Hi,
My name is kazeem mohamed , i am from
a very respected home, presently i live in Egypt. I
would like to apply through this letter for your
co-operation to do joint business with you in your
country. I have some money usd$5 million in a banking
firm ready to claim, i only need you to stand as a
business partner to my late father so that i can be
able to claim the money from the firm. I propose 15%
of the total money to you while 85% is to be held on
trust by you until we can decide on a suitable
business investment with you in your country
subsequent to my free movement to join you. I''ll
write you with more details when you reply me with
your readiness to handle this issue. Pls send your
telephone number along so that i can call you for
discussions in regards to this issue.
Sincerely
thanks kazeem
email kazeem_mohamed@yhoo.com

Michael O

Re - why should the Arab states join forces to kick the Zionist and US invaders out of their land? Are you serious? If they don’t, then they may be next on the hit list. Ask Iran how it feels to be in the cross hairs of the world’s last remaining super power.

Re - the Arabs are still licking their wounds following the last embargo attempt following the 1973 war. I see your point. It was King Faisal, the third son of King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud, Saudi Arabia’s founder) who implemented and embargo in 1973 and was assassinated in 1975 by his nephew who had just returned from living abroad in the USA. It is a commonly-held, but so far unsubstantiated popular belief in Saudi Arabia and the Arab World that Faisal's oil boycott was the cause of his assassination, via a Western conspiracy. Faisal was a reformer who introduced education for women and girls despite the consternation of many conservatives in the religious establishment.

During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, launched by Egypt’s Sadat, Faisal withdrew Saudi oil from world markets, in protest over Western support for Israel during the conflict. This action quadrupled the price of oil and was the primary force behind the 1973 energy crisis. It was to be the defining act of Faisal's career, and gained him lasting prestige among many Arabs and Muslims world-wide. In 1974 he was named Time magazine's Man of the Year, and the financial windfall generated by the crisis fueled the economic boom that occurred in Saudi Arabia after his death.

So yes, King Faisal was quite the leader and paid the ultimate price for it. Who will be the next worthy leader to step up to the challenge and take on the US-Israel axis of evil? If it doesn’t happen soon then it is way past time for the Arab Street to over throw the corrupt puppet dictators who bow and scrape to the arrogant Americans and their chief ally Israel.

Re - my “warped ideas”, you mean that all people have the inherent right to own their own property and to self determination, without having to fear invasion and occupation by the world’s last remaining super power which subscribes to the creed that “might makes right”?

Re – the Israelis may as well wipe out the Palestinians as the invading Europeans did the Native Americans; then there would be no pictures on our TV sets every evening showing the Zionist’s atrocities perpetrated on Palestinian and Lebanese women and children by the thousands. Then the Zionist invaders would be home free.

You have a point, but fortunately the “wired” world that we live in today is a far sight from the primitive communications (smoke signals?) that were available in the 19th century. If the atrocities that were perpetrated by Europeans on the Native Americans were available for viewing in 19th century living rooms, then the world powers may have done something to intervene. But then again, perhaps they would not. We have progressed in more ways than with just our technology. Our social values have also evolved a bit relative to the days of imperialism and slavery. It is an absolute certainty that the World of Islam will awaken from its trance any day now and expel the Americans and Israelis along with their puppet regimes from Muslim lands.

Jones:

"What is done is done. We cannot right the wrong done by our predecessors long ago."

Right, so according to you the way to resolve the I/P conflict is for Israel to wipe out the Palestinian population, just as the U.S. did with the Indians, and then it will also be what's done is done and we cannot right the wrongs, and the Israelis will be deeply ashamed and everything will be just peachy. Is that what you're saying?

"As I noted previously, the fact that the Arab leaders of the Gulf States passively tolerate US and Israeli occupation of Arab land, making no effort to use the “soft power” that is available for their use, is all the evidence that anyone could ask for."

It's all the evidence that it's much safer and more convenient to sit around scratching their balls than to do anything, especially when "doing anything" means conforming to your warped ideas of justice. Why should they?

As to an oil embargo, they tried it after the 1973 war, and they are still licking their wounds. I sincerely doubt they will try it again anytime soon.

Raafat al-Maghrabi:

"Finally, Egyptian public distrust in the US is not simply misguided indoctrination, it is a reflection of US policies in the Middle East; regime change in Iran, the destruction of Iraq, Palestine, etc., all of which do not "speak" well for any US-inspired ideas of democracy."

Except the US has not interfered in Egypt. So instead of sitting around year in and year out and obssessing over the U.S. and Israel, why don't you get up and take some action and form the representational government that you want and build yourself a growing economy and forget about the U.S. and Israel. Do it for yourselves, not for "US-inspired ideas of democracy". Look at South Korea. At the end of WW2 their economy was the same size as Egypt and today it is 10 times as large. They started out with an autocratic rule as well. Today they have a fully democratic government. How come?

Or you can sit around and continue with the current situation, i.e. with a choice between a dictatorship which hopefully will remain "benevolent", or with an Islamic fundamentalist regime which will agitate for trouble and be a vipers' nest of terror and a source of threat or even an actual attack on the U.S., and then the U.S. will have to come over and try to clean up the mess at a great cost in lives and money, and then you will have a new reason to complain about American interference.
Your choice.

Michael O

Concerning your comments about why I complain about the Israeli atrocities being perpetrated against the Palestinians while never mentioning the atrocities that we perpetrated against the Native Americans; that should be obvious. What is done is done. We cannot right the wrong done by our predecessors long ago. However we can and must speak out against the current atrocities that are being perpetrated in Palestine and Iraq, and threatened in Iran, by our current government using our tax dollars.

Michael O

As I noted previously, the fact that the Arab leaders of the Gulf States passively tolerate US and Israeli occupation of Arab land, making no effort to use the “soft power” that is available for their use, is all the evidence that anyone could ask for. I am speaking of their failure to use the oil weapon. Israel imports 99% of its oil, mostly from Russia. The USA imports 10 million barrels per day, half of it from OPEC. This dependence will only get worse as time goes on, yet the Arab leaders do nothing to exert this power to influence the behavior of the Zionist and USA regimes which continue to invade and occupy Arab land.

It is quite interesting that most of those commenting on Ms. ElTahawy's article are neither from the Middle East, nor Egypt itself. I am always interested in their motives, as I am with "other" report-watching organizations. Is it a genuine interest in Egypt's well-being or simply a venue for justifying US/Israeli interference? Ms. elTahawy's article is correct, but incomplete; firstly, Egyptians have, since we invented time, been ruled, and are accustomed to being ruled by individuals, who for the last 2 millenia have been foreigners, which has made Egyptians accepting and sadly apathetic. Secondly, the multiparty system that developed in the first half of the 20th century, and which represented our first experiment with representational government was trumped by AbdelNasser, and one of the major repercussions of that action was the return of apathy and helplessness. So, as has been said often, Mubarak represents a lesser of two evils; benevolent dictatorship rather than the irreversible path of religious fundamentalism. Unfortunately the only path to the return to representational government involves re-establishing a trust by the public, which I do not see is forthcoming. Finally, Egyptian public distrust in the US is not simply misguided indoctrination, it is a reflection of US policies in the Middle East; regime change in Iran, the destruction of Iraq, Palestine, etc., all of which do not "speak" well for any US-inspired ideas of democracy.

It is quite interesting that most of those commenting om Ms. ElTahawy's article are neither from the Middle East, nor Egypt itself. I am always interested in their motives, as I am with "other" report-watching organizations. Is it a genuine interest in Egypt's well-being or simply a venue for justifying US/Israeli interference? Ms. elTahawy's article is correct, but incomplete; firstly, Egyptians have, since we invented time, been ruled, and are accustomed to being ruled by individuals, who for the last 2 millenia have been foreigers, which has made Egyptians accepting and sadly apathetic. Secondly, the multiparty system that developed in the first half of the 20th century, and which represented our first experiment with representational government was trumped by AbdelNasser, and one of the major repercussions of that action was the return of apathy and helplessness. So, as has been said often, Mubarak represents a lesser of two evils; benevolent dictatorship rather than the irreversible path of religious fundamentalism. Unfortunately the only path to the return to representational government involves re-establishing a trust by the public, which I do not see is forthcoming. Finally, Egyptian public distrust in the US is not simply misguided indoctrination, it is a reflection of US policies in the Middle East; regime change in Iran, the destruction of Iraq, Palestine, etc., all of which do not "speak" well for any US-inspired ideas of democracy.

It is quite interesting that most of those commenting om Ms. ElTahawy's article are neither from the Middle East, nor Egypt itself. I am always interested in their motives, as I am with "other" report-watching organizations. Is it a genuine interest in Egypt's well-being or simply a venue for justifying US/Israeli interference? Ms. elTahawy's article is correct, but incomplete; firstly, Egyptians have, since we invented time, been ruled, and are accustomed to being ruled by individuals, who for the last 2 millenia have been foreigers, which has made Egyptians accepting and sadly apathetic. Secondly, the multiparty system that developed in the first half of the 20th century, and which represented our first experiment with representational government was trumped by AbdelNasser, and one of the major repercussions of that action was the return of apathy and helplessness. So, as has been said often, Mubarak represents a lesser of two evils; benevolent dictatorship rather than the irreversible path of religious fundamentalism. Unfortunately the only path to the return to representational government involves re-establishing a trust by the public, which I do not see is forthcoming. Finally, Egyptian public distrust in the US is not simply misguided indoctrination, it is a reflection of US policies in the Middle East; regime change in Iran, the destruction of Iraq, Palestine, etc., all of which do not "speak" well for any US-inspired ideas of democracy.

It is quite interesting that most of those commenting om Ms. ElTahawy's article are neither from the Middle East, nor Egypt itself. I am always interested in their motives, as I am with "other" report-watching organizations. Is it a genuine interest in Egypt's well-being or simply a venue for justifying US/Israeli interference? Ms. elTahawy's article is correct, but incomplete; firstly, Egyptians have, since we invented time, been ruled, and are accustomed to being ruled by individuals, who for the last 2 millenia have been foreigers, which has made Egyptians accepting and sadly apathetic. Secondly, the multiparty system that developed in the first half of the 20th century, and which represented our first experiment with representational government was trumped by AbdelNasser, and one of the major repercussions of that action was the return of apathy and helplessness. So, as has been said often, Mubarak represents a lesser of two evils; benevolent dictatorship rather than the irreversible path of religious fundamentalism. Unfortunately the only path to the return to representational government involves re-establishing a trust by the public, which I do not see is forthcoming. Finally, Egyptian public distrust in the US is not simply misguided indoctrination, it is a reflection of US policies in the Middle East; regime change in Iran, the destruction of Iraq, Palestine, etc., all of which do not "speak" well for any US-inspired ideas of democracy.

Rick Jones:

As to that inane "bowing to his will" section, I’m still waiting for something remotely resembling an evidence. All you’ve shown so far is that those Arab leaders gave him lavish gifts. So? If you give someone a present does that mean you are “bowing to his will”?

"In other words if one did it, so you can do it too....by the same token, if one obtained nuclear weapons illegally.............shouldn't others be allowed a go at it too?"

Is anyone asking us? Whoever can get it is getting it.

Rick Jones:

I especially like these passages:

“I am deeply ashamed of it, just as I am deeply ashamed of the continuing actions of my present day government. Unfortunately, our attempted genocide of the Native Americans was so effective that their ancestors have practically vanished”.

And:

“The Native Americans seem to be resigned to their fate.”

OK, so you are “deeply ashamed of it” but conveniently you never protest it, never even mention it, and most importantly, never DO anything about it, such as removing your “foreign invader” presence from the “stolen land” and returning it to its “rightful owners”. This is where you can actually make a difference, but you prefer to spend your days here whining and wailing over some conflict that takes place halfway around the world from you, where you bear no risks and where calling for justice costs you nothing. The term “hypocrite” does not even begin to describe you.

But the best part is your justification of this hypocrisy. Your justification boils down to this: The U.S. has done an effective job brutally wiping out the Indians, so they are now too few, and thus too weak, to do anything about it. Conversely, Israel has not wiped out the Palestinians, so the Palestinian population is big enough to wage a fight. Logical conclusion: For its excessive brutality the U.S. should be rewarded and allowed to keep the land it occupies. And for being far more humane than the U.S. the Israelis should be punished and made to leave their land.

So the bottom line of all your sermonizing about injustice is that Israel should do the same thing the U.S. did and wipe out the Palestinian population and then the Israelis could also be “deeply ashamed” and everything would be OK by you. Right?

“Have you returned yet the stolen land which you occupy to its natives? Or do you continue to exempt yourself from the moral demands you make on others, and be proud of it?”

In other words if one did it, so you can do it too....by the same token, if one obtained nuclear weapons illegally.............shouldn't others be allowed a go at it too?

Anonymous:

I understand that you may have had some success in the past with stupid math tricks such as “Mubarak has the equivalent of $200 billion”, but you can save your breath. To say that the U.S. is propping him up has only meaning: That without U.S. support he would collapse. On what basis do you say that, given that other dictators, in the Arab world and elsewhere, have survived just as long or longer than Mubarak without U.S. support?

According to Christian Science Monitor, Egypt has recieved $50 billion in direct US aid since 1975. Nearly 1.5 billion a year since signing a peace plan with Israel in 1979. Now that may not be much to America, but to Egypt its considerable. $1.4 is 1.5% of Egypt's official GDP of $93.65 billion.
1.5% of America's GDP $13.75 trillion would equal= $206 billion. The American gaming industry's revenue, ie. Vegas Strip, Atlantic city, etc. = $84 billion. The American livestock and poultry industry annual revenue was about $100 billion. American health care industry revenue = $1.6 trillion and doctors and dentists accounted for 27% of that, = $432 billion.

These numbers show that American aid to Egypt is enough to pay off the entire Egyptian military, give their top commanders millions in free spending money, and to still buy 2nd grade American military products, like F13 fighters. The entire Egyptian military expenditures were only $3.18 billion in US dollars. American aid is almost 50% of its military expenditures. And a great deal of American aid is spent on buying American military goods. Consider that the Egyptian per capita income is $5400 annually. Perhaps many here make that monthly.
So it is quite reasonable to understand that American aid "props up" the Mubarak regime. He has the equivalent of $200 billion to do as he pleases, ecspecially buy off the support of his top military, intelligence, economic ministers and commanders. As Ms ElTahawy mentioned, Mubarak's elites all profit handsomely from Egypt's economic development while the average person continues to fall into poverty.

Michael O

1. “Link to report”…

Here you go:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E0D9153AF935A25752C0A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

January 16, 2008
Maureen Dowd
Faith, Freedom and Bling in the Middle East

2. Words not in article … [OK, here is the trip report of a reporter who accompanied President Bush on his recent trip to the Middle East. The manner in which the corrupt leaders of Arab states are bowing to the wishes of King George is enough to make one ill, as exhibited during the ostentatious show of wealth.]

Note that these are my words, not those of the columnist. That is why these words are in brackets, per standard convention, rather than quotes. I think that my choice of words is justified by the evidence presented in the remainder of the post; e.g. the lavish gifts of gold, diamond, ruby and emerald necklaces. This is further justified by the manner in which these autocratic leaders betray their people by allowing the racist and imperialist US_Israel alliance invade and occupy the sovereign Arab lands of Palestine, Iraq and now threatening Iran.

3. “The only actions taken by the West vis-a-vis Iran are limp and ineffective attempts to stave off Iranian imperialism and warmongering. Mostly hot air which serves only to encourage Iran forward.”

Agreed except that the imperialism and warmongering is clearly the domain of the US and Israeli axis of evil.

4. “Have you returned yet the stolen land which you occupy to its natives? Or do you continue to exempt yourself from the moral demands you make on others, and be proud of it?”

Excellent point, and no, I am not proud of it. I am deeply ashamed of it, just as I am deeply ashamed of the continuing actions of my present day government. Unfortunately, our attempted genocide of the Native Americans was so effective that their ancestors have practically vanished.

From Wikipedia:

“According to 2003 United States Census Bureau estimates, a little over one third of the 2,786,652 Native Americans in the United States live in three states: California at 413,382, Arizona at 294,137 and Oklahoma at 279,559…

Many Native Americans and advocates of Native American rights point out that the US Federal government's claim to recognize the "sovereignty" of Native American peoples falls short, given that the US still wishes to govern Native American peoples and treats them as subject to US law. True respect for Native American sovereignty, according to such advocates, would require the United States federal government to deal with Native American peoples in the same manner as any other sovereign nation, handling matters related to relations with Native Americans through the Secretary of State, rather than the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs reports on its website that its "responsibility is the administration and management of 55,700,000 acres (225,000 km²) of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives." Many Native Americans and advocates of Native American rights believe that it is condescending for such lands to be considered "held in trust" and regulated in any fashion by a foreign power, whether the US Federal Government, Canada, or any other non-Native American authority. …”

So while the Native Americans are not entirely satisfied with their status by any means, at least they are not up in arms and threatening to start WW III (not my words but those of King George). The Native Americans seem to be resigned to their fate.

For this situation to be comparable to the 5 million Palestinian refugees who have been chased from their homeland by the 5 million Zionist invaders, the 3 million Native Americans would have to be increase by a factor of 100 to 300 million, to match the 300 million European invaders, and go on the warpath.

So this is not a valid analogy.

Rick Jones:

1. No name of the reporter or link to the report, and I suspect it's no accident.

2. Where, in that report, does it say that "Arab states are bowing to the wishes of King George"? Nowhere. So much for "hegemony".

3. The only actions taken by the West vis-a-vis Iran are limp and ineffective attempts to stave off Iranian imperialism and warmongering. Mostly hot air which serves only to encourage Iran forward.

4. Have you returned yet the stolen land which you occupy to its natives? Or do you continue to exempt yourself from the moral demands you make on others, and be proud of it?

Michael O says:

“Arabs, are exposed daily to tons of toxic propaganda that passes for news, information and analysis in much of the Arab media, and which makes incessant use of the terminology of "arrogance", "hegemony", "imperialism" and other such meaningless claptrap to warp the minds of its listeners and readers until they cannot see reality. And if you think I'm wrong, you are invited to try and articulate what exactly do you mean by "America's arrogant ways" and "America's preference and support for dictators".

[OK, here is the trip report of a reporter who accompanied President Bush on his recent trip to the Middle East. The manner in which the corrupt leaders of Arab states are bowing to the wishes of King George is enough to make one ill, as exhibited during the ostentatious show of wealth.]

“Arab TV offered an uncomfortable juxtaposition: Al Arabiya running the wretched saga of Gaza children suffering from a lack of food and medicine during the Israeli blockade, blending into the wretched excess scenes of W. being festooned with riches from royal hosts flush with gazillions from gouging us on oil” ...

At a dinner last night in King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia’s tentlike retreat, where the 8-foot flat-screen TV in the middle of the room flashed Arab news, the president and his advisers Elliott Abrams and Josh Bolten went native, lounging in floor-length, fur-lined robes, as if they were Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif. ...

In Abu Dhabi, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan gave the president a gigantic necklace made of gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds, so gaudy and cumbersome that even the Secret Service agent carrying it seemed nonplussed. ...

Here in Saudi Arabia, the king draped W. with an emerald-and-ruby necklace that could have come from Ali Baba's cave. ...

Time's Massimo Calabresi described the Kuwaiti emir's residence where W. dined Friday as ''crass class'': ''Loud paintings of harems and the ruling Sabah clan hang near Louis XVI enameled clocks and candlesticks in the long hallways.''...

In Abu Dhabi, the president made a less-than-rousing speech about democracy while staying in the less-than-democratic Emirates Palace hotel's basketball-court-size Ruler's Suite -- an honor reserved for royalty and W...

The president's grandiose room included a ballroom. The $3 billion, seven-star, 84,114-square-foot pink marble hotel -- said to be the most expensive ever built -- would make Trump blush. It glistens with 64,000 square feet of 22-carat gold leaf, 1,000 chandeliers, 20,000 roses changed every day, 200 fountains, a dome higher than St. Peter's, an archway larger than the Arc de Triomphe, a beach with white sand shipped in from Algeria and a private heliport. The rooms, scattered with rose petals, range from $1,598 to $12,251.”

[The definition of “arrogance”, “hegemony”, “imperialism” and hypocrisy could be taken as the act of threatening to attack or impose sanctions on a sovereign country (Iran) for developing nuclear power which could lead to weapons grade material, when the US and Israel each have stockpiled a nuclear arsenal; or launching a preventive invasion and occupation of another sovereign country (Iraq) out of fear that it may have WMD, when in fact the US and Israel each have stockpiled tons of WMD including nuclear arsenals; or injecting hundreds of thousands of Zionist invaders into the Arab land of Palestine following WW I and WW II. Why, because we didn’t want them to immigrate to our land.

It is way past time for the Arab Street to revolt and take back their birthright. I know; the vast majority just wants to get along as well as possible and raise their children in peace. However, some people just cannot be lived with; e.g. the Zionist invader of Palestine, or the imperialist USA.]

Most of the aid the US gives to Mubarak is spent on American weapons, keeping the Egyptian army, and the US defense industry happy. Those weapons are not the tools that the Egyptian government uses to repress the Egyptian people. Blaming the US for the economic disaster and corruption that grips Egypt (and the entire Arab world) allows the real culprits to avoid responsibility.

The screaming Israel haters who post here need to step back and look at the culture of the Arab world, not the <1% of the land in the middle east Israel occupies as the cause of the problems in the Arab world. All Arab countries, not just the couple that we give/sell arms to, have the same issues of corruption and repression with full jails and no prospects. If they want to change it has to come from within. They need to start by not blaming others for their own mistakes.

To Anonymous:

"Why is there so much anti-American ideas in Egypt (or elsewhere for that matter)? Any ideas people? Because of America's arrogant ways or because of America's preference and support of dictators?"

Neither. It's because the Egyptians, like other Arabs, are exposed daily to the tons of the toxic propaganda that passes for news, information and analysis in much of the Arab media, and which makes incessant use of the terminology of "arrogance", "hegemony", "imperialism" and other such meaningless claptrap to warp the minds of its listeners and readers until they cannot see reality.

And if you think I'm wrong, you are invited to try and articulate what exactly do you mean by "America's arrogant ways" and "America's preference and support for dictators".

The author's observations are correct; but not well balanced. They suffer from the same fatalistic and doomed tone of voice that the melancholic average Egyptian displays. From my many visits to Egypt I have observed something that our American culture does not teach it's citizens. Resourcefullness. I agree with the author that the poverty is increasing in Egypt; but the ability to deal with situations and difficulties is preparing the Egyptian people for an Egyptian Renassance that will not only effect Egypt but the entire Middle East. The author refers to the Gulf States. The Gulf States have money. The Egyptian people have genuine talent. That talent is being suffocated, that is true, however some way it is being passed on to others in the society and as it is being passed on it is growing in passion and ability. I once heard an Egyptian lady say "an Egyptian can take tar and turn it into cherry cola" or words to that effect. The next generation of Egyptians will be on the cutting edge of society and government building. I have noticed that an Egyptian taxi driver is very proud of the fact that he can fix his own car; even fashion his own metal parts because the parts are not available anymore. Even though it is twenty years old it is still running.
The Egyptian people are an increasingly angry people; that anger mixed with religous fervor may actually help them to create a civilization that will be the envy of all modern Arab States.

Thanks for your honest and relevent analysis of the conditions in Egypt. It is so refreshing to see some truth in the print media.

Why is there so much anti-American ideas in Egypt (or elsewhere for that matter)? Any ideas people? Because of America's arrogant ways or because of America's preference and support of dictators?

Everything the writers says is true, but she omits critical details. The Egyptian masses are at odds with the human rights elTahawy champions. A majority of Egyptians would render second class citizen status to Copts, women and Bahais. A majority of Egyptians would be for dismantling the peace treaty with Israel, rally for war with Israel and then after the inevitable loss, bemoan the economic and political humiliation that would follow.

A populace that is not for respecting others deserves little in the way of a government that respects them.

sadly... the wirter is very right ...i wish she was not but she is.. and very sadly so...

Non-Egyptian and Elaine have the right view. The US pumps $ billions into Egypt and Jordan to keep Mubarak and King Abdullah II in power. Why, because of the peace treaties they maintain with the racist Zionist regime in disregard of the wishes and best interests of the Arab people.

There will be no peace in the region until the Arab nations overthrow their corrupt leaders who are mere puppets of the US_Israel axis of evil and kick this racist alliance out of the Middle East.

If it makes you feel better, Bush is not competent either and yet he was elected twice. The American system of government can be "rigged" too because if the candidate really really wants to win at any cost.

Non-Egyptian:

"Michael, get your head out of the sand and realise that Mubarak would not be in power for so long if the US didn't prop him up."

Is that so? Two questions: First, how has the U.S. been "propping him up"? Second, the Assad dynasty in Syria, Muammar Qadaffi in Lybia, the Mullahs in Iran, all of these guys and others have been in power as long as mubarak or longer. Is that also because they have been "propped up" by the U.S.?

"Change indeed needs to come from within, but these days everyone who tries to bring change is branded a "terrorist" and the the goverment that keeps these "terrorist" in check is patted on the back as a champion of freedom."

Really? This may be earth-shattering news to you, but within the last 25 years at least 30 nations have converted from dictatorships to functional democracies, complete with regularly-scheduled elections, peaceful transition of power and individual freedoms. That includes most Latin-American nations (except Cuba), all Eastern-European nations and several others. This was accomplished with no outside help and with almost no bloodshed, and nobody called them "terrorists". Why? Because they were not terrorists.

"And if change is to come from within, why do elected officials get kidnapped by and entire populations punished for electing the "wrong" party? Stop being an ignorant hypocrite."

No one is getting kidnapped and no one is getting punished for electing the wrong party. When that party attacks neighboring populations with rockets and suicide bombers there will be repercussions, and that would be the case anywhere in the world. So maybe you are the one who should get his head out of the sand and stop being a hypocrite.

Gandhi was chased out of this paper by a mob of screaming religious nuts. Now this!

The dear lady here never mentions the billions of dollars the US spends to keep the Egyptians in chains. The US is the fount of all the money that supports dictators there and we do it all in the name of keeping the Palestinians penned up in ghettos where the Zionists can torment them.

Note how this woman doesn't mention THAT!

This is why no one who has anything real to say about the Middle East will be published here.

Michael, get your head out of the sand and realise that Mubarak would not be in power for so long if the US didn't prop him up. Change indeed needs to come from within, but these days everyone who tries to bring change is branded a "terrorist" and the the goverment that keeps these "terrorist" in check is patted on the back as a champion of freedom. And if change is to come from within, why do elected officials get kidnapped by and entire populations punished for electing the "wrong" party? Stop being an ignorant hypocrite.

The question calls for honesty of your own nation not excuses or comparisons.

The verdict: half a loaf good on describing Mubarak.
But the usual claptrap on US policy as Michael O. makes clear above. And no understanding or even real opinion of what change will bring competent government.

Stability is the only stock in trade that the non oil rich Arab countries have. Until Arabs decide to join the global economy for real that is all they have to negotiate with, whether the West or Russia.

Mona - The U.S has not forgotten about democracy and reform. Experience has shown that anti-Americanism runs so rampant in Egypt that any comment coming from Washington meets with a unanimous - and very vocal - opposition in Egypt. Almost all journalists, politicians and assorted "intellectuals" rally in support of whatever or whoever the Administration is criticizing, and against whatever or whoever the Administration is supporting.

Thus, the immediate result of Bush's pressure on Egypt to release Saad E-Din Ibrahim from jail was that Ibrahim was roundly attacked in Egypt as an "American puppet". After it has been pointed out to Bush that he did no favors to Ibrahim by speaking on his behalf, he is understandably quiet on Ayman El-Nour now.

Reform has to come from within. The real question is why can't a democratic opposition expand beyond a few intellectuals, while fanatic Islamic opposition such as the Muslim brotherhood is flourishing and attracting the masses. Don't look to the U.S. for a solution to this problem.