Egypt – America’s Ill-advised policy

   A popular axiom of Mid-East experts is: “As Egypt goes – so goes the Arab World.”  Modern history bears that out. 

   When Egypt attacked Israel in 1948, so did Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. When Egypt aligned with the Soviet Union in the 50’s and 60’s, so did many other Arab countries. 
   And when Egypt signed a formal peace treaty with Israel in 1979, so did Jordan, and within a short time Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Arab states established informal ties with the Jewish State.
   Egypt, with over 80 million citizens and the strongest Arab military, is the natural leader of the Sunni Arab countries. The Egyptian military is the most respected organization in the Arab world.
   Egypt also owns, secures and operates the Suez Canal – one of the major strategic and commercial waterways in the world and where the US currently enjoys special privileges no other country has.
   The American brokered peace treaty between Israel and Egypt is a cornerstone of US Middle East policy. 
   Since 9/11 Egypt, has been a staunch ally of the US in the war against Islamist terrorism. For months the Egyptian army has been fighting a war in Sinai to eradicate a Muslim Brotherhood (MB) inspired base of jihadist terrorist groups, including those with American blood on their hands. 
   So it’s ill-advised that, with the Egyptian military playing an important role in fighting America’s enemies, the US announced that it was suspending military and economic aid. The justification was that: a. the military overthrew a democratically elected president, and b. the military used “excessive force.” against demonstrations by MB supporters. 
   Both arguments don’t stand up to scrutiny:

1. While Muhammad Morsi, ranked #3 in the MB hierarchy, may have been elected democratically, he immediately took the undemocratic (and illegal) steps of nullifying the Egyptian Constitution and writing a strictly Sharia based one, gave himself the power to legislate, and issued very undemocratic orders that he and his edicts were above the law and the courts. 
2. With the majority of Egyptians fed up with Morsi’s extreme Islamism, the deteriorating economy, and the fact that he allowed the establishment of an MB controlled terrorist base in Sinai, millions took to the streets throughout Egypt to peacefully demand Morsi’s resignation and new elections.
3. When the army refused Morsi’s order to use force against the demonstrators, he and the MB leadership sent in their armed thugs, resulting in many casualties.
4. After Morsi and the rest of the MB leadership were arrested on charges of incitement to violence and murder, the Chief of Staff immediately appointed a civilian acting president, who set up a civilian government that is writing a new constitution. Elections for the presidency and parliament are planned for early spring. So much for the “military coup” argument.
5. Last month’s pro Morsi demonstrations were violent. Government buildings were attacked with firebombs and live ammunition. Though 54 demonstrators were killed, the army used reasonable force in defending itself. Many of the pro-MB demonstrators wore green headbands proclaiming their intended martyrdom for Islam.  

   While conflicting US statements about the arms freeze were nuanced, the reaction in the Arab world was anything but.
   Anti-American sentiments in Egypt and other countries were whipped up by the usually pro-Western media claiming that the arms freeze was accompanied by a demand to release Morsi and the other MB leaders, and that the MB be included in the interim government (it was invited but refused to join). There are now calls to revoke America’s special privileges in the Suez Canal.
   Saudi Arabia, angered by the American move, immediately transferred another $2 billion to the Egyptian interim government, and promised to finance or supply any military equipment needed.
   Justified or not, the perception today is that America supports the anti-west Muslim Brotherhood, one of the most undemocratic and oppressive organizations in the world. And in the Middle East – perception is everything. 
   Sometimes you have to be smart…in addition to being right. Remember the axiom…
   Agree or disagree, that’s my opinion.