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Key U.S. Military, Intelligence Assets Imperiled in Egypt

(Washington Times) Rowan Scarborough - U.S. military and intelligence agencies would lose vital air, land and sea assets if Egypt falls into the hands of radical Islamists, as Iran did in 1979, foreign policy analysts say. The U.S. armed forces are entwined with Egypt's military more than with any other Arab country. The U.S. Navy would not be able to use the Egyptian-run Suez Canal. The waterway sharply reduces sailing time for Atlantic-based carriers and other warships going from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, and to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Air Force likely would lose overflight rights into the Middle East, and the Army would lose a partner in building the M1A1 tank. Egypt receives more than $1 billion in U.S. military aid each year and uses it to buy tanks, F-16 fighters, Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons systems. A radicalized Egypt likely would stop hosting the scores of Egyptian officers who come to the U.S. to attend service schools such as the Army War College. The U.S. also has been working with Egyptian forces to stop the smuggling of arms to Hamas in Gaza. A Cairo run by Islamists likely would end such operations and develop close ties with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group that calls for the destruction of Israel. The CIA, too, would lose a valuable partner. It operates a robust station at the U.S. Embassy as well as classified bases.
2011-02-03 08:39:54
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