Following Egypt's protests: Quick links

As the massive protests that started on Tuesday in Egypt unfold, there is talk that Egyptians may be on the verge of overthrowing their autocratic government, and possibly upsetting President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule. The protests were inspired by a similar outcry in Tunisia. However Egyptians hoping for revolution are facing larger odds than their Tunisian counterparts. For one, Egypt is a larger country with a much greater military. In fact, the US has been Egypt’s biggest international ally, backing the Mubarak regime with $1.3 billion in military aid annually.

In what has been dubbed Egypt’s “day of wrath,” Egyptians taking to the streets have come up against rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, and other violence. The Egyptian government appears to have blocked Twitter, a primary mode of communication for protesters. There have been reports that Facebook and mobile networks may also be affected.

Events are moving fast in Egypt, and here are a few resources to get up to speed.

Mother Jones has posted a primer on what’s happening, which they will continue to update as events unfold.

Here’s the Guardian’s blow by blow.

From YouTube, Egypt’s Tiananmen Square.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtTUsqra-MU]

The BBC has these eyewitness accounts.

The CSMonitor has a rundown on the US response thus far, as well as the US’s strategic challenges.