Egypt: Security, Political, and Islamist Challenges

Here is a link to a new publication from the Army Sponsored Strategic Studies Institute of the Army War College.

Egypt: Security, Political, and Islamist Challenges. Authored by Dr. Sherifa D. Zuhur.

Contemporary Egypt evidences severe failures of governance and political and economic development. Along with the continued strength of moderate Islamists and violent outbursts of radical Islamists, the pressing need for democratization has been set back by the “emergency” procedures used by the government to control security.

As with all Army War College publications, the views expressed are those of the author alone and are not meant to represent those of either the Army or the Department of Defense.

I’m highlighting this publication today because it illuminates a deadly serious blind spot in Administration policy. Actually a blind spot in every administration since the 1960s. Our support for Egypt’s government and president for life Hosni Mubarak puts the lie to the idea that we support liberty and democracy in the Middle East. Our support for regimes like Egypt and the Monarchy in Saudi Arabia are part of the reason our public diplomacy gets zero traction. Our actions say that we support regimes that comply with US policy and reject regimes like Gaza’s that are democratically elected but reject US policy.

Egyptian Mohamed Atta was the leader of the 9/11 hijackers. Saudi nationals contributed 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers. Any proposed solution to global terror that does not address our oppressive allies is doomed to failure.