Events in the Middle-East are signs of a fast changing world. Revolutionary action is fast spreading through Muslim north Africa and there is every chance that Egypt's strongman - Hosni Mubarak - may be deposed.
Mubarak has ruled as a virtual dictator for thirty years. He is despotic, but his reign has kept the lid on violent Islamist revolutionaries who are now behind the unrest. There is every chance that this wave of unrest may extend to surrounding countries - and what emerges could be very unfriendly to the western powers.
What is most unlikely to be bestowed on ordinary citizens - is democracy and the right to vote for their choice of government. Revolutionaries always claim to be democratic, but the moment they gain power the vote gets rejected and they put in place an authoritarian regime not unlike the one they replaced.
The Islamic world suffers from grinding poverty and lack of jobs for the emerging hordes of young, educated people with aspirations. If the Muslim Brotherhood comes to power in Egypt then that country may join al Qaeda is seeking to force Islam onto the rest of the world by force of arms.
Fortunately, a moderate has returned to Egypt and may be able to lead that country to a more peaceful stance in world affairs. Mohamed ElBaradi had a distinguished career in the United Nations and has a good grasp on nation building. He will need a lot of luck if he is to prevail.
The west has reason to be concerned because there is every chance that this Islamic unrest may sweep away existing forms of government in the Middle-East and bring in a hostile consensus of states governed by militant Islam.
We may be about to see the formation of a new, world power - and the beginning of a hostile group of nations with a religious agenda.
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