During the recent events the Global Macro Monitor, along with most of the rest of the world, has been impressed by the discipline of the the Egyptian army and their unwillingness to use force against their own people.  This reminds of us of the final days of the Soviet Union where the Red Army was unwilling to fire on its own people thus delivering the fatal blow to communist government and the ascendency of Boris Yeltsin.

It is hard to believe the widely respected Egyptian army will stand idly by as the country descends into chaos and anarchy and some in country seem to agree,

A former general from the Egyptian secret services told to Al Jazeera that he “expects the army will act to remove Mubarak from power … Mubarak is ready to burn the country”.

And this,

An unnamed former Egyptian intelligence general quoted by Al Jazeera has stated he expects the army to aid in removing President Hosni Mubarak from office amid protests turned violent again Wednesday.

“I expect the army will act to remove Mubarak from power … Mubarak is ready to burn the country,” said the ex-high ranking security officer according to the Al Jazeera live blog on events in Egypt.

What are they waiting for?  That is what is most troubling and it may reflect an epic struggle is also taking place in the highest ranks of the military.