Democracy Or Sham In Egypt?

The first contested, multi-candidate election in Egypt -- unthinkable if not for US pressure -- got off the ground yesterday. And in what appears to be a typical response by minority parties in emerging Arab democracies, several major opposition parties are already dismissing the election as a sham and aren't participating.

Hosni Mubarak, who's never been challenged in his quarter-century of rule, was sounding like a real candidate, though:

"I will work hard to earn the support and the confidence of every one of you, the children of our people in Egypt's hamlets, villages and towns. There are still more constitutional and legislative amendments to complete building our democracy. We still have more economic and social reforms to reach the modern society we dream of."

There was even a nicely produced bio-video playing, according to the NYTimes. It probably did not explain why it's taken 24 years for Mubarak to get around to economic and social reforms.

One of his main opponents, Ayman Nour of the Ghad Party, promised to abolish all emergency laws, free all political prisoners, and establish a human rights ministry.

The Mullahs suffered a bit of an upset in Iran (not much), but most are not calling this one close.