Today, in a Washington Post opinion piece entitled
"Maikel Nabil Sanad draws back the curtain on Egypt’s military" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/maikel-nabil-sanad-draws-back-the-curtain-on-egypts-military/2012/04/01/gIQATc1ipS_story.html?hpid=z2), Jackson Diehl describes his discussions with Maikel Nabil Sanad, a young Christian Copt. Famous in Egypt for the outspoken dissident views appearing in his blog, including his sympathy for Israel, Nabil was arrested after Mubarak's fall and engaged in a 130-day hunger strike before being released. Diehl writes:
"Nabil points out, the military is systematically whipping up hostility to Israel inside Egypt and using the treaty to 'blackmail both Egyptians and U.S. taxpayers' by hinting that the loss of aid — or a democratic government’s control of the military — will mean its rupture.
What about the 'strategic partnership' that State says it wants to preserve with Egypt? 'Another lie,' says Nabil: How can a military council that is lacing state media with vile anti-American propaganda and prosecuting U.S. NGOs be a strategic partner?
. . . .
Even if the generals hand over titular authority in July to an elected president, as promised, 'they will continue to be the most powerful force in Egypt. They control 40 percent of the economy. They have about one-third of the budget. They control the media and the judiciary. They have five intelligence agencies.'"
In short, Diehl's interview of Nabil, which details the folly of resuming US aid to Egypt's military, is a must read.
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