Gamal Mubarak has a golden opportunity

• Last Updated: November 16. 2009 12:13AM UAE / November 15. 2009 8:13PM GMT

I refer to Sultan Al Qassemi’s opinion piece "Play fair, and Egypt may yet be land of the rising son" (November 14). This article has some interesting arguments, regardless of what one’s emotional attachments might be. Gamal Mubarak, the son of the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, has a golden opportunity. Even if he fails to win the first time in a fair election, he will still lead the National Democratic Party for another run given that the NDP is pretty fossilised anyway.

The Muslim Brotherhood is hardly a main challenge: it is no less fossilised, very comfortable with its 20 per cent share, and without young leadership.

If Saad Hariri in Lebanon can co-opt a rising Hizbollah in his cabinet, bringing genuine peace, Gamal can surely try his luck with both the left and right. His father’s long, largely uneventful tenure is a double-edged sword.

But the son has to show his mettle, a prerequisite for respect on the Arab street, or any other. Egypt needs stability in these economically tumultuous times when the supportive West itself now has to depend upon China and the Gulf economies for growth.

Athar Mian, Abu Dhabi

Cold tone on death knell drones

In reference to "Death knell drones for al Qa’eda" (November 13), I found this article distasteful, cold and especially disrespectful towards hundreds of innocent civilians who lost their lives in US drone attacks.

What really surprised me was that rather than sticking to the high moral grounds that the US is generally known for, the author found refuge in using the same murderous, bloody tone as an average al Qa’eda lunatic.

The author goes on to victoriously suggest that al Qa’eda is now facing a backlash due to mass innocent civilian deaths and while the Libyan Islamic Fight Group looks at a new code of ethics and morals, the author failed to find any moral obligation in this summary article to denounce the death of at least 300 innocent Pakistani civilians who were forced to pay with their lives so the rest of us could live in relative peace.

Javed Anjum, Abu Dhabi

Diverse views on Oprah show

With reference to the article Local women up in arms over Dubai’s doctor’s talk with Oprah (November 14), of course Dr Lamees Hamdan represented her views on the Oprah Winfrey show about the happiest people in the world.

She was a guest on the show, not a journalist, one who appropriately crafted her messages for an American audience that is pitifully ignorant about the Middle East and Islam.

The people who are attacking Dr Hamdan would cringe if they knew the questions and comments I field from my fellow Americans as a single American woman living in Dubai.

Dr Hamdan was chosen by Oprah’s producers for this segment; it is not something she sought out. For those who are jealous, grow up. For those with differing points of view, by all means, discuss them – without the personal attacks against Dr Hamdan.

She is entitled to her perspective, as you are yours.

Personal attacks only serve to distract from a meaningful – and free – debate about differing views.

Elan Fabbri, Dubai

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I think Dr Lamees Hamdan did a great job. She conveyed a good message to the international viewers of Oprah Winfrey’s show, and shame on those who lashed out at her.

Singling out the option of wearing the abaya for which many people took offence, Dr Hamdan pointed out that this is a cultural issue. The Oprah Winfrey Show is not about religion.

Halleema Humaid, Sharjah

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I found Dr Lamees Hamdan to be articulate and sophisticated, but she should have done her homework before coming on a show like Oprah Winfrey’s.

She should have clarified that she was speaking for herself. It irked me how she passed on personal experiences as facts about the nation

When she started talking about mobile phone bills and how her dad and now her husband takes care of them, I was half afraid that she was going to declare mobile phones to be free as well as medical care.

While I do not condone a witch hunt, I think Dr Hamdan needs to take responsibility for her words. When you’re going to appear on an international show and represent the women of a country, you should expect and be ready for a reaction.

SA, Abu Dhabi

Internet shopping is here to stay

I refer to Internet shopping wins over UAE consumers (November 3), I often shop online as I find it better value, in particular on US sites. This is even easier now that credit card and delivery companies have teamed up so that online shoppers can order direct from US sites and take delivery in the UAE. Just in time for the holidays.

Rijosh Joseph, Dubai