When One Should Leave

The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has joined President Obama in stating that change must occur immediately in the Arab Republic of Egypt. For nine days now, revolution has swept Egypt. No longer will the image of an apathetic, downtrodden man or woman represent the people of Egypt. Their nation-wide revolt against the Mubarak regime has proven that they are no longer content to live their lives without justice or accountability from those in power.

Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt for the past thirty years, has finally announced that he will ste down at the end of his curent term. This would mean the status quo until September. But, of course, there is no guarantee that he will in fact follow his word. The people on the streets have refused to budge, however, until he leave the presidential palace and Egyptian soil. They have complete support of not only the world, but the Egyptian army as well. For an authoritarian regime, this should spell the end of the road. Mubarak, however, doesn't seem to be rattled by this at all.

When a government no longer has the support of the military, they must come to the realization that they have no legitimacy left under which they can rule the populace. It is time that the Egyptian political establishment accept defeat and bow out with as much dignity as one can in such a situation. Let's hope that in a year, Tahrir can come to mean the final liberation of the Egyptian people.