Millions protest for Mubarak to step down

Egypt, well-known on the global political scene as a politically stable country that has a close relationship with US, may easily lose this status should Mubarak, the country's president for nearly 3 decades, step down, amidst protests and riots from millions that began last Tuesday.

For nearly a decade, the 82 year old president has been the dictator of Egypt, known for ruling the country with an iron fist, keeping opposition at bay,. through measures such as the usage of emergency act, giving the state powers to arrest anyone without trial. Under his leadership, Egypt has become, in recent times, one of U.S. closest allies in the region, sharing mutual benefit in areas of religious security (Islamic terrorist organizations) and trade (oil exports and luxury goods import).

Being in the seat of power for nearly 30 years, although Egypt enjoys much political and economic stability, it is nonetheless rumored Mubarak is involved in much corruption, and that US-Egypt relationships are a "farce" , propagated to appease the public.

After a recent internet flaming that created an infectious spread across the country, figures now show that there are around 1.4 million Egyptians participating in the protests. At least 1500 people were in the central square, which has become a focal point for the protests and drew hundreds of thousands on Tuesday. Many had camped in tents and under blankets, determined to stay until Mubarak goes.

With a rapidly increasing number of western-educated young Egyptians wanting to make a change to the stable but stagnant country, and take matters into their own hands with more transparency, accountability and democracy, tens of thousands gather in Cairo's central square, despite persuasions by the president that he "would not stay for another office term", and warn-offs by the military, which has already brought in tanks and tear gas - armed soldiers to suppress the protests.

In spite of U.S. warnings for Mubarak to fulfill his promises of a "more democracy and more jobs for the common people" , the president not only failed in doing that, but also in the process of suppressing the oppositions, once again used "hard" measures of bringing armored vehicles to warn off the protestants, a measure that seems distant from promises of democracy.

This has instead only increased public anger. Should protests turn violent, it would greatly affect the internal peace, causing deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and protestants, as well as threaten the social and economic stability of the country, just as the market rides on a global bull drive.

Furthermore, the insistence of Mubarak to use "hard" military suppression on the people, disrespecting human rights, may not only potentially affect its political ties and relationship with the U.S., but also in a way, detach itself from the mostly-democratic modern world.

On the other hand, assuming that Mubarak's regime is taken over - be it through resignation or rebellion, the new extremely unstable democratic system would cause much chaos in Egypt's political scene, making the country unable to focus on crucial economic and social development.

In addition, the new ruling party may very probably cut off certain political ties with the U.S., in order to appease and satisfy the nationalistic public, that has been viewing Mubarak-US relations as a "farce". This will greatly affect Egypt's economy, which has been receiving important imports of technology, luxury goods, innovative products etc. that has been supplying much market demand, and improving the quality of the citizen's lives.

As such, either ways would have adverse impacts on Egypt, and thus, in response to U.S. and the people's call, the wiser decision would be for Mubarak to step down now, or never.