How likely is it we will see the people of Syria and Iran force a regime change?
HH: No one can tell. Syria is definitely more volatile, because of its economic near-collapse and the fact that its regime is based on a small ethnic minority (the Alawites). Iran has strong undercurrents of forces opposing the regime, but they do not seem to be able to marshal enough strength to effect a change. In a way, the situation in Iran resembles the Soviet Union in the 1980’s. The regime must collapse, sooner or later, but we have no way of predicting when it will happen. And until it happens, Iran continues to be the number one danger to the world. RM: Some say the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt will gain tremendous power there should there be fair elections. Should we be concerned? HH: We should definitely be concerned, but I am not at all sure that anyone can really predict the numbers. Since Egypt does not have the full infrastructure of a proper democracy, there is definitely a danger of an election success of the most fanatic element, which is, indeed, the Muslim brothers.
