for mubarak to run out the clock, sap the energy out of the protestors or did the army do that as a signal? the administration is very cautiously but more optimistic tonight that as we head into the next week of this drama, vice president suleiman, the field marshal will tell president mubarak he must find a way out. step back and if he doesn't absolutely officially c, de power, just allow for a more transitional government to step forward. they're not certain they're at that point, but in their private conversations with the military, they're confident that the military will not be involved in any other crackdown. this is very hard to crack, because it is so secretive. the most secretive and fascinating conversations months or years from now when we get the details would be secretary of defense gates with the field marshal. it's a smaller but noticeable sense of optimism tonight that they are going to resolve this over the next week to ten days. >> the diplomatic cables that