This is not working out the way people predicted.

[MineralMan]

Waiting until something actually happens is a good idea.

[Richard D]

1. This is not good.

[MineralMan]

2. No. Many people were too quick to believe the rumors.

I have no idea what will happen now.

[louis-t]

3. Could get very ugly.

[SoCalDem]

5. Martial law..mass arrests..more people dead and the country blows up

:cry:

[SoCalDem]

4. Dictators do not willingly leave

I said the other day that he "won"..and was pilloried for saying it.

He HAS to have bloodshed & vitriol on the hands of the people, as a punishment for daring to depose him.

He will stay put , as the country devolves into violence, until someone kills him, or until another fixed election happens:(

[eleny]

6. The crowd appears calm for now

eta: Oops, I spoke too soon. They seem to have started chanting.

[gateley]

8. Stunned disbelief? nt

[eleny]

10. Yeah, I see them waving shoes now

Someone even has a shoe attached to a long stick and is waving it.

[gateley]

7. I think both MNSBC and CNN were quoting "statement from the Egyptian government"

CNN was also reporting that the Minister of Info said it wasn't true at all.

I think the general belief was he WOULD be leaving and it will be interesting (understatement) to see the reaction.

I feel for these people. :(

[MineralMan]

9. Everyone's so eager to have things work out the way they want.

So often, it doesn't turn out that way. I wouldn't even dream of predicting anything about what will happen in Egypt.

[gateley]

13. True. We all want a happy ending - we're projecting. nt

[MineralMan]

16. We're a long way from Egypt. We have no idea.

[gateley]

24. Again, you're right. I can't even fathom... nt

[JonLP24]

11. I have no idea what you're talking about

but based on the responses I think I have an idea. Speaking for myself, I have no idea how that issue is going to be resolved and I still don't.

[MineralMan]

12. All day, people have been saying that Mubarack is stepping down.

I recommended caution on this, and I was right. None of us are in any position to know what will happen in Egypt. It's all too volatile to make predictions about. It's never been certain how this uprising would turn out. It still could turn into a bloodbath. All that is required is that the army decides to turn on the crowd and things could deteriorate into a massacre. It's only a decision away from happening.

A year from now, we may still be wondering what will happen in Egypt.

[eleny]

14. The Supreme Council of the military made statements. It wasn't just "people have been saying"

The Egyptian military leadership is surely in a position to know what's happening. So this wasn't just "predictions" as you're characterizing what was said.

[MineralMan]

15. And did those predictions end up being correct?

No. It's impossible to know what will happen. It is only possible to know what actually happens.

[Poboy]

17. "It's impossible to know what will happen. It is only possible to know what actually happens.'

Really? You don't say! lol

[MineralMan]

19. I do say. We spend far too much time predicting what will happen.

Then, when it doesn't, we never return to our predictions. It's a serious fault we all make. I'm trying to stop predicting things and just wait to see what transpires - especially in places halfway around the planet.

[eleny]

18. Your statement appears to characterize the information as coming from others than those in authority

That was my point.

So it's reasonable for many, including the Egyptians all over that country, to have accepted what they heard sourced from their military.

You can try to argue a different issue but that wasn't the scope of my reply.

[MineralMan]

20. Someone reported that the military said that. We accepted that

report. There have been many reports that have turned out to be incorrect. There will be more. I didn't hear the military say anything.

[eleny]

22. I don't see anything unreasonable about how the report was received

I don't recall "many reports that have turned out to be incorrect". That sounds like another generalization from you.

I've been watching Al Jazeera for the duration and don't share your conclusion.

Take the last word if you feel the need. Maybe another generalization.

[damntexdem]

21. Nothing ever does.

And the really good idea is making something happen, not waiting for it. That is what the people of Egypt have been trying to do: make it happen.

[MineralMan]

23. I hope they succeed. Truly.