patrick.net

If money was gained illegally or wrongfully than it should be returned.

Maybe if they started freezing assets a week ago, but now I think it is too late for him to start the fight.

He probably also has plenty of hidden/legitimate assets to live out his quite comfortably.

TechGromit says

I’m curious, who thinks confiscating Hosni Mubarak assets is a good idea? The reason I ask is because Switzerland and several other countries are moving to freeze assets, anticipating the ‘New” Egyptian government will want that money back. Now is it just me or is that not the wisest move?

I think its a great idea.

The wisdom I would employ in this situation would be the need for justice. This country is a baby, and needs the resources that Mubarak has robbed them of, the transition will be difficult and money salves many wounds. Let us not forget that we are not talking about small sums of money here. Epic, mind boggling numbers have been thrown around; some estimates are in the tens of billions.

TechGromit says

Lets look at it this way, I’m an evil dictator and the people are demanding I leave office/power. If I say OK, I’m outa here, I’ve got Billions I stole from Country, who needs this crap anyway.

Your point is moot at this juncture.

TechGromit says

But if I know that the “new” Government is going to freeze and reclaim all my assets that I worked so hard to steal over the last 20 years, I’m going to be like, leave office? Hell NO! Soldiers a $100 bounty to every protester you kill, $200 if you kill his family as well. I’m not going down without a fight.

Ok, let's assume that Mubarak still has his hands on the reins. The point is moot again because the foot-soldiers refuse to fire on their own people.

TechGromit says

My point it perhaps if you give someone a reason to leave office peacefully, they may do it. Back them into a corner, they have no choice but to fight.

Both moot points again. But let's entertain them; It is absurd to give favor to a person who has been so destructive, simply because of what 'may' happen. So what? He 'may' leave more peacefully. Why would a sane people base such an important decision on the weight of what 'may' happen. Again, let's not forget that these are not piddling sums. As for crazed animals backed into a corner, Mubarak ordered the tanks to squish the people. They did not obey.

TechGromit says

As for the Whole Egyptian situation, talk is cheap, I’ll believe it when i see it, that a new democratic government elected by the people takes power from the military.

Talk? What talk? I didn't see people just talking in Egypt. I saw them go outside, en-mass, with demands. Then after they did that, they did it again. It seems to me that there was a whole lot more than talk going on in Egypt.

Hell NO! Soldiers a $100 bounty to every protester you kill, $200 if you kill his family as well. I’m not going down without a fight.

What the fuck makes you think Egyptian soldiers will kill for $100, and kill families for $200?

You seem to a have a very warped perception of Egypt.

MarkInSF says

Hell NO! Soldiers a $100 bounty to every protester you kill, $200 if you kill his family as well. I’m not going down without a fight.

What the fuck makes you think Egyptian soldiers will kill for $100, and kill families for $200?
You seem to a have a very warped perception of Egypt.

Funny, I don't see the work "Egyptian soldiers" any where in my posting. Please read what it says, not what you think it says. Seems you missed my entire point. If a leader of a country, any country, we are not specifically talking Egypt here, have nothing to lose then the results could be very different when they fight to hold onto power.

frodo says

Your point is moot at this juncture.

It is? So there are no other Countries where there in unrest and the people are demanding change? No other countries that are dictatorship or otherwise oppressive governments? Funny, I thought I may have saw something about some protests in Iran and several other Middle Eastern Countries. Perhaps I was mistaken.

TechGromit says

Lets look at it this way, I’m an evil dictator and the people are demanding I leave office/power. If I say OK, I’m outa here, I’ve got Billions I stole from Country, who needs this crap anyway.

frodo says

Your point is moot at this juncture.

TechGromit says

It is? So there are no other Countries where there in unrest and the people are demanding change? No other countries that are dictatorship or otherwise oppressive governments? Funny, I thought I may have saw something about some protests in Iran and several other Middle Eastern Countries. Perhaps I was mistaken.

It was the phrasing of your original question: "Who thinks confiscating Hosni Mubarak assets is a good idea?" which led me to address the question as pertaining to the Egypt situation.

However, if you read carefully, you will note that I address the question anyway:
"[...] moot points again. But let’s entertain them; It is absurd to give favor to a person who has been so destructive, simply because of what ‘may’ happen. So what? He ‘may’ leave more peacefully. Why would a sane people base such an important decision on the weight of what ‘may’ happen. Again, let’s not forget that these are not piddling sums."

I will add another reminder, as it cannot be stated enough with regard to this very question. The moneys that are held by former dictators are not small sums. HUGE, GARGANTUAN, MASSIVE amounts of money! If the people want it back they should have an opportunity to get it.