Archive for January, 2011

By Cynthia Farahat and Daniel Pipes

Published on Jan 12, 2011 on Danielpipes.org

Like other pretend-republican Arabic-speaking strongmen, Hosni Mubarak, 82, ailing, and soon to reach his 30^th anniversary in power, wants to establish a family dynasty.

And why not? Hafez al-Assad anointed his son Bashar ruler of Syria. Saddam Hussein intended to have a son succeed him (until U.S.-led forces so rudely intervened). Dictators in Libya and Yemen harbor similar intentions.

For Hosni to maneuver his banker son Gamal, 47, with no base of power, into office requires fending off two powerful rival forces. The military has dominated Egypt since the coup d’état of 1952 andplans to stay in power. The Muslim Brethren, repressed by the military since 1954, await their turn finally to make a bid for power. In addition, the U.S. government has great influence on the course of events.

As Egyptians await the demise of the sickly Hosni, so infirm he can barely walk of his own accord, speculating and worrying about what comes next, he plots away. Judging from the evidence – and I write this with caution – it appears he has decided to maneuver Gamal to power on the back of Egypt’s Christians, known as Copts.

Continue reading →