Article: Some Questions About Egypt—By Scott Horton (Harper's Magazine)

Some Questions About Egypt—By Scott Horton (Harper's Magazine)
http://harpers.org/archive/2011/01/hbc-90007955

At the outset of the war on terror, Dick Cheney expressed admiration for the ruthless methods that Mubarak used to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood and shore up his own regime. Lawrence Wright described them penetratingly in The Looming Tower (generally, an excellent resource for those wanting a glimpse inside of Mubarak’s Egypt). These methods were widely seen as effective in insuring Mubarak a measure of stability. But the current developments show how deeply hated this internal security regime is and how ineffective it has been—so far—in quelling the uprising. The situation in Egypt seems to raise an old Machiavellian question: a leader may be enhanced by being feared, as long as those who fear him simultaneously recognize that he is guided by reason and at least a measure of justice. But once the fear-inspiring leader becomes an object of broad popular hatred, he is in a very difficult position.

(via Instapaper)

▓▒░

http://brinesalt.posterous.com/article-some-questions-about-egyptby-scott-ho