A depressing day in Egypt today, as Mubarak sent his thugs out to beat the freedom out of the Egyptian people. For a while, I was hoping Mubarak might accept reality and slink out of town. But now? I fear he is going to choose the North Korea option — preferring to burn the country down about him rather than give up power.

Shutting down the Internet, closing down the stock markets and business. Basically reverting a country back to the Stone Age (save for its modern weapons). Even if the rulers get the boot, they and their supports turn into an insurgency of chaos and mindless violence. How many times have we seen odious regimes all over the world make that choice, over and over again?

Maybe Milton had it right — “Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.” Or, at least for far too many people, better to reign in hell than not to reign at all.

But I hope I am wrong. I guess we will see Friday…