Putin Finds Egypt Firmly Allied With U.S. ($$$$)

[baby_bear]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/27/AR2005042701363.html

Very interesting article about history and contemporary politics. Also an affirmation that money talks. Worth reading the entire article.

<snip>
CAIRO, Egypt -- The last time a leader from Moscow made a state visit to Egypt _ 40 years ago _ he changed the course of the Nile with the press of a button. But those were the heady days of Egyptian-Soviet ties, when Egypt was buying weapons and getting help for building the Aswan High Dam. With Moscow's influence in the Middle East squeezed out by Washington's, no Russian leader has made an official visit since. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin found an Egypt that is firmly allied with the United States, its old bond with Moscow a distant memory.
...
"From the Soviet times, we have the High Dam, we have the factories of heavy industry," said Thabit, a member of the Nasserite Party and of Egypt's new reform movement, Kifaya. "All we see from the Americans is blue jeans, soft drinks and hamburgers."
...
But the end of the Soviet-Egyptian bond came under Nasser's successor, Anwar Sadat. In a surprise move, Sadat ordered the Soviets out of the country in 1972 _ in part to free his hands to launch his assault on Israeli troops in the Sinai the next year, but more importantly to signal to Washington that he wanted to switch camps.
...
Sadat sealed Egypt's ties with the United States with his 1979 Camp David peace treaty with Israel. Now Egypt is the second-biggest recipient of U.S. aid _ some $2 billion a year, second only to Israel.
</snip>

b_b

[cornermouse]

1. I would think that would be one of those "yes and no" things.

Egypt is now aware that they may have an alternative and if the Bush keeps it up, they may decide to move to a reconstituted Russian side of the equation (you can thank Bush for that too.)

[TrogL]

2. PNAC will never stand for that

Egypt is the prize.

[cornermouse]

3. Then they may have to sit for it.

Bush already spent all our money in Iraq. I don't think Bush or the PNAC can stop them.

[Megahurtz]

4. Maybe Bin Laden is

hiding here.