LA PROTESTA MAYOR

Top of the Agenda: Millions Called to March Against Mubarak In what is expected to be the largest anti-Mubarak demonstration yet, hundreds of thousands of Egyptian protestors will hold a massive rally in central Cairo (WSJ), as well as smaller events across the country. The BBC reports that crowds are already "much bigger than on the previous seven days of protests," and organizers hope the throngs will surge to over one million. Military and civilian checkpoints have been set up to keep weapons out, and the atmosphere is peaceful (CNN). Activist leaders, including Mohamed ElBaradei, have called on Mubarak to resign by Friday. The mass gathering comes a day after the military emboldened the opposition movement by stating it would not use force against the protestors. According to a Western diplomat, the decision is believed to be part "choreographed maneuvers by the most senior people around Mr. Mubarak" to prepare for his eventual departure (NYT). In an effort to mitigate the unrest, Mubarak forced his cabinet to resign and offered one of his trusted advisors as a channel for negotiating with the opposition, but leaders of the opposition have stated he must leave the country before any dialogue can start. Despite the vehement demands for his ouster, Mubarak does not intend to announce his resignation (Haaretz). Analysis: This issue guide provides a range of background and analysis on the protests in the Middle East and North Africa. The United States should be quietly pressing for President Mubarak to step aside and allow for atransfer of authority in Egypt--either a constitutional reform process or a caretaker government, says CFR President Richard N. Haass. In this op-ed for the New York Times, Senator John Kerry discusses how the United States should prepare for a post-Mubarak Egypt. Foreign Affairs provides a collection of Egypt essays from their archives. Background: This CFR Contingency Planning Memo discusses political instability in Egypt and assesses the possibility of a troubled leadership succession or an Islamist push for political power, the implications for the United States, and policy steps the U.S. government might take.