Egypt approves Libya deployment, risking clash with Turkey

Egypt’s parliament has authorized the deployment of troops outside the country after the president threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in Libya

- Egypt’s parliament on Monday authorized the deployment of troops outside the country, a move that could escalate the spiraling war in Libya after the president threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in the oil-rich country.

A troop deployment in Libya could bring Egypt and Turkey, close U.S. allies that support rival sides in the conflict, into direct confrontation.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has called the strategic coastal city of Sirte a “red line” and warned that any attack on the city, which sits near Libya’s main oil-export terminals and fields, would prompt Egypt to intervene to protect its western border.

Both countries are pretty close to being economic basket cases. Turkey is already embroiled in a seemingly endless conflict in Syria where, on occasion, their own allies give them a bloody nose. Although Turkey has the largest army in the neighborhood and third or fourth in the world, the country is a potential powder keg due to ethnic rivalries. Frankly, I am amazed they haven’t collapsed in civil war already. The US should abandon Incirlik, where we rent space from Turkey. The risks of getting drawn into a conflict is too great to justify the advantages of having an airbase close to Syria.

Egypt is at least closer to Libya with easier lines of supply.

I think what Egypt and Turkey perceive is at stake is which country will lead the Arab world? Egypt, Turkey or Iran? What none of them seem to realize is, there is no monolithic Arab world to lead. It would be a job of herding cats with an air horn.

What’s at risk here is the fragile peace the US has mentored for decades. I think it’s time to pull out, allow them to sort it out for themselves, then go back when they have something we want to buy. For the first time since WWII America’s oil independence allows us to do that.

All of those countries would happily stab us in the back at the first opportunity, and that goes for the EU, too. All they want is our money and to provide their defense, often by sacrificing our good people. The US has become a source of mercenaries, only the people doing the fighting are not the ones getting paid.

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