The repressive regime of Mubarak was in power for 40 years while the US look the other way. Another military dictator is agian at the helm and president Obama is bolstering his position with military hardwares. This is justified as a prudent measure against the rise of the Islamic State and other distabilizing forces in the region.. Too bab we do not practice what we preach.
2
This is exactly why the United States has faced retaliation from the Muslim world over the last number of decades in the form of terrorism. It is not because of American freedom but the fact that a central pillar of American foreign policy since the Mossadeq Coup in 1953 and the June War of 1967 has been to rob Muslims of their political freedom and their natural resource wealth in the service of Western Imperialism and Zionism. The US allowed the despots of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel to derail the promise of the Arab Spring. The US even refused to call a coup a coup as General Sissi massacred thousands of peaceful and non-violent Muslims in a massacre that eclipsed Tianamen Square as confirmed by Human Rights Watch. The whole world witnessed this glaring Western hypocrisy. This is why we have ISIS today. For shame. Tens of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Muslims have died because of these predatory Western policies of safeguarding despotism and exploitation in the region. This death toll resulting from Western terror and Muslim counter-terror will be unending until the Western world learns, as it has now in the case of China, India, and Latin America, not to assume the fragmented Muslim world is incapable of retaliating when subjected to such predatory and malign policies. When will Americans realize that such foreign policies promoted by Aipac and the Evangelical Right will never make them secure and prosperous?
3
Nice to see that he is doing something in the security interests of our country - for a change!
Didn't congress pass a law stating that he US couldn't provide military aid to countries that violate human rights? The Egyptian army's main task seems to be to keep its own restive population under the thumb of the nations oligarchs, so is that the real purpose of our foreign policy?.
Such hypocrisy. At least the GOP makes no pretense of caring a wit about human rights. The Dems give lip service to the idea and then back any dictator willing to do our bidding. This is just one more example of how our democracy is being hijacked.
Such hypocrisy. At least the GOP makes no pretense of caring a wit about human rights. The Dems give lip service to the idea and then back any dictator willing to do our bidding. This is just one more example of how our democracy is being hijacked.
2
A short stay in Egypt, then on to ISIS!!!
3
Oh, yes, the Middle East is desperately in need of more arms and it's not because we have kicked the hornet's nest every day since we entered Afghanistan in 2001.
I have a question about this arms supply procedure. Do we give the Egyptians (and Israelis, etc.) the money to buy our arms? If so, they obviously skim off 15/20% for personal use. Or does the Defense Dept. simply order directly from our suppliers with a note that the delivery is to be made to Egypt? In the latter case, we could keep the "commissions" right here at home.
Is that what those on the right meant with the slogan "Buy American"? Now that all of our administrators think pretty much alike we could change the slogan to "Buy American, Corrupt American". Of course, that wouldn't make us any "friends" abroad.
I have a question about this arms supply procedure. Do we give the Egyptians (and Israelis, etc.) the money to buy our arms? If so, they obviously skim off 15/20% for personal use. Or does the Defense Dept. simply order directly from our suppliers with a note that the delivery is to be made to Egypt? In the latter case, we could keep the "commissions" right here at home.
Is that what those on the right meant with the slogan "Buy American"? Now that all of our administrators think pretty much alike we could change the slogan to "Buy American, Corrupt American". Of course, that wouldn't make us any "friends" abroad.
3
Putting more and more gasoline on the fire. I thought Obama was the Nobel Peace Prize winner. They need to take that award he is causing more problems by giving more weapons to already bad region right now. How stupid can you be Obama.
2
Better late than never. President Sisi has a good understanding of the terrorists that threaten the whole world and will put the arms to good use against the terrorists.
1
Long time overdue action. Right now Egypt's Sissi is holding at bay the largest, worst and most powerfull Moslem terrorist aggrupation, The Brotherhood. ISIS is kids stuff compared to the Brotherhood, and if anyone thinks ISIS is the worst that has happened to humanity, even the most exaggerated estimates places them below 100,000; Brotherhood conservatively exceeds 20 million.
1
The authoritarian, antidemocratic and corrupt Egyptian military has been restored in a US supported coup resulting in thousands of deaths and jailing of prisoners of conscience and a US sheepish citizenry doesn't understand why most of the planet fails to recognize US actions as altruistic.
The decision to remove the arms freeze is just another example of the US's selective concerns for democracy and human rights. Contrast the Egyptian coup and military and police repression with events in Venezuela, which the Obama administration has responded to with outrageous claims and sanctions. Any objective observer can se that US foreign policy has never been driven by these ideals and continues to march in lock-step with interests dictated by US and transnational corporate interests and faux 'national' geopolitical interests. Unfortunately what is patently obvious to most people living outside the US continues to be hidden from a complacent and disinformed US citizenry.
The decision to remove the arms freeze is just another example of the US's selective concerns for democracy and human rights. Contrast the Egyptian coup and military and police repression with events in Venezuela, which the Obama administration has responded to with outrageous claims and sanctions. Any objective observer can se that US foreign policy has never been driven by these ideals and continues to march in lock-step with interests dictated by US and transnational corporate interests and faux 'national' geopolitical interests. Unfortunately what is patently obvious to most people living outside the US continues to be hidden from a complacent and disinformed US citizenry.
5
It is just Honest Americans that Obama doesn't want to have firearms.
2
While harsh responses to dissidents and demonstrators are unacceptable, one should appreciate the difficulties Mr. Sisi is facing in Egypt. He has to handle his people firmly until thing go back to some level of normalcy. What should be done is to press him to be gentler but at the same time tolerate his handling of the situation (security and the economy, in particular) for the time being.
1
“12 F-16 fighter jets, 20 Harpoon missiles, and the shells and parts necessary to assemble up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tanks that Egypt had previously paid for . . .”
This is a big windfall for the military-industrial complex that controls this country.
Apparently, our economy must have perpetual war, so that U.S. weapons and munitions manufacturers can reap their profits. Politically, it must be tough getting your client-states to do your dirty work for you. Ah, the agony of empire.
When will our oligarchy ever learn?
This is a big windfall for the military-industrial complex that controls this country.
Apparently, our economy must have perpetual war, so that U.S. weapons and munitions manufacturers can reap their profits. Politically, it must be tough getting your client-states to do your dirty work for you. Ah, the agony of empire.
When will our oligarchy ever learn?
4
For Obama and his leftist minions all contracts are a conditional nuisance. But when reality hits, the silent majority speaks, he parts ways and the road is left full of growling philosophizers.
1
Egypt didn't pay for any of it. US open a line-of-credit for Egypt to order American arms and then forgive this line-of-credit as part of foreign aid or reward Egypt for cooperation. It is the same with Israel and other poorer American allies. Only Saudi Arabia, Gulf states and East Asia actually pay out of pocket.
2
"Witnesses, Who Say Police Killed Activist, Are to Be Charged in Egypt"
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK MARCH 30, 2015
Another criminal act by the TERRORISTS who run Egypt brought to you, not by Bush and Cheney, but by the Barack Obama administration.
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK MARCH 30, 2015
Another criminal act by the TERRORISTS who run Egypt brought to you, not by Bush and Cheney, but by the Barack Obama administration.
3
It seems to me, Jon, that the people of Egypt are far happier under this "terrorist" than the one before him who advocated the slaughter of Christians and any one else that he thought might be ill disposed to his extremist views!
I agree with you, Prender, we often have to look at these leaders and countries in terms of who is the lesser of two evils, and that sometimes even depends on the issue. After all, we fought along with Stalin to get rid of Hitler.
And, p.s., Narrowsburg on the beautiful Delaware River is one of my favorite places in the world.
And, p.s., Narrowsburg on the beautiful Delaware River is one of my favorite places in the world.
High time. This was pointless and counterproductive from the get-go. Obama's track record in the Middle East is pretty poor, but this went beyond poor to downright inexcusable.
3
More proof that the Dems and Repubs act the same when it comes to Middle East policy. Bush: Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama: continuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, new wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen.
6
Democrats are different from Republicans mostly on social issues inside the US (although when it comes to the prison industry, both are HUGE supporters of the thugs who run the US prison industry).
On foreign policy, Democrats and Republicans are both a bunch of murderous thugs.
Many Egyptians hate us...and they should.
On foreign policy, Democrats and Republicans are both a bunch of murderous thugs.
Many Egyptians hate us...and they should.
3
Disgusting, disappointing, etc. etc. in a world awash with arms, war and stupidity.
7
When will America impose a weapons freeze on Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, UAE, Bahrain etc.?
6
What is the thread of our Mideast foreign policy? Is it still the promotion of democracy as the tie that binds all people and cultures? That notion was suborned from the very moment it was put forth. From the perspective of many it just seemed to be a cynical way of promoting the interests of the dominant culture of the West. It backfired in Egypt when democratic elections installed Morsi, who then proceeded to dismantle the very system which elected him and replaced it with theocracy which seems to be the cultural preference of the entire region. Faced with this contradiction Obama now seems to have embraced a more realistic approach which begs the question why we withdrew our support of Mubarek in the first place. As Mubarek pointed out at the time, Obama didn't "understand" what it took to hold a nation like Egypt together. Now Obama's lack of understanding casts a pall over the entire Middle East which is now rapidly descending into chaos as we sit at the bargaining table with the shrewd Iranian negotiators who are making fools of us even as their country fights various proxy wars against our own interests. It is disconcerting how this is all playing out with the amateurs and neophytes of the White House presiding over a foreign policy that is nothing but a patchwork of inconsistencies and contradictions that merely emboldens our enemies.
7
What you say is very reasonable, but negotiating with Iran seems the only alternative to military action. Just please wait until a deal is reached to judge it, but in the meantime demand that this deal be ratified by the Senate, if reached.
3
Then they should excuse all the women from the room and get down to business. Enough of this sandbagging, we should have James Baker III there because he knows just what to say to an aggressive Iranian.
"Can I just say one -- one more thing? When I was in office, we had a standing policy with the Iranians. We were ready to talk to them, provided it would be done at an official level, at the level of the secretary of state, and they did -- they wouldn't -- they didn't have enough domestic political support for that.
Having vilified us as the Great Satan for so long, they couldn't get the domestic political support necessary to meet with us. So it wasn't the case of our -- we hadn't been isolating Iran from that standpoint. We offered to meet with them at the level of secretary of state.
And I think a well-placed, quiet, private phone call to the Iranian leadership, if you can find out which leaders to talk to, to the effect, "Look, if you do so much as aim a missile or anything else toward Israel or toward anything else, toward Israel or toward us, our strategic nuclear deterrent can be re-aimed in 20 seconds," they would understand that, I think."
"Can I just say one -- one more thing? When I was in office, we had a standing policy with the Iranians. We were ready to talk to them, provided it would be done at an official level, at the level of the secretary of state, and they did -- they wouldn't -- they didn't have enough domestic political support for that.
Having vilified us as the Great Satan for so long, they couldn't get the domestic political support necessary to meet with us. So it wasn't the case of our -- we hadn't been isolating Iran from that standpoint. We offered to meet with them at the level of secretary of state.
And I think a well-placed, quiet, private phone call to the Iranian leadership, if you can find out which leaders to talk to, to the effect, "Look, if you do so much as aim a missile or anything else toward Israel or toward anything else, toward Israel or toward us, our strategic nuclear deterrent can be re-aimed in 20 seconds," they would understand that, I think."
1
Again demonstrating that Democrats do not care about human rights violations, so long as the human rights violations do not involve Israel and Palestinians. I wonder how or why AIPAC swung this arms deal.
3
Speaking of arms and Egypt: now that the newly formed "Arab Union" armed force is bombing Yemen, sending war ships into the coastal waters and massing troops, will Obama call for restraint, urging the taking of the last measure of caution to protect civilians, reassessing access to military depots and daily lectures on "false choices" and "the right and wrong sides of history" - or is all that hot air reserved for the IDF and Netanyahu alone?
The Arabs see the Iran talks as deadly and Obama as unreliable and so they have joined in a way not imaginable in last six decades.
The Arabs see the Iran talks as deadly and Obama as unreliable and so they have joined in a way not imaginable in last six decades.
2
I wonder what the Sunni army will do once they defeat the Shia and unified Islam. When ISIS say it want to form a Caliphate a year ago I think they were nuts but it seems like a Caliphate is forming around Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Doesn't bold well for Israel in the long term once Sunni won the civil war.
1
I understand that U.S. law requires that nations receiving U.S. armaments cannot use them for offensive warfare, but only for defensive purposes. This raises the question of whether Egypt intends to use the weaponry to fight ISIS, and if so, is that defensive warfare as the Administration defines it?
Or does Egypt intend to use the weaponry against its own political dissidents, which would be a clear breach of U.S. law? I hope the president has a clear understanding of Egypt's intentions concerning these weapons.
Or does Egypt intend to use the weaponry against its own political dissidents, which would be a clear breach of U.S. law? I hope the president has a clear understanding of Egypt's intentions concerning these weapons.
2
The central question "those people in Washington", must try to answer, with some clarity if possible, is what plan in any do they have when their three friends, the military dictatorship, and the two czardoms are swept away by some type of democracy.
1
Here's a thought. Let's get out of the Middle-East altogether. Let them kill each other off and then we can negotiate with anyone who remains alive, without providing any arms?
These people will never stop killing each other. We have little to fear in the U.S. as long as therir is someone for them to kill in their own area.
These people will never stop killing each other. We have little to fear in the U.S. as long as therir is someone for them to kill in their own area.
1
Nobody in Washington seems to remember that the Muslim Brotherhood murdered Sadat.
5
So what has changed?
Has democracy suddenly arrived in Egypt? - check: no
Has Egypt bettered its human rights record? - check: no
Has Egypt suddenly become friendly with its neighbours? - check: no
Or has Egypt decided to partake in a war in Yemen at the side of an US ally? - check: yes
Ohh wait, the Clown in Chief has decided to arm Egypt to do his dirty work in Yemen in a local conflict against a militia that is said to be supported by another enemy of the US, Iran.
So what we see here is that Obama is stoking another proxy war by supporting Sunni Arab states who, at the same time, are supporting terror against the rest of the world including the US.
Marx said once that capitalists will sell you the rope they will be hung with.
We know that this is not quite up to date as these days, they will simply give the rope away for free and include handling training for the recipient.
Has democracy suddenly arrived in Egypt? - check: no
Has Egypt bettered its human rights record? - check: no
Has Egypt suddenly become friendly with its neighbours? - check: no
Or has Egypt decided to partake in a war in Yemen at the side of an US ally? - check: yes
Ohh wait, the Clown in Chief has decided to arm Egypt to do his dirty work in Yemen in a local conflict against a militia that is said to be supported by another enemy of the US, Iran.
So what we see here is that Obama is stoking another proxy war by supporting Sunni Arab states who, at the same time, are supporting terror against the rest of the world including the US.
Marx said once that capitalists will sell you the rope they will be hung with.
We know that this is not quite up to date as these days, they will simply give the rope away for free and include handling training for the recipient.
4
Buying friends usually does not work well. When friendship is for sale, it usually goes to the highest bidder and is far from permanent.
1
But, we have actually bought Egypt's cooperation with respect to Israel since Sadat. It does not mean they will support us in the U.N. or become a modern democratic republic. Right now, we want all the friends we can get in the Middle East. Egypt's troops are needed to destroy ISIS and like minded or anti-American forces in the Middle East completely. I'm all for it.
2
I agree with all who view this as a cynical, interests-first/principles-later move.
The real eye-opener, though, is that Israel and Egypt don't even really "buy' weapons. They "finance" weapons transfers by drawing credit from future foreign aid. What does that even mean?
The real eye-opener, though, is that Israel and Egypt don't even really "buy' weapons. They "finance" weapons transfers by drawing credit from future foreign aid. What does that even mean?
1
It means instead of Egypt or Israel pay military industrial companies for those hardware, it is the State Department/USAID footing the bill. Assuming Department of Defense paid Lockheed $50 billion a year, State Department would pay another $5 billion for foreign country to shop at Lockheed on US dime.
2
Time to stop blaming Bush. Obama should have left military in Iraq for at least another 12 months; should have taken a stronger stand in Afganistan, and should have cut off money to Pakistan. His public support for the Arab Spring, naively believing that the middle east would be at peace once the bad dictators were gone was more than a nonsense move.
Now we are giving 1.2 billion a YEAR to Egypt?! I don't think Obama knows what he is doing, but he clearly isn't listening to any advisors with experience.
Now we are giving 1.2 billion a YEAR to Egypt?! I don't think Obama knows what he is doing, but he clearly isn't listening to any advisors with experience.
4
Don't forget the $5 billion he gave to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (as well as Tunisia) immediately after his Arab spring speech in Cairo. Talk about fanning the flames of fanaticism.
5
While the current Egyption government is not what we would like it is pretty obvious that the religeous dictatorships of the Brotherhood or ISIS were and are far worse. Until militant Islam is defeated (if ever) we must must help those who although what we would wish are at least not nuts.
2
Foreign Policy lesson learned: stability is better than democratization.
5
Finally, he does something in the Middle East that makes sense. Not that Egypt is any kind of model for how we want to be or we want others to be, but it is head and shoulders over many neighbors. Democracy is important but it is a means, and only an end when coupled with individual rights and a civil society. I'd rather have a military takeover by someone like Sisi, whatever his faults, than an elected Morsi - who showed his true colors almost immediately. Sisi now wants to be our ally and to keep the peace with Israel. Is that not good? He is keeping ISIS, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood at bay. Sisi has come out strongly against terrorism and for a peaceful Islam (this is what we want too, isn't it?) Are these not good things too?
I don't know what to say about the detentions because I don't know the facts. No doubt there are errors and some gross unfairness (as sometimes there is even here). But, if it basically of people who intend to take over Egypt as a haven for terrorist attacks, murders, rapes and the end of any hope for civilized government there, what do we expect? It has been often said that even our own constitution is not a suicide pact. And this is not the U.S.A. where we have a far more open society and reasonable rule of law. It is part of the Middle East, with its honor killings and mob rapes and stonings. It seems, far as I know, that reports of outrages against Christians there has stopped since he took over. Is that not better too?
I don't know what to say about the detentions because I don't know the facts. No doubt there are errors and some gross unfairness (as sometimes there is even here). But, if it basically of people who intend to take over Egypt as a haven for terrorist attacks, murders, rapes and the end of any hope for civilized government there, what do we expect? It has been often said that even our own constitution is not a suicide pact. And this is not the U.S.A. where we have a far more open society and reasonable rule of law. It is part of the Middle East, with its honor killings and mob rapes and stonings. It seems, far as I know, that reports of outrages against Christians there has stopped since he took over. Is that not better too?
2
President Obama has no other choice but to support militarily America's traditional allies in the Middle East, particularly Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
It remains to be seen whether selling more weapons to repressive regimes in the region will enhance America's long term national interests. Of course, America's industrial-military-intelligence complex will continue to boom and prosper, a fundamental factor taken into account.
One thing for sure. Wanton destruction, suffering and poverty will continue to punish the population living in most Middle Eastern countries in conflagration.
Proxy wars are back in fashion in DC, a throwback of cold war era. Domestic politics dictates this new foreign policy posture. Bush/Cheney's doable wars and boots on the ground are no longer possible for a while, political rhetoric of the past.
It remains to be seen whether selling more weapons to repressive regimes in the region will enhance America's long term national interests. Of course, America's industrial-military-intelligence complex will continue to boom and prosper, a fundamental factor taken into account.
One thing for sure. Wanton destruction, suffering and poverty will continue to punish the population living in most Middle Eastern countries in conflagration.
Proxy wars are back in fashion in DC, a throwback of cold war era. Domestic politics dictates this new foreign policy posture. Bush/Cheney's doable wars and boots on the ground are no longer possible for a while, political rhetoric of the past.
3
The article quotes anonimous Administraton officials, explaining the change in Obama's attitude to Egypt's Sisi.
"Administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity [....], said the timing of the move was not directly related to the swirling crosscurrents now roiling the Middle East, including the widening conflict in Yemen, the rise of extremism in Libya, the battle with the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq or the possible nuclear deal with Iran."
Why "anonimity"...?
Isn't it point-by-point known-to-all checklist of the disasters triggered by this Administration? With its aftermath in full progress. The good guys, blindfolded, succeed in one thing without fail: supplying the bed guys with billions in weapons of "accetable" mass destruction, oil revenues and cold cash.
Change you can believe in. Oh yes, we can...
Still blame it on the Ritz? Yes, Bush's was the original sin. But he did turn it around and brought the genie back to the bottle not long before he left. Jihadist Spring came out of Obama's kitchen, his chefs and their receipies.
Sisi did manage to do something about it before too late and it took time for Obama to diggest it. The rest of the usual suspects still don't.
Trust, disarm and hope for the best. What to expect from those whose religion differs from yours by two shades of gray we have amply observed. So let's try it now on fifty shades of gray, like Israel, there it will work better.
Obama's new challange...
"Administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity [....], said the timing of the move was not directly related to the swirling crosscurrents now roiling the Middle East, including the widening conflict in Yemen, the rise of extremism in Libya, the battle with the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq or the possible nuclear deal with Iran."
Why "anonimity"...?
Isn't it point-by-point known-to-all checklist of the disasters triggered by this Administration? With its aftermath in full progress. The good guys, blindfolded, succeed in one thing without fail: supplying the bed guys with billions in weapons of "accetable" mass destruction, oil revenues and cold cash.
Change you can believe in. Oh yes, we can...
Still blame it on the Ritz? Yes, Bush's was the original sin. But he did turn it around and brought the genie back to the bottle not long before he left. Jihadist Spring came out of Obama's kitchen, his chefs and their receipies.
Sisi did manage to do something about it before too late and it took time for Obama to diggest it. The rest of the usual suspects still don't.
Trust, disarm and hope for the best. What to expect from those whose religion differs from yours by two shades of gray we have amply observed. So let's try it now on fifty shades of gray, like Israel, there it will work better.
Obama's new challange...
3
The United States keeps backing the wrong horse. In lending support to the militias being hounded by Gaddafi, they brought about the destruction of Libya and its descent into militant Islamist anarchy. In removing Saddam and banning the Baathists in Iraq, they gave the country over to the Shiites and their Iranian patrons. They stayed on the wrong side except for a brief moment of clarity during the surge when they formed the Awakening Councils to blunt the extremist factions leading the Sunni insurgency, an insurgency that was fundamentally just given the actions of Iran and its madman proxies such as Sadr and the genocidal Maliki. They now show they haven't learned their lesson, preferring to prop up the Syrian regime and Iranian militias in Iraq in order to have a go at ISIL rather than lead a long-game moderate Sunni opposition to ISIL through some equivalent of the Awakening Councils. By denying aid to Egypt on pie-in-the-sky grounds, the U.S. forced that country to court malevolent Russia. U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East needs to get out of its own way.
3
If you want to stir the pot and watch more people die, this is a good way to accomplish your objective. War, even WW2, has not been an effective way to control population, but if you think the world overpopulated why constrain yourself?
Just wait until these weapons are unsed to eliminate Israel!
Just wait until these weapons are unsed to eliminate Israel!
1
Democracy worked in the early US because there was already a tradition of religious and cultural tolerance in place, as well as a developed system of justice from England. The entire Middle East, outside of Israel, has none of this. Instead, the Middle East is mired in a self-imposed culture of Islamic religious oppression and a system of biblical justice that is not up to modern standards. They simply can't handle democracy. If we want democracy to succeed in these countries we have to first work towards a culture of tolerance and modern justice. Until then, secular dictators are our best friends in the region.
4
This means that Mr Obama is leaving to its destiny Middle East, encouraging Saudi Arabia and Egypt, regardless that both have no respect for human rights and they make their interest only.
Middle Ear wars will become wilder with those supported players, ISIS will remain untouched, but seems that the White House doesn't care of all this, which decreases the USA credibility.
Middle Ear wars will become wilder with those supported players, ISIS will remain untouched, but seems that the White House doesn't care of all this, which decreases the USA credibility.
1
Wonder why he's having to look for friends? He's turned on one of our closest allies Israel. Don't understand why anyone thinks he's a friend to the people who elected him but they're looking at the world in rose colored glasses.
4
Obama has always been quick to support violence and upheaval in the region. It look like this time he felt the need to make a gesture in support of the attack on Yemen by a Saudi led coalition in which Egypt takes part.
4
The US government should not have initially supported the political efforts of religious extremists to topple the Mubarak government in the first place. For one thing, they should stay out of another countries domestic problems unless the US is under attack which it wasn't. Secondly, it is ironic how the current US government currently finds itself battling against religious extremism on its home soil in Indiana and Arkansas, yet fully supports it in other countries to the point of interfering. I guess Egypt's brand of religious extremism is preferable to the US's.
4
Barry switches course again! When will this guy learn to be POTUS? We Americans can only be patient so long while he is in toilet training!
7
Perhaps not quite fair. The ME has been is a state of convulsive flex starting with the invasion of Iraq and especially since the so-called Arab Spring. With changes leadership and alliances happnd g so quickly, a static policy would be impractical. Adaptive management is the only reasonable course.
1
AQ was alive and well long before the invasion of Iraq. To wit, there were 8 major attacks on US interests overseas during the Clinton presidency.
3
Right, defend whatever you call him. Forgot who started Arab Spring i.e. Jihadist Disaster, with the speech in Cairo first chance he had after getting into the White House? And helping Muslim Brothers to remove Mubarak, to make it easier...
It took Obama 2 years, but actually - the Yemen disaster he himself facilitated- to resupply Sisi. But only 2 months to dole out 5 billion dollars to Brother Morsi. Tells you nothing?
It took Obama 2 years, but actually - the Yemen disaster he himself facilitated- to resupply Sisi. But only 2 months to dole out 5 billion dollars to Brother Morsi. Tells you nothing?
1
Someday I hope we will "turn our swords into plowshares."
Peace to everyone.
Peace to everyone.
4
There is a great problem with calling every crappy action by the US government a "national security" issue.
Does anyone think that if the ME were to settle down we would withdraw our support for Egypt and it's generals?
We always support repressive regimes as long as they repress their people the way we want.
Does anyone think that if the ME were to settle down we would withdraw our support for Egypt and it's generals?
We always support repressive regimes as long as they repress their people the way we want.
3
The Muslim Brotherhood or El-Sissi? Not really a hard decision. Withholding weapons from Egypt will do nothing to make civil rights better in that country, but it might create more chaos.
2
No but don't be surprised when those M1A1s are used to run down protestors.
1
Throw gasoline over a fire. Russia is broker than broke and I doubt it would give Egypt arms without getting cash. Our foreign policy is in such a shambles - Thanks Secretary Kerry and President Obama!
6
We have truly entered Orwellian times.
4
1.3 billion to Egypt for Arms awhile citizens in some American cities are going without drinkable water in their taps! Our roads are crumbling, our water systems are being destroyed but we can afford to send arms to Egypt. We are a stupid, little, naive bunch. We are being used and the weapons will no doubt be turned against us when the mood strikes them. We never, ever learn.
5
Isn't it telling of President Obama's priorities?
3
He also just pledged another $507 Billion to Syria, while the Saudis only pledged another $60 million, the first tranche of which they have yet to pony up. Why is Obama putting Syrians refugees first over needy Americans?
2
Egypt is under license to manufacture M1 Abram tanks. Believe under this program, Egypt has produced over 1,000 if these tanks already.
1
It is obvious to me that behind-the-scenes actions are dictating a new foreign policy approach by President Obama, one that attempts to minimize our direct exposure to Islamic militants and Iranian-backed rebels by using proxy fighters such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. We don't like how they run their countries, but allowing them to fight for us gives us several advantages, including one whereby President Obama returns to something like his original pre-2008 election, anti-Iraqi-war stance. His approach is more one of realpolitik. He is also shaping a foreign policy Hillary Clinton can live with, and react to by making fresh changes in the name of putting her own stamp on what nobody is calling the War on Terror any longer.
3
Insightful but why does the USA have in iron in this fire at all? We dont see the EU or the UN saying a single word about this or the other civil wars in the region, which is deeply revealing about USA and Obama's pro "endless war" foreign policy.
2
There is nothing anti-war like about Obama's actions. To say otherwise is intellectually dishonest. His illegal war on Libya, which wasn't bothering the West at all, unleashed chaos across North and Subsaharan Africa.
1
The easiest way to see this is as a triumph of realpolitik over idealism. I suspect that the Iranian nuclear negotiations also had something to do with it, as this step would mollify both Sisi and Netanyahu somewhat.
1
Also a way to pressure Iran.
1
The Saudis more than compensated for any temporary suspension of the yearly military aid money we have given to Egypt since the Camp David agreements. How much of that money is spent here?
1
Maybe it is just me but this news item from yesterday continues to gall me. Weapons to an obviously unstable country/government? Obama's Nobel Peace Prize was too soon and (sorry to say it) not remotely deserved. Hillary C is not ideal and she is owned by corporations, but 2 years from now cannot come soon enough.
7
This is morally reprehensible but the fact is foreign policy is driven by interest not consistency or morality.
2
So, Obama froze weapons for Egypt due to their human rights violations. At the same time, he negotiates with Iran who openly supports terrorists in several neighboring countries.
Forget that Iran has never honored a single agreement with the West on nuclear weapons. Forget that they will never renounce their right to develop nuclear weapons or allow an open inspection. Forget that they will never acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Forget that the now rescinded proposal was to send Iran's nuclear fuel to Russia, a country that has invaded its neighbor and defied the US.
Negotiating with Iran is a fools errand. Let's stop the farce.
Forget that Iran has never honored a single agreement with the West on nuclear weapons. Forget that they will never renounce their right to develop nuclear weapons or allow an open inspection. Forget that they will never acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Forget that the now rescinded proposal was to send Iran's nuclear fuel to Russia, a country that has invaded its neighbor and defied the US.
Negotiating with Iran is a fools errand. Let's stop the farce.
9
So what do you propose Gene? Starting a war with a nation of 75 million people?
5
Increase the sanctions. Arm those who oppose Iran's terrorists. Take the raps off Israel.
The idea that you solve anything by reaching an agreement with a bully who has never ever honored an agreement in the past and has never stopped bullying is ridiculous. You stop a bully by whipping his ass. Until that happens, he will continue to bully. Unfortunately, this is reality. It has been proven again and again over centuries. Every kid learns it in grade school. (Jimmy Carter learned it the hard way. Compare his actions to those of Perot's.)
The idea that you solve anything by reaching an agreement with a bully who has never ever honored an agreement in the past and has never stopped bullying is ridiculous. You stop a bully by whipping his ass. Until that happens, he will continue to bully. Unfortunately, this is reality. It has been proven again and again over centuries. Every kid learns it in grade school. (Jimmy Carter learned it the hard way. Compare his actions to those of Perot's.)
2
Gene
The sanction are already total. We are already arming those who oppose Iran (Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states). The wraps are off Israel or do you think Netanyahu takes orders from Obama? So none of these are new proposals so what do you propose that's different from the current situation?
The sanction are already total. We are already arming those who oppose Iran (Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states). The wraps are off Israel or do you think Netanyahu takes orders from Obama? So none of these are new proposals so what do you propose that's different from the current situation?
Another factor for the Obama administration to remove "weapons freeze against Egypt" may be Russia! Putin was in Egypt for two days in February to bolster bilateral ties with Egypt.
Washington had angered Sisi by withholding the delivery of Apache helicopters coveted by his military. Egypt had hoped that Russia could fill the gap. But the problem is that Egypt has an American-built military and to switch to Russian weaponry would cost the Egyptian army substantial amounts of time and investment to adapt!
The administration knows it! So it suits Washington to mend fences with Cairo in light of the turmoil across the Arab world.
Washington had angered Sisi by withholding the delivery of Apache helicopters coveted by his military. Egypt had hoped that Russia could fill the gap. But the problem is that Egypt has an American-built military and to switch to Russian weaponry would cost the Egyptian army substantial amounts of time and investment to adapt!
The administration knows it! So it suits Washington to mend fences with Cairo in light of the turmoil across the Arab world.
5
Will the U. S. ever learn lessons from fiascos in foreign affairs? It was the U. S. illegitimate support to dictator Mubarak, resulting in the latter being overthrown by the Egyptian people. The U. S. failed to declare formal correction of a profoundly irresponsable approach: before all no public apology to the Egyptian people for having pampered their oppressor.
The current weapons freeze removal reflects the U. S. to continue a botched path. It is mired in a diabolic, traditional pattern: support to (illegitimate) regimes in lieu of support to the people of a country. History, unfortunately, does repeat itself.
The current weapons freeze removal reflects the U. S. to continue a botched path. It is mired in a diabolic, traditional pattern: support to (illegitimate) regimes in lieu of support to the people of a country. History, unfortunately, does repeat itself.
7
We did support democracy in Egypt and what we got was the Muslim Brotherhood, who turned out to be far worse for human rights and democracy than Mubarek. What we need to learn is that democracy is not a cure-all and certain institutions need to be in place before democracy can lead to a just and free society. At a minimum these institutions include fair and free elections and a cultural atmosphere of religious tolerance. Egypt had neither.
4
The C.I.A. also helped overthrow Mohammad Mosaddegh after he nationalized Iran’s petroleum industry and the American people have been paying, with our taxes and our dead and wound troops, for that decision ever since. These conflicts our country are involved in have never been about freedom and democracy -- they are about preserving domination over other countries and corporate profit for U.S. national/transnational corporations since at least the 1880’s and earlier. Does anybody remember the Monroe Doctrine? Our leaders are still trying to impose it; now, only globally.
1
About time,the generals may be self-serving but we need them if we want to keep the Mid-East from completely falling apart.They were happy with a secular Egypt & so are we.
4
Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and soviet Russia were secular, too.
2
Egypt when cut off by the US turned to Russia and the EU, and found ready suppliers.
The US was faced with loss of leverage over Egypt, a loss that would accelerate as it lost control over parts and spares and ammo for Egypt's forces.
The US demands a lot of Egypt, and it values that leverage. A big part of what it demands is for Israel, and that cuts to what matters most in such US decisions.
Never mind human rights. This is about important stuff.
The US was faced with loss of leverage over Egypt, a loss that would accelerate as it lost control over parts and spares and ammo for Egypt's forces.
The US demands a lot of Egypt, and it values that leverage. A big part of what it demands is for Israel, and that cuts to what matters most in such US decisions.
Never mind human rights. This is about important stuff.
7
The decision "is in the interest of U.S. national security." No, it isn't: it's in the interest of Israel's national paranoia. Israel needs a strong-man in Cairo who'll keep the pressure on the Palestinians in Gaza. And Egypt needs American weapons to keep the pressure on its own citizens. What the U.S. doesn't need is a foreign policy that makes life easier for friendly despots; we need a foreign policy that will get us safely out of that part of the world and leave the despots to work things out or kill one another as they see fit.
21
And that is why now (!) the Obama administration lifted the embargo? Right after the scourge of the Obama administration, Mr. Netanyahu is re-elected? It would seem to me that the US is signaling to Egypt agreement re the Arab League Saudi coalition in Yemen (and contra the editorial in today's NYT).
Not everything in the Middle East is Israel.
Not everything in the Middle East is Israel.
2
@Joshua Schwartz: Not everything is Israel but most things are, at least insofar as the U.S. is concerned. If al-Sisi suddenly decided to open his border with Gaza our military support to his regime would go immediately down the drain. No doubt we're also happy that he's willing to send troops to Yemen but that alone doesn't account for the magnitude of our financial support.
2
Mr. Freeman, the US policy is in keeping with the op-ed piece suggestions and not connected to Israel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/opinion/nassers-ghost-hovers-over-yeme...®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
The US-Egyptian strategic cooperation, while facilitated by Camp David goes far beyond anything connected with Israel.
President Morsi, while not opening the border with Gaza facilitated the building of tunnels and looked away when massive amounts of weapons were transported through them. This did not hurt US support of Egypt one iota and it certainly was not in Israel's interest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/opinion/nassers-ghost-hovers-over-yeme...®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
The US-Egyptian strategic cooperation, while facilitated by Camp David goes far beyond anything connected with Israel.
President Morsi, while not opening the border with Gaza facilitated the building of tunnels and looked away when massive amounts of weapons were transported through them. This did not hurt US support of Egypt one iota and it certainly was not in Israel's interest.
1
When President Morsi of Egypt was overthrown by a coup d'etat led by army general el-Sisi, President Obama criticized the action and stopped military aid to the new regime. Since then the regime has imprisoned many members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Mr. Morsi, and tortured others. It has also arrested journalists and subjected them to kangaroo trials and imprisonment. The media are tightly controlled by the government.
President Morsi had the unique distinction of being the first and only leader of Egypt elected in a reasonably fair and orderly election in 5,000 years.
What does our new policy of re-arming general el-Sisi and his government with F-16 aircraft and Harpoon missiles tell the citizens of the Middle East: that we are fickle friends of democracy with weak principles and no backbone?
President Morsi had the unique distinction of being the first and only leader of Egypt elected in a reasonably fair and orderly election in 5,000 years.
What does our new policy of re-arming general el-Sisi and his government with F-16 aircraft and Harpoon missiles tell the citizens of the Middle East: that we are fickle friends of democracy with weak principles and no backbone?
16
It tells them that the US is as despotic as their government is. No difference despite superficial cultural differences.
2
Here's a simplified description of the Egyptian public mind in 2011: We've been abused for so long by secular governments and our resources robbed by godless rulers, let's give political Islam a chance. How much worse can it get? So, Morsi was elected by 13 million votes at the polls. However, the night after the victory party was followed by a terrible hangover.
Didn't the MB promise us a democratic process? It seems that the MB's concept of Democracy only pertains to the ballot box. After that it is declared a 600 year theocracy. Forget that constitution. Let's modify it to give Morsi absolute power. The MB took that 13 million votes to mean a mandate for Islamic Sharia.
Now you have these bearded clergy walking the streets and ordering women to cover up with the mandatory hijab. Some are going to Christian homes and mandating Jizya (protection tax). It is not difficult to see the disgust of the Egyptian public. So, 37 million people stood in Tahrir square and demanded that Morsi change or leave. the MB response was simply we either rule you or we burn you.
You know the rest. President El-Sisi was ELECTED by 29 million votes even as the MB and their supporters boycotted the election. So please do not insult the Egyptian people with terms like "military dictatorship." The will of the Egyptian people was fulfilled. Live with it. The MB history has ended.
Didn't the MB promise us a democratic process? It seems that the MB's concept of Democracy only pertains to the ballot box. After that it is declared a 600 year theocracy. Forget that constitution. Let's modify it to give Morsi absolute power. The MB took that 13 million votes to mean a mandate for Islamic Sharia.
Now you have these bearded clergy walking the streets and ordering women to cover up with the mandatory hijab. Some are going to Christian homes and mandating Jizya (protection tax). It is not difficult to see the disgust of the Egyptian public. So, 37 million people stood in Tahrir square and demanded that Morsi change or leave. the MB response was simply we either rule you or we burn you.
You know the rest. President El-Sisi was ELECTED by 29 million votes even as the MB and their supporters boycotted the election. So please do not insult the Egyptian people with terms like "military dictatorship." The will of the Egyptian people was fulfilled. Live with it. The MB history has ended.
11
I traveled through Egypt as a "backpacker" in the summer of 1971 and again in the winter of 1974. There were no American tourists (especially true in 71 as Egypt and Israel were squared off at Suez, and advisors from the USSR were assisting with military and economic matters. US interests were represented by the Swiss Embassy as the US lacked ambassadorial representaion).
What struck me, in addition to the incredible kindness, decency and friendliness of the Egyptian people toward me despite the hardships and pressure brought on by the prospect of facing off against the mightiest country in the planet and its Israeli propaganda machine, was the utterly secular society of the "United Arab Republic" (a failed attempt at merger by the secular-military governments of Syria and Egypt); this became particularly stark when I got to Afghanistan, the first and only place on the overland route to India in which its people practiced the kind of religiosity that the west seems to encounter in 2015.
I've always wondered how/why Egypt (and Lebanon, Syria, et al.) went from secular to religious over the course of 40 years--it's a phenomenon worth considering today; I certainly don't know the answer but neither did but the Bush crew and his neocon cheerleaders, much to the woe of the people of the ME.
What struck me, in addition to the incredible kindness, decency and friendliness of the Egyptian people toward me despite the hardships and pressure brought on by the prospect of facing off against the mightiest country in the planet and its Israeli propaganda machine, was the utterly secular society of the "United Arab Republic" (a failed attempt at merger by the secular-military governments of Syria and Egypt); this became particularly stark when I got to Afghanistan, the first and only place on the overland route to India in which its people practiced the kind of religiosity that the west seems to encounter in 2015.
I've always wondered how/why Egypt (and Lebanon, Syria, et al.) went from secular to religious over the course of 40 years--it's a phenomenon worth considering today; I certainly don't know the answer but neither did but the Bush crew and his neocon cheerleaders, much to the woe of the people of the ME.
10
The will of the Egyptian people was fulfilled? Tell that to the many democratic protesters - not the Brotherhood but the students and human rights advocates who believed in democracy and risked everything for it by daring to speak out against Mubarak in the first place - and now sit in jail.
4
@jordan
Not just Egypt, Lebanon and Syria...think Beijing and London. Chinese Muslim that were secular are now much more covered up and London you don't need introduction. The only explanation I have is the billions Saudi pumped each year into mosques around the world spreading "traditional" value.
Not just Egypt, Lebanon and Syria...think Beijing and London. Chinese Muslim that were secular are now much more covered up and London you don't need introduction. The only explanation I have is the billions Saudi pumped each year into mosques around the world spreading "traditional" value.
4
The Muslim brotherhood murdered Christians and burned church on a weekly basis. Wiping out a religious minority is not a democracy.
12
A democratically elected leader is overthrown by the military, and that leader is thrown in prison. Throughout the turmoil, the overturned government strictly adhered to non-violence, whereas the military shot to death hundreds of unarmed citizens who were protesting in the streets. What is the U.S. response? To resume military aid -- within months -- to the junta that overthrew the democratic civilian government. This is terribly wrong. Speak out.
6
I have followed the Egyptian Arab spring from NY times. What I learned is this. Morsi was elected as a president. He changed the laws against religious minority and trying to implement religious laws in politics. People started protesting all over Egypt to a point army has to taken control of the situation. Brotherhood started attacking police with bombs, burning churches and killing Christians during the process. Election were conducted again, and Sisi earlier appointed as the military commander by Morsi, run for president and won the election. Egypt bombed ISIS strong holds in Libya and declared ISIS as terrorist organisation. Egypt blocked gaza tunnels which are used to traffic guns and arms to Hamas which then used against Israel. What I am missing here?.
8
To John in LA
A different viewpoint. What you described is the stories put out by the NY Times.
Try reading some history and journalism from other countries; or even alternative news sources in this country. Have you ever read “Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq" by Stephan Kinzer? That would be a good start.
A different viewpoint. What you described is the stories put out by the NY Times.
Try reading some history and journalism from other countries; or even alternative news sources in this country. Have you ever read “Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq" by Stephan Kinzer? That would be a good start.
1
Perhaps some common sense is beginning to emerge about what to do in the Middle East - both from us and the leaders in that part of the world. We shall see.......
2
I'm very happy that the people of Egypt rejected the Muslim Brotherhood. They support al-Sisi for the very good reason that they saw what the religious fanatics had to offer when they were in power. We should support al-Sisi as well. I'm only sorry that we removed Saddam Hussien who also prohibited religious fanatics from taking over. Also, he killed far fewer Iraqis to keep order than we did due our invasion and occupation. That has only produced disorder and chaos at a needless cost of $trillions and thousands of American soldiers lives.
13
Can you quantify or prove this so-called "support" for Sisi with any metrics whatsoever, like election results?
5
Principia, Egyptian protests in 2013 brought down Morsi's government and the Egyptian people elected al-Sisi in May, 2014.
6
@simzap
It was a military coup that brought Morsi down. The subsequent election of al-Sisi was a fraud.
It was a military coup that brought Morsi down. The subsequent election of al-Sisi was a fraud.
1
Now that Egypt is ready to use some to kill Yemenis, we do not want to be behind in selling more of the killing machine than other MIC countries. We do need our share of the spoils of wars is the opinion of Nobel Peace Laureate, President Obama.
I wonder if Harpoon missiles could be used for some peaceful purpose, other than killing humanity to save them
BTW the Houthis of Yemen did not attack any other Arab country and they all following the Sunnah of GWB are attacking their country Yemen in order to save Yemenis. Results would be similar to what happened to Saddam
I wonder if Harpoon missiles could be used for some peaceful purpose, other than killing humanity to save them
BTW the Houthis of Yemen did not attack any other Arab country and they all following the Sunnah of GWB are attacking their country Yemen in order to save Yemenis. Results would be similar to what happened to Saddam
6
"I wonder if Harpoon missiles could be used for some peaceful purpose, ..."
Harpoon missiles are ordinarily used against ships, so it would be interesting to know exactly whose ships are considered a likely threat to Egypt.
Harpoon missiles are ordinarily used against ships, so it would be interesting to know exactly whose ships are considered a likely threat to Egypt.
5
Iranian littoral ships, presumably. The US Navy is concerned by the only tactical manuever available to Iran, i.e., the mass. swarming attack on US capital ships. I agree--the Harpoons are not for use in Yemen!
1
@Jordan
Are you trying to tell me that we (US) works both ends of the equation, on one hand work on a peace deal and on the other give Egypt Military the Harpoons for Iranian ships? could they be for use on Israeli flotilla once the ISIS take over the Egyptian government
Are you trying to tell me that we (US) works both ends of the equation, on one hand work on a peace deal and on the other give Egypt Military the Harpoons for Iranian ships? could they be for use on Israeli flotilla once the ISIS take over the Egyptian government
1
Obama tries to fix the instability and chaos in the mid east that his strategy created.
5
Uh, that Dubya guy had *something* to do with the chaos in the Middle East as well, don't ya think? He up-ended Iraq, which led to a power vacuum and inflamed all of the yahoos that Saddam had kept under his thumb. Furthermore, the Sunni-Shia sectarian rift has been brewing for hundreds of years, and the current round of violence is just the latest. Its unfair to blame Obama for the whole mess when many Presidents have got it wrong.
The US should get out of the Middle East and let the regional powers (aka. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt & Israel) sort things out in their neighborhood. Our presence there is a destabilizing factor.
The US should get out of the Middle East and let the regional powers (aka. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt & Israel) sort things out in their neighborhood. Our presence there is a destabilizing factor.
It's understandable. el-Sisi might be running low on guns and bullets to control protestors in Cairo and Alexandria.
3
let the democracy flow
2
Just what the Middle East needs....more weapons. Could we just stop already? Let's build a bridge here at home.
10
Something tells me that we should have ignored Netanyahu's advise and left Khadafi and Assad alone. Also have toppling Saddam Hussein resulted in a more stable Iraq? We have to admit, the policy of imposing so called democracy on the Middle East starting with the neocons and ending with this president has been a systematic failure. Anyway that's just my observation.
11
If Obama had left 10,000-15,000 men in Iraq it would still be stable. He will leave that many in Afghanistan. We don't need troops in Germany,put them where needed.
2
March 31, 2015
This is the rigth decision for the balance of forces i,e, Libya - and indeed protection of the Egyptian people's intenal eruptions - the entire region is in the ice cold winter - I am sure the Obama decision has the support of the friends of America that is join with international efforts to reslove towards moderation - but one can't let mass violence rule.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
This is the rigth decision for the balance of forces i,e, Libya - and indeed protection of the Egyptian people's intenal eruptions - the entire region is in the ice cold winter - I am sure the Obama decision has the support of the friends of America that is join with international efforts to reslove towards moderation - but one can't let mass violence rule.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
2
What to think of a man who gives arms to a military government? Does that indicate his philosophy of how America should be governed?
Egypt's military government used American arms to kill their own protesting opposition after they overthrew the democratically elected government.
Does that indicate President Obama's favor?
President Obama may have won the friendship of the temporary Egyptian military government, but he lost the allegiance of the Egyptian people for scores more years.
This was not a good decision strategically or politically. I suspect it was put forth by Pentagon influence on the President.
Egypt's military government used American arms to kill their own protesting opposition after they overthrew the democratically elected government.
Does that indicate President Obama's favor?
President Obama may have won the friendship of the temporary Egyptian military government, but he lost the allegiance of the Egyptian people for scores more years.
This was not a good decision strategically or politically. I suspect it was put forth by Pentagon influence on the President.
5
"President Obama may have won the friendship of the temporary Egyptian military government"
Mighty big presumption, but more importantly factually wrong. Egypt is now a secular government, based on a secular constitution. So what if the elected president is the former military commander? U.S. presidents Washington, Eisenhower, Grant, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Hayes, and Garfield were all major generals. Was the U.S. a military dictatorship?
" he lost the allegiance of the Egyptian people for scores more years."
Another made up and bold but untrue claim. 92 million Egyptians, most of whom support President E-Sisi, and most of whom are glad the theocracy of the MB is over contradict that claim.
Mighty big presumption, but more importantly factually wrong. Egypt is now a secular government, based on a secular constitution. So what if the elected president is the former military commander? U.S. presidents Washington, Eisenhower, Grant, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Hayes, and Garfield were all major generals. Was the U.S. a military dictatorship?
" he lost the allegiance of the Egyptian people for scores more years."
Another made up and bold but untrue claim. 92 million Egyptians, most of whom support President E-Sisi, and most of whom are glad the theocracy of the MB is over contradict that claim.
3
@AKA: U.S. presidents have always had checks on their ability to wield power, primarily in the form of Congress and the federal courts. There is no comparable check on Morsi's power.
I also don't know why you think most Egyptians support Sisi. The election that put him into power was neither free nor fair. Is it just your hunch that most Egyptians support Sisi, or do you have some objective evidence?
I also don't know why you think most Egyptians support Sisi. The election that put him into power was neither free nor fair. Is it just your hunch that most Egyptians support Sisi, or do you have some objective evidence?
The US has no moral compass. The Egyptian regime is one of the most repressive and cruel in the region, if not the world. It's so sad that principles have no meaning. Maybe we have reached the point where, as Bob Dylan said, "I used to care, but things have changed."
14
Yes, finally a rational recognition that Egypt cannot decend into the chaos that has infected so many parts of the Middle East.
8
More appeasement of tyrants. These generals are terrible and should not be supported.
Sorry to all those people answering here, but the Muslim Brotherhood was ELECTED. We used to respect that. It has nothing to do with Hamas... duh.
Sorry to all those people answering here, but the Muslim Brotherhood was ELECTED. We used to respect that. It has nothing to do with Hamas... duh.
13
The Muslim Brotherhood murdered Christians and burned their Churchrs . One week it was 63 Churches in Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood used democracy like toilet paper. Why Obama supported them, a murderous regime, is a mystery to anyone.
The Muslim Brotherhood used democracy like toilet paper. Why Obama supported them, a murderous regime, is a mystery to anyone.
9
The Muslim brotherhood murdered Christians and burned churches on a regular weekly basis.
The Muslim brotherhood were most definitely the bad guys if you happened to be a Christian living in that country.
And Democracy? The Muslim brotherhood used democracy as toilet paper, a one time use.
The Muslim brotherhood were most definitely the bad guys if you happened to be a Christian living in that country.
And Democracy? The Muslim brotherhood used democracy as toilet paper, a one time use.
3
Yes, the MB was elected and Obama gave that murderous regime an extra $5 billion, which they used to kill religious minorities and political rivals. Are you saying we should be proud of Obama's action simply because those despots were elected?
Iran is backing Houthis and Yemeni military to fight Yemen's president.
Saudi Arabia is backing Yemen's president and Al-Qaeda/ISIS to fight Houthis and Yemen's military
Egypt is back Saudi Arabia by sending ground force to Yemen
US is backing Egypt by providing military aid
=US is indirectly backing Al-Qaeda/ISIS in Yemeni civil war.
Can someone create a vinn diagram for this conflect. I want to see how crazy it is.
Saudi Arabia is backing Yemen's president and Al-Qaeda/ISIS to fight Houthis and Yemen's military
Egypt is back Saudi Arabia by sending ground force to Yemen
US is backing Egypt by providing military aid
=US is indirectly backing Al-Qaeda/ISIS in Yemeni civil war.
Can someone create a vinn diagram for this conflect. I want to see how crazy it is.
14
To be fair...Egypt bombed ISIS territories in Libya. Egypt blocked the tunnels which Hamas used for gun trafficking. Egypt blocked Muslim brotherhood, who happened to be an open supporter of Hamas and also which terrorized Egyptian Military and police.
8
"Can someone create a vinn diagram for this conflect."
With more than three sets, a Venn diagram becomes unusable. For the Arabian peninsula conflicts, a spaghetti chart is needed:
We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
APRIL 26, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/27powerpoint.html
With more than three sets, a Venn diagram becomes unusable. For the Arabian peninsula conflicts, a spaghetti chart is needed:
We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint
By ELISABETH BUMILLER
APRIL 26, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/27powerpoint.html
3
He must have gotten some pressure from the MIC. Profit projections must have not met analysts expectations.
10
Also to reduce unemployment rate..:).
2
As long as the production isn't outsourced to increase corporate profits. Not to mention the national security implications of outsourcing.
This was always a purely symbolic gesture, one done so that the new government could publicly appear to distance themselves from the United States while we could continue to keep our word over nominal commitment to 'democracy'.
What took so long? One of the first things Morsi did was tell the Coptic Christians that they were completely free to practice their religion. Under the Muslim Brotherhood they lived in fear.
Morsi is not perfect, but we can't expect a Jeffersonian Democracy when the major opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood, wants to destroy Democracy and religious freedom.
As for President Obama, he seems to have a greater affinity for the fanatical Ayotallahs in Iran than he does for the Muslim but secular Morsi.
Morsi is not perfect, but we can't expect a Jeffersonian Democracy when the major opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood, wants to destroy Democracy and religious freedom.
As for President Obama, he seems to have a greater affinity for the fanatical Ayotallahs in Iran than he does for the Muslim but secular Morsi.
9
I am relieved and heartened by the strengthening support that the United States is giving to the liberal democracies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in countering the scourge of Shiite extremism. It is after all our role to intervene in the fight among the Sunnis, Shiites, and Wahhabi, just as the Muslims intervened to bring a successful conclusion to centuries of Christian interdenominational fighting, most recently in Northern Ireland.
8
Great timing. Just as the Egyptian government criminally charges people who had the audacity to witness the slaying of a dissident by an Egyptian police officer. Any connection between morality and American foreign policy is purely coincidental.
12
I wonder how much of the motivation to do this unwise act - lifting an arms freeze against Egypt - is motivated by pure, human resentment by Obama against Netanyahu. Regardless, we should not be arming either nation nor should we be the planet's largest arms merchant. I can't help but wonder what the founders of this so-called democracy would think if they were to have been able to foresee the future of the nation they helped create.
7
You sound somewhat high-minded, but your remarks are really just another blaming of President Obama for any and everything.
3
"lifting an arms freeze against Egypt - is motivated by pure, human resentment by Obama against Netanyahu"
Netanyahu SUPPORTS the present Egyptian government and its repression of the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama did what Netanyahu wanted done regarding Egypt. That may or may not be Obama's reason for doing it, but he certainly is not doing it to spite Netanyahu.
That is the anti-Obama paranoia showing.
Netanyahu SUPPORTS the present Egyptian government and its repression of the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama did what Netanyahu wanted done regarding Egypt. That may or may not be Obama's reason for doing it, but he certainly is not doing it to spite Netanyahu.
That is the anti-Obama paranoia showing.
4
We blamed bush for anything and everything, too. This comes with the territory of being president. Obama wanted the job and deserves to be held accountable for his actions.
BY doing this, Obama is rewarding a man whose illegal actions were directly responsible for the rise of Isis in the first place. Sisi cracked down on the Muslim Brother and as a consequence those who would have gone to its ranks went to Isis instead.
Meanwhile, we can thank our own actions in Libya for totally destabilizing that county.
It kills me to think that all of these things that are happening now are the direct continuation of the same bad policies that led to this situation in the first place. By doing this, Obama is doubling down on his own incompetence.
Meanwhile, we can thank our own actions in Libya for totally destabilizing that county.
It kills me to think that all of these things that are happening now are the direct continuation of the same bad policies that led to this situation in the first place. By doing this, Obama is doubling down on his own incompetence.
10
Idiocy brought to you by the Military Industrial Complex and a president who has been shown that the security around him is so lax and incompetent that an incident could happen to him or his family. If he doesn't go along.
And when fanatics eventually control egypt what will happen to the toys?
And when fanatics eventually control egypt what will happen to the toys?
4
This money to a country that plans to arrest witnesses, not shooters, to the shooting death of a peaceful protester.
10
But I'm certain some, including the corporate media, will continue to take Washington's professed love of democracy at face value.
6
Now, if we REALLY wanted to be helpful to Egypt, since we've already lifted the freeze, we should ship them some nukes to allow them to protect themselves against those that it appears we now accept Iran eventually will field.
1
It isn't Iran that would freak out about that.
Iran is already surrounded by nuclear weapons, many far closer, and openly threatened by those powers. Egypt would add nothing to that.
Sure, give them some. Or let Russia do it.
Iran is already surrounded by nuclear weapons, many far closer, and openly threatened by those powers. Egypt would add nothing to that.
Sure, give them some. Or let Russia do it.
Mark:
You'll need to back that up. The only nukes fairly close to Iran that we know about are Israel's; and for a long time, both the Sunni and the Shia obviously have bought off on the fact that Israel keeps them for deterrent reasons, not to make gratuitous war. What's happening with Iran is quite new, and what's happening with her Sunni neighbors Saudi Arabia and Egypt is just as new -- and threatens to put the entire Middle East on the precipice of nuclear war.
You'll need to back that up. The only nukes fairly close to Iran that we know about are Israel's; and for a long time, both the Sunni and the Shia obviously have bought off on the fact that Israel keeps them for deterrent reasons, not to make gratuitous war. What's happening with Iran is quite new, and what's happening with her Sunni neighbors Saudi Arabia and Egypt is just as new -- and threatens to put the entire Middle East on the precipice of nuclear war.
Richard -- Its eastern border is Pakistan, many nukes. Much of the rest of its border is ocean, with the USN ringing it with nukes and much else. It is well with range of Israels nukes in that last direction. To the north is Russia, Putin, lots of nukes. So yes, it is ringed with nukes.
So is guess that Arab Spring thing has come full circle. Is there were the famous Ciaro speach now ends? To bad it was so cool with tweeter feeds and alll that Social media. Like so much esle about Obama can we now admit that a speach is not governance or policy.
10
Well, i Guess as long as el-Sisi of Egypt does not represent a threat to Israel and can keep a tight grip on Hammas and help fight Iran. Who cares about human rights violations and the fact that El Sisi overthrew an elected government and allied himself with the most repressive arab governments.
5
allied himself with the most repressive Arab govt?. Are you mentioning Saudi, Qatar?. We do know that we have an army base in those countries. Dont we?
2
This is so cool! I was just thinking that what we really needed was more weapons in the Mideast.
10
Yet another gift to the tune of $1.2 billion of our tax dollars by Obama to the merchants of war via one of the most brutal regimes on the planet.
8
The last Egyptian military dictator's reign generated current al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and lead 9/11/01 hijacker Muhammad Atta.
What "gift" can America expect from the American alliance with the current Egyptian military dictator?
Meanwhile American appeasement of Saudi Arabian royal theocratic tyrants gave birth to Osama bin-Laden, al Qaeda and 15 of the 19 9/11/01 hijackers.
There is no "freeze" on America inflaming and angering more hearts and minds against America than it wins.
What "gift" can America expect from the American alliance with the current Egyptian military dictator?
Meanwhile American appeasement of Saudi Arabian royal theocratic tyrants gave birth to Osama bin-Laden, al Qaeda and 15 of the 19 9/11/01 hijackers.
There is no "freeze" on America inflaming and angering more hearts and minds against America than it wins.
10
"The last Egyptian military dictator's reign generated current al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and lead 9/11/01 hijacker Muhammad Atta."
Incorrect. The Muslim Brotherhood gave birth to Al-Qaeda. Both Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri were members in the MB.
Incorrect. The Muslim Brotherhood gave birth to Al-Qaeda. Both Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri were members in the MB.
4
The Muslim Brother and their Palestinian branch Hamas have no interest in elections except to take power. There would never have been another vote in Egypt under their rule, just as Hamas allows no opposition to their rule,
6
Umm, isn't that what all elections are about, taking power?
1
The timing of the announcement is quite interesting--on the same day set as a [soft] deadline for a long-sought agreement with Iran on its nuclear program. Even an administration as frequently inept as the Obama administration had to make such an announcement quite deliberately, knowing the messages inherent in it. Strikes me as far more than a desire to enhance Egypt's involvement with Saudi Arabia in Yemen at a difficult moment. This has got to be a message to Tehran as well.
8
Thank you for the comment I have been waiting for. Yes, this is an announcement to pressurize Iran.
2
"Audio recordings of senior Egyptian officials that were leaked Sunday suggest that when Mohamed Morsi was president, the United Arab Emirates gave the Egyptian Defense Ministry and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi money for the protest campaign." - New York Times
All those green lasers were paid for by the oil monarchs, Saudi, UAE, etc., who loath any form of a democracy. The only one who supported Morsi was the young, reformist-minded king of Qatar. Now, he's back in tow.
The protests were so obviously choreographed using the urban/rural political divide in Egypt to produce the appearance of "majority", even though those urban protesters just lost several national elections.
The Wahhabi-minded monarchs are tearing the world down. Sisi is just their puppet. He has no money or power without them. Saudi Arabia negotiated this deal with the White House on Sisi's behalf.
All those green lasers were paid for by the oil monarchs, Saudi, UAE, etc., who loath any form of a democracy. The only one who supported Morsi was the young, reformist-minded king of Qatar. Now, he's back in tow.
The protests were so obviously choreographed using the urban/rural political divide in Egypt to produce the appearance of "majority", even though those urban protesters just lost several national elections.
The Wahhabi-minded monarchs are tearing the world down. Sisi is just their puppet. He has no money or power without them. Saudi Arabia negotiated this deal with the White House on Sisi's behalf.
3
If you think Wahhabi minded Saudi is the worse, then I have a new news for you. ISIS is primarily funded by Qatar, the reformist minded, democratically elected king of Qatar...Did I say democratically elected?
3
You mean: "Seeking in spreading war and instability in the Middle East, President Obama on Tuesday lifted an arms freeze against Egypt." Saudi Arabia and the other puppet kingdoms need it. Did you actually believe that they would shed their own blood?
2
Obama shames his liberal supporters here. His tepid support for elected Morsi was one thing. Now full support of murderous putschists. Shame sir, shame.
11
So, Obama inspired the Arab Spring but has now abandoned it. How many lives did his liberal naivete cost?
7
Not near as many as the right wing conservative GWB wS responsible for in the ill gotten Iraq and Afghanistan WARS.
We should have stuck with/worked with/sanctioned Mubarak who was, after all, an ally.
Didn't take long for 'Spring' to turn to Winter.... without ever having a Summer...
Didn't take long for 'Spring' to turn to Winter.... without ever having a Summer...
7
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."President Eisenhower, 1961 - 3 days prior to leaving office
Hypocrisy born from political expediency - it's a dirty business.
Hypocrisy born from political expediency - it's a dirty business.
2
The announcement timing may have nothing to do with Sisi's Egypt, its or our policies. It may have to do with asserting myopic last-minute deadline pressure to secure the Iran nuclear proliferation deal.
2
Isn't that terrific. Saudi Arabia an absolute monarchy, Egypt who just overthrew a real democracy, right wing governments and Israel. Those are our allies? The US is on the wrong side everywhere I look. I don't like our future.
9
Yes, Israel is our ally even if the president has tried his level best to demonize a democracy that has only tried to secure its future in a very hostile neighborhood. To equate Israel with a dictatorship is beyond unjust and absolutely wrong.
4
The companies that make weapons are very pleased to see this news.
45
I wouldn't be so eager to resume shipping weapons to a government run by people so idiotic that among their first actions was claiming to have invented a hand-held device that diagnoses and completely cures HIV and Hep C.
5
I'm no fan of the Muslim Brotherhood nor Morsi, but, it would have been better if Morsi had finished his four-year term and have the Egyptian people elect another president. That would have laid the groundwork for a democratic society.
Regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, they are not the same group that assassinated Anwar Sadat. They had changed over the years, partly by being driven underground by the Egyptian government, and partly because much of the leadership had changed their views over the years. They looked to other Muslim countries (without oil) such as Malaysia and seeing the economic advance other Muslim countries were making wondered why Egypt did not experience similar economic growth. They reasoned that Egyptian dictators, such as Nasser, held to a socialist ideology that hindered such growth. In short, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood had morphed into an Egyptian "Tea Party" without the old anti-Western rhetoric.
Regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, they are not the same group that assassinated Anwar Sadat. They had changed over the years, partly by being driven underground by the Egyptian government, and partly because much of the leadership had changed their views over the years. They looked to other Muslim countries (without oil) such as Malaysia and seeing the economic advance other Muslim countries were making wondered why Egypt did not experience similar economic growth. They reasoned that Egyptian dictators, such as Nasser, held to a socialist ideology that hindered such growth. In short, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood had morphed into an Egyptian "Tea Party" without the old anti-Western rhetoric.
11
Mark, the problem with Morsi and the Brotherhood completing the term Morsi was elected to is that if the Egyptians had allowed it, they'd be living under the Shariya shroud the Brotherhood was attempting to inflict by changing the constitution and imposing it, after getting elected, just barely, by promising the people that their interest was only in improving the economy. The people asked the Army to intervene -- this wasn't some gratuitous military coup that toppled Morsi.
9
The Obama administration has held a deep grudge against the government ever since Sisi, backed by a massive popular revolt, overthrew Egypt’s short-lived Muslim Brotherhood regime in July 2013. The administration reacted by embargoing arms—even though Egypt had been a longstanding U.S. ally and Sisi’s is a nonradical, anti-terror government.
It was Sisi who, when recently addressing an audience of Sunni clerics at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, called for a more moderate Islam that would not “want to kill the rest of the world’s inhabitants.”
Soon after, Sisi took the unprecedented step for an Egyptian leader of attending mass at a Coptic church.
Sisi also appears likely to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel. The two countries are tacitly collaborating against terror both in Sinai and Gaza, as Sisi cracks down hard on a common enemy—Hamas.
It was Sisi who, when recently addressing an audience of Sunni clerics at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, called for a more moderate Islam that would not “want to kill the rest of the world’s inhabitants.”
Soon after, Sisi took the unprecedented step for an Egyptian leader of attending mass at a Coptic church.
Sisi also appears likely to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel. The two countries are tacitly collaborating against terror both in Sinai and Gaza, as Sisi cracks down hard on a common enemy—Hamas.
6
Despicable. No holder of the Nobel Peace Prize should be unfreezing an arms ban against a nation poised to invade a sovereign nation. Utterly disgraceful meddling at the expense of the lives of countless innocents, and the enrichment of those who do not need it.
16
Wow, from the way only conservative comments are getting through -- and recommended! -- it's very obvious that only conservatives can afford the New York Times now. Good job New York Times!
1
This administration's foreign policy team is simply inept and usually late in responding to rapidly changing events in the Middle East and around the world. Obama first dithered for weeks following the ouster of Morsi and then petulantly cut off military aid, thereby alienating not only Sisi and the Egyptian military but the public at large who were clamoring for the ouster of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood after they ran the country and the economy into the ground. In contrast, immediately after Morsi's ouster, Saudi Arabia and the UAE stepped in and provided the Egyptian government with an initial grant of $12 Billion in aid and much more since then, dwarfing the withdrawn US aid. As a result, Egypt then turned to Russia to meet its military needs.
Now that Obama's crack foreign policy team wants the Egyptian military to join the Saudi armed forces and 9 other nations in taking on the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, another Obama foreign policy nightmare, Obama and Susan Rice suddenly realize they need to provide weaponry and planes to the Egyptian military and decide it's OK to do so. This highly inconsistent course of conduct, the failure to enforce Obama's declared red-line in Syria and events in Iraq all indicate to both our allies and our enemies around the world that this administration is both inept and inconsistent, doesn't know what it's doing and cannot be relied upon.
Now that Obama's crack foreign policy team wants the Egyptian military to join the Saudi armed forces and 9 other nations in taking on the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, another Obama foreign policy nightmare, Obama and Susan Rice suddenly realize they need to provide weaponry and planes to the Egyptian military and decide it's OK to do so. This highly inconsistent course of conduct, the failure to enforce Obama's declared red-line in Syria and events in Iraq all indicate to both our allies and our enemies around the world that this administration is both inept and inconsistent, doesn't know what it's doing and cannot be relied upon.
4
In 2011, large popular protests in Egypt led to the military taking over and leading to presidential elections that Morsi won. (Pundits cheered)
In 2013, large popular protests in Egypt led to the military taking over and leading to presidential elections that Sisi won. (Pundits booed)
Oh life.
In 2013, large popular protests in Egypt led to the military taking over and leading to presidential elections that Sisi won. (Pundits booed)
Oh life.
5
Tens of thousands of Egyptians were killed during the military coup that ended elected democracy in Egypt in 2013. Tens of thousands more - often young men and women - are now jailed and tortured - women raped - in Egypt's jails today. Tahrir Square could never again now become the site of mass demonstrations in favor of democracy - it's under massive military guard at all times!
Hosni Mubarak - who suppressed democracy for thirty years and helped the Egyptian military and security services take over and now run almost forty per cent of the entire Egyptian economy - and run it so badly for decades that Egypt is one of the poorest nation's on Earth - has been set free. The only Egyptian senior general to be convicted of corruption has had his sentence reversed and been freed.
And now, the U.S. President has rehabilitated and given his imprimatur to one of the most repressive military dictatorships in the world!
In short, here in America, we have learned absolutely no lessons from three decades of failed foreign policy. We are about to make the same mistakes all over again.
Please President Obama, if you value America's leadership in the world, you have to stand up against this kind of bloody regime that blights the futures of so many young people in the Middle East. If you do not, they will not trust or believe in us later. Learn the Lesson Now!
Hosni Mubarak - who suppressed democracy for thirty years and helped the Egyptian military and security services take over and now run almost forty per cent of the entire Egyptian economy - and run it so badly for decades that Egypt is one of the poorest nation's on Earth - has been set free. The only Egyptian senior general to be convicted of corruption has had his sentence reversed and been freed.
And now, the U.S. President has rehabilitated and given his imprimatur to one of the most repressive military dictatorships in the world!
In short, here in America, we have learned absolutely no lessons from three decades of failed foreign policy. We are about to make the same mistakes all over again.
Please President Obama, if you value America's leadership in the world, you have to stand up against this kind of bloody regime that blights the futures of so many young people in the Middle East. If you do not, they will not trust or believe in us later. Learn the Lesson Now!
21
It's about time, Mr. Obama.
3
The President has obviously come to the realization that in the Middle East, there are no ideal allies. There is no ideal anything. There is just tolerable, bad and horrific.
Abdel el-Sisi is no angel, but compared to other actors in the region, he is tolerable. His nation is stable and he has taken a firm stand against ISIS and Sunni fanatic extremism. We may not like his methods of repression, but he is doing what is necessary to hold the place together.
War is coming. In fact, with the hostilities in Yemen, it has already started.
The Sunni Arab states are aligning to battle ISIS and the Shia Persians. Everything we have seen develop in the last several weeks indicates nothing else. Let's not kid ourselves by trying not to be alarmist. It's long past time to sound the alarm. We keep holding out hope that talks and negotiations will calm the situation. This is the Middle East, a place where talking doesn't matter.
The region and the world needs a well armed and powerful Egypt to lead the charge. The realignment of the region has begun. Obama has done the right thing.
Abdel el-Sisi is no angel, but compared to other actors in the region, he is tolerable. His nation is stable and he has taken a firm stand against ISIS and Sunni fanatic extremism. We may not like his methods of repression, but he is doing what is necessary to hold the place together.
War is coming. In fact, with the hostilities in Yemen, it has already started.
The Sunni Arab states are aligning to battle ISIS and the Shia Persians. Everything we have seen develop in the last several weeks indicates nothing else. Let's not kid ourselves by trying not to be alarmist. It's long past time to sound the alarm. We keep holding out hope that talks and negotiations will calm the situation. This is the Middle East, a place where talking doesn't matter.
The region and the world needs a well armed and powerful Egypt to lead the charge. The realignment of the region has begun. Obama has done the right thing.
7
Al-Qaeda and ISIS/ISIL are Sunni; you got it backward. The Sunni states are banding together to support ISIS against Iranian backed Shia government/regime/faction in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
4
It's about time! Arming friends to kill enemies is the first smart thing Obama's done to defeat, not appease, our enemies.
4
I am a big fan of our president, but if there is one giant failure in his foreign policy it is in the Middle East, centered at Cairo. Early on he went to Cairo
and gave an idealistic speech. But the realities of a Muslim Brotherhood
government were not to be stomached and he has strongly supported el-Sisi.
We have seen Egypt go from Mubarak to el-Sisi. All of the hopes that Omaba
himself helped kindle have been crushed.
and gave an idealistic speech. But the realities of a Muslim Brotherhood
government were not to be stomached and he has strongly supported el-Sisi.
We have seen Egypt go from Mubarak to el-Sisi. All of the hopes that Omaba
himself helped kindle have been crushed.
2
As he tries to mend fences with Iran in Switzerland, the president is facilitating Egypt's war to oppose Iran's proxy forces in Yemen, but if the Houthis are defeated AQAP and ISIS will fill the vacuum and make life for Shiites a living hell.
I may not agree with all of president Obama's choices, but I'm glad I don't have to make them.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
I may not agree with all of president Obama's choices, but I'm glad I don't have to make them.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
9
Excellent. This is a clear signal to Iran that the US is going to start pouring a few more resources onto the other side of the gameboard, and thus they better make a deal now regarding their nuclear enrichment.
3
As Flynn said: "The Willful Ignorance" foreign policy. Obama, Obama, Obama!
3
Nothing like political expedience to move things along. These are the guys who will be doing the fighting for the Saudis, et al.
2
The Obama administration has no plan, no clue and no chance to succeed in the Middle East. The guy who got elected by relentlessly criticizing G.W. Bush's Middle East policy has completely trumped his predecessor! Not as easy as it looks, is it? What a disaster Obama's foreign "policy" has been.
27
Nonsense. Just say it. You and the other neocons want to "Bomb, bomb Iran ". Or we could send a couple of million troops and let them burn $10 Trillion more. That is the only foreign policy you know.
7
So how would have President Romney's Middle East Policy been different? Given past GOP performance in that area by the Bushes, it would seem that Mitt and Bibi would be already at war as allies against Iran and maybe Syria. Would you or your loved one be ready to grab a weapon and go fight in that war?
4
@Birdsong
Larry is right to some extend. Neither the left nor the right knows how to handle foreign policy. They don't know becuase there are so many interest groups pulling the strings a coherent foreign policy is impossible. Do you think if Hilary is elected she is going to stop the worsening relationship with Russia, China, Europe and the Middle East?
Larry is right to some extend. Neither the left nor the right knows how to handle foreign policy. They don't know becuase there are so many interest groups pulling the strings a coherent foreign policy is impossible. Do you think if Hilary is elected she is going to stop the worsening relationship with Russia, China, Europe and the Middle East?
7
Never miss an opportunity to sell more weapons at taxpayer expense, especially considering the stability US weapons have brought to the Middle East.
57
It is the Arabs who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity!
2
Billion's worth of weapons to the Middle East . . . . Great, just what the region needs more of. Peace and stability are no doubt shortly due in coming.
What has become of all the weapons that we've been sending over there in the past? What, they're become out-dated or something?
Considering that the main supposed enemy's trade mark is their proficiency wielding knives, I can easy see how all these new weapons systems are a high priority, considering any foe's technological "cutting edge" prowess.
What has become of all the weapons that we've been sending over there in the past? What, they're become out-dated or something?
Considering that the main supposed enemy's trade mark is their proficiency wielding knives, I can easy see how all these new weapons systems are a high priority, considering any foe's technological "cutting edge" prowess.
3
We are back to square one where Egypt is concerned. I remember some 'Spring' happening on Taharir Square!
3
Obama/Kerry foreign policy is a JOKE! No clue on the real issues! I can't wait for Obama?Kerry's term to finish!
13
I just hope you do not want return of Bush/Chenny, who created this mess. Obama cleared the fiscal mess, hope he will triumph in this foreign policy mess also. Let Iran be the new allie and let Israel be the one-state. Also gradually strengthen the secularists in Egypt and convince Sisi to be like Ata-Turk.
Mr Obama seems to be dumping fuel all over the already raging Sunni Vs Shia Inferno.
Is it intentional or is he just a poor statesman?
Is it intentional or is he just a poor statesman?
27
Because they weren't already set on fire by the Cheney/Bush administration? Come on!
1
False choice. Things are always more complex than commenters pretend they are.
3
I'm beginning to wonder.
2
A wise move. The reality is there are no good options with Egypt, just "less bad" ones. In a region racked with instability and terrorism, the rational, pragmatic action is to side with the more stable option. Such is realpolitik. Outraged ideologues should pour yourselves a stiff drink and accept the real world.
23
"side with the more stable option"
Sorry but describing Egypt as stable is laughable.
Sorry but describing Egypt as stable is laughable.
7
I didn't exactly say that, rather I described Egypt under Sisi as the "more stable" option compared to the other option where the US delegitimizes his government. Reasonable folk would say this given today's Middle East that mine is an accurate assessment, firebrand revolutionary types would not I suppose....
2
1. We need to just shut up about promoting democracy, civil rights and the rule of law.
2. See 1, above.
2. See 1, above.
40
Read: Americans can't bomb Yemen, so Egypt will do it for them. Sisi does a solid for the US in return for a blind eye to internal oppression.
20
"... Americans can't bomb Yemen ..."
Why not?
Why not?
Do drones over Yemen carry rose petals and incense?
2
I guess some people thing America can bomb any one it wants, don't you? Why can't America stay within its borders?
3
Arming a military dictatorship that overthrew a democratically elected government will not endear us to the people of the Middle East. George W Bush said that they hated us for our freedom. I think there may be more to it than that.
42
It's moments like these that make me feel so disappointed in Obama. I respect the President and I would vote for him again but this is one of those moments when I wish he would take a moral stand. The current government of Egypt overthrew a democratically elected President in a military coup and, ever since, has shown itself to be ruthless and violently intolerant of dissent, whether in the form of imprisoned bloggers or peaceful marchers, like Shaimaa el-Sabbagh, shot by in cold blood by a policeman. As an example of the government's complicity in the murder of Ms. el-Sabbagh, their top forensic scientist has blamed her death on her weight and prosecutors are now threatening to bring charges against witnesses. It should be an embarrassment to all Americans that we are supporting yet another authoritarian police state and with weapons of terror, no less, that will inevitably be used against free-thinking, politically active Egyptians themselves. RIP Shaimaa el-Sabbagh, RIP Arab Spring in Egypt.
9
"It should be an embarrassment to all Americans that we are supporting yet another authoritarian police state..."
Well, all except those Americans who want to see an American police state...
Well, all except those Americans who want to see an American police state...
2
Ah yes, spy on the press, bug your European allies, sic the IRS on your opponents and destroy government documents. Oh what that was the Obama and Clinton administration.
If Obama gets a nuclear deal, he'll have to give the sunni monarchs lots of love in terms of bombs and war. Yemen has exploded but Israel seems quite chill. They have nuclear bombs, US intelligence, the Iron Dome and the knowledge that Iran can't bomb them because the US would attack. Also, the Supreme Leader is pragmatic and does not preside over a death cult.
Saudi Arabia, in comparison, has some death cultish tendencies. Sunni support Al Qaada and Isis. Just in the past week, the Gulf states have thrown themselves into the cauldron of Yemen without strategic planning with the US.
Obama needs to take control lest be drawn into a US ground war on the Saudis' terms. Yemen was a disaster all along and he lied about it. We used Yemen as a field office, setting up a puppet government to do our bidding, drone killed real terrorists plus Al Qaada suspects without addressing the grievances of the people or help Yemenis achieve their aspirations. Obama should appoint a special envoy, establish no fly zones, provide refugee relief, and go to the UN and get negotiations started immediately.
He will not get credit for an Iran nuclear deal nor the moral victory of shutting down Guantanamo if Yemen disintegrates into a hot war. Furthermore, the situation won't be in better control by arming Egypt's dictator.
In the 2016 election, the Republican platform will be peace, prosperity and arms reduction in the middle east. And I will weep.
Saudi Arabia, in comparison, has some death cultish tendencies. Sunni support Al Qaada and Isis. Just in the past week, the Gulf states have thrown themselves into the cauldron of Yemen without strategic planning with the US.
Obama needs to take control lest be drawn into a US ground war on the Saudis' terms. Yemen was a disaster all along and he lied about it. We used Yemen as a field office, setting up a puppet government to do our bidding, drone killed real terrorists plus Al Qaada suspects without addressing the grievances of the people or help Yemenis achieve their aspirations. Obama should appoint a special envoy, establish no fly zones, provide refugee relief, and go to the UN and get negotiations started immediately.
He will not get credit for an Iran nuclear deal nor the moral victory of shutting down Guantanamo if Yemen disintegrates into a hot war. Furthermore, the situation won't be in better control by arming Egypt's dictator.
In the 2016 election, the Republican platform will be peace, prosperity and arms reduction in the middle east. And I will weep.
Even as a closet muslim, it's a good thing for obama to lift the Egyptian Arms Freeze. Perhaps even obama now realizes/accepts the wisdom of the ancient Crusaders, i.e., 'The West can settle for nothing less than the complete destruction, the total annihilation of islam.' So mote it be..
If the west wants the complete destruction of islam or even just Arab /Persian islam it has more than enough nuclear megatonnage to do the job now without having to wait for WW III Islam against the west.
So now we can add General (ahem) President Sisi to the exclusive club of autocrats and dictators that includes Mr. Somoza, Duvalier, Pinochet, the Shah, the Argentinian Junta, Rios Montt...
Andso we can also add Mr. Obama to the long list of Presidents that, blinded by expediency and desperation ended up renegading the Principles of Liberty and Democracy that built this Nation, and instead became abettors and bankers for corrupt strongmen that butchered their own people while they pocketed American "aid."
Yet there is one constant in all of these autocrats. Their regimes fell, and the US ended far worse off by having placed its lot with tyrants, and so this will be the case --again.
Andso we can also add Mr. Obama to the long list of Presidents that, blinded by expediency and desperation ended up renegading the Principles of Liberty and Democracy that built this Nation, and instead became abettors and bankers for corrupt strongmen that butchered their own people while they pocketed American "aid."
Yet there is one constant in all of these autocrats. Their regimes fell, and the US ended far worse off by having placed its lot with tyrants, and so this will be the case --again.
20
Though I agree with the intended goal of this argument. We must acknowledge that neither the American Revolution nor the adoption of our Constitution were intended to build a broad based democracy but rather to increase the power of plantation-slave-owners, merchant-pirates, and financiers. And that those who support more-limited government over the rights of the working classes and the poor have mostly maintained power ever since.
The Muslim brotherhood was given a chance in Egypt to demonstrate it's ability to run the country for all the people, they failed miserably, and were rejected. A certain stability pervades the land since the military took over and el-Sisi seems to have things under control. This seems like a good move to develop an alliance and strengthen resistance to ISIL incursions .
16
So...since the Republicans are busy taking away the rights of women and gay people all across America, running up massive deficits with their tax cuts, getting us into wars based on lies, and even though they have been democratically elected, does that mean we should overthrown them, too?
3
Nothing says "I love you" like the gift of a fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
Peace and Joy to All.
Peace and Joy to All.
28
According to NPR, 12 F-16s are being released, so that would be a squadron. The term "fleet" is not used by the USAF:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_United_States_Air_Force
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_United_States_Air_Force
1
So that democracy thing in the Mideast is over now, huh?
11
SC
The "...democracy thing..." can be defined as a well-meant but naive attempt to establish democracy in countries that are not ready for it. It will take some more time and patience for us to help them figure it out for themselves. We just need to make sure we are a good model for them to follow. So, yes, that "thing" is over.
The "...democracy thing..." can be defined as a well-meant but naive attempt to establish democracy in countries that are not ready for it. It will take some more time and patience for us to help them figure it out for themselves. We just need to make sure we are a good model for them to follow. So, yes, that "thing" is over.
A serious mistake, but classic wishy-washy Obama !
19
The eleventh commandment in life is that you dance with the girl you brought to the party and take her home afterwards.
We did not do that for Mubarak and eventually Egyptians paid a heavy price for our disloyalty to him. Hopefully the President will now stay a while with. el-Sisi.
We did not do that for Mubarak and eventually Egyptians paid a heavy price for our disloyalty to him. Hopefully the President will now stay a while with. el-Sisi.
8
Huh? How did "the people? pay a price? You mean the people who were democratically elected? As far as I can see, they were the only one who paid "a price." They are now all being rounded up and jailed.
1
Sadly predictable. Almost any other president would not have waited this long and it has long been clear how badly the administration wanted the Morsi government to succeed. This is probably something the president wanted to do as quietly as possible, credit to Mr. Baker for illuminating it because it is an important step. The Arab Spring already seems like it happened a long time ago; absent a fledging Tunisian government, we could pretty much put quotation marks around the term now. That was sadly predictable, too.
10
Dictatorship is back in place. Let's continue to support freedom.
5
All our efforts in the Middle East have been abject failures and have contributed and/or been a major factor in unrest, continuing war, rise of ISIS, increased hatred of the US and unimaginable suffering for the people.
Here's a radical idea: The United States should stay out of the Middle East and focus on rebuilding America. Leave the Middle East to the Middle East.
Here's a radical idea: The United States should stay out of the Middle East and focus on rebuilding America. Leave the Middle East to the Middle East.
65
Americans abetting ruthless dictators. Good work, “Peace Prize” Obama. I don’t think the Egyptian people will soon forget.
33
We live in complex world. President Obama's values would surely cause him to lean toward NOT aiding ruthless dictators. On the other hand, the middle east is the A--hole of humanity, with those who live therein demonstrating little regard for human life, or for civilization overall. They lie with a smile, kill their perceived enemies with impunity, use women and children as human bombs, and really are not fit to inhabit a relatively civilized world.
So yes, dictators like Sisi and for that matter Saddam Hussein, weren't and aren't nice guys, but in the Middle East they can provide stability, albeit an uncomfortable one, to the region.
As an equivalency, In the 1970s and '80s, NYC was a metropolis in free fall, with crime, violence, graft, murder, etc., covering the city. Rudy Giuliani, a "leader" who led like a dictator, violating the rights of many citizens, was necessary to change the flow and make NYC habitable again. He is lauded for his leadership in 9/11, but that event was bigger than him and all of us. But I will certain acknowledge that his behavior as mayor in fixing NY, which made many NYers very uncomfortable, was what was needed back then.
Right now, the middle east needs a few dictators to keep the uncivilized in their place.
So yes, dictators like Sisi and for that matter Saddam Hussein, weren't and aren't nice guys, but in the Middle East they can provide stability, albeit an uncomfortable one, to the region.
As an equivalency, In the 1970s and '80s, NYC was a metropolis in free fall, with crime, violence, graft, murder, etc., covering the city. Rudy Giuliani, a "leader" who led like a dictator, violating the rights of many citizens, was necessary to change the flow and make NYC habitable again. He is lauded for his leadership in 9/11, but that event was bigger than him and all of us. But I will certain acknowledge that his behavior as mayor in fixing NY, which made many NYers very uncomfortable, was what was needed back then.
Right now, the middle east needs a few dictators to keep the uncivilized in their place.
1
What a complete joke Barack Obama bring awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Every time someone ,mentions it again the very idea becomes more absurd. If Obama wanted to display some integrity he would return it saying he knows he never deserved it in the first place and even less now.
Disgraceful! el-Sisi is a dictator who overthrew the rightfully democratically elected President Morsi and has led a brutal regime of oppression and murder since then. And we line up like sheep to give him guns and money. How come we are so appalled by the totalitarian methods of Assad but not el-Sisi. This is more of our craven and hypocritical foreign policy in the Middle East. This is why I no longer am a Democrat. They act as militaristically as Republicans.
22
Maybe you are right. But we should have stayed with our allies and not changed horses. For one important reason. The Muslim extremist groups freaking hate the United States.
Heck, long before W, we helped Afghanistsn expel the Soviet Union from that country. How did that work out?
Face it. There is nothing we can do to gain the confidence of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. No amount of "aw shucks I'm one of you" speechifying by the President. 'I used to hear the Muslim call to prayer everyday as a boy.' Give me a break. Talk about naive!
Now we are back filling and we look stupid and weak. The worst thing you can do in dealing with Arabia is appear weak.
The same weakness is apparent to the Persians of Iran.
Obama and Kerry are the JV.
Heck, long before W, we helped Afghanistsn expel the Soviet Union from that country. How did that work out?
Face it. There is nothing we can do to gain the confidence of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood. No amount of "aw shucks I'm one of you" speechifying by the President. 'I used to hear the Muslim call to prayer everyday as a boy.' Give me a break. Talk about naive!
Now we are back filling and we look stupid and weak. The worst thing you can do in dealing with Arabia is appear weak.
The same weakness is apparent to the Persians of Iran.
Obama and Kerry are the JV.
8
Way to go Barry! Now our clients can really whack those Iranians.
8
This, the day after Sisi arrested a "witness" who testified that government forces shot a protester. A witness. They even arrest witnesses. Appalling and disgusting. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Sisi is worse than Mubarak. Additionally, the world knows Sisi and Saudi Arabia are supporting the small but vicious forces of ISIS in Yemen in their fight against the much more populous Houthis, who represent half of Yemen's population.
How does a foreign nation justify firing upon and slaughtering half a nation's population, especially when this half is fighting the detestable and infamous AQ and ISIS?
How does a foreign nation justify firing upon and slaughtering half a nation's population, especially when this half is fighting the detestable and infamous AQ and ISIS?
33
Aha! So now the government of the 'greatest democracy in the world' is going to support the current government of Egypt which took power by a coup d'état over the previous democratically elected government. Where is the moral high ground, Mr. President? Or does any of that matter anymore?
14
So much for the law in the US that forbids us from providing arms to human rights violators.
58
When Obama goes to Saudi Arabia to honor the head of a violent and cruel theocracy how can anyone continue to beleive that human rights is even an issue for him at all.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. In order to help the Egyptians defeat insurgents you have to help them with weapons, while at the same time criticizing them for harsh internal repression.
I might be inclined to attach some stipulations to this weapons delivery. Are you with me Mr. President?
I might be inclined to attach some stipulations to this weapons delivery. Are you with me Mr. President?
4
Or? Do nothing and get the heck out of the Middle East altogether.
Oh, that's right. We're addicted to big cars and houses heated with Middle Eastern oil. My bad! Send in the drones...
Oh, that's right. We're addicted to big cars and houses heated with Middle Eastern oil. My bad! Send in the drones...
9
Grow Up. The US is certainly NOT dependent on Mid-East oil. In fact we could be entirely free of non-North American oil in a few more years!
1
Obama has proven to be a thoroughly naive, incompetent, and delusional president. Him being a narcissist, he would never admit nor learn that he has made a mistake, hence never will learn from history.
The one thing he has managed to successfully accomplish, was to surpass Jimmy Carter as the worst president in US history.
Just as the world is paying for Jimmy Carter’s lack of judgement/mistakes from decades ago, we will be paying dearly for Obama’s mistakes in the next 5 decades.
The one thing he has managed to successfully accomplish, was to surpass Jimmy Carter as the worst president in US history.
Just as the world is paying for Jimmy Carter’s lack of judgement/mistakes from decades ago, we will be paying dearly for Obama’s mistakes in the next 5 decades.
10
You went too far equating Obama with Jimmy Carter. Carter was a great man who managed to not only keep us out of war while he was president, but to negotiate a peace-deal in the Middle East.
No other president since Carter has had the courage to tell the American people the truth AND do the right thing.
In hindsight, and considering the Dick Cheney/George W. Bush reign (they did serve as if they were King and Queen) only the most extreme among us can now call Carter "the worst president in history."
No other president since Carter has had the courage to tell the American people the truth AND do the right thing.
In hindsight, and considering the Dick Cheney/George W. Bush reign (they did serve as if they were King and Queen) only the most extreme among us can now call Carter "the worst president in history."
19
Wow, if he's the worst in your opinion, where does George W. rank? 9/11, Iraq war, financial collapse, etc, etc.
7
Read your post Noanoa about President Obama, then removed Obama from your opening sentence, substituted Messrs. Bush/Cheney and then what you wrote made perfect sense. Stop using anything and everything negative that happens as Obama's fault. It isn't and you know it. And you say that Carter was the worst US president ?- there are others competing for that title -but the standouts are Richard Nixon and Bush 2 with assistance for awfulness provided by D. Cheney.
1
I'm rarely at a loss for words, but of late, when it comes to the disaster that is the Middle East, I'm fresh out.
26
Previously Obama supported Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt has been a steadfast US ally, and we need to support our allies.
This excludes the Muslim Brotherhood, which briefly gained power in Egypt.
This excludes the Muslim Brotherhood, which briefly gained power in Egypt.
14
Excuse me, they gained power through a fair and democratic election ... and they lost power in a military coup d'état. So now America should support those that are in the wrong?
8
The Muslim Brotherhood gained power through an election and proceeded to restrict the rights of Egyptians,
Just like Putin. You like Putin because he was elected?
How about Hitler? He also was elected.
Just like Putin. You like Putin because he was elected?
How about Hitler? He also was elected.
29
R. R.
Yeah, just like Republicans are doing all across America. Remember, "elections have consequences." At least, that's what Republicans always say -- when THEY win elections, that is.
Yeah, just like Republicans are doing all across America. Remember, "elections have consequences." At least, that's what Republicans always say -- when THEY win elections, that is.
5