Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

The savages in Egypt seem to be the paid thugs on the President's side and the police. The pro decmocracy protestors were not being violent prior to their attack yesterday and are just defending themselves.

When the anti president protestors catch one of the thugs they are intrerrogating them and taking their IDs' and keeping them in a a makeshift jail. In Egypt you have to carry an ID.

The interesting thing is that the very same ID's that were previously used by the police to round up dissenters has been their undoing. The IDs have a section that specifies the holders profession. Of course the thugs have IDs that say POLICE and the protestors are shoing off big bundled of these!

what a grim, bleak and dispiriting programme

I take it you are referring to Theroux.


A pox on all religions. How belief in a sky fairy can lead to such atrocities(on both sides) baffles me.

.

theroux is a very clever commentator for as much as anything, he allows the story to unfold and the people to speak for themselves with minimal interference ...... i accept that this was a microcosm based on some deeply radical zealots, but assuming you watched the programme, what parts gave you reason for hope or even common sense to prevail?

Blast at gas terminal in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

A suspected terrorist action blew up the filtering station close to the Israeli border. The fire plume was visible from about 50 miles away. Egypt supplies about 40% of Israel's gas via a pipeline across Sinai. The gas is also used to produce about 25% of Israel's electricity and Israel spends billions to bring natural gas from Egypt.

Egypt began providing Israel with natural gas in February 2008 under a deal by which it will sell Israel 60 billion cubic feet a year for a period of 15 years. The deal was unpopular in Egypt with many people saying that the gas was being sold at below-market rates. Other people say Egypt shouldn't supply energy to Israel at all.

The deal to sell gas was challenged in the high court by former diplomat Ibrahim Yousri. The high court ruled in his favor in February 2010 but the ruling has been ignored by the government. It is expected that any new Egyptian democratic government may cancel the contract.

Egypt has potential natural gas reserves of 62 trillion cubic feet, the 18th largest in the world. Last week, the main Egyptian shareholder in pipeline company EMG, Hussein Salem, was reported to have fled Cairo on one of 19 private jets which carried wealthy Egyptians to Dubai.

shame you don't identify the source of the article

The article is a combination of parts from BBC, SKY, The Independant and a number of other sources.

What is interesting is that some of the sources quoted the finding of evidence of explosive devices early today. The story has now been changed to it being the result of a gas leak. Some sources are suggesting that the change of story is deliberate so as not to inflame the situation.

I saw a story about 4 days ago where Israel suggested that the pipeline was at risk of attack.

it is also being said that it's the jordan branch and that israel has only turned off its section as a precaution - nonsense! ...... extremist/external inflammatory meddling? .... more than possible

Or, perhaps, "an act of a god".

Take your pick.

Israeli President Shimon Peres Saturday expressed concern about the changes that the revolts in Egypt may bring to the Middle East.

'We are very worried about having any change in a government, or in the system of elections,' Peres said.

'If the Muslim Brotherhood are elected (in Egypt), they will not bring peace,' he added.

Peres made the remarks in a speech to 430 parliamentarians from 32 European countries in Jerusalem.

Since the beginning of the protests in Egypt 12 days ago, Israel has expressed its support to the government of President Hosni Mubarak and has warned that the banned Muslim Brotherhood could exploit free elections to establish a 'fanatic, religious, oppressive regime'.

Egypt has banned all religious based parties for some years now. It is interesting that Israel does not want to see the Muslim Brotherhood being part of the Egyptian government. That does seem at odds with Israel's own government where there are several religious parties in the coalition and who are more militant than the Muslim Brotherhood.

http://www.israelnews.net/story/740819

Israeli President Shimon Peres Saturday expressed concern about the changes that the revolts in Egypt may bring to the Middle East.

'We are very worried about having any change in a government, or in the system of elections,' Peres said.

'If the Muslim Brotherhood are elected (in Egypt), they will not bring peace,' he added.

Peres made the remarks in a speech to 430 parliamentarians from 32 European countries in Jerusalem.

Since the beginning of the protests in Egypt 12 days ago, Israel has expressed its support to the government of President Hosni Mubarak and has warned that the banned Muslim Brotherhood could exploit free elections to establish a 'fanatic, religious, oppressive regime'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/hosni-mubarak-family-fortune

Mubarak family fortune could reach $70bn, say experts

Gamal and Hosni Mubarak are reported to have built up huge fortunes, including properties in London. Photograph: Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images

President Hosni Mubarak's family fortune could be as much as $70bn (43.5bn) according to analysis by Middle East experts, with much of his wealth in British and Swiss banks or tied up in real estate in London, New York, Los Angeles and along expensive tracts of the Red Sea coast.

After 30 years as president and many more as a senior military official, Mubarak has had access to investment deals that have generated hundreds of millions of pounds in profits. Most of those gains have been taken offshore and deposited in secret bank accounts or invested in upmarket homes and hotels.

According to a report last year in the Arabic newspaper Al Khabar, Mubarak has properties in Manhattan and exclusive Beverly Hills addresses on Rodeo Drive.

His sons, Gamal and Alaa, are also billionaires. A protest outside Gamal's ostentatious home at 28 Wilton Place in Belgravia, central London, highlighted the family's appetite for western trophy assets.

Amaney Jamal, a political science professor at Princeton University, said the estimate of $40bn-70bn was comparable with the vast wealth of leaders in other Gulf countries.

"The business ventures from his military and government service accumulated to his personal wealth," she told ABC news. "There was a lot of corruption in this regime and stifling of public resources for personal gain.

"This is the pattern of other Middle Eastern dictators so their wealth will not be taken during a transition. These leaders plan on this."

Al Khabar said it understood the Mubaraks kept much of their wealth offshore in the Swiss bank UBS and the Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds Banking Group, although this information could be at least 10 years old.

There are only sketchy details of exactly where the Mubaraks have generated their wealth and its final destination.

Christopher Davidson, professor of Middle East politics at Durham University, said Mubarak, his wife, Suzanne, and two sons were able to accumulate wealth through a number of business partnerships with foreign investors and companies, dating back to when he was in the military and in a position to benefit from corporate corruption.

He said most Gulf states required foreigners give a local business partner a 51% stake in start-up ventures. In Egypt, the figure is commonly nearer 20%, but still gives politicians and close allies in the military a source of huge profits with no initial outlay and little risk.

"Almost every project needs a sponsor and Mubarak was well-placed to take advantage of any deals on offer," he said.

"Much of his money is in Swiss bank accounts and London property. These are the favourites of Middle Eastern leaders and there is no reason to think Mubarak is any different. Gamal's Wilton Place home is likely to be the tip of the iceberg."

Al Khabar named a series of major western companies that, partnered with the Mubarak family, generated an estimated $15m a year in profits.

Aladdin Elaasar, author of The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age, said the Mubaraks own several residences in Egypt, some inherited from previous presidents and the monarchy, and others the president has commissioned.

Hotels and land around the Sharm el-Sheikh tourist resort are also a source of Mubarak family wealth.

parrot,parrot,parrot,yawn,yawn,yawn

You do sound like a parrot, I'll give you that.

Oh dear.
That says it all.
Not an original thought in your head LOL
Heil Hayes, our resident nazi.

Similarities to the present "government" of another country which I can think of.

Perhaps. the Cayman Isles comes to mind.

But the Mubarak seems more efficient in his financial arrangements.

ITLOTB
You sound more like a Nazi than anyone on thsi thread. I notice that you have contributed absolutely nothing to this thread apart from abuse and agression.

the banned Muslim Brotherhood could exploit free elections to establish a 'fanatic, religious, oppressive regime .... not sure that MB is fundamentally fundamentalist, but as i posted on CEY thread, the loonies will certainly target MB to infiltrate and manipulate ..... and also already posted, i expect egypt to have a fundamentalist regime within say 5 years

I don't pray to the god of COPY & PASTE like you, Greg LOL
If you can't see merit in any of my posts that's your problem.
Heil Hayes !