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"This White House, and the next, should be planning..."

Reader comment on item: Sisi's Incompetent Anti-Islamist Campaign

Submitted by Michael S. (United States), Apr 13, 2014 at 10:59

I am a scientist by training, used to making conclude based on observed trends. When two reactants cause the temperature of a system to increase, for instance, when they react, I conclude that the reaction is exothermic. Whenever I react those two reagents afterwards, under similar conditions, I expect the temperature to rise.

The US Administration has reacted recently, in situation after situation in the Middle East, by giving off ever less and less heat when tested by its adversaries. In Libya in 2011, it let the Europeans carry the ball in Libya, not even sending an aircraft carrier into the Mediterranean (In fact, it pulled its carrier out). Around December of 2012, when the Russians became increasingly bold in stationing its big fighting ships in the Eastern Mediterranean, the US Navy withdrew to other seas. In the Spring of 2013, US aircraft carriers were effectively shelved from active duty in Norfolk because we could not afford to crew them; around the same time, the US decided to scrap a damaged state-of-the-art nuclear submarine because it could not afford to repair it. Finally, in September, 2013, President Obama was humiliated when he threatened NATO action against Syria and was deserted by our closest ally, Britain. Then, while he tried to present a show of force in the area, our meager presence in the area was dwarfed not only by the Russians but also by the Chinese, who had 1000 marines aboard their ship in contrast to our 800. Even the South Koreans had a presence in the area at the time that rivalled ours.

That's a big enough sample of tests, to gauge the size and effectiveness of the US military, the will of the American people and President to use that military, and the likelihood that it will get militarily involved in the Middle East in the future, regardless of provocation. Every test says that we will not. I know this, most pundits know this, and, most importantly, our rivals know this.

General Sisi is ambitiously trying to take the helm of the Egyptian government. He is bankrolled by the Saudis, Kuwaitis and Emiratis; and his military backup comes not from the US, but from balancing the Americans against the Russians. Hopefully, the White House is not making ANY plans concerning Egypt; because if their track record in Libya and Syria is to be trusted, the more the White House plans in the area, the worse things turn out. Overall, we know the White House's plans, and they show no prospect of changing in the near future: The White House plans to call its dogs home, then duck and cover with them in the basement. It's Gen. Sisi, not the White House, that needs to plan carefully.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (41) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
20-20 (2021) Hindsight of American and Egyptian Administrations Cannot Solve Current Issues [194 words]M ToveyDec 22, 2021 18:31277453
1Shadi Hamid and dissimulation or lying by omission [333 words]dhimmi no moreJun 24, 2017 06:41239701
2lying by omission is an important tool in the apologists' toolkit [128 words]PrashantJun 25, 2017 10:55239701
1Worse? Reza Aslan! [84 words]dhimmi no moreJun 27, 2017 08:35239701
Muslim apologists and shameful translations and in this case in regard to FMG (Female Genital Mutilation) [357 words]dhimmi no moreJul 3, 2017 08:01239701
Amazing speech by el-Sisi [209 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreJan 3, 2015 07:27220079
Islam is reaching its enlightenment finally [32 words]lueeJul 28, 2014 07:44216379
It seems that many Arabs are realizing that June 30 2013 was a popular uprising by Egyptians and not a military coup [221 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreMay 19, 2014 08:25214893
Is Sisi the Leader of Moderate Islam? Very interesting article today about Sisi vs. MB [211 words]PezDispenserMay 9, 2014 12:52214759
1It seems that el-Sisi anti-Islamists and anti-MB crusade is working [124 words]dhimmi no moreApr 13, 2014 16:34214452
"This White House, and the next, should be planning..." [458 words]Michael S.Apr 13, 2014 10:59214448
Beware- Egyptians in sharm el sheik [182 words]NicolaApr 11, 2014 15:58214434
There Will Be A Strong Ruler Over Egypt When The Nile River Runs Dry [99 words]Lujack SkylarkApr 9, 2014 10:55214389
2Putin and the fate of Morsi and the MB in Egypt. Must reading [149 words]dhimmi no moreApr 4, 2014 08:10214242
Lee Smith and terrorism revisited [98 words]dhimmi no moreApr 3, 2014 08:34214217
This is what Egyptians are saying to the likes of Lee Smith [161 words]dhimmi no moreApr 3, 2014 07:54214216
The British PM seems to believe that the MB is a terrorist group [39 words]dhimmi no moreApr 1, 2014 07:10214173
1The MB group is fleeing Lodonistan and their next destination? Austria [85 words]dhimmi no moreApr 13, 2014 08:39214173
1The sinking ship of the MB [29 words]dhimmi no moreApr 20, 2014 17:36214173
el-Sisi Has To Be Careful [81 words]Mark DMar 29, 2014 13:48214101
Ills in the Middle East - Not Just Because of Religion [245 words]Mark DMar 29, 2014 12:56214100
1Sisi's Incompetent Anti-Islamist Campaign [76 words]Balarabe AbbaMar 28, 2014 08:13214083
The Black and White of reality in Egypt! [88 words]FroikeJun 15, 2014 15:03214083
4Not so sure about this one Professor.... [181 words]EphraiimMar 27, 2014 16:05214061
Way to go [68 words]Mahendra MathurMar 28, 2014 14:07214061
The Sick Middle East - Here We Go Again [77 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Mark DMar 26, 2014 23:39214041
Solar activity? [28 words]Mohammed Wazir AhkspaidarApr 1, 2014 02:52214041
Damage [77 words]Mark DMar 26, 2014 23:34214040
Perhaps, Sisi is not a total idiot. [58 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PhiliorMar 26, 2014 22:30214039
3Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution is he out of a job? [271 words]dhimmi no moreMar 25, 2014 17:55214005
Chas Rose guest [44 words]Robert LunnFeb 4, 2016 19:43214005
4The strange case of the convicted criminal and terrorist Asm abd el-Maged [587 words]dhimmi no moreMar 25, 2014 15:54214003
2Anti Islamist Campain [288 words]Nenette GrunbergMar 25, 2014 15:14214001
Sisi, right or wrong? [245 words]A.T. HalmayMar 25, 2014 11:23213998
2The MB is a terrorist group [291 words]dhimmi no moreMar 25, 2014 09:42213994
1Not so absurd! [50 words]HarrybabyMar 25, 2014 06:20213988
1Baghdad Bob exaggeration is an Islamist Trademark. [42 words]IamJosephMar 25, 2014 05:00213986
The importance of being there... or here... [221 words]SHmuel HaLeviMar 25, 2014 01:51213984
2There are no limits in a Islamic war and they do the same to each other.

 [186 words]Robin RosenblattMar 25, 2014 01:12213983
1Has the American Jew abandoned Israel? [94 words]Robin RosenblattMar 25, 2014 22:40213983
4Nailed right on [120 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael Hanni MorcosMar 25, 2014 00:50213982

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