US seems to be losing all of its dictators around the world. The US backed dictators in South America fell like dominos, one after another just to be replaced by socialists or socialist dictators.

US seems to be losing another one of its favorite dictator in Egypt. They might lose their second favorite dictator in Pakistan.  Facebook and Twitter played a great role in Iranian protests few months ago and US media could not get enough of it. The same media is not praising Facebook and Twitter as much during Egypt protests.

Reminds me of the 90s when Soviets could not afford to keep their dictators in reign and started losing them one by one. US seems to go through the same phase. Looks like, eventually Twitter and Facebook will come back and bite US right in the arsh.

What are your thoughts???? Is USA losing its ground the same way communists did in the 90s???

 There is a need of power be balance around the world. If US is playing a good role to  balance power around the world, then I have no problems. if not US (a democratic/transparent nation) then a bordering nations (who are mostly selfish to their benefits) would have influence and will control the country/region and never ending war triggers around the world. Just look at Nepal, Selfish Indian wants to have influence in nepali soil to control every thing. Don't you want a more Democratic and transparent  nation  plays good role to resolves the problem.

I think, I want a democratic and transparent country like USA , but not China or Russia controls the world. Imagine, if china or russia starts controlling the world then there will be no Human rights, free speech, and democracy. China or Russia don't even respect their fellow citizens/civilian rights. It will be hard to imagine other country citizens right.

Therefore, you need a global force for better mankind.

I do not understand your response....

If Egypt were to have Democracy it would be ruled either by Muslim fanatics like Iran or Socialists like Greeks, Should US encourage democracy in Egypt or let its stech ally ( a dictator for 30 years) stay in power???

US hates Hugo Chavez but has not uttered a single word about dictators like Mubarak and Musharraf.

China is a one party democracy and US is a two party democracy. China supresses human right for the sake of communism and US supressed freee speech for the sake of so called war against "Terrorism". Not much of a difference between China and US there.

Again, the core question from my initial posting was, should US protect its favorite dictator in Egypt so that it could be run by Greece like socialists or Iran like religious fanatics.

अरब मुलुकमा देखिएको परिवर्तन जनाताको चाहना हो तर के यो प्रजातन्त्रको चाहनको लागि उद्देसित भएर स्वफुर्त एक देश बाट आर्को अरब मुलुक सरेको हो त? अहिलेलाई यो आयो अनी सम्पूर्ण अरब मुलुकलाई छुनेछ ।
प्रश्न आउछ :- के यि सबै अरब मुलुकले आफ्नो माटो सुहाउदो प्रजातन्त्रको भोग गर्न पाउने छन त ?
मलाई त लाग्छ धेरै जसो देसमा पुरतन ईस्लामिक राज्य कायम हुनेछन अनी एक तानासाह बाट अर्को जर्जर तानाशाह को हातमा सत्ताको बागडोर जानेछ। नयाँ नयाँ खुमेनी को उदय हुनेछ, इस्मालिक अतिबादी को हर्कतको मार धेरै जसो देशले भोग्नु पर्ने छ । कामना यतिनै छ , सासक परिबर्तन होस् तर देश धर्मको नाम मा शासन गर्ने हरु नजाउन , तर त्यो BrotherHood संस्था को सम्ल्ग्नता हाम्रो देशमा माओवादी ले गरे झै गरेको छ् , अनी यो संस्था ले शासन गर्न पुग्यो भने के होला। 

Bhjopure,

Good reasoning, Ahile US lai Egypt kanda [Disallowed String for - use of word not allowed] ko kanpat bhako cha. [Disallowed String for - use of word not allowed] ko kanpat samate pachi....samatera kati basne ....chodyo bhane aafailai khane dar....

Yo democracy bhanne cheez pani aachamma ko cha...yedi desh ka 80% manche murkha chan bhane teha murkha le rajya garna paucha...democracy ko rule anushar.

Sadhai democracy ma biswash garchu...bhanna pani garo...ki chain America jasto huna paryo...jasle bhancha....Hamile bhaneko manche aaye samma democracy natra bhane dictatorship

Now that the powereful Egyptian military has vowed not to use force against the demonstrators, to me the departure of Mubarak only seems imminent, only a matter of when. Those concerned must now focus on what is -- or would be -- next without Mubarak in the equation. The Egyptian political platform sans Mubarak is of the utmost concern particularly to Israel and the US, who have -- wrongly, may I add -- bet every penny on the former as the stalwart of "peace" ("peace" in quotations to intend pun, i.e., as understood by US and Israel) in the Middle East.

Should Egypt be bestowed with transformations that was once unthinkable in the coming days, equally behemoth changes must be made in the US and Israeli policies towards "peace." For one thing, they must now realize that their policy of making their hopes and aspirations beholden to one person has always been -- and will always prove -- misguided. Genuine and lasting peace is always something that is sowed from the hearts and minds of the PEOPLE. That obliviously would not have been easy; of course not everyone in Egypt would have prescribed to peace with Israel, and the proceedings would have been messy and uncertain. However, that itself is the core of democracy -- the uncertainties and the difficulties that we stand to endure today would prove far more dividentuous, and maybe even ecstatic, in the future. Casting one's hopes on dictatorship for a perceived gain now will do just that: Ensure a MOMENTARY profit, and a certain "back-to-square-one" at some point. There are sure to be a lot of drawbacks in the democratic path too, but "back to zero" is hardly the scenario one can count on in this.

There have been much talk (read: Fear!) about the rise of Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamasition of Egypt should Mubarak fall. First off, it is indeed premature to fear anything that is pronounced "Islamist" or "Muslim." Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt is harldy the kind of extremists that beholds Iran, for instance. They have renounced violence, and have always entrusted their political guidance to the members of non-clergy intelligentsia. They are not run by hard-headed Mullahs, and are more secular in their approach to politics than one would have imagined. They are conservative, of course, but as disagreeable (to me too!) as conservatism may be, it is guaranteed a right under democracy.

Second, as I understand it, Muslim Brotherhood is hardly a sweeping force in Egyptian politics. They are merely a part of a vast and massive coalition, so they would hardly have a monopoly over decisions regarding Egyptian lives They will be prone to arduous negotiations and compromises. Should they not live upto the aspirations of the Egyptian people, the latter would not vote for them (as it is true of Hezbullah in Lebanon, another fiercely feared force in the West).

The US must also make drasctic changes in it's approach to the Middle East in another way: Making Israel the core of it's policies there is down right wrong and unhelpful. They must now learn to foster other relationships, juggle more than one ball, if they are to protect their genuine interests in the region.

Finally, I personally do not foresee what some analysts have described as the "domino effect." It began with Tunesia, and I think it will end with Egypt. I do not see other Arab nations ready for such upheavel, either in terms of (gravely) lost popularity of the ruling elites, or in terms of the readyness of the DARING population to take on the authorities.

Biggest loser of this saga: Israel. Biggest winner: The Arab people. The US can -- and will -- adjust.

Poonteji, good thoughts. Although I don't see a massive domino effects, I think some tremors have already been felt, with Jordan king sacking his government. Few more will follow suit for sure. The current economic condition makes it just ripe for autocratic government to crumble.

As to the poster's question, What is best in US interest is definately not best for the respective country's interest. Democracy, often times, comes with riots and massive shake ups. This is seen as unwanted distraction for big power like US. There is a chance that religious extremist could influence Egypt and Tunisia more (isn't that one of the reason why Mubarak's predecessor was assasinated and he ,as then VP, rose to power?). But to answer the question, YES US is losing its ground and they might even blame it on Obama but this is something inevitable.

We love to see loosing the dictectors but afraid of bringing Religious Leaders who are the worst ruler in this 21st century. Until now, only the religious groups are organized and have had strong holds even being underground.

What is this " Brother Hood" party is and backed by who? 

Just wihsing for a democratic party will rule and will  enjoy democracy , not a  new Khumaini or any Religious State.
Most likely, the religious party may emerge and will rule as it happen in Iran.