US ponders future of military ties with Egypt
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WASHINGTON — With the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, the United States holds sway over Egypt’s political future thanks to its strong ties with a military it helped build over three decades, experts said.
Egypt watchers said the massive $1.3-billion annual US military aid package to the country has largely paid off over the years — yielding cooperation on counterterrorism, the Middle East peace process and safe passage through the Suez Canal. Many warned against bowing to calls for freezing the US funds.
“There are tremendous risks,” said Andrew Exum of the Center for a New American Security.
“At the very least, you need to keep military to military exchanges and contacts because you never know how valuable those relationships might be in the future.”.... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110215com6.html
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