"The road of retreat is the road to victory!"
Posted on 01/15/2015 4:02:44 AM PST by SJackson
Now is the time for the U.S. to renew its affiliation with Egypt. Good things have happened since the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood. Due in part to the freeze in U.S. presence with regard to Egypt, relations between Al Sisi and Netanyahu are vigorous. Egypt plans on purchasing five billion cubic meters of natural gas from Israel’s Tamar reserves.
For the past year, Israeli and Egyptian forces have been working side by side to counter agitation in the Sinai, especially near the border with Gaza. Al Sisi has made distinct overtures that he wants an end to militant Islam in Egypt and world-wide, exclaiming that jihad among Islamists must be reevaluated moving forward. The reality, however, is that Egypt is currently fighting for its economic survival.
Egypt has accepted proposals from both Russia and China. Last year, Moscow and Cairo agreed on an arms deal worth $2billion, superseding the U.S. as Egypt’s prime weapons supplier. China is negotiating with Al Sisi about a prospective New Suez Canal project. For China, this is part of their “Silk Road” expansionist diplomatic strategy. Russia and China stand behind Iran, and thus support Iranian Islamic militant operations in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan and the Sinai. China has doubled its investment in Iranian oil. Russia actively supports the Syrian regime. Because of Russian and Chinese backing of Iran, the presence of Hamas in the Sinai is stronger than ever. It is quite ironic that China seeks to fund the New Suez Canal since Sudan is quite capable obstructing trade in the Red Sea. If the U.S. does not resume influence in Egypt, it will virtually fall under the control of Moscow, Beijing, and possibly Tehran.
It is conceivable that Iran and Russia will temporarily tone down their development in the Middle East, including Egypt due to drastic increase in Saudi oil production. Current Saudi production has caused a major fall in oil prices. As a result, the ruble has also nosedived. The Russian economy is 60% dependent on oil. Moscow was planning on oil costing between $90 and $95 per barrel. At present, the average cost per barrel of oil is at $82.
Saudi Arabia has made clear its feelings of vulnerability in recent years because of waning U.S. influence in the Middle East, and new détente between Washington and Tehran. Coupled with the growing alliance between Russia, Iran, and China, and it is logical to understand why the Saudis are making this tactical move. With regard to Egypt, this increase in Saudi production has set up the perfect opportunity for the U.S. to resume presence in Egypt.
The present window of opportunity afforded by plummeting oil global prices will not last long. If the U.S. remains passive with regard to Egypt, eventually Russia, China, and Iran will control its terms of access. It is arguable that the Strait of Hormuz is already primarily under their control. If Egypt is lost to Russia and China, U.S. power in the Middle East will become irrelevant. From the middle of North Africa to the Persian Gulf, Russia and China will be seen as the dominant global powers. This transition will have negative consequences with regard to the world economy, and global terrorism.
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Chinese ascendency is happening because America’s businesses are now making their stuff in China.
Our own party is doing that.
Everyone is doing that. Bring back American jobs, and make stuff right here once again.
Good grief... you’re pathetic.
I’m just pointing out, that America is falling, and we are the ones bringing it down.
Nobody is talking about this.
And nothing is bigger, long-term.
Egypt has been saved from Obama.
Egypt is an economic black hole in the vein of Haiti or Africa.
Doesn’t matter how much money or effort you may throw at them they will still be in a death spiral.
Let the ruskies deal with this basket case too.
Al-Sisi is speaking out against the islamonazis, calling for islam to reform and end hatred and violence.
But, the socialists are opposed to standing up against their islamonazi allies.
Just as Obama skipped the march in France against islamonazis, he is giving no support to moderate muslims who can be useful in the PR war against radical islam.
I agree, how the heck are we going to bring back American jobs? The progressives and rinos are doing everything they can get away with to crush small business, the American worker, and the middle class. Bring back American jobs is like saying “ you must vote for the rinos because they’re better than the progressives. The are progressives! Same, same.
P.S. Marco Rubio, you are dead to me.
The WH abandoning Egypt as an ally is because of their closeness and support for the Muslim Brotherhood, members of whom actually are on the WH staff. The ME members are arch-enemies of the current Egyptian government and especially the Egyptian military - the strongest deterrent there is in the ME to quell ISIS.
AL Sisi looks like the best thing to happen in Egypt in the last 20 years.
Much longer..I worked there for about 6 yrs back in the 80s
No wonder Obama hates him.
Y’know, I was watching TV with the wife, who has FOX on in the background a lot. I remarked, “With all this complaining about Obama’s policies, how come no one will come out and say that the simplest explanation is that he’s a Muslim?” She agreed. Even on FOX, that speculation is banned.
Fox is somewhere around 10% owned by an Arab.
You won’t catch Fox taking sides in that fight.
They aren’t on the Arabs’ side, but they’re not against them either.
Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt's Generals: 'How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?'Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt's military -- even as Cairo's security forces massacre anti-government activists. [by "anti-government activists" is meant church-burning Christian-murdering jihadists][Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat]
"The road of retreat is the road to victory!"
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