EGYPT

As expected in the wake of Egypt's presidential election commission's refusal to abide by a court's ruling in favor of election monitoring, there are reports of widespread irregularities.

Some would argue that, in places like Egypt where politics itself has essentially been banned (and thus radicalized), even going through the motions of an election is a good thing, a step in the right direction, what have you. I tend to think that it does more to increase cynicism about the political process and about democracy as an appropriate remedy. Unfortunately, even though Mubarak will undoubtedly win, I think we can chalk this election up for the Muslim Brotherhood.