Looking at the banners in the massive Egyptian protests last week, we saw
many anti-American slogans. Likewise, the Muslim Brotherhood-led government
that was deposed by the military last week was very critical of what it saw
as US support for the coup. Why is it that all sides in this Egyptian civil
war seem so angry with the United States? Because the United States has at
one point or another supported each side, which means also that at some point
the US has also opposed each side. It is the constant meddling in Egyptian
affairs that has turned Egyptians against us, as we would resent foreign intervention
in our own affairs.
For more than 30 years, since the US-brokered Camp David Accord between Israel
and Egypt, the US supported Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. Over that period
the US sent more than $60 billion to prop up Mubarak and, importantly, to
train and seek control over the Egyptian military. Those who opposed Mubarak's
unelected reign became more and more resentful of the US, which they rightly
saw as aiding and abetting a dictator and denying them their political aspirations.
Then the US began providing assistance to groups seeking to overthrow Mubarak,
which they did in 2011. The US continued funding the Egyptian military at
that time, arguing that US aid was more critical than ever if we are to maintain
influence. The US Administration demanded an election in Egypt after Mubarak's
overthrow and an election was held. Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood
won a narrow victory. The US supported Morsi but kept funding the Egyptian
military.
After a year of Morsi's rule, Egyptians who did not approve of his government
took to the streets to demand his removal from power. The US signaled to the
Egyptian military that it would not oppose the removal of Morsi from power,
and he was removed on July 3rd. With the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood-led
government came the arrest of many politicians and the closure of many media
outlets sympathetic to them. Then the US government warned the same Egyptian
military that undermined democracy that it needed to restore democracy! Is
it any wonder why Egyptians from all walks of life are united in their irritation
with the United States?
Despite the Egyptian government being overthrown by a military coup, the Obama
Administration will not utter the word "coup" because acknowledging reality
would mean an end to US assistance to the Egyptian government and military.
That cannot be allowed.
Instead, we see the same Obama administration that is on a worldwide manhunt
for pro-transparency whistle-blower Edward Snowden demand that the Egyptian
military exercise "political transparency" in its dealings with the ousted
Muslim Brotherhood-led government.
So, successive US administrations over the decades have supported all sides
in Egypt, from dictator to demonstrator to military. There is only one side
that the US government has never supported: our side. The American side. It
has never supported the side of the US taxpayers who resent being forced to
fund a foreign dictatorship, a foreign military, and foreign protestors. It
has never supported the side of the majority of Americans who do not wish
to get involved in the confusing internal affairs of countries thousands of
miles away. It has never supported the side of those of us concerned about
blowback, which is the real threat to our national security. Unfortunately,
US administrations continue to follow the same old failed policies and Obama
is no different. More intervention, more foreign aid, more bullying, more
empire.
