[Peace-discuss] From Obama's man in Cairo

[C. G. Estabrook]

I don't think the U.S. is particularly worried about driving young Egypt into 
the arms of Al Qaeda, because (a) it's not very likely: the closest analogue to 
AQ is the Muslim Brotherhood, who despite some US propaganda have been playing a 
subsidiary role in the opposition; and (b) the real threat for the USG is 
independence - an Egyptian government (or other government) that doesn't follow 
Washington's orders, whatever its ideological stripe.

Thus the US and its allies have regularly supported radical Islamists, often to 
prevent the threat of secular nationalists who would be disobedient. A familiar 
example is Saudi Arabia, the ideological center of radical Islam (and of Islamic 
terror). Another in a long list is Zia ul-Haq, the most brutal of Pakistan's 
dictators and President Reagan's favorite, who carried out a program of radical 
Islamization (with Saudi funding), the source to some extent of both the Taliban 
and AQ.

Also I think the suggestion in the cartoon isn't quite right: the US is not a 
petroleum junkie - it's the godfather, determined that no one else horn in on 
the drug trade over which it presides...


On 2/5/11 7:36 PM, Ron Szoke wrote:
> According to a recent report, the poohbahs in the State Deparment
> have discounted Wisner's recommendation with a comment to the effect
> that "it's just his opinion."   So maybe there is some hope of a settlement
> that will not drive young Egypt into the arms of Al Quaeda.
>
> -- Ron