Obama backs the protesters in Egypt

President Obama backs the protests against the Egyptian government.  Simon Tisdall in the Guardian says that in doing so Obama challenges other Arab leaders not only Hosni Mubarak.

International Aid's dirty secret, according to the Guardian's Poverty Matters blog, is that aid often helps to keep repressive regimes in power.  Claire Provost writes that although some aid from the USA to Egypt is used for health, education and trade, most of the billions of dollars has been spent on the military and security.

Update, 12 Feb. 2011:  Mubarak has resigned and the Egyptian people are hoping for a more democratic government.  The army seems to be handling the transition for the moment and I am sure that the people will continue to be vigilant and will protest if they think that their views and hopes are not being respected.