Depending on who you ask, the reactions to the events in Egypt range from extreme excitement to total dismay. Somewhere in the middle of this continuum of emotion lies the United States, caught in a political and ideological crossfire that is too hot to touch in the Arab sun.
The dilemma facing policy makers, is how exactly to proceed in this tumultuous time that maximizes the risk/reward payoff.
From an ideological standpoint, it’s obvious that supporting the revolution is paramount.
Yet, this point of clarity becomes opaque when one question arises.
To what extent do we support democracy?
Ultimately, as President Obama pointed out “these are sovereign countries” and even under a democratic ideological framework acting as the United States’ compass, our role in the shaping of the country must be respectful of the Egyptian people.
The political challenges in Egypt are even more daunting.
At this point, the Egyptian military and Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic political party, are the most well organized political entities left in the fragmented Egyptian world.
This poses an interesting dilemma for the United States whose foreign aid to Egypt has been surpassed only by its foreign aid to Israel, whose relationship with both of these institutions is hesitant to say the least.
Add to that the possibility of inflaming the fundamentalist Muslim world by imposing our values and power in a predominantly Muslim country and exciting the general populous of Middle Eastern countries for a departure from current Islamic regimes, and the United States’ position becomes even more unenviable.
Yet to remain inactive would bode well neither for the United States, the people of Egypt, or Israel. Egypt is now relatively unstable in a very volatile section of the world leaving true, long-term democracy in the country a dubious prospect.
Additionally, the tide of anti-Zionism that strongly undertones the Arab world could result in Israeli re-arming the West Bank if a stable regime that renews current peace with Israel does not take hold in Egypt.
The U.S. policy the past couple of weeks has consisted of paying lip service to the predominant power in Egypt at that moment while simultaneously heralding American ideals.
This has worked fine thus far but future policy must consist of active diplomacy.
The most promising link the U.S. has is its ties to the Egyptian military.
Since the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979, the Egyptian military has benefited greatly from the U.S.
The country has received over $20 billion in aid, U.S. military technology and training.
One such program, Operation Bright Star, is a biennial joint training exercise between the two militaries.
This relationship will prove critical in guiding policy decisions and ensuring that the U.S. has some sphere of influence without exciting tenuous relations with other Middle Eastern countries.
Through this bond, the U.S. must work with the military first and foremost to establish a stable and sustainable democracy to ensure long-term relationships and dialogue remain open.
Second, the U.S. must make clear that future aid is inextricably linked to the continued honoring of the 1979 Peace Accords.
Through these delicate and decisive movements the U.S. can honor its ideals, walk the political tightrope and move closer to collective exuberance as well.
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