Chaos in Egypt, CIA and Egyptian Army Say Mubarak To Step Down, Other's Not So Fast

Out of all the possible results regarding the crisis in Egypt, the best of the bad situation is Mubarak resigning and ceding power to the Military.  That is what seems to be happening tonight. CIA director Leon Panetta testified before congress This morning  and said "There is a strong likelihood that Mubarak may step down this evening." 

That was followed up later in the morning with an announcement that Mubarak will address the national later today (tonight Egypt time)

As word that a change was imminent swept through Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the unprecedented protests, organizers cautioned the tens of thousands of jubilant demonstrators to remain calm and refrain from violence. Soldiers mounted on tanks around the square waved demonstrators by as they poured through the streets droves, chanting, "the army and the people are hand in hand."

.....Gen. Hassan al-Roueini, military commander for the Cairo area, told the crowds in Tahrir Square that, "All your demands will be met today."  

In an unprecedented move the Miltary's supreme council met today without Mubarak who is its commander-in-chief, to explore "what measures and arrangements could be made to safeguard the nation, its achievements and the ambitions of its great people. "


Others in the Government seem to be walking back from the resignation claim.

However, Egyptian Prime Minister Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq phoned into state television after it broadcast the army's statement, and said that he could neither confirm nor deny any changes at the top  "The president is in his position and we have not received any decision by him to indicate anything new," Shafiq said.

...Hossan Badrawi, the newly appointed secretary general of the National Democratic Party, told the BBC that Mubarak "may be stepping down" and could give a televised address this evening. But Badrawi later appeared on Egyptian state television and acknowledged only that the government was considering constitutional amendments, including one related to a "peaceful transfer of power."

Asked if that involved Mubarak, Badrawi replied: "No, I don't have specific information. All I can do is offer predictions. And I would predict that that would be a good thing."

 If  Mubarak ends up not resigning, the protests in Egypt are going much, much worse.