By Ibrahim El Houdaiby
Conflicts Forum, September 30, 2007
"Of all the puzzling remarks made by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, naming Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his regime as one of America’s strongest and most strategic allies in the Middle East is perhaps the most puzzling.....
The Egyptian regime was named as America’s regional best friend because of its unreserved willingness to comply with the American foreign policy agenda. It has demonstrated this by providing logistical assistance for the US invading troops during the war on Iraq, by its stance towards the Palestinian-Israeli struggle, and most importantly during the last months when Hamas came to power, by its willingness not to challenge American policies in the Middle East. Yet, these reasons should not qualify the Egyptian regime as a “friend” or an “ally” that genuinely shares common interests with the American administration, or actually supports its policies.....
To maintain this monopoly the Egyptian regime uses its media outlets, most importantly newspapers and local TV Channels, to promote anti-Americanism. Through its anti-American sentiment, the regime portrays itself as a patriotic regime that takes strong stances against US foreign policy. The regime, which secretly provided logistical assistance for US forces illegally invading Iraq, nevertheless publicly opposed the war and spoke out loudly against it. The regime’s president, who refused to meet any member of the democratically-elected Palestinian cabinet, publicly supported the “democratic choice” of the Palestinian people (as if he had any respect to democracy!) yet collaborated with international players, and other Palestinian factions in besieging it. The regime makes it a point to exaggerate its anti-American sentiment, so as to divert attention away from its concessions and unchecked adherence to the American policy in the Middle East......."
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