Correspondent for The New York Times, Anthony Shadid writes that the future of the Arab world “was fought for in the streets of downtown Cairo on Wednesday.” The populace is rethinking its role in Egypt as it calls for a new government. However, a new government will also mean a new understanding of U.S.-Egypt relations.
The United States has changed its tune throughout the week of protests in Egypt. The administration said that a transition to democracy needed to happen “now” (Gibbs then clarified, saying “now started yesterday”) and condemned violence against protesters by pro-Mubarak demonstrators. This roiled Egyptian officials. This distancing from Mubarak marks a significant move. To explain the longterm impact of changes on U.S.-Egypt relations is Mark Landler, diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times.