Egyptians see American declaring war on Islam
CAIRO, Egypt - Many Egyptians think there’s a bad smell about U.S. policy on the Mideast these days. Washington’s war on terrorism is increasingly seen here as a war on Islam, with the principal victims Palestinians and Iraqis. Anxiety over a possible attack on Iraq has become a clear and present anger.
“Nobody here shares the view that the Iraqi regime poses a threat to the U.S., to the region or to world peace,” said Mustapha Kamel al Sayyid, a professor of political science at Cairo University. "American foreign policy is extremely unpopular, and President Bush is always seen to be taking the side of right-wing Israelis.
**“When Bush called (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon a man of peace, well, that was too unbelievable. People can only laugh at that.” **
After Sept. 11, there was widespread sympathy in Egypt for American losses, but that good will has dissipated. Now, there’s widespread distrust of U.S. motives in the Mideast, regardless of whether those motives are bound up in oil, religion, democracy or the war on terrorism.
Some Egyptian officials think Mubarak already has granted overflight rights to U.S. and British warplanes, as well as the safe passage of coalition warships through the Suez Canal. He also may allow coalition forces to quietly refuel and resupply at Egyptian bases.
A senior American official but said he was “comfortable” that Egypt would be “a good partner” in the event of hostilities.
That good partner, with a population of 70 million, makes up one-fourth of the Arab world. Egypt’s control of the Suez Canal and its proximity to Israel give it a huge strategic importance. It also has an unparalleled cultural impact through its scholars and writers, its musicians, filmmakers and religious leaders.
the Mubarak regime has been ruthless in suppressing any sort of organized opposition. Hafez Abu Sa’ada, secretary general of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, estimates there are 16,000 political prisoners in Egyptian jails. Some of them wait years before they’re tried, or even charged.
“The Islamists are always put in the very worst prisons,” Sa’ada said. “When they come out of prison, they see the state as the enemy.”
Mubarak’s tactics - not unlike those used by other U.S. allies in the region - are difficult for American diplomats to justify.
comment: Egypt is just another dictatorsip in pocket of United States, but this article just shows the governments here like any other muslim country is not it tune with its peoples feelings the people hate america and there policies while the regimes do everything possible to kiss there backsides :yummy:
