Egyptian government, US supported?

joseph brand

Someone told me the Egyptian president was 'put' here by the US.

Is this so? No mention of it on wiki.

Slight mention in the news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12300282

The military, the West, and many powerful and rich people here have a big investment in keeping President Mubarak, or at least ensuring an orderly transition to another leader friendly to the West and to business.

He's 82 for fecks sake. Give it up man.

darragh16

joseph brand wrote: »

Is this so? No mention of it on wiki.

Should've just edited it on wiki before starting this thread...

tricky D

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/politics/us-foreign-aid.htm

$1.5 Billion - nothing new

Son Of A Vidic

OP - surely you do realise that the US has many versions of 'Democracy'? It just depends on the strategic political, economic or military value a particular country may hold.

joseph brand

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

OP - surely you do realise that the US has many versions of 'Democracy'? It just depends on the strategic political, economic or military value a particular country may hold.

Well yes of course. Just wondering about Egypt in particular.

I know that when the US is unhappy with some rulers/ dictators, they oust said person and all of a sudden there's a man waiting to take their place who sees the US' points of view. All fine and dandy.

I suppose some would call these 'Conspiracy theories'. Closed-minded people.

My name is URL

Not sure of their involvement in propping up Mubarak but they have a long history of covertly bringing about regime changes to suit their own agenda

FatherTed

Yes correct the US gives money to Egypt. And about a hundred other countries too including Ireland.

Stinicker

A pro-US friendly Egyptian government is in both the US and Ireland's needs though. Every single drop of oil from the middle east flows through the Suez Canal and if there was to be a regime change in Egypt that happened to be Islamist or anti-Western then oil would sky rocket to over $200/barrel if the Suez canal was closed as it would have be shipped thousands of miles south around the Cape of Good Hope and most of the goods from China would double in price or be forced to ship via the Panama Canal instead.

Regime change is good and the entire Arab world is about to descend into chaos due to the spiralling oil and food costs which will trigger unrest in several islamic countries.

orourkeda

joseph brand wrote: »

Someone told me the Egyptian president was 'put' here by the US.

Is this so? No mention of it on wiki.

Slight mention in the news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12300282



He's 82 for fecks sake. Give it up man.

The gospel according to wikipedia

Augmerson

I think behind Turkey and Israel, Egypt was the biggest recepient of US military aid in the eastern hemisphere. The US also conducts military exercises with Egypt and most of the hardware and equipment Egypt's army, navy and air force uses is either US made or procured.

Keeping Egypt onside and not against Israel is very important to US interests and Israeli interests which have ofen go hand in hand. Also the Suez is strategically very important.

bobblepuzzle

In a diplomatic sense, it makes sense to be friends with Egypt... they have resources there such as oil... Ireland have great relations with Egypt for the exact same reason, diplomacy at work people!

dsmythy

The US's man in office, or god knows who to replace him. Which to choose

Manic Moran

Augmerson wrote: »

I think behind Turkey and Israel, Egypt was the biggest recepient of US military aid in the eastern hemisphere.

Actually, behind Israel, Egypt is the biggest recipient of US military aid in the world.

The US also conducts military exercises with Egypt and most of the hardware and equipment Egypt's army, navy and air force uses is either US made or procured.

The largest regularly scheduled military exercises the US carries out anywhere in the world are in Egypt. Egypt is also the only non-US manufacturer of the Abrams tank (Though reportedly their quality control isn't very good).

The country is also, by middle-Eastern standards, fairly democratic, and not yet another source of tension against Israel.

So while the US probably had little to do with Mubarak's being in power, they are more than just tolerant of his government.

NTM

bobblepuzzle

Manic Moran wrote: »

.
NTM

What does it mean?

Johro

My name is URL wrote: »

Not sure of their involvement in propping up Mubarak but they have a long history of covertly bringing about regime changes to suit their own agenda

Yeah they've been propping up Mubarak alright, among others. The Saudi royal family comes to mind, they're the main reason Al Qaeda was formed. Syria and Jordan for leaving Israel be, and not supporting the Palestinians. US politicians are as hypocritical as any countries' politicians.

Johro

joseph brand wrote: »

He's 82 for fecks sake. Give it up man.

His son has been groomed to take over. Some 'democracy'.

_Whimsical_

It's just on the news now that Egypt has cut off the entire Internet there after cutting off twitter and facebook intermittently all day. Apparently there are rumours that electricity and water will be cut off tonight in Cairo.

Sounds like it's going to get worse and worse there.

Manic Moran

bobblepuzzle wrote: »

What does it mean?

My initials.

NTM