You're under-estimating the importance of the army in Egypt.
No im not, you are oversetimating its dependance on US support. I lived in the balkans during the war. They started with nothing but hand guns a hunting rifles, over the course of a year they were armed to the teeth. If funds in their economy were distributed they way they ought to be i think the surplus left by not having to keep mubabrak in pocket would astound you.
No matter who takes over in Egypt, they need at the least, US military aid
Why do they need it? The middle east is by far a muslim majority. Egypt is by far a population of muslims, by majority. Who should they fear, who do you think wants to invade egypt??? Israel???.... come on dude, seriously? A billion muslims knocking on israels door would make texas shit its pants. Hardware doesn't win wars, people do. What Egypt needs is "unity".
See those tanks on the news in Cairo? Those are m1 abrams. Those planes they are flying are f-18's. They don't want to loose all that.
Yeah, and guess what. That 2.2b you gave mubarak for the last 30 years, is the same money that was used to pay for that shit "in full".... so no debt collectors or unhappy financiers are going to take what was paid for in full. The only reason they have it, is because the US wants them to have it. Keeping Mubarak armed, means that Mubarak and his cronies can carry on supporting US interest in the region without fear of fallout from there unsupported, yet brotherly neighbors.
Nor do they want to lose the money we send them, regardless of who we will be writing the checks to.
And again, repeating what i said. The Egyptian people, dont care about your money. They havent seen any of it since you started giving it to them...oops i mean mubarak!
The people may not think they need that money, but they definitely understand the importance of their military and that military will not give that stuff up even if they have to force who ever takes power to cut a deal with the US.
And again, why are you so convinced they need this army? Who is it they are living in fear of??? Tell me???.... oh Israel right, ha ha ha you make me laugh. Israel is surrounded by enemies just waiting to pounce, if that was a horse i would have to take the bet. The people of Egypt would prefer to cut military costs, and increase domestic spending on healthcare, education etc. You sound like someone who is a victim of fear mongering. Reminds me of the Michael Moore documentary, locked doors in detroit and accross the river in Canada all doors are open. Fear is your worst enemy, and trying to convince the Egyptians to arm themselves out of fear is a waste of time.
PS: What is happening in Egypt right now should show you how fearless the people in Egypt are. Where were the citizens of America when Bush was laying waste all over the world and in your own home's. WHY WERENT YOU ALL OUT ON THE STREETS PROTESTING BUSH OUT OF POWER, SHAME, THATS WHY I RESPECT THE EGYPTIANS.... THEY SEIZED THE OPPURTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING AND DONE IT. WITHOUT FEAR. THEY STAND UNITED, UNLIKE THE "UNITED" STATES, WHO COULDNT HAVE SEEMED MORE DIVIDED IF THEY TRIED.
If you want to know democracy, you need to loose everything you have. When you have nothing you are truly free!
