The US government’s position on Egypt is constant. They backed Mubarak until the moment it was clear he was going, then jumped ship to back the revolution. They then backed the elected government, until last month’s coup was in progress. Now they’re on the junta’s bandwagon, overtly violating a US law that requires ending aid in the event of coups, and looking the other way during massacres of civilian protesters.
Whoever is in power can count on the Obama administration’s support so long as their hold on power seems secure. They can also count on $1.5 billion in funding. Officially, this is to maintain “influence,” but since the administration clearly doesn’t care what the junta or anyone else does in power, it never seems to want to exercise any of that influence.
The reality is a lot more cynical than that, and analysts who support keeping the aid flowing say that it’s mostly about keeping the US military’s access to the Suez Canal unquestioned, something which is particularly important with the US ever looking to start new wars in the region.
In a way this puts the US in the same boat as it is with Bahrain, willing to look the other way for pretty much anything so long as whoever happens to be in power remains effectively for sale.
Egypt aid has its roots in the Camp David Accords, and since then the US has essentially agreed to buy off Egypt to keep them willing to give Israel veto power over operations in the Sinai Peninsula. In practice, this means less and less, since Israel is pretty pro-junta and pro-crackdown, but the tradition of throwing money at Egypt has gained a momentum of its own, and it will take a lot of work to end it.
General Abdul Nasser made his biggest mistake in his political carrier when he trusted English and Americans, he as many other honest politicians thought these two are trust worthy, in the other hand, Egyptians made the biggest mistake of their life when they said yes to Suez Canal.
Israel interests come first, then US ones.
Now that the "Stand Down" order has been given, the Suez Canal is Irrelevant!
It is all about the long-ago defined policy. Iraq was a tactical pivot, Saudi Arabia strategic pivot, and Egypt a prize. With destruction of Iraq a strong and populous Arab state became a cauldron of Shia/Sunni divide, a higly desirable tactical pivot. The result was highly vulnerable Saudi monarchy, that is based on Wahhabi Sunni sect, that through a historical guilt, cannot coexist with Shia world. Hence, any strength of Shia population in the region was viewed as a mortal threat. So, Saudia Arabia became a strategic pivot, maintaining on a artificial oxygen Mubarak regime, while strengthening Salafi movement in Egipt. The fight for the prize is on.
What, to have some principles sacrificed for the national interest? The Egyptians want their first elected president back, want their first freely voted on constitution back, want their first ever freely elected parliament back? No way — that is just not democratic. What they want is sooooo islamic! Bad, bad islamists! They thought they can innovate and have elected insitiutions? In fact, Reuters article mocked Mursi for spending so much time building institutions insread of economic reform! Poor Morsi, did not know that he can play emperor and do economic reforms without parlament or laws! Poor deluded Egyptians — now the normalcy will return, as Mubarak is being let go out of jail, and the happiness of emergency rule that lasted for over 30 years, and only abandoned by Mursi, IS BACK!