A piece in today's Washington Post about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who turns 78 today, notes the two billion per year in aid given by America. What this has bought is a quarter century of relative calm in the Middle East's most populous Arab nation. Mubarak has maintained control by stifling dissent. When he is gone there will likely be dramatic changes in this key nation. His anointed succerror, son Gamal, is not popular. Look for the emergence of more fundamental Muslim groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. This group already has a significant foothold in the Epyptian parliament.