Amid reports of increased looting and violence, and the return to the streets of police who attacked demonstrators last week, the administration “recognizes that time is not our friend,” said one of nearly two dozen outside experts invited to an off-the-record meeting with White House officials Monday. “They are trying to find ways to speed it up.”…

A senior White House official said that a massive protest march called for Tuesday would be “pivotal” in gauging the direction the crisis is heading. Administration officials were palpably relieved when the Egyptian army announced that it would respect demonstrators’ rights and would not interfere – provided they remained peaceful – but denied reports that they had requested that the military issue the statement…

The official said that while the administration was concerned about “some elements” of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other non-secular groups participating in the demonstrations, it was “not ruling out their legitimacy” and place in a future government.