The U.S. has supported numerous dictators/ autocrats over the years, but its support of Mubarak, and $1.5 billion a year in (primarily ) military aid is driven solely by the interests of Israel and the Israel lobby in the U.S. This was the 'Egyptian payoff' that derived from the 1978 'Camp David' Agreement arranged by Jimmy Carter.
On today's news some Israeli stooge was asked: "What does the U.S. get back for all that money?" His answer: The U.S. gets "priority access to the Suez Canal and Egyptian airspace." ** The REAL answer, of course is that ISRAEL gets a compliant strongman who will suppress Egyptians, (who happen to be sympathetic to Palestinian aspirations) and allow Israel to proceed with its long term colonization project in the West Bank.
I wonder if the U.S. gets an annual 'Thank You' note from the Israelis?
** The U.S. already had complete access to the Suez Canal and Egypt would never dare to cut it off.
The U.S. would have considered that tantamount to an act of war. So what is gained by 'Priority Access'?
Do American ship captains get to visit a VIP lounge alongside the canal? or perhaps Egypt sends belly
dancers to entertain them during transit? $1.5 billion a year for 'Priority Access' is pretty bogus!
George Lally 2/10/11
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