of Mubarak (military choice)
[More extensive and detailed collection of possible new successors]

United States Response
Obama has called for reform, but has not come out and called for Mubarak to resign, instead following what appears to be an approach of gradual change

This issue has increased importance with the US because:
-Egypt has been a strong US ally in the region - important for our relations with the Middle East
-Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel- so a new government could ruin that and further destabilize that region
-Possibility that more countries will follow suit and start large protests (Yemen, Jordan, particularly)
-The fear of Islamist influence (particularly if the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood assumes control)

-Egypt has the Suez canal which is important for our warships and oil tankers - and if these uprisings spread throughout the Middle East- price for oil/gas prices will skyrocket