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Bribing Egypt
In 1979, as part of the Camp David Accords, the United States agreed to provide Egypt with roughly 2 billion dollars a year in economic and military assistance. The money, although not publicly acknowledged as such, was something of a bribe. Indeed, for Egypt’s decision to remain neutral in the Cold War, for its agreement to maintain peace with Israel, and for its support of US policies in the region, two billion dollars a year seemed like a pretty fair deal.
But now, nearly three decades later, Egypt is still receiving this massive aid package. And for what?
4 Responses to “Bribing Egypt”
Most people don’t realize Egypt gets all this aid; they are too busy bashing Israel and what aid we give to Israel.
Massive aid to Egypt, and for what now? Largely, maintaining the current regime, which at least is halfway intelligent and isn’t as evil and openly hostile toward Israel as its other neighbors, even considering all the faults readers may believe it has. Otherwise, insofar as the current regime is maintained, it’s similar to but less noteworthy than our former relationship with the Shah of Iran. Note that Jordan maintains at least calm relations currently with Israel without requiring such massive “aid.” (Note also that it would be unwise to attempt similar massive “aid” bribes with Syria and Iran.)
The thing is, so many people concentrate on Saudi Arabia and they don’t consider that Egypt might see its government fall first, someday. Don’t forget that Sadat (who signed the peace treaty and also received the Shah of Iran) was assassinated, and people in the region openly celebrated that event.
Jeb – Everything I’ve read is that the Muslim Brotherhood would win a popular election in Egypt. Putting pressure on Mubarak to allow free elections would probably result in a military coup because the Egyptian army is not going to allow the Muslim Brotherhood to rule.
I think with Egypt (as well as other countries in the region) we need to put together a 50 year plan to encourage GRADUAL liberalization and the establishment of institutions that are necessary for a democracy to thrive (impartial judiciary, a more economy etc) Pushing too hard and too fast will lead to chaos. Keep providing the $2 billion/year BUT set small incremental benchmarks for its continuation according to the overall plan.
Our “official” US position is currently as follows. Note that “stability” and “access to the Suez Canal” aren’t directly listed but these are implicit.
What is U.S. policy on military and economic aid to Egypt?
The American Prospect of course wonders about political reform — even after removal of a dictator in another heavily populated Middle Eastern nation has led to violence within that country (Iraq). It is naive to demand or expect a rapid change from authoritarianism to modern democratic rule in the Middle East. (I believe what is more likely in the future is some form of fascism or Latin American imitation.)
Just as Israelis are increasingly questioning the utility of continued U.S. aid to their country … so too are Egyptians.
The money is seen as bolstering Egypt’s stability, support for US policies in the region, US access to the Suez Canal, and peace with Israel. But some critics question the aid’s effectiveness in spurring economic and democratic development in the Arab world’s most populous country – a higher US priority after Sept. 11, 2001.
By consistently toeing the US line Cairo is winning friends in Washington…
DLS- Wasn’t Saddam’s Baathist regime based on fascism? I don’t think pushing Democracy in the ME works for US. We end up having difficulties dealing with the results of truly free elections, and not recognizing the elected leaders as in Palestine.