Egypt’s political elite is in a state of anxiety. The president, Hosni Mubarak, is 78, and while there is no clear successor in sight, it appears the president has begun to hand the reins of state over to his son, Gamal Mubarak. At the same time, regional crises — from the war between Lebanon and Israel to the rise of Iran as a regional power — have further undermined the leadership’s credibility on the street, political analysts said.

In that environment, the leadership has taken a harder line with its critics.

The United States at one time talked about Egypt as leading the way toward democratic reform in the Middle East. But with the chaos in the region, and the political uncertainty in Egypt, officials in Egypt said the United States had dropped all pressure to make democratic reforms. (NYT)