Leaders in Tunisia, Egypt driven by greed

Chances are Egyptian President Mubarak's fellow autocrats have offered the beleaguered president the following advice: Crack the whip on your peasants or we may all lose our honey pots (i.e., the ill-gotten gain lifted from their subjects).

The sight of Tunisian president Ben Ali skedaddling to Saudi Arabia, with all the loot he could carry, must have sent a shock wave through them. I know the issues are complex, perhaps beyond the grasp of my feeble intellect. But, the tenacity with which these despots hold on to power is motivated by a simple, non-denominational and ethnically neutral vice: greed.

It would be nice if these fellows would be good sports: slap one another on the back; reminisce about the high old times they had; brag about all the stuff they stole and then concede the party is over. But, I fear we are more likely to see the Pyramids sprout feet and start walking.

Ann Treanor

Cedar Rapids