The Unrest Spreads

Serious protests are occurring all over the Arab World. Ten thousand people marched peacefully in Sana today; thousands more continue to march in Cairo and elsewhere despite the banning of protests. The Times says this is a new generation of malcontents:

He tolerated a tiny and toothless opposition of liberal intellectuals whose vain electoral campaigns created the facade of a democratic process... But this enduring and, many here say, all too comfortable relationship was upended this week by the emergence of an unpredictable third force, the leaderless tens of thousands of young Egyptians who turned out to demand an end to Mr. Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

Stay tuned - the rumblings of this year (and of 2005) show that the status quo will not survive too much longer.