While Mubarak's life hangs in the balance, how will we remember him?
While Mubarak's life hangs in the balance, how will we remember him?
Published June 20th, 2012 - 02:05 GMT
Mubarak is in critical condition with reports circulating that he might already be dead. While he was sleeping, the rumors began: was he faking it? Could he have medically induced his own coma to escape his fate?
Do you think the ailing ex-strongman of Egypt is dead or alive and what legacy does he leave behind for you?
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The shadow of the man he once was? Mubarak is likely to be remembered as a pale version of the virile former air-force man he once was in his prime - today, ailing and trolley-bound, pajama-clad and impotent.
Opportunist? With Sadat's untimely assassination in 1981 Mubarak was able to seize power. The former air chief marshal and Vice President had climbed the greasy military pole to finally take the helm. It was Mubarak's time.
Western ally? Mubarak chooses his Arab loyalties: 1991 cemented Mubarak's relationship with the western allies through the second Gulf War. Egyptian troops were hailed as heros to the newly liberated Kuwaitis when they helped eject Iraqi forces from the small Gulf state.
Once a survivor ... over the course of his stormy life, Mubarak survived 6 assassination attempts in total, mostly by Islamist groups. The most notorious of these failed murders was the foiled poisonous gas plot by Egyptian Islamic Jihad group in 1995.
Critic of the West? Mubarak says Palestine first. In 2003, Mubarak tries to ingratiate himself with the Arabs again when he speaks out against the Iraq war, unusually critical of Western Allies for their lack of progress in Israel and Palestine.
Corrupt crony? By 2005, Mubarak wasn't helping his people out much. A Freedom House report shows corruption is worse than ever under Mubarak, as the fat cat cronies got fatter and the poor Egyptian masses got poorer. Mubarak allegedly stole anything up to 60 billion USD.
Regional mediator? In 2010, Mubarak hosts the latest round of peace talks between Abbas and Netinyahu, held in Sharm el Sheikh.
Devoted husband? In 2011, Hosni Mubarak's memoirs were out, and cracks in the presidential marriage were showing. His wife Suzanne is portrayed as a super-jealous spendthrift, guzzling all his money. The power dynamic conveyed suggests Suzanne Mubarak was the dictator shrew behind the dictator.
Public Enemy No. 1? 2011 was an eventful year for Mubarak as the 25th January revolution began. There was no going back for Mubarak, now a figure of scorn in Tahrir.
Plaintiff? 2012: After a long bed-ridden trial, Mubarak was sentenced to life, not death (as some had hoped).
Comatose? As Mubarak slipped in and out of consciousness in June, speculation mounted as to whether he was still technically alive or not. Conspiracy theorists claimed he induced his own coma to slow up proceedings. As of publication, Reuters confirmed he was not as yet clinically dead.
The shadow of the man he once was? Mubarak is likely to be remembered as a pale version of the virile former air-force man he once was in his prime - today, ailing and trolley-bound, pajama-clad and impotent.
Opportunist? With Sadat's untimely assassination in 1981 Mubarak was able to seize power. The former air chief marshal and Vice President had climbed the greasy military pole to finally take the helm. It was Mubarak's time.
Western ally? Mubarak chooses his Arab loyalties: 1991 cemented Mubarak's relationship with the western allies through the second Gulf War. Egyptian troops were hailed as heros to the newly liberated Kuwaitis when they helped eject Iraqi forces from the small Gulf state.
Once a survivor ... over the course of his stormy life, Mubarak survived 6 assassination attempts in total, mostly by Islamist groups. The most notorious of these failed murders was the foiled poisonous gas plot by Egyptian Islamic Jihad group in 1995.
Critic of the West? Mubarak says Palestine first. In 2003, Mubarak tries to ingratiate himself with the Arabs again when he speaks out against the Iraq war, unusually critical of Western Allies for their lack of progress in Israel and Palestine.
Corrupt crony? By 2005, Mubarak wasn't helping his people out much. A Freedom House report shows corruption is worse than ever under Mubarak, as the fat cat cronies got fatter and the poor Egyptian masses got poorer. Mubarak allegedly stole anything up to 60 billion USD.
Regional mediator? In 2010, Mubarak hosts the latest round of peace talks between Abbas and Netinyahu, held in Sharm el Sheikh.
Devoted husband? In 2011, Hosni Mubarak's memoirs were out, and cracks in the presidential marriage were showing. His wife Suzanne is portrayed as a super-jealous spendthrift, guzzling all his money. The power dynamic conveyed suggests Suzanne Mubarak was the dictator shrew behind the dictator.
Public Enemy No. 1? 2011 was an eventful year for Mubarak as the 25th January revolution began. There was no going back for Mubarak, now a figure of scorn in Tahrir.
Plaintiff? 2012: After a long bed-ridden trial, Mubarak was sentenced to life, not death (as some had hoped).
Comatose? As Mubarak slipped in and out of consciousness in June, speculation mounted as to whether he was still technically alive or not. Conspiracy theorists claimed he induced his own coma to slow up proceedings. As of publication, Reuters confirmed he was not as yet clinically dead.
