Mubarak has shown his true colors...

...and the Egyptian army has shown whose side they're on. After spending a week remaining essentially neutral and seeming to befriend the anti-Mubarak protesters, last night, the Egyptian army allowed pro-Mubarak supporters into Tahrir Square and according to one source the military "blocked the anti-Mubarak [protesters] from exiting." Additionally, pro-Mubarak thugs armed with machetes and other weapons also inflitrated the square. Official estimates suggest that one soldier was killed and over 400 injured. [Update: According to Al Jazeera medical sources, as of midnight in Cairo, 2000+ have been reported injured in clashes.]

The possibility exists that the army may be working with Mubarak by creating disorder on purpose to claim it has legitimate right to later crack down on the civilian population to restore order. If that's the case, we could be seeing a massacre later on. I pray that's not the case and that the army remains neutral but that may be wholly wishful thinking.

Earlier today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs took some questions where answers were decidedly shallow as the Obama administration sits the fence in a bid not to alienate their strategic allies in the Middle East (see Abu Saleh in Yemen, Netanyahu in Israel, the Saudi Monarchy, and currently Mubarak etc.) The following Q&A was truly a gem:

AP Reporter: Do you think Mubarak is a dictator? 

White House Press Secretary: We think Mubarak has the chance to show us who he is by allowing for a peaceful transition in Egypt.

As one Twitter poster pointed out simply:

Coffee_n_Cream RT @noonanjo: If bloodying innocents in the street isn't enough for Obama to drop the "orderly transition" shit, nothing is. #Jan25 #Egypt 

I urge American citizens who care about the people of Egypt to write a letter to the White House or contact your Senator or Representative supporting their bid to establish a democracy and hold transparent elections. If you wish to send an email to the Obama Administration you may do so here. You may also contact the official White House comments line at (+1) 202-456-1111 if you wish to leave a voice message. It's entirely true that your messages will be read and responded to by White House staff, but the point is by flooding the White House with responses to the crisis it will result in a collective opinion being considered. People overseas are also welcome to comment and write in.