Should Hosni Mubarak be allowed to rule until September 2011?

I think he should leave now. If the people want him gone, he should go. regarding the brotherhood, if they were to take power, whats to say they wouldnt in september as well.

I think that is entirely up to the people of Egypt. I have some personal thoughts on the matter but in the end, I can't decide for Egypt, nor can anyone else. My personal thoughts are that he should slowly start relinquishing power. He is in a tricky position. If he leaves now, he leaves a dangerous vacuum with no real political alternative to fill it other than some very well organized and powerful radical elements. But on the other hand, if he takes too long in leaving he risks the people losing patience and he ends up with an even more violent uprising or an outright armed civil war.

This is where the US president's inability to effectively deal with crisis situations really shows. From the beginning, when it was clear that Mubarek's departure was going to be a necessary part of resolving the conflict, we should have been encouraging him to make concessions, help his VP to form a new government and announced he would step down for the good of the country. Had all of this occurred early enough, the Muslim Brotherhood wouldn't have come to the fore and there would be less danger of Egypt becoming a nation ruled by theocracy.

We've heard many differing reads coming from punditry ... I've listened with interest to a Chief Foreign Correspondent at NBC, Richard Engel ... who has lived for noted years among the people of Egypt, which included members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Mr. Engel is now reporting live from Tahrir Square. Yesterday, I heard him say (in a live interview aired on MSNBC) that for the most part, the Egyptian people DO NOT want America or any other outside influence to oust Mubarak ... they THEY want to do this themselves ... that they want to have the full credit for ousting the "dictator". My own thoughts are YES indeed it is ALL up to them, the people of Egypt! President Obama along with the leader of Canada (in a press conference yesterday aired on C-Span) both gave their clear statements ... both agreeing publicly that Mubarak must listen to the will of the people and that the obvious will of the people is to be free of Mubarak's leadership.