It cannot be clearer. Tyrants and ideologues are persons without pity. They all play by Hama rules. In Iraq they blow up Shia warshippers just as in Israel they blew up Jews sitting at a Seder and in Columbia and Rwanda they blew up or chopped up Christians praying in Churches.

And, no, these Sunni murderers should not be appeased. Even their Egyptian brethern no longer think so.

The coming days will reveal the shape of government that is supposed to lead Iraq through the next year and, perhaps, set the stage for many years to come through the writing of the permanent constitution. There is one important fact in everyone's mind: for a successful political process to take place, no Iraqis can be excluded. Regardless of the reasons behind their under-representation, the Sunni Arabs must be given their fair share of decision-making power. But there is a superior principle that must be accommodated as well. In being gracious to the Sunni Arabs, the process has to respect the will of the voters. It would undermine the entire process if certain politicians, who failed to earn the trust of the people, are brought in through the backdoor. Such behaviour would send a message that political positions are entitlements and bribery devices, rather than meritorious accomplishments.

Indeed, all this talk encourages them to murder more. Elections should count.

Sharansky is right. We must pay attention to the way they treat each other. The more" civilized" of them - like Mubarak, merely throw in jail those who challenge their authority. Just read the story of Ayman Nour. The poor man tried so hard, that he was accused of backpaddling. Still, he is in jail for potentially giving Mubarak and his son a run for their money:

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS festive as El-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party prepared for its first general assembly after the government officially recognized it as Egypt’s eighteenth political party on October 27th. Bright orange banners, flags and balloons emblazoned with the slogan “Hand-in-hand we build tomorrow” filled the Cairo International Conference Center, ironically the same venue that only weeks earlier hosted a more sober gathering of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).

The excitement was palpable among the 2,000 founding party members in attendance, and there was no mistaking who the man of the hour was: Ayman Nour, the 40-year-old lawyer, former Wafdist and member of Parliament with an insatiable appetite for the limelight. He couldn’t stop beaming as he received hundreds of congratulatory handshakes and slaps on the back from party members, guests and the media as they shuffled into a bustling entry hall for registration.

It was a strong show of force at the end of the era of one-party rule.

The Egyptians worry that Rice will not come to a March 3 Summit between the EU and Arab countries. Good. Rice should condition her visit on the release of Nour.