Monday, January 31, 2011

The Egypt Unrest

Egypt has been a key partner for the U.S. in the region since the 1970's, and is at present the second highest receiver of U.S. foreign aid with the largest being Israel. Egypt has served as a key arbitrator in the Israel-Palestine peace process. As one of the few Arab interlocutors in the region, the Mubarak regime has been a powerful go between. I think that Israel is concerned or at least should be. Israel and Egypt have been at peace for the past 3 decades. Peace can be in jeopardy should there be a regime change.

From my understanding, the protests are civilian groups rather than dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, and Islamic opposition movement.

The unrest began with Tunisia, from there it’s became a domino effect, Egypt, the streets of Amman (Jordan), and Sanaa, Algiers are full of protesters. It worries me, destabilized Arab nations and the Middle East should be a concern to ALL Americans.

The stock market in SA dropped, oil prices are rising, everything goes through the Suez Canal.

It’s important to remember that Egypt is a major power middle man in the ME. With a population that is at least two times of any of the other Arab nations. It scares me to think what would happen should Egypt fall.

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