That's a great article. The most important thing to realise with conflicts like this in the Middle East is contained in the first section's brief description of Syria. It mentions the borders that were drawn up by the Europeans, effectively forcing all these tribes and religious denominations with wildly opposing views to live together under one ruling party (or dictator) and much of the time oppression results. This is why Western governments prefer secularist dictators like your Mubaraks and Assads. They keep everyone in line. The world is changing though and the West will have to accept that the people of the Arab world have to choose and overthrow their own leaders.