Egypt has long been viewed as the linchpin for peace and security in the
middle east. President Mubarak along with President Obama (and other
US Presidents) perioidically faciliated contact between Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas and have continued to make good progress in the Middle
East peace keeping efforts.
King Abdullah of Jordan expressed the dramatic urgency gripping a region
whose frustrations over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "feed hatred and
ignite wars." His chief concern is that current events in Egypt could
destablize relations between the parties and lead to more Isalmic
extremist activities.
America's future ambition for peace in the Middle East will hinge on the
government in Cairo that emerges. Israel's future strategy for peace
and strategy with its neighbors and a host of other Western goals in the
region also remain at risk. The latest news in Egypt in that President
Mubarak will finish out his term in September and will not seek another
term in office. His Chief Intelligence Officer and Vice President, Omar
Suleiman, will be holding open talks with the opposition forces in efforts
to resolve or even ameloriate the civil unrest. The future remainis very
uncertain.
America's involvement with Egypt stems back to 1978 when Anwar
Sadat, President Mubarak's predecessor, signed a peace treaty with
Israel and Egypt has had the United States' back in the Middle East.
As Egypt received more than $600 Billion in aid, the government of
Mubarak became a source of stability in the Middle East. Hosni
Mubarak became President when Anwar Sadat was assignated in 1981.
