"The idea that the opposition have to negotiate with the regime to achieve their aims makes little sense ..."

"... This is a mistake. Those holding power today -- particularly Omar Suleiman -- will have the ability to legally neutralize reforms if they are the ones driving the political machine. The Egyptian government is dragging its feet, and there are still many political detainees imprisoned. The government can't be a fair broker in this exercise. The whole idea that the opposition groups have to negotiate with the government to achieve their aims makes little sense -- because it is this government that the public has been rebelling against. I don't know where things in Egypt are going. The protests have surged to very large levels today in Tahrir Square -- but it does seem to me that the United States is distancing itself from the people and allying itself with an army-led new regime that is likely to give only crumbs to the opposition. If this proves unsatisfactory to the public and things explode to more serious levels, America will really have botched its position and global brand, yet again."