A surreal read from Reuters where the current military rulers, fresh from kicking out Mubarak, make statements that sound just like the ones that Mubarak was making before he was kicked out :

* Military pledges no return to the past

* Won’t allow “attempts to create strife”

* Activists to stage march to replace cabinet

CAIRO, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Egypt’s new military rulers assured the nation on Thursday they would guard against what protesters have called a counter-revolution by associates of Hosni Mubarak, deposed nearly two weeks ago in an 18-day uprising.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said it noted the use of political expressions such as “the counter revolution” and denounced what it said were “attempts to create strife”, saying it was taking all steps to meet the people’s demands.

Protesters have said they fear a “counter revolution” whereby associates of Mubarak seek to creep back to power, perhaps by rebranding the president’s now crippled ruling party.

ZeroHedge meanwhile (in their own wonderful style) sums it up in one line :

Of course by the time a government which attained power in a violent military coup stresses the futility of a counter revolution, it is too late.

Fuel storage facility up in flames today – link to source below.

With Libya burning and Saudi Arabia due for its planned Day of Rage on Friday, look for oil prices heading to levels that will require a mortgage extension just to get to work.