To some officials, supportive opinion polls offer a form of quasi-democratic mandate.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

They would not negotiate Mubarak's offer to use the remainder of his final term to shepherd Egypt towards a quasi-democratic process that might have prevented the Brotherhood from taking over.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The real Egyptian revolution

Just as in Afghanistan today and hopefully in Iraq in the near future, the US has and will set up friendly, quasi-democratic governments, so Israel, or the US, would set up a new Palestinian government, committed to coexistence with Israel and the provision of political and economic freedom to the Palestinian people.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Washington won't let Israel win