VOTE, LIKE AN EGYPTIAN:

Egyptian campaign reaches climax (Magdi Abdelhadi, 9/04/05, BBC News)

Although most Egyptians believe this is an election with a foregone conclusion, 18 days of campaigning have created a lively debate about the country's many social and economic ills.

As a result, for the first time in many years, public attention was focused on domestic problems instead of the usual geo-political conflicts, such as the Arab-Israeli disputes or the violence in Iraq.

Unemployment, corruption, and poor public services were among the many issues that Mr Mubarak had to defend his record on.

Mr Mubarak's well-choreographed campaign emphasised his experience and the stability he brought to Egypt in a turbulent region.

His rivals promise a more radical constitutional reform than the one under which Egypt is having its first contested presidential election.

In the past, parliament selected a single candidate who was later endorsed in a referendum.

But despite criticism of the new electoral law, the reform initiated by Mr Mubarak has undoubtedly contributed to changing the political culture of Egypt.

In a country where the head of state has often been treated like a god - infallible and perfect - Mr Mubarak is now frequently criticised in the media.

The task for Mr. Mubarak is to reform well enough that his son can win a truly competitive election next time.

MORE:
How Kadafi Went From Foe to Ally: Common cause against Islamic radicals has woven U.S. intelligence ties with Libya, whose secular regime is still listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Ken Silverstein, September 4, 2005, LA Times)

As it struggles to combat Islamic terrorist networks, the Bush administration has quietly built an intelligence alliance with Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, a onetime bitter enemy the U.S. had tried for years to isolate, topple or kill.

Kadafi has helped the U.S. pursue Al Qaeda's network in North Africa by turning radicals over to neighboring pro-Western governments. He also has provided information to the CIA on Libyan nationals with alleged ties to international terrorists.

In turn, the U.S. has handed over to Tripoli some anti-Kadafi Libyans captured in its campaign against terrorism. And Kadafi's agents have been allowed into the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba to interrogate Libyans being held there.

The rapprochement is partially the result of a decade of efforts by Kadafi to improve relations with the United States and end international sanctions imposed on Libya for bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. But it also reflects the fact that Libya and the United States regard Islamic extremism as a common enemy. Even though he long supported radical causes, Kadafi views religious militants as a menace to his secular regime.

"Their assistance has been genuine, if motivated in large measure by self-preservation," Bruce Hoffman, director of counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency studies at Rand Corp., said of the Libyans. "You have to give Kadafi credit for recognizing the existential threat posed to his rule and revolution by [Osama] bin Laden and Al Qaeda."

Similarly, the Colonel needs to make enough progress to enable his son, Seif el-Islam Kadafi, to succeed him democratically.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 4, 2005 12:00 AM