Mubarak to Hand Over Power to Son? Kim Jong-Who on the Nile?
This news item has started to appear in some Arab and Israeli internet news sites. Media of the moderate New Middle east sites will not touch it, not yet, not until they get the official go-ahead.
If as I suspect the throne of Egypt will be inherited by Gamal Mubarak, he will be the second Gamal to lead the country. Don’t let the name fool you Gamal II is nothing like Gamal I. Gamal Abdel Nasser, for all his shortcomings, was a simple man of the people who did not inherit power, and he did not inherit anything else. He did not leave the presidency to one of his sons, and he did not leave any wealth to his family either. He was financially honest; he would be considered a schmuck by most on Wall Street, and by the oligarchies and their retainers in Egypt and other Arab countries.
Nasser was more loved by Egyptians than feared, which certainly is not the case now. He is still subject to intense media attacks by the ruling Arab potentates, which tells me he couldn't have been that bad.
He was one of two modern Arab leaders who lived simply, did not accumulate wealth, did not hand the country to their sons, and did not live long enough. Oddly both started as military men.
If it happens it will be a sad day for Egypt: not because of who is departing, but because of who is replacing him, and especially because of the method of transfer of power.
Cheers
mhg
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