Whoa! The army is no longer protecting the president's palace in Egypt.

[ananda]

http://twitter.com/#!/ondeadline/status/35810973566631936

Report: Egyptian troops, tanks have withdrawn from presidential palace.

[cynatnite]

OMG! If true, then all bets are off. n/t

[glinda]

4. That would be cool.

[elleng]

1. WOW!

[madmax]

2. The speach was pre-recorded

I'd bet he's no where near the palace.

[eleny]

11. +1

[MineralMan]

3. Mubarack is probably not at the palace.

He's probably somewhere else entirely.

[ananda]

5. That wouldn't surprise me.

But the palace is symbolic as well.

[MineralMan]

9. Symbolism is a poor defense against machine guns.

[tekisui]

14. The army isn't using machine guns.

They have defied that order from Mubarak.

[MineralMan]

15. More correctly: They haven't used machine guns.

Everything can change.

[tekisui]

16. They have been ordered to, and have not. They have said they

will not fire on the people. Your pessimism notwithstanding, the military is not taking orders from Mubarak anymore.

[glinda]

6. Perhaps he flew out?

[MineralMan]

10. More likely, he's been whisked away by the military, who have him

fully protected. People think of these things, you know, in advance.

[glinda]

13. Maybe his speech was late because he was packing.

[Poboy]

7. "We don't need no palace, let the MFer burn!"

[Maru Kitteh]

8. I hope he's gone then because it looks to me like they're ready to kill his ass now.

[spanone]

12. you can bet he's not there....