Just over a week ago (Aug. 15th), following the initial deployment of thousands of Egyptian troops in Sinai in contradiction to the terms of the peace treaty with Israel I circulated an e-mail (see below), in which I cautioned
Perhaps the only real questions are
(a) How quickly--and how much of—the armaments of newly deployed Egyptian contingents will find they way into the hands of very elements they were meant to be used against? (b) When Cairo will claim it needs to increase the size and strength of its forces to control the recalcitrant Jihadis—including aircraft to operate over the mountainous regions of Sinai? (c) When will the official obituary of the demilitarization of Sinai - the principle clause underpinning the peace accord with Egypt - be declared? Ten days later the following articles appeared
Barak: We'll allow helicopters, more troops into Sinai
Report: Israel to allow Egypt to deploy troops in Sinai The Economist reports that Barak, following the series of terror attacks on Israel's southern border, agreed to Egypt's stationing of helicopters, armored vehicles, thousands of troops in Sinai
Now imagine what the future headlines will look like. Perhaps some thing like this:
First :
"Israel consents to the construction of permanent Egyptian military bases - including large air-force base - in Sinai" ???
Next:
"The first squadron of Egyptian combat fighter lands in newly constructed airforce base in Sinai. Israel: The move a necessary measure in the fight against Jihadi control of the peninsula"??
and eventually
"Demilitarization Declared Dead. New Islamic Government in Cairo: 'Egyptian forces in Sinai massively reinforced. Will be now deployed against the Zionist enemy. Local Mujahedin organizations are our new brothers-in-arms' "??
Best wishes MS The Sinai Peninsula is… deteriorating into a lawless “no-go” region, rapidly falling under the control of the most ruthless extremists on the face of the globe. In the wake of the “Tahrir tsunami,” Israel is facing an emerging lose-lose strategic predicament which will soon force it to decide between:
• Allowing a Muslim Brotherhood-controlled Egypt to remilitarize the area in order to reestablish law and order, and • Reasserting Israeli control of Sinai, effectively repudiating the peace agreement.
On Monday, Israel began to implement the second option - see This is a hugely dangerous precedent, which comes on the heels of a previously agreed violation of the peace agreement with Egypt – to allow Egyptian forces to secure the southern border of the Gaza Strip. This has set a trend that will be difficult, if not impossible, to stop—in effect heralding the beginning of the end of the demilitarization of Sinai,. Given the lack of resolve and effectiveness of the Egyptian forces in preventing the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, there can be little optimism as to either the motivation or the efficacy that the newly arrived forces will display in confronting the extremist elements taking over Sinai. Perhaps the only real questions are (a) How quickly--and how much of—the armaments of newly deployed Egyptian contingents will find they way into the hands of very elements they were meant to be used against (b) When Cairo will claim it needs to increase the size and strength of its forces to control the recalcitrant Jihadis—including aircraft to operate over the mountainous regions of Sinai (c) When will the official obituary of the demilitarization of Sinai - the principle clause underpinning the peace accord with Egypt - be declared Best wishes MS Dr. Martin Sherman
=============
Please contribute to The Freeman Center's essential educational activities.
Mail check to address above or by paypal:
http://www.freeman.org/paypal.htm
Dear All,
Defense minister tells The Economist Israel will allow Cairo to reinforce troops
• Allowing Sinai to degenerate into an Afghanistan-like haven for al-Qaida and other jihadi organizations,
www.martinsherman.org
Sunday, 28 August 2011
FREEMAN CENTER BROADCAST - AUGUST 28, 2011
Posts
