why is that? >> because it is the largest country. and because sadat made peace. you know, for an arab country to make peace at that time with menachem begin, that was huge. and for doing it he was assassinated. mubarak was little known. he said oh yeah, there's a vice president. which by the way, mubarak hasn't had. so he came into office. he has never really run for election. the elections have been fraudulent. he was picked there and he's been there ever since. so he's never been tested. he's never had to face the loyalty of his people until now. >> where do you see it going from here? you've lived through so many of these kinds of news events. you get a certain feel for taz a journalist at some point, don't you? about where the momentum's going. >> well, the momentum is going toward his leaving. but what the united states i any is trying to do is to make his leaving in some orderly way so he isn't shoved out, they have to find a place for him to go, although he says he's going to continue to live in egypt.