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Israeli Commentator: Obama ’Arrogant and Unreliable’; Egypt Needs 21st-Century Marshall Plan
22 August 2013
(EIRNS)—President Barack Obama is "arrogant and unreliable," writes senior Israeli commentator Ben Yishai in today’s Ynetnews, who urges the necessity for a 21st Century Marshall Plan. Yishai writes, "It is sad and disturbing to watch Barack Obama’s United States position itself as an unreliable ally; one that preaches morals and gives kisses of death in the form of advice to its so-called friends while their home is burning — but shows patience and caution towards its enemies and its friends’ enemies. "Instead of creating a 21st-century Marshall Plan — a plan that will bring investors to Egypt, assist in restoring order and rehabilitate its economy — the U.S. prefers handing out donations that will perpetuate Egypt’s existing conditions, and is mostly concerned with its [own] image." Yishai warns that the "current behavior of the Obama administration towards Egypt makes one worry and wonder: Can we and should we count on the U.S. to be our ally with regards to the Iranian problem? " Yishai points out that in 2009, Obama did nothing to support the pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran, yet, "Less than two years later, Obama pushed Egypt’s military leaders to oust Hosni Mubarak, his ally, claiming his men were firing at protesters." He writes that ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi did nothing to promote democracy, but "As President, he failed and even prevented lawful rule in Egypt ... he did not even attempt to solve the chronic financial distress of his people. Instead, he focused on taking over government institutions, undermining the judicial system, and forcing Muslim values on his countrymen through a new constitution." He warns, "it’s important to the U.S. administration to support an Egyptian regime that has an interest in maintaining the peace treaty with Israel. This is an important strategic interest not just of Israel, but of the U.S. as well. This is why Israel is allowed to use its influence in Washington in shifting the discourse in favor of al-Sisi..." He then adds that "the U.S.’s biggest mistake is that it does not offer Egypt any meaningful aid that will allow it to rise above current conditions. Patronizing lectures and advice are no substitute to Egypt’s physical need to be rescued from complete collapse. The most urgent need is to stabilize Egypt’s economy, renew growth, and integrate the nation’s economy with the global one through massive foreign investment. This is the only way it would be possible to overcome chronic unemployment, especially among younger Egyptians, which is the source of the political instability and gross lack of human rights. Billions of dollars’ worth of handouts, necessary to bring food to millions of hungry mouths, will not solve the problem — only postpone it. " He then concludes with the above quote: "But current behavior of the Obama administration towards Egypt makes one worry and wonder: Can we and should we count on the U.S. to be our ally with regards to the Iranian problem? " [DEA] |