The despot digs in

Czech diplomat Jan Masaryk once said, “Dictators are rulers who always look good until the last ten minutes.” Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak is clearly in his “last ten minutes.” Tahrir Square and the world expected the Pharaoh to resign the presidency today. Instead Mubarak defiantly repeated his pledge to die on Egyptian soil, effectively spitting in the eye of the protesters. Then again, expecting magnanimity from a despot is another definition of madness. In Mubarak’s mind, he is Ramses, and beloved by the people. Sadly, the standoff is now likely to end in one of two ways. Mubarak will either be forcibly put on an outbound plane -- or carried feet first to his grave.