Re #17;
"...whether driven by cowardice or stupidity."
Don't forget "Money" as a significant factor.
Arabs have a lot of it, and a lot of money in the right hands can have a lot of influence in how matters are decided.
My guess would be that these Coptic Refugees are being essentially bought back for punisment, in order to discourage others from attempting an escape.
I would not be surprised, actually, if they don't get much more sympathy or sanctuary here in America, and probably for the same reason.
I fully expect an increasing number of Muzzies running for public office in every government where they have immigrated in significant numbers (with a mysteriously unlimited amount of campaign funds) and infiltrating key institutions, as the Socialsits have been so successful in doing for about the past 40 years.
Remember; a lot of Muslims vote; either as Citizens or illeagaly where it is easy to vote fraudulently (like ME, a "Sanctuary State").
It will take a while to establish a majority in a Democratic system, but when they do, kiss the Constitution goodbye as it is displaced by the Koran and Sharia.
There are a lot of ways to conquor a nation other than swarming in with hoards of horse cavalry or battering down the walls with siege cannon.
And they know it.
The persecution of Jews and Christians will continue to ramp up and spread over most of the Earth, probably in most of our lifetimes. I would not be surprised to see an eventual wholesale slaughter of "Infidels" that will trivialize the Nazi Holocaust by comparison. And that fairly soon.
As it has long been prophecied that it would.
We ain't seen nuthin' yet, Amigos;
Jews will be hunted down for extermination, and survivors will be driven back into Israel for a last stand (a'la Massada) against seemingly impossible odds.
See Ezekiel chapters 38-9 for details.
Some Christians might be given the old "convert or die" option, and those willing to renounce Christ might get to exist a little longer.
Although I would not carachterize existance as a slave under Sharia as "life", particularly.
Are we ready?