EGYPT STILL BOILING – AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  There are mass demonstrations again in Egypt today.  There are fears that many Egyptians will go to Friday prayers at their mosques, hear fiery sermons, and then go out and get reckless, a polite way of putting it.

The real action is not in the streets, and some of it is intriguing.  First, the story circulated yesterday that President Obama has reprimanded his intelligence chiefs for not warning about what was about to happen in Egypt.  But then, an intelligence official testifying before a Senate committee revealed that Mr. Obama was warned of instability in Egypt late last year.  Leave it to Barack Obama to try, in the midst of a crisis, to put the blame on someone.  That big bus is still parked outside the White House.  Hosni Mubarak was thrown under it earlier this week, joining Reverend Wright of Chicago and other unworthies.  Now the intelligence bigs are apparently headed for the space under the rear axle.  Maybe the president, after he watches the Super Bowl on Sunday, will put in some serious thought on how to salvage our Mideast policy.

And we're getting a gentle slap in the face from some European leaders, as the Jerusalem Post reports.  Not everyone is gung-ho for dumping an ally as quickly as Obama has been willing to knife Mubarak:

European Union leaders arriving for the summit Friday called for a "national dialogue" between the government and opposition in Egypt amid escalating violent protests.

But they shied away from supporting the Obama administration's effort to persuade President Hosni Mubarak to step down.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was essential that the government and people "move forward together." Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it would be "gratuitous and arrogant" to call for Mubarak's resignation.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that he hoped Egypt could move towards a democracy without having to part with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Boy, aren't you impressed with the clout Obama has.  Outside the teen market, and the faculty lounges of the Ivy League, the man can't convince anyone of anything.  When you dump allies quickly, and flash weakness toward enemies, there is a result.

Stand by for more.  This story continues to develop.

February 4, 2011