Egypt is said to have turned down a U.S. request for the use of military bases. Western diplomatic sources said President Hosni Mubarak rejected a U.S. appeal for the basing of U.S. security forces in Egyptian facilities. They said this would have included military personnel as well as combat forces. "Mubarak does not compromise on independent decision-making nor does he allow meddling in our internal affairs or the establishment of military bases in Egypt," Egyptian Information Minister Safwat Sherif said.
Fair enough. Bases cost a lot of money to run. I'd hate to see us pour more money than we are into a venal, corrupt, hereditary regime...
The sources said the main U.S. request concerned the stationing of forces near the Suez Canal. The proposed deployment was meant to ensure the safety of U.S. naval vessels transporting personnel and equipment to the Persian Gulf.
But that's okay. We can do it from somewhere else. This is all just a part of the process of determining which side everybody's on. We have a pretty good idea which side Egypt's reall on... |