Topic: American University Cairo

Three American students from Philadelphia were arrested in Cairo for allegedly throwing firebombs during protests in Tahrir Square but were quickly released and returned to the U.S. The Egyptian military continues to hold power while Mohamed ElBaradei, a member of the International Crisis Group, positions himself for leadership. The unrest is characterized as a struggle between the military and Western-backed "techno experts" attempting to influence the transition.

Blogger Gigi Ibrahim appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to discuss her role in the Egyptian revolution. Ibrahim revealed she learned about revolutionary tactics in a class at the American University in Cairo titled "Social Mobilization under Authoritarian Regimes." The hosts suggest this confirms that the "Arab Spring" was fomented by Western-backed academic and social media programs rather than being a purely organic movement.