How Will History Judge Hosni Mubarak?

In 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated during a military parade. Sitting beside him was Hosni Mubarak. He escaped the gun wielding extremists with only a hand injury. What’s followed has been thirty years of stability and increased repression. We look back on his leadership.

Egypt’s standard of living improved during the 80’s under Mubarak but so did the strength of government power. Mubarak’s emergency law, which prevented gatherings of more than five people, and the dependence on U.S. military aid also grew. The relationship between the U.S. and Egypt continued to be integral to America’s role in the Mideast, with Egypt supporting George H.W. Bush in the first Gulf War, and helping to negotiate peace in the Arab and Muslim world. However, at the same time, Mubarak’s regime became more and more repressive.