The Fall of the Mighty

Thais and farangs living in Thailand are accustomed to the sight of police blocking a major thoroughfare or highway for the passage of a royal personage. Every intersections are sealed by police for the speeding cavalcade of luxury vehicles and security escorts. No one complains about this noble right of passage. Big people do what big people want and small people get out of the way, if they know what is good for them. The first time I ever saw such a security measure was on the autoroute out of Paris to Charles de Gaulle Aeroport. CRS police squads guarded the overpasses, exits, onramps, and highways. My VW was the last car allowed onto the road and the gendamerie waved for me to speed up for the approaching dignitary. I later learned that the VIP had been Egypt's Hosni Mubarak. The 'president' was a good friend of the French government. His policies regarding Israel were in accord with their strategy for the Middle East and he had a long run at the top, but the deposed ruler faces judgment by the court in Cairo. His days are spent in prison not a palace. The people want justice. Mubarak wants to be released from his cell to die in peace. Not a chance, unless the USA somehow ponies up enough money for the army to spirit him out of the country and cold cash is better spent on the the forces of now than the dictator of then. Thanks for the memories. ps at least they have cut off his supply of hair dye. He probably uses the same coloring as old Ronald Reagan.