Today in Egypt: A Guide for Those Not Really Following

I’m hearing from a lot of Americans who are, let’s say, disenfranchised from the insane (and somewhat confusing) pace of Egypt news. So we’re gonna try to break it down a little, to be useful!

• One development of the last few days is that the demonstrators who dislike the government have been standing off in the streets with “pro-government demonstrators.” Who are the pro-Mubarak demonstrators? There are largely two kinds, it turns out, in this account. The first is “people over which the regime has some leverage,” people whose bosses forced them to attend, and (to be fair!) some number of people who probably just like Mubarak! The second kind: “women and middle-aged men who are more likely ministry employees, NDP party cadres and some security and interior officers,” who are organized to show support.

• Did you know that pretty much all of Europe is like, “Okay, time for a new government in Egypt,” and the U.S. is like, “expressing concern” and “expressing hope.” Man! But yes: “Leaders of the U.K., France, German, Italy and Spain condemned the violence and urged for a transition to begin immediately.”

• The last government chartered planes are expected to leave Egypt today. After that? On your own. Meanwhile? According to an AP reporter, the military is taking reporters into “protective custody.” That’s not good, and neither is them getting beaten up, which is happening quite a bit.

• This morning (our time) has seen big press events; already, interestingly, the Prime Minister had apologized for the violence against protestors, and he did so again a bit later. (This apology did not go over so well!) The military had somewhat tried to divide the two skirmishing groups earlier today. Today is also a supposed “sit-down” between the opposition and the government, but lots of the various different opposition folks (this is not a unified movement! It’s an uprising!) won’t even come talk to the government, as their demand is that this government no longer exist.

• By way of the Guardian, a view from on the ground, of some of the anti-government side. If you look carefully, you can see photojournalists hiding behind barricades documenting. Here is a handy graphic-map of the area.