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Egypt Wanes as Power Broker as Syria, Iran Gain Clout

[Wall Street Journal, 15Nov06] Mariam Fam - Egypt, which for decades has acted as peacemaker and behind-the-scenes political broker for the U.S. in the Arab world, has seen its status ebb as Mideast dynamics have been shifting. The destabilization of Iraq, the ascent of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, last summer's war in Lebanon, and Iran's resurgent influence have helped erode Cairo's traditional leading role in the region. "The Egyptian role has taken a back seat, to the benefit of other regional powers. The Israeli-Palestinian issue used to be an Egyptian-Jordanian issue, but now it is more influenced by Syria and Iran," said Emad Gad, a senior researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. Analysts say the Egyptian regime's domestic woes have also contributed to its diminished regional stature.
2006-11-17 01:00:00
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