Egypt

Is Egypt condemned to having an authoritarian government of a socialist or capitalist kind or could it be the first Arab nation to have a fairly elected government which holds general elections at regular intervals? It is curious that so many well educated leaders of countries have failed to learn from the many, many examples of autocracies being more or less bloodily overturned at some point or other that they do not seek to put themselves forward for election from time to time and to accept the result even if it goes against them. Is it all to do with the money or their fear of what would happen to them if their sins were found out and exposed by their successors or is it some Islam or macho thing or perhaps a bit of everything? If Mubarak had stood for election at various times during his rule would the Muslim Brotherhood now be in a position to take power? I doubt it as they would have been exposed as the extremists they are - despite the BBC saying they are now jolly decent chaps - and quite likely defeated. Even if they were to win it is possible, although unlikely, that they would also hold regular elections. Failure to do so would though leave the defeated leader and his party holding the democratic high ground. Why can't the Arabs be more like the Indians? I think the Mubarak regime is likely to fall and fear that the Muslim Brotherhood will take over the revolution. On balance the devil you know is better than the one you don't know. I'm glad I'm not Egyptian. I'm very glad to be an Englishman and to have Cameron as Prime Minister. He has certainly upped his game this week and his speech to the Davos Forum today proves his credentials as a democratic supporter of capitalism.