Obama recently visited Egypt to meet with Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who run two of the Arab world's most oppressive and undemocratic regimes. Mubarak's government tortures and doesn't hesitate to throw opponents in jail. An Egyptian journalist was arrested simply for reporting about Mubarak's health. Obama labeled Mubarak as "stalwart ally" angering many Egyptians who saw the visit as validating the despotic Mubarak regime.Why then does the US then continue to support Egypt with over $1.5 billion in aid annually? Like the Saudi Monarchy, Egypt sits atop a "powder keg" of Islamist radicalism, which would likely get into power in a truly democratic election. This risk for the US has been seen elsewhere with Palestinian elections put Hamas radicals into power, and in Lebanon, elections on Sunday could give Hezbollah control of parliament.
Robert Fisk has written a compelling article on this visit. Read it here
(Sourced from Dallas News and Robert Fisk)
It would seem that Obama has decided his priorities. It looks as though he's chosen the pragmatic route, and very understandably given the massive anti-US sentiment in the region. Any ally is a plus an he's probably somewhat reluctant to go and cheese him off! This goes along with Obama's declaration of aiming to increase the US' dialogue with the Middle East and I suppose you could argue that progress is best made by this method. Very debtable though.
ReplyDelete*debatable not debtable
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rothmanator, the US need more allies than enemies in the region and it is not the first time that the US plays the Egyptian card. They have already deal with them back in 1982 to solve Israel’s problem in the region. And then, they have not criticized Egyptian politicians, why Americans will start to critic this regime now?
ReplyDeleteGiven the recent (last few decades) of volatility in Africa particularly North Africa, does it not make sense for Obama to look past Egypt's poltical standpoint? Wouldn't such volatility place Africa as a region into America's sphere of interest? In order to ensure an American eye is kept firmly on the region having an ally in the form of Egypt is surely a good thing is it not?
ReplyDelete