Would it be better for President Hosni Mubarak to stay?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/4dddowd

With violence escalating in Egypt and armed gangs freeing hundreds of Muslim militants from the Egyptian jails,

Foreign Secretary William Hague indicated that the UK would be concerned if Mr Mubarak was replaced by a conservative religious group, with the words "We would not want to see a government based on the Muslim Brotherhood, but that is not up to us,"

[scrunge999]

I'd be more concerned if he *were* replaced. But I am a card carrying member of the subjunctive police.

[jno]

better for whom?

[claymore]

It depends on who is stirring the mobs, if it is just Joe citizen pushing for a better deal then he probably should go . but if fanatical Islam is the instigator ,which is probably the case then it`s better the devil you know. The last regime Egypt needs is another Iran.

[scotman]

Difficult to say. As JNO asks 'better for whom'
The problem that most of these North African and Middle East countries have is that to get rid of a despot or military dictatorship they end up with a religious tyranny instead.

[sandyRoe]

The West supports these dictators in the Arab world and then seems surprised when religious based groups overthrow them.

[scotman]

Sandy

That is a fair point. The difficulty is now that things have gone on too long. If the West stops supporting them they will very quickly be replaced. Unfortunately it is likely that they will be replaced eventually anyway. Religious groups are the only people with enough clout to overthrow them.

[jake-the-peg]

Doesn't seem that much religious based activity going on at the moment.

The checkpoints seem orderly and there's no obvious religious leader for anything to form around.

The big player seems to be the Army - not religion.

They seem respected (unlike the police) what they decide to do will be crucial.

Interestingly enough if you were listening to Radio 4 this morning you would have heard that in responses to the attacks on Coptic churches in December a call went out from mosques to "let our Christian brothers celebrate Christmas in peace"


In response to that thousands of muslim Egyptians turned up at churches on January 7th (Christmas day for the Coptic church) to protect Christians.

This doesn't sound like a country about to about to collapse into Theocracy to me

http://www.metrolic.c...christmas-day-155882/

Watch the Army

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/687slmk

Seems it is the 'Muslim Brotherhood' who are waiting in the Wings.

Good thing or bad?

[keyplus90]

Why not let them decide their own future? Do they decide ours?

[anotheoldgit]

keyplus90

/// Why not let them decide their own future? Do they decide ours? ///

I would have thought it obvious that they will decide their own future, this is not the issue.

What does cause concern is what future will they decide, because this can have a dramatic effect on the whole of the Middle East.

[youngmafbog]

//Doesn't seem that much religious based activity going on at the moment. //

Except that a jail where Islamic extremists was attacked and they were let out.(Along with others)

If Egypt does fall to the extremists, and with no other party or leader being clear it could well do, then it will side with Iran. Iran is on the verge of going nuclear and if they do will undoubtedly give the Egyptian extremists the capability. Israel, already threatened by Iran (proise to wipe them of the face of the earth), will be stuck in the middle and as they have constantly shown they are not afraid to use any force required. They too are nuclear armed.

so beware.

[jno]

I think youngmafbog is right: regime change in Egypt is good news for Iran. Removing Saddam was good news for Iran too. Things are going well for Tehran lately. Smart people.