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The prevailing thought among political experts contends: as goes Egypt so goes the Middle East.nike running shoes  One has to go no further than the headlines in Libya and Algeria to see the theory substantiated.

Consequently, when the pivotal Arabic nation of 80 million people became a crucible for democratic revolution in late January, the world, and especially Egypt's regional neighbors, became riveted spectators.

The Egyptian citizenry had grown tired of a regime which denied basic freedoms while controlling its people through brutality and oppression. On Feb. 11, less than three weeks after demonstrations began, President Hosni Mubarak resigned, terminating his 29-year rule.

Presumed to be the endgame by many mainstream media outlets, the conclusion of the combustible protests seemingly pushed Egypt onto the back burner as Libya became the hot topic of conversation.

"I am personally extremely disappointed in the Obama administration's lack of leadership on this," Clifton resident and political activist Sherine El-Abd said. "The relationship of the United States with the entire region is either stable or rocky because of its relationship with Egypt. Their lame excuse is that they don't want to be meddling. Then why are you in Libya?"

El-Abd, 64, of Beverly Hill Road, immigrated to America from Egypt in 1965 because she was unhappy with the direction then-president Gamal Abdel Nasser was steering the country politically and economically.nike mens acg sandals 2011  She graduated from Texas A&M University before ultimately settling in the New York metropolitan area and has spent the last 35 years in New Jersey.

With several immediate family members still living in Egypt, El-Abd has remained well-informed as to the current climate in Cairo and the country's other major cities by staying in daily contact with several of her cousins.

She delightedly recalled the cold nights this February. Her eyes glued to the television or computer screen as she reveled with friends stateside and family overseas. El-Abd said she fought back tears as well as sleep - days at a time - captivated by what would happen next.

"It was a very exciting, energizing time because young and old, rich and poor, everybody was united," she said. "I was delighted that Egypt, the cradle of civilization which had experienced democracy and then been deprived of it, was on its way back toward becoming the free and great nation it deserves."

Her cousin, Noha Abdou, who lives in Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, said she and her children were "screaming and singing with joy" upon hearing of the president's resignation.

"We celebrated in the streets," Abdou said. "My generation had grown helpless and hopeless this moment would ever come."

Back in the states other Egyptian-Americans, including Rutherford resident and American-Arab activist Hesham Mahmoud, called it an "indescribable" event.

"In my wildest dreams I hadn't thought I would see this day in my lifetime," Mahmoud said.

Although overjoyed by the successful demonstrations, Mahmoud, who was born in Alexandria and is now a representative of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of New Jersey, immediately conveyed uncertainty in terms of what tomorrow will bring.

"The revolution is not over yet," he said.

Abdou agreed, saying the country's future remains "very vague and confusing."

Compounded by the absence of a defined leadership or powerful police presence, the confusion created a 200 percent increase in crime marked by a rapid rise in theft and kidnapping.Reebok EasyTone online

On Saturday, 5,000 Egyptian soccer fans forced their way into the Cairo International Stadium and stormed the field while a game was still ongoing, assaulting opposing players and causing millions of dollars in damages.

"The lack of security worries me," Mahmoud said. "I have a lot of family still there. Just the other day my own brother was a victim of one of these crimes. He was coming out of a bank and they just drove by and stole his money."