Egypt at great risk of becoming radicalized Re: “The risk that 2/11/11 will end up like Iran’s 2/11/79,” Feb. 13
I agree with Michael Barone’s assertion that Egypt may experience the same fate as Iran. In the last 100 years, a number of unstable countries were taken over by relatively small groups of disciplined, fanatical ideologues who defeated their much larger, but diverse and divided opponents. This happened in czarist Russia in 1918, in 1933 in Germany, after World War II in China, and in Iran after the collapse of the shah’s regime. After these ideologues attained power, they did not entertain any challenges.
Egypt needs stability to evolve into a moderate democratic country. Should the current situation turn into a total collapse of authority, I fear that the Muslim Brotherhood, al Qaeda, or other fundamentalist Islamic groups will rise to power either by force, a democratic election, or by becoming power brokers.
In the end, they undoubtedly will force their extreme Islamic ideology upon the Egyptian people.
Ruben Moller
Wheaton
HOT lanes would never work on I-395
Re: “Arlington to drop lawsuit over HOT lanes on Interstate 95,” Feb. 9
Arlington County did the right thing, but The Examiner has apparently adopted VDOT’s view that if only it had not filed a lawsuit to prevent the construction of high-occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 395, our traffic problems on this road would be solved. If Virginia Department of Transportation and the HOT lane developers really believed that, this lawsuit would not have stopped them.
HOT lanes would not be profitable on I-395 because the lanes would be too crowded to attract toll payers because of the narrow width between Jersey walls, numerous overpasses, the bottleneck at the 14th Street Bridge, heavy HOV use and other factors.
VDOT and Republicans know this, but are flogging Arlington County so that anyone stuck in a future traffic jam will blame them for it. I would like to see us get away from such partisan tactics and do what is best for transportation in this corridor, which is to support carpools, buses, and vanpools.
Bob Hugman
Woodbridge
No ‘wall of separation’ in First Amendment
Re: “Using vouchers in private schools is unconstitutional,” from readers, Feb. 16
Nowhere in the Constitution is there a “wall of separation” between church and state, as Charles Bagenstose suggests. The First Amendment only stipulates that: (a) the government shall not establish a national religion; and (b) that the right of individuals to freely exercise any religion they choose shall not be prohibited.
Ergo, using public funds for school vouchers would not be unconstitutional based on the First Amendment.
Christian Rivera
Baltimore
