UFO Info Week-End

Presenting the findings of an internal inquiry into remarks made by the star presenter

Presenting the findings of an internal inquiry into remarks made by the star presenter of the Today programme, John Humphrys, at a private forum in June, he said they had been “inappropriate and misguided”. This is doubtless the sense in which the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, used the word in his statement yesterday. At one end of the scale it means downright wrong; at the other, it implies an indiscretion so minor as not to warrant an apology. It has become part of the diplomatic lexicon that permits an accused party to settle a dispute without actually admitting fault.

“Inappropriate” must count as one of the early 21st century’s most elastic political adjectives. For the sake of all Egyptians, it is to be hoped that these elections – flawed as they are likely to be – presage real democratic change.. And the recent bombing of Sharm el-Sheikh shows that extremism simmers below the surface of this society. It should be noted that the al-Qa’ida mastermind, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is Egyptian. Depressingly, the signs are that he will be successful.The modern history of Egypt shows the dangers of political repression and the restriction of free speech. The country has become a pressure cooker of frustration and resentment. President Mubarak has complied, but is determined to ensure that there can be only one outcome.

The United States, embarrassed by their long-standing ally’s lack of democratic legitimacy, demanded reform in return for the military and financial aid received by Egypt. The judges have warned that they will not be afraid to speak out if there is government interference in the poll – but this remains a poor substitute for outside observation.Few Egyptians are under any illusions about why President Mubarak has decided to hold these elections. The task of safeguarding the integrity of the poll will fall to Egypt’s judiciary. And, of course, the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest opposition group, remains banned from taking part.

This election will be contested, but will it be fair? The Egyptian election commission has refused to allow international election observers to monitor polling stations. Unwanted independents have been effectively excluded from mounting a challenge. But these are stuffed with representatives from Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.