What's Going on in Egypt?

I have two reasons to write to you today: 1.) wanted to let you know about a feature on my website (www.ramandgoat.com) where I address how the latest news is playing into the “Living in the Age of the Ram and the Goat” book, and 2.) wanted to help you understand what is going on in Egypt today.

Let’s talk about Egypt first.  If you have been watching the news the last couple of days you are aware that there is a major revolution going on in Egypt.  People are fighting against the police force, setting cars and buildings on fire, etc.  I think you get the idea.  Reports from the media may lead you to believe that the people are fighting for democracy in a country run by a dictator.  As an American you may be thinking you should be in support of the revolutionaries.  Allow me to shed a little light on the situation.

Although it is true that President Mubarak is a dictator, he is our dictator.  (He is president in name only; he has been in power for 26 years and was hoping to pass the presidency on to his son).  The United States has been sending Egypt billions of dollars for years.  Why?  Mostly for the control of the Suez Canal; I will give you more details on the importance of the canal below.  The United States has been friends with Mubarak for his whole “presidency”.  A genuine democratic movement has grown in Egypt because the people do see the opportunity for real freedom.  So the desire for a free society is real.  Here is where it gets complicated.  A significant part of the protesters are Nasserists, the Brotherhood of Muslims belongs to this group, the Brotherhood is associated with Hamas and Hamas is supported by Iran.  Therefore Iran could expand its sphere of political influence if the protesters win in Egypt.  This explains why shortly after this revolt that Iran came out in support of it.

Why should you care?  The Suez Canal.  The canal is the only way to move American aircraft carriers from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf quickly and Egypt controls the canal.  If Iran has plans to invade Iraq, Turkey and Saudi Arabia (as I proposed in my book) we, the United States, would probably respond by sending our carriers from the Med. Sea from the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf.  If Iran can block the canal with help from its new friend Egypt then the U.S. would have to go around Africa to get to the Persian Gulf, adding weeks to our response time.

Hope that helps you grasp the situation.

As I mentioned above I will post news items like this on my website under the “World News” tab, ramandgoat.com

Thanks,

Darren Thompson