I'm sure hoping you didn't think I was going to have this Egyptian thing all figured out by today. If a brilliant international strategist like Barack Obama can't solve the puzzle ... with all of his tremendous experience and all ... then what chance does a second-string radio talk show who can't get down in less than four when he's only 20 yards off the green have?

Just some thoughts:

There has been some concern about the role of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is a gang of ill-tempered radical Muslims. Everything I've read indicates that they are certainly involved in the unrest - and increasingly over the weekend - but aren't in the driver's seat. This seems to be a revolt fueled by a genuine desire on the part of the Egyptian people for freedom, not a desire to form an Iranian-style Islamic "republic."

In this Wall Street Journal article Zachary Karabell explains that the Egyptian people have neither political nor economic freedom. Egypt ranks 137th in the world in per-capita income. Not good. The Egyptian system suppresses private economic activity as well as political expression. Karabell explains that China, while continuing to suppress the people politically, has allowed them to grow economically. As a result, according to Karabell, China has brought more people out of poverty at a faster rate than any country anywhere in human history. How do they do it? Economic liberty. Karabell goes on to explain that the people might be placated by economic growth or political growth, but with neither they will soon revolt. This is what is happening in Egypt today. Two thirds of the population of Egypt is under 30 years old. These young Egyptians believed that they have no future under Mubarak.

There seems to be some degree of anger being expressed against America by the protesters. Jamie fly, the Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Institute, suggests that president Obama's failure, thus far, to put the weight of his office behind the protesters is not going to be remembered kindly. When it comes to pressuring Mubarak to Institute Democratic reforms in Egypt, Obama has been a no-show. During the administration of George W. Bush, Mubarak was under constant pressure to Institute both democratic and economic reforms. As soon as Obama was sworn in that pressure came to a screaming halt. Obama chose to use Cairo as the back drop for his message to the Islamic world. But in that message, he never said anything about promoting freedom and economic liberty, a message the young Egyptian people most certainly wanted to hear.

They're planning 1 million man-march in Cairo today. If ever a situation is fluid, I suppose this one fits the description. Who knows? By the end of the day Mubarak may be out of power and Egyptian military may have installed an interim government waiting for upcoming presidential elections. Much wiser minds than mine are trying to figure this one out. So in the interim, here are a few reading assignments for you so that you can sound like a foreign-policy expert around the lunch table today or at dinner with friends tonight. It doesn't work all that well with me, but maybe you'll have better luck.

The Muslim Brotherhood on the March (FrontPage Magazine)

The Two Likeliest Political Outcomes for Mubarak (Hadley)

The Economic Roots of the Revolt (Karabell)

Chaos, Looting Spread as Mubarak Names Key Deputies (WSJ)

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood eyes unity gov't without Mubarak (Haaretz)

More Egyptian protesters demand that White House condemn Mubarak

In the streets of Cairo, many protesters are now openly denouncing the United States for supporting President Hosni Mubarak, saying the price has been their freedom. They say the Obama administration has offered only tepid criticism of a regime that has received billions of dollars in U.S. aid.

Jordan's opposition: Arabs will topple tyrants

The leader of Jordan's powerful Muslim Brotherhood warned Saturday that unrest in Egypt will spread across the Mideast and Arabs will topple leaders allied with the United States.

Egypt protests show George W. Bush was right about freedom in the Arab world