Thursday, August 15, 2013

U.S. must use leverage on Egypt's military

Every American who cares about foreign policy and what's happening now in Egypt should read this cool-headed analysis of America's 33-year patronage of Egypt's military.

That relationship has cost the U.S. about $66 billion in military aid since the signing of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, including about 1,000 tanks and 220 fighter jets.

To Bishara's analysis I would add one remark that Gary "The War Nerd" Brecher often makes when discussing war and conflict in countries like Egypt, Syria, etc.: these countries don't maintain a robust military to protect or fight against foreign enemies; they keep armies to control their own populations

And U.S. military aid helps them to do that.  Are we cool with that?


By Marwan Bishara
August 15, 2013 | Al Jazeera

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