Today's Tahrir update from a friend in Cairo.

[grahamhgreen]

HI ..THIS IS SO INSANE..GANGS OF HOODLUMS ARE TRYING TO BEAT UP ANY WESTERNER THEY SEE, ESPECIALLY WITH A CAMERA....THE ARMY SAVED ME FROM A LYNCHING OUTSIDE THE HILTON ON THE CORNICHE...WILD EYED GUYS WITH BEARDS AND HOLES IN THEIR FOREHEADS FROM PRAYING, THEY ARE WITH MUBARAK BUT SEEM ULTRA RELIGIOUS MANY OF THEM..ITS A THIRD HAND OF TERROR...THEY ARE IN A FRENZY OF HATE, THE EGYPTIAN PRESS SAID THE FOREIGN MEDIA IS IN THE HANDS OF ZIONISTS AND AMERICANS AND IS ANTI REGIME..AS ANDERSON COOPER FOUND OUT.....

I MUST SAY CNN, AL JAZEERA AND BBC HAVE ALL BEEN OUTSPOKENLY ANTI REGIME..NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!THIS MAY END LIKE TIANAMAN SQUARE..SO RIGHT NOW INSIDE TAHRIR SQUARE ITS SAFE BUT RUNNING THE GAUNTLET TO GET IN THEIR IS NOT SAFE......THERE ARE PLAIN CLOTHES SPOTTERS, THEY IGNORE ALL THE EGYPTIANS TAKING FOTOS BUT HAND ALL THE FOREIGNERS OVER TO TOP ARMY OFFICERS......THE EGYPT TV STATION IS AN ARMED FORTRESS......REGARDS, xxxxxxxx..PS, THE CURFEW IS ON NOW

[EFerrari]

1. It looks like the regime is holding the threat of hostage taking

over Obama's head.

[formercia]

3. That would up the Ante.

I think Mubarak trying to provoke a confrontation with the US and others, hoping that Egyptian Nationalism will trump the protesters.

[hlthe2b]

2. I had really hoped Mubarak would be gone in a few weeks...

though my instincts were that he would not. He has survived 30 years in Egypt, after multiple assassination attempts, after all.

I am extremely worried and concerned that we are going to see an extremely violent response. Yes, those in Tahrir are correct. They are only safe so long as they remain firmly entrenched with large numbers. I fear western governments, including our own, are selling them out.

I have intentionally only asked about the welfare of those with whom I correspond in Egypt. I fear that any more specific subject discussion will lead to their being singled out.

[uncommon]

4. Agreed - I was listening to the NPR report yesterday on my way home and they were

talking about how there were huge numbers of people out and a lot of them brought their children - it worries me very much...