According to a poll taken by the Pew Research Center last year of the Egyptian people...
30% have a favorable view of Hezb'allah
49% have a positive view of Hamas
20% have a positive view of al Qaeda (72% have a negative view)
19% have a positive view of Osama bin Laden
48% say Islam plays a large role in their country's political life
85% consider Islamic influence over political life to be a positive thing for their country
61% see no struggle between those who want to modernize their country and Islamic fundamentalists
54% support making gender segregation in the workplace the law in their country
82% endorse the stoning of people who commit adultery
77% support whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery
84% support the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion
59% say democracy is preferable to any other kind of government
20% support suicide bombing in defense of Islam
46% say suicide bombings are never justified
61% express concern about Islamic extremism in their country
While we must always be wary of polling data, if the above data is reasonably accurate, it paints a somewhat confusing picture of the Egyptian people. On the one hand, it's difficult to mourn the departure of Mubarak. On the other, what's coming next? In terms of our interests, should we be happier with a dictator like Mubarak, who if nothing else maintained peace with Israel? Or elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood could acquire power? The Brotherhood is not, as Director of National Intelligence James Tapper says, a largely secular group that eschews violence.
I can't help but wonder if the administration should temper its enthusiasm till it knows the final outcome.
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