The Hosni Mubarak That Most Americans May Not Know

Perhaps the American public needs to know the real Mubarak, so that Americans can start putting some much needed pressure on their government against their unwavering funding of Mubarak’s government. The United States has fattened the 83-year-old Mubarak under the guise, premise or pretense that he is the Messiah of stability in the Middle East. But there is hardly anything darling or messianic about this dictator. Here are a couple of pointers that barely scratch the surface of who Hosni Mubarak the dark character really is.

Mubarak, a Military Commander who Worships Power

All of Mubarak’s higher education experience involves military training. Between 1952 and 1974, Mubarak held seven different posts, all of them having to do with the Egyptian military. “Before he entered politics Mubarak was a career officer in the Egyptian Air Force, serving as its commander from 1972 to 1975.” (wikipedia.com)

This man is a soldier at heart, without any background in a truly democratic system. As such Mubarak fears democracy, where the people, not the army commander, call the shot about their economic desires and political destiny. Mubarak is incapable of ushering in an era of free and fair elections in Egypt. That country will never see real democracy until this antithesis of democracy is out of sight.

Mubarak, a Corrupt Man

There’s nothing wrong with becoming rich, except when that wealth is largely stolen at the expense of one’s fellow citizens. Such is Mubarak’s wealth, for the most part. (His fellow dictator Samuel Doe did the same to the Liberian people for ten years, from 1980 to 1990, when he was killed, and left it all behind!)

Just how rich is Mubarak? To put it cutely, the Egyptian president is a multi-billionaire, as in dollars. “In February 2011 Britain's Guardian newspaper reported that Mubarak and his family might be worth up to $70 billion due to corruption, kickbacks and legitimate business activities. Much of his family's wealth was reportedly amassed from military contracts during his time as an officer in the Egyptian Air Force.” Mubarak’s billions are “…said to be spread out in various bank accounts at home and abroad, including in Switzerland and Britain, and is also invested in foreign property.” (ibid.)

Add to that pile of stolen money, the theft of four different elections, taking away the birthright of Egyptians to choose a leader they really want.

Mubarak, a Brutal Man

Don’t let his calm demeanor deceive you. That's a dictator's mask for the American consumer. Hosni Mubarak is a brute. At least he has repeatedly authorized or approved the brutal treatments of his political opponents. Mubarak has used emergency measures that he put in place to brutally crack down on political dissent, using the military and other security forces. Thanks to his many declarations of “states of emergency”, Mubarak has imprisoned more than 33,000 political prisoners, not to mention those who have suffered torture at the hands of his henchmen. The only thing that restrains Mubarak from executing mass arrests and torture of the present demonstrators is the awareness that the cameras and satellites are not totally turned off as he wishes, thanks to the new media. Right now Hosni is salivating at the first green light to unleash his hounds to spill human blood in the streets, alleys and torture chambers of Egypt. Believe me, no man rules an African nation for 30 years by being Mr. Nice Guy.

Without exaggeration that’s the real Hosni Mubarak. Arrogant military boss. Corrupt con man who has stolen money and elections for 30 years. Brutal, heavy-handed killer who’s itching for the chance to turn Cairo into a butchery, if not a slaughter house, as soon as the world blinks.