On peace - the style of Egyptian diplomacy is a bit like a typical Western European country. They try to get their neighbours to get along with one another.

On peace - the style of Egyptian diplomacy is a bit like a typical Western European country. They try to get their neighbours to get along with one another. As for "good", you implied that a propagation of Mubaraks would be a good thing. If I'm reading that wrong, again, feel free to correct me. I don't agree with this idea you wrote about, "The Arab world, and the world as a whole, would be far better served if the US and Iran let the arab people determine their own future." You're describing there places as thought they're frustrated democracies. I don't see it - I see powder kegs. When Eastern Europe broke up, the only significant school of thought against the current system was a western style parliamentary dictatorship. They were ethnically homogenous countries. There weren't strong crusade narratives amongst the people. Whereas in the middle east, there's a strong attraction towards religious dictatorship, plenty of ethnic diversity, and plenty of people willing to die for the cause. I'm not sure where your offense comes from. It's the thing where I'm being attacked for things I didn't say. I took issue, however, with your claim that a middle east of Mubaraks would be better than the current situation. OK. I'm not attached to it.