There seems to be uniformity from many inside Egypt, at least from Cairo. My information comes from a pharmacist, a doctor, an Egyptologist, shopkeepers, and a gentleman who does the Internet and bookkeeping for many businesses. All are saying the same thing, “Mubarak needs to leave now."
They all feel the violence has been caused by the security police attacking the protesters and have said the army is on the side of the protesters.
Yes, they all seem concerned about the future of a post-Mubarak government, but they say that the Muslim Brotherhood is on the sidelines. And this from sources who are Islamic and Coptic Christian, but almost all of them believe that if there were free elections the Muslim Brotherhood would not come to power.
It is widely believed that during the conflict last Thursday, the beatings, killings and attacks on the press came from security police in plain clothes; some of them riding in on horses and camels. When they were knocked down from their animals, the protesters found security police IDs.
I am told that there are 24-hour neighborhood watches where everyone is participating to protect each other and that means Egyptians protecting Americans and vice-versa. The shop owners and pharmacists say that the businesses have not been broken into; however they understand the police stations have been burned out.
Most of the Americans in the Cairo area live in Maadi, a wealthier section of town, and I understand they are not ready to leave yet. We can only pray for a peaceful outcome in the best interest of the Egyptian people and the world.