For thirty years, Hosni Mubarak has ruled the Egyptian people. For thirty years, they have been oppressed, they have lost jobs, and about 40% now live on two dollars a day.

On January 25th, which was National Police Day, however, the people of Egypt took to the streets of Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and other cities to fight for the end of authoritarian rule.

Among their initial demands were cries for minimum wages, jobs, free elections, and the end of Mubarak’s power. As the week continued, the chants centered around one theme only: Mubarak must leave.

There were a number of factors that led to the outbreak of these protests, from Tunisia overthrowing their President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. When the Egyptian people recognized Tunisia’s problems as their own, the youth began organizing Egypt’s own revolution on social networking sites.

Throughout the first few days of the protests, Egyptians would update their statuses with, “Yalla, go to Tahrir Square today…down with Mubarak!” and “If you weren’t there today, you need to go bukra [tomorrow] fi El Tahrir [in Tahrir]…You seriously can’t miss it. This could actually change Egypt it’s time for us to say what we really want out loud!”

The organization and communication that took place on the Internet truly shaped the numbers of protestors. When Mubarak instituted a curfew, the citizens knew they were in good company and stayed out on the streets. Even when Mubarak shut down the Internet in an effort to destroy the organization of the protests and prevent global communication with the people, the Egyptians continued marching through the streets with nonviolent signs and a celebratory atmosphere.

Although the numbers were reaching one million, the military and protestors worked together to provide a safe environment to protest. The military said they were there to keep the museums and buildings in Cairo safe, and maintain order, a stance with which the protestors were happy to comply.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration was struggling immensely with how to react. The administration had supported the Tunisian protests, after all, and the Egyptians were seeking the same things. Why, then, did President Obama not immediately back the movement for democracy? What does Egypt have that Tunisia did not?

Mubarak has been an ally of the United States and a partner in finding peace in the Middle East for decades. The predicament became clear: if the U.S. does not support the protestors’ cries for democracy, America would appear hypocritical, and the Egyptian people would grow angry with the U.S. If the U.S. does not support Mubarak, and he returns to power over time, we will lose one of our closest and most important allies in the Middle East, making it difficult to participate in Middle East peace talks.

The vague words of President Obama, Secretary-of-State Clinton, and Press Secretary Gibbs reflected this predicament for the first few days of the protests. Clinton said, “We want to see free and fair elections,” and Obama publically asked Mubarak “to take concrete steps and actions to deliver on [the] promise” of a better democracy and economy for Egypt.

Over the weekend, Obama discussed matters with the leaders of the U.K., Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia and shifted his language, saying on January 31st that he supports “an orderly transition to a government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.”

International concerns also arise over what the riots in Egypt mean for international trade and oil transportation via the Suez Canal.  A labor strike could disrupt transit through the Canal, while a new government in Egypt could raise the tarif on the Canal.

Finally, after over a week of protesting in Egypt, President Obama announced his “belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.”

Mubarak restored the Internet on Wednesday, February 2, one day after he announced he would not run for re-election in September. With the excitement of a restored Internet connection came the disheartening news of the outbreak of violence.

What were once energetic, inspiring Facebook statuses, are now “Liberation or death! Fight for democracy in Tahrir!” February 2, 2011 brought a new opposing force to the protestors: those in favor of Mubarak. There have been rumors that these are Egyptians paid by Mubarak to spark violence in the streets, but there is no confirmation of this yet.

At least three people are reported dead and hundreds injured as Mubarak’s supporters throw stones, beat protestors, and unleash havoc in Cairo. Egyptians are growing more concerned about feeding their families as the days of protest continue.

Banks, businesses, and schools are closed, looting is taking place, and the economy is in turmoil. Although the situation has become a lot tougher, the Egyptian people remain on the streets.

Still, things are changing every day.  The situation is continuing to escalate.  By the time you’ve read this article, things will have changed. And things will continue to change.

Photo Credit: Anti-government demonstrators holding tin sheets as shields stand their ground at about 9 a.m. outside Tahrir Square in central Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, February 3, 2011, the scene of heavy clashes with pro-government forces a day earlier. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)