Keep your distance in the Middle East

There was a fabulously daft and self regarding woman called Marina something or other talking about Egypt on Question Time last night. In a prize for the Most Useless Woman Ever to Appear On Question Time she would certainly be in the top five, although probably below Katie Hopkins. I was supposed to be on this week but couldn’t face the journey back from Workington: I assume Melanie Phillips was my replacement.

The Egypt business continues to baffle the west. Truth is, foul although the despotic leaders of most middle eastern countries undoubtedly are, they are more liberal and more pleasant than almost anything the people of that region yearn for. So we have seen in those two places – Palestine and Iran – where a semblance of democracy has been afforded. God alone knows what the mad people of Saudi Arabia would choose for a government, if so obliged. It would certainly be worse than ghastly House of Saud.

But that doesn’t mean we connive with the ageing thugs who so oppress their people, be it the ageing thugs in Egypt, Jordan, Syria or Libya. My enemy’s enemy does not work, as a policy. Nor does it mean we should connive with the Muslim Brotherhood if it takes office in a few weeks time; keep your distance, bribe, cajole and reason with them. But keep your distance and offer tacit support to any organisation dedicated to freedom and democracy.