Watching Mai Iskander’s film Words of Witness as the reports filtered in of the Egyptian presidential election results was somewhat surreal, a word the film’s Heba and her family also find descriptive of the situation in their homeland as the initial joy of Mubarak’s resignation becomes the much longer struggle to build democracy – or perhaps to continue wresting democracy from the hands of the regime.

A variety of links to articles/interviews/speeches on current topics that may be of interest.

I’ve never ruled a country, or been in a situation even close to what is going on among the protesters in Cairo. But in listening to Hosni Mubarak this week, I realized that I had seen the events of this past week play out on a much smaller stage, and so have many others. Face it: what we’re seeing is the national version of a battered wife confronting her batterer.

Courage is contagious, whether in Egypt or out. So is integrity.

As large band may be preparing to usher Mubarak off the stage, naturally not empty-handed.

The pro-democracy people apparently held control of Tahrir Square overnight — but at a price.

As we watch events unfold, we here in the States must remember that our tax dollars bought the bullets and thugs of Mubarak. Call the White House and demand that all funding be cut – sign the FDL petition calling on Congress to stop funding Mubarak.

Another proud moment for Western Foreign Policy and its legacy.

The UN Secretary condemns the violence as the pro-Mubarak hired thugs continue to try to create chaos.

In his second major speech since protests began, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced that he would not stand for re-election in September. He said that, at 82, he was actually not planning to run for re-election anyway, so… there.

Mubarak Announces he will not run in the next national election and says it was always his intention to retire at the end of this term. The embattled ruler swears he will die on Egyptian soil.